There were far more wagons used by European Armies to move things during WW 2 than many are aware of. From Artillery to you name it, the wagon could move it all cheaper, if not faster, than anything motorized. In many areas where combat occurred outside of a strong road network, wagons could be far more efficient than trucks or halftracks as well. In most cases, motorized transports were organized into their own units. These were often assigned to move units/supplies on a temporary, rather than a permanantly assigned, basis. Getting a sorely needed Infantry unit to a frontline combat position in a hurry is just one example of how motorized supply might be used. This had to be something that was practically applied where it could serve to best advantage. On the Eastern Front, not all terrain was best suited to motorized equipment. The humble wagon did not depend on good traction alone in order to move forward and it's weight, unlike halftracks, was nowhere near as prohibitive in mud. It is, of course, granted that some Eastern front mud could stop anything wheeled or tracked, including wagons. Wagons were more often the type of transport assigned permanantly to foot units for the routine hauling of equipment and supplies too heavy to be thrown into a backpack or slung over a shoulder. Such equipment might have had a low priority, (and was often left behind under conditions of fast advance or retreat) but nevertheless had it's purpose. The gait of the horses in this photo suggests that these wagons are pulling routine stuff. Note how the motorized equipment is on the 'high road' while the wagons seem to be operating on a 'low road'. The truck to the right seems to be of the 'Maultier' halftrack variety. This church is typical of hundreds put up by the Eastern Orthodox church across several centuries from medeaval times to the early 20th century. Their lock on the East is well known through the history books and well shown through their architecture.

said EStrongblade 5 days ago

I hope historians interested in Russian churches (many of which may not have survived the war and may have been poorly documented photographically otherwise) have seen this site. This collection has a lot of pictures of churches in it.

said subsidiarity 2007.05.31 at 15:06:32 PDT

horse power :)

said billi_bons 2007.03.03 at 12:02:03 PST

Convoy, more wagons than trucks.

said jnvogler 2006.07.16 at 12:37:38 PDT