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Still Rolling: The T-34 Tank

Russia has imported 30 T-34 tanks from Laos -- because it needs them for military parades, exhibitions, and making movies. The T-34 is a Soviet tank icon, used in conflicts from 1940 until as late as the 1990s.

Workers assemble a T-34 tank at the Uralmash Machine-Building Plant during World War II in Sverdlovsk, U.S.S.R., 1942.
1 Workers assemble a T-34 tank at the Uralmash Machine-Building Plant during World War II in Sverdlovsk, U.S.S.R., 1942.
Soviet engineer Mikhail Koshkin, chief designer of the T-34 tank, pictured in Moscow in 1933.
2 Soviet engineer Mikhail Koshkin, chief designer of the T-34 tank, pictured in Moscow in 1933.
Production began in 1940. This photo shows 1940 and 1941 models.
3 Production began in 1940. This photo shows 1940 and 1941 models.
A T-34 on fire, after Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.
4 A T-34 on fire, after Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.
Soviet troops follow their T-34 tanks during an attack against German forces during the Battle of Kursk, 1943.
5 Soviet troops follow their T-34 tanks during an attack against German forces during the Battle of Kursk, 1943.
Workers assemble a T-34 tank in a workshop of the Kirov tank-manufacturing plant in Chelyabinsk, U.S.S.R., 1943.
6 Workers assemble a T-34 tank in a workshop of the Kirov tank-manufacturing plant in Chelyabinsk, U.S.S.R., 1943.
ISU-152 self-propelled guns and T-34 battle tanks produced by the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, 1943.
7 ISU-152 self-propelled guns and T-34 battle tanks produced by the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, 1943.
T-34 battle tanks engage in a night battle against German forces, 1943.
8 T-34 battle tanks engage in a night battle against German forces, 1943.
A T-34 on a city street in Sevastopol, Crimea, after the city was liberated by the Red Army from the Nazi German occupation in 1944.
9 A T-34 on a city street in Sevastopol, Crimea, after the city was liberated by the Red Army from the Nazi German occupation in 1944.
German troops of 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" rest in front of a destroyed T-34 in Romania, 1944.
10 German troops of 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" rest in front of a destroyed T-34 in Romania, 1944.
Lieutenant Vasily Sarafonov, a T-34 tank commander, poses for a photo in Port Arthur during the campaign against Japan in 1945.
11 Lieutenant Vasily Sarafonov, a T-34 tank commander, poses for a photo in Port Arthur during the campaign against Japan in 1945.
A Soviet-made North Korean T-34 on fire after being hit by an American tank during the Korean War, September 9, 1950.
12 A Soviet-made North Korean T-34 on fire after being hit by an American tank during the Korean War, September 9, 1950.
A Soviet T-34 amid a crowd of demonstrators in East Berlin during the East German uprising, June 17, 1953.
13 A Soviet T-34 amid a crowd of demonstrators in East Berlin during the East German uprising, June 17, 1953.
Germans throwing rocks against Soviet T-34 tanks on Leipziger Strasse, East Berlin, June 17, 1953.
14 Germans throwing rocks against Soviet T-34 tanks on Leipziger Strasse, East Berlin, June 17, 1953.
A T-34-85, an upgraded version produced from 1944, on a street in Odessa, U.S.S.R., in 1963. This photo was taken by French citizen Julien Galeotti, who was accused of spying and expelled from the Soviet Union. 
15 A T-34-85, an upgraded version produced from 1944, on a street in Odessa, U.S.S.R., in 1963. This photo was taken by French citizen Julien Galeotti, who was accused of spying and expelled from the Soviet Union. 
An ethnic Serbian fighter next to a Soviet-made T-34/76A medium tank built during World War II, in Knin, Croatia, on February 3, 1993.
16 An ethnic Serbian fighter next to a Soviet-made T-34/76A medium tank built during World War II, in Knin, Croatia, on February 3, 1993.
A battle-damaged Bosnian T-34 tank, January 26, 1996.
17 A battle-damaged Bosnian T-34 tank, January 26, 1996.
A T-34 tank beside a snow-covered bank in Bosnia-Herzegovina, february 28, 1996.
18 A T-34 tank beside a snow-covered bank in Bosnia-Herzegovina, february 28, 1996.
Railway cars carry T-34 tanks handed over by Laos, at Chita railway station in eastern Russia, January 13, 2019.
19 Railway cars carry T-34 tanks handed over by Laos, at Chita railway station in eastern Russia, January 13, 2019.
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