Stug IIIs knocked-out in Soviet's Bagration offensive, foreground is late version with Saukopf gun mantle, background is early version with trapezoid mantle but lacks gun muzzle brake. Both have their hull roofs ripped open but explosions, possibly by Soviet ground-attack aircrafts. In all, Germans lost about of 2,000 tanks and 57,000 other vehicles in this battle.

Rollover : ( Rollover JPG link ) Soviet armor crews examine abandoned Stug III with schurzen, frontal applique armor, and bolted spare tracks on hull. Both crewmen wear armor jump suits, one on left has also iconic Soviet armor headgear which contained radio headphones and padded head lining. By 1990s, this design was finally adopted by NATO forces. Soviet 1944 Tank Crew Headgear - www.aboutww2militaria.com/September2006/tankhelmet1.html

Inset 1 : Soviet Katyusha rocket barrage against German positions as offensive commenced. Katyusha (Slavic for Little Kate or Katie) was nickname for 132mm M-13 unguided rocket artillery, its launching platform mounted on variety of Soviet tracked and wheeled vehicles. These rockets are fired in volleys to saturate a specific locale, impacts of which was absolutely deafening, surviving German veterans remarked being caught in this barrage would witness bodies blown into air, ripped asunder, or simply disappear after being shredded by explosive concussion. Katyusha - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyusha

Interestingly, with chronic military hardware shortages, Germans regularly impressed enemy vehicles into their service, hence Katyusha rocket launchers were also extensively used by its Ostfront forces. Soviet vehicles in German service - www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=5559

Inset 2 : StugG40 (abbreviation for 7.5cm Sturmgeschutz 40 Ausf G, number 40 referred to 7.5cm StuK40 L/48 gun) destroyed at log bridge approach in Ostfront, internal ammunition detonation blew out upper hull, right drive sprocket and tracks, and left gun mount ajar. The Russian Battlefield - www.battlefield.ru

From 1942 to 1945, about 7,900 StugG40 vehicles were produced, distributed among 28 independent Sturmgeschutz units, 4 divisional Sturmgeschutz units, 2 Funklenk (radio steer or radio remote-control demolition) companies, and 12 Sturmgeschutz platoons assigned to Luftwaffe Field Divisions. Success of Sturmgeschutz units in anti-tank engagements spread its usage among Panzer and Panzerjager (tank destroyer) units. Funklenk Panzertruppen And Mine Clearing Vehicles - www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1107745/posts

Inset 3 : This Stug has definitely seen better days, its rusted hulk shows shades of lime green and medium tan indicating Finnish camouflaged Stug III. This one survived the war, but after a few decades as WW2 relic, it was dragged to gunnery range for target practice.

Note side hull also has faded mark of WW2-era Finnish Hakaristi (localized Sun Wheel symbol) insignia over impression of German Iron Cross national insignia. The Finnish Swastika - www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6577

Finland forestalled 1939-1940 Soviet invasion attempt (called the Winter War), but allied with Germany in 1941 to safeguard its security, thus supplied with German armor inventories. The End of the Winter War - www.winterwar.com/War%27sEnd.htm

Stug supplied to Finland came with full German markings and camouflage, Finns simply painted over existing camouflage with their own forest green - red brown - tan variant, along with their Hakaristi national insignia. Finland Sturmgeschütz 40 G # Ps. 531-25 - www.andreaslarka.net/ps531025/ps531025.html

Unfortunately, with German Ostfront military collapse by July 1944, Finland compelled to sign separate armistice with Soviet Union and declare war against Germany in Sept 1944. Remaining German troops trapped in Finland fought a successful slow retreat into northern German-occupied Norway via Lapland region, hence battles was called The Lapland War. Military History of Finland during World War II - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Finland_during_World_War_II