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History
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Eisenbahn-Panzerzug 51 (wide gauge), was initially a Streckenschützzug,
or track-protection train, before it was converted to an Eisenbahn-Panzerzug
in June of 1942. After Operation Barbarossa began, surplus Soviet rolling
stocks were combined to form ad-hoc train units armed with non-repairable
Soviet tanks. Eisenbahn-Panzerzug 51 was one of these units. Conversion in
this case consisted of adding four Soviet BT-7 tank turrets to its offensive
armament. Prior to the conversion, Panzerzug 51 was listed in German records
as Streckenschützzug Stettin.
A short while after conversion, Panzerzug 51 was assigned to Heeresgruppe
Nord. Its immediate function were to replace the May 1942 damaged Panzerzug 6
(standard gauge 1.435mm) withdrawn from front-line service. Panzerzug 51
found itself in Valga/Valka (Walk) in Estonia in August of 1944 where it was
either destroyed in battle or abandoned by its crew.
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