The White Devil, that is what the Germans called a Soviet armoured train which operated in the central sector of the front before Moscow, and with good reason. Painted white it was next to impossible to distinguish it against the wintery landscape, so when its guns were in action with suddenness so unexpected as to seem un-canny. For long it harassed the German lines, and for just as long the enemy had striven their hardest to capture it. In the defence of Sevastopol, and again before Leningrad such trains were often used and they had also cooperated extensively with the bands of guerilla partisans operating behind the German lines. Here you can see a dramatic representation of an engagement in a Russian forest. Guerillas (1) have reported the presence of an enemy supply column, and the armoured train has moved forward. First the small armoured car (2) fitted with flanged wheels, makes a reconnaissance and returns to report to the train commander (3) Now the reconnaissance officer gives directions to the guerillas. The train commander is seen telephoning instructions to the forward gun car, which has opened fire on the enemy. An observation platform (4) these were built and used by the guerillas, is manned to note results of the shooting. Meanwhile, in the commander’s car the gunners are loading (5) whilst shells are brought from the magazine. (6) These trains mounted 75.mm. or even larger guns, mortars, and machine-guns (7) were also carried. The whole train was armour-plated, in places with two separate layers. The powerful locomotive was between the gun cars, and at either end are wagons loaded with logs (8) these were to take the first shock of any mines laid on the tracks. The quadruple M.G batteries at (9) can be lowered when not required and the lid to the cupola pulled over. On the left of the drawing a body of Red cavalry is seen galloping into position for attack when the shelling ceased.
