T-34 is a Soviet medium tank of the Second World War. When introduced, its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was more powerful than its contemporaries, and its 60 degree angled armor provided good protection against anti-tank weapons. The T-34 had a profound impact on the conflict on the Eastern Front and had a lasting impact on tank design. The tank was highly regarded by many German generals when it met during Operation Barbarossa, although its armor and armament were surpassed later in the war. However, its main advantage was cost and production time, which meant that German tank forces were often pitted against Soviet tank forces that were several times outnumbered. The T-34 is also an important part of the mechanized divisions that form the basis of the Deep Battle Strategy. The T-34 was the mainstay of the armored forces of the Soviet Red Army throughout the war. Its general characteristics remained largely unchanged until early 1944, when it received improved firepower with the introduction of the greatly improved T-34-85 variant. Its production methods were constantly improved and rationalized to meet the needs of the Eastern Front, thanks to which the production of the T-34 became faster and cheaper. Ultimately, the Soviet Union built more than 80,000 T-34s of all variants, allowing for a steady increase in numbers, despite losing tens of thousands in combat against the German Wehrmacht. Having replaced many light and medium tanks in service with the Red Army, it became the most produced tank of the war, as well as the second most produced tank of all time (after its successor, the T-54/T-55 series). With 44,900 lost during the war, it also suffered the highest tank losses in history. Its development led directly to the T-44 tank series, then the T-54 and T-55, which in turn evolved into the later T-62, which forms the armored core of many modern armies. Variants of the T-34 were widely exported after World War II, and by 2010 more than 130 were still in service.
