A study of over 40 types of tanks that served with the Soviet armored forces before 1945, detailing their development and use from the early days of the tank arm in the 1920s, through the purges of the late 1930s and the German invasion in 1941, to the epic tank battle of Kursk, and eventual victory in the streets of Berlin. Covers the various tanks ranged against Hitler in World War II, divided into categories for easy comparison: light tanks, medium tanks, late war tanks and foreign tanks in Soviet service.

Includes index.

The birth of the tank arm -- Deep battle -- Light tanks -- Medium and fast tanks -- The T-34 Heavy tanks -- Late war tanks -- Foreign tanks in Soviet service -- Stalin's legacy.