Among the heavy armor on display at the “Breakthrough of the Siege of Leningrad” Museum-Reserve, one exhibit immediately commands attention: a Soviet KV-1 heavy tank painted in winter white. Behind its stark appearance lies a extraordinary story of Eastern Front combat, sunken history, and modern recovery.
Manufactured at the famous Leningrad Kirov Plant (LKZ) in September 1941, serial number 5207 stands as a rare surviving testament to the desperate battle for Leningrad.
Assigned to the 123rd Tank Brigade
Upon production, tank #5207 was designated turret number 226 and assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion of the 123rd Tank Brigade. Notably, every single KV-1 tank recovered from the depths of the Neva River in modern times belonged to this exact same brigade.
At the time of its combat deployment, the crew was led by two key officers:
- Tank Commander: Junior Lieutenant V. N. Yermolaev
- Driver-Mechanic: Comrade Pavlov
In late November 1941, operating under the 2nd Tank Company, the vehicle was transported into the ferocious battle for the Nevsky Pyatachok bridgehead.
Action at Nevsky Pyatachok
On November 30, 1941, during heavy fighting at the bridgehead, tank #5207 sustained significant damage. For his leadership and heroism during this combat action, Junior Lieutenant Yermolaev was awarded a military order.
“Judging by the fact that the tank’s running gear was found to be intact after its recovery, with the exception of one road wheel, it appears that the tank was repaired during its time at the bridgehead.”
The Final Mission on the Ice
In early 1942, the tank was reassigned to the 48th Separate Tank Battalion. Its final combat mission occurred on February 9, 1942, during a treacherous evacuation operation across the frozen Neva River while under intense enemy shelling.
Official military records from that day describe the exact circumstances of its loss:
“At the 8th crossing, having moved 20 meters upstream from the bank of the Neva River and 10 meters from the crossing (Neva area), the ice around the vehicle was broken and it sank. Two shells struck the engine and the driver’s hatch; the vehicle was under fire from the Arbuzovo area.”
Recovery and Preservation
For over 65 years, the white KV-1 remained at the bottom of the Neva River, preserved in the icy freshwater.
On October 16, 2007, salvage teams successfully raised hull #5207 from the riverbed. Today, fully restored and painted in its wartime white camouflage, it stands on permanent exhibition at the Museum-Reserve, honoring the defenders of Leningrad.
