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- What kinds of AFV's did you encounter most often -- tanks or self-propelled guns?

There were more tanks at the Sandomierz bridgehead. They were mainly Pz.IV and VI, no Panthers. There were also SPG's based on tank chassis. We saw equal quantities of tanks and SPG's in Silesia.

- Did the Germans use APC's in their attacks? Were their tanks supported by infantry?

- APC's did not participate in combat -- apparently, they were used only for transportation. Germans didn't use tank riders and their tanks were not supported by infantry. They attacked at high speed, I think no less than 15-20 km/h.

- Did the Germans have air support?

- German air support was insignificant. We had air superiority and I don't remember their armored attacks being supported from the air. They conducted reconnaissance, and also dropped bombs, but only from single aircraft.

- Did our air force help you?

- Yes. They used mainly IL-2's -- terrible things -- they mixed everything with earth. They worked very effectively. Their cannons could penetrate the top armor of tanks without any problems.

- What was the role of a platoon commander in an IPTAP?

- Almost none. Just watch over the general course of action. If the crews were trained there was generally nothing to do. Well, maybe look for some targets for the machine gunner.

- What was your attitude toward the enemy?

We had one goal -- do as much damage to them as possible. We did not feel enmity toward prisoners, although we treated Vlasovites simply -- they did not arrive to the prisoner collection points. I saw almost no German civilians. We entered empty towns in the part of Silesia where I was. Germans led the population away to their rear, leaving practically empty territory for us.

- What was your attitude toward the allies and Lend Lease?

- Of Lend Lease, I remember the "second front" tushonka and trucks, of course. Trucks were very good, especially Studebaker, Dodge, Chevrolet, but a GMC was worse than a Studebaker in all parameters. We thought of the allies with distrust most of the time. Although, when it was announced that the second front had been opened we felt joy, of course -- now it would be easier for us. But later they got stuck, we even had to help them out. So our attitude was not very benevolent.

- What strengths and weaknesses of German guns can you point out?

- When combat qualities are concerned, the 88mm guns installed on Tigers and Ferdinands were very accurate. Although, I don't know if that was connected with the gun itself or the sight, since their optics were excellent. But their field artillery was too complicated. There were very many various devices on a gun. This seemed like a shortcoming to me. It also couldn't be transported conveniently: all our guns had tires made of elastic resin. A gun wasn't as shaken during transportation, and its mechanisms were not upset. But Germans had either metal wheels, or those made of tight resin that absorbed shock badly. You had to recheck all sights after it got jolted during movements. Plus, their guns were heavier. As to the strengths, I would note excellent sights with illumination. The design of their guns even included a place for an accumulator. But it was difficult to work with ours in the darkness.

- How did you choose the position for an AT gun?

- A gun's position was chosen by trying to predict possible routes enemy vehicles would take so that they would present their sides to us, and also so that we could camouflage ourselves. Some placed their guns next to an already existing crater. Personally, I thought that choosing the position next to a crater was a superstition, and we never did that. In general, the guns of an AT battery were placed singly, and sometimes the distances between them reached 300 meters. So, if a tank advanced at one gun with its front armor, another would be able to hit its side.

- What were the difficulties in fighting Tigers?

- You could only shoot at a Tiger's glacis from about 100 meters, and only with a subcaliber shell. An armor piercing shell couldn't do it. But out of 150 rounds we only had 10 subcalibers. But, in general, we didn't need many, it was more likely that you would be hit before expending all ammunition during a serious action.

- How many tanks did you destroy?

- I don't know how many. If there were 5 kills per platoon -- that would be a lot.

- Did you try to finish off a tank so it would burn?

If a tank stopped after a direct hit and continued to fire -- then it had to be finished off. But if there was a successful hit against the side armor, the crew couldn't take and bailed out. So we didn't try to finish it off if there was no need.

- What did you try to hit?

- We tried to shoot at the sides. Although it seems to me that a gunner would shoot at the tank as a whole.