The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank introduced in 1940, famously deployed during World War II against Operation Barbarossa. The T-34/85 seen here is the only one in North America.

Its 76.2 mm (3 in) high-velocity tank gun was more powerful than its contemporaries while its 60 d-egree sloped armor provided good protection against anti-tank weapons. The Christie suspension was inherited from the design of American J. Walter Christie’s M1928 tank, versions of which were sold turret-less to the Red Army and documented as “farm tractors”, after being rejected by the U.S. Army. The T-34 had a profound effect on the conflict on the Eastern Front in the Second World War, and had a lasting impact on tank design. After the Germans encountered the tank in 1941, German general Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist called it “the finest tank in the world” and Heinz Guderian affirmed the T-34’s “vast superiority” over German tanks. “As early as July 1941, OKW chief Alfred Jodl noted in his war diary the surprise at this new and thus unknown wonder-armament being unleashed against the German assault divisions.” Although its armor and armament were surpassed later in the war, it has been described as the most influential tank design of the war.

The T-34 was the mainstay of Soviet armored forces throughout the war. Its general specifications remained nearly unchanged until late 1944, when it received a firepower upgrade with the introduction of the greatly improved T-34/85 variant. Its production method was continuously refined and rationalized to meet the needs of the Eastern Front, making the T-34 quicker and cheaper to produce. 

The Soviets ultimately built over 80,000 T-34s of all variants, allowing steadily greater numbers to be fielded despite the loss of tens of thousands in combat against the German Wehrmacht. Replacing many light and medium tanks in Red Army service, it was the most-produced tank of the war, as well as the second most-produced tank of all time (after its successor, the T-54/T-55 series). With 44,900 lost during the war, it also suffered the most tank losses ever. Its development led directly to the T-44, then the T-54 and T-55 series of tanks, which in turn evolved into the later T-62, T-72, and T-90 that form the armored core of many modern armies. T-34 variants were widely exported after World War II, and as recently as 2018 more than 130 were still in service.

The T-34/85 Model 44 that formed the backbone of the Soviet tank forces in the summer of 1944 was an up-gunned version of the Soviet T-34/76. The T-24/85’s 85mm gun could penetrate the armor of the German Panzer IVs and StuG IIIs. Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, its invasion of the Soviet Union, on June 22nd, 1941. The tank battles the ensued between the Soviet Union and Germany were massive. The Clash of Steel exhibit features two of the most advanced tanks along the Eastern Front: the Russian T-34/85 and the Panther Ausf. A. (that you can see facing off with the T-34/85).