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Last T-34 Tank left miraculously undamaged after the link-up at the Elbe River

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Last T-34 Tank left miraculously undamaged after the link-up at the Elbe River


11.04.2017

Estonian collector of military hardware Mikk Lohmus saved the only undamaged T-34 left after the historic link-up between Soviet and American soldiers at the Elbe River on April 24, 1945 from being cut into waste metal, according to RIA Novosti.

Mikk Lohmus managed to restore history around the saved T-34-85. The vehicle was manufactured at the Ural tank factory and sent to the front line.

After the war, Estonian authorities set the tank at the pedestal. The gala opening of the monument coincided with 40th anniversary of the Emajogi river crossing. After the USSR collapse, local authorities decided to pull down the monument, however the collector was brave enough to buy the tank out.

When the land tank became the property of Mikk Lohmus, the collector started to search for related information in archives and different document sources. He was very surprised to find out that his tank was the only saved vehicle out of all tanks participating at the line-up at the Elbe in April 1945.

Mikk could not find any information about the crew, but he was very happy to save the tank, as now people would have an opportunity to look at it.

In view of Lohmus, the memory about heroic past ought to be preserved; otherwise, we will be doomed to repeat the mistakes leading to wars and people’s tragedies.

Russkiy Mir

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