Russian Medium Tank T-34

The T-34 represents a family of Soviet medium tanks, produced continuously from 1940 to 1958, that formed the backbone of the armored forces of the Soviet Union throughout the Second World War and beyond. The impact of the T-34 was both profound and enduring. It radically influenced combat operations on the Eastern Front and established a new design concept for tanks, serving as a precursor to the modern main battle tank (MBT). Its development led directly to the T-44 and later to the T-54, T-55, and T-62 series, which still constitute the armored core of many armies today. Its longevity is evident in the fact that, following massive postwar exports, more than 80 units remained in active service in some countries at least until 2023.