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The Imaginary War Heroes

During World War Two, Soviet propaganda promoted a heroic feat that never happened. It was the story of a small ill-equipped unit who destroyed over a dozen German tanks.

During World War Two, Soviet propaganda promoted a heroic feat that never happened. It was the story of a small ill-equipped unit who destroyed over a dozen German tanks, delaying the German advance on Moscow. But it's unlikely that they destroyed a single tank, despite being widely promoted as heroes, during and after the war. Dina Newman tells the story.

Photo: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev walks near World War Two veterans at a wreath-laying ceremony in Dubosekovo on May 7, 2010 during a visit to a memorial to the 28 Panfilov heroes. Credit: Dmitry Astakhov/AFP/Getty Images.

50 minutes

Last on

Mon 16 May 2016 03:06GMT

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  • Sat 14 May 2016 08:06GMT
  • Sat 14 May 2016 10:06GMT
  • Sun 15 May 2016 01:06GMT
  • Sun 15 May 2016 21:06GMT
  • Mon 16 May 2016 03:06GMT

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