got this from youtube obisliy this is copyed from else where.
19 August 1943, Smolensk region
During a couple of days the Soviet forces tried to capture the hill, that was became a citadel by the Hitler's Army.
After some unsuccessful attacks an extraordinarily unit was joined the battle.
The Germans threw a massive fire on it, but the Russian soldiers as if didn't felt it.
Nikolay Nikifofrov, the vice-president of the War History Institute, DM, Russia says:
"The brigade had got the body armor.
One of the Russian soldiers had a jam of his weapon during the assault. The Germany officer discharged on him the whole cage of handgun.
The soldier was quickly recovered from the first shock and by one rifle butt smack finished the Nazi'.
They were the fighters of a Russian engineer storm-brigade.
In addition to the body armor, they were equipped with automatic assault rifles, anti-tank anti-material rifles and grenades.
They also were worn in camouflage.
Despite squally fire the 'panzer infantry' quickly closed to enemy and open the close fighting.
"Now the hill was captured literally during an hour. That hill was inaccessible during two weeks.
During the attack the brigade lost only 2 combatants killed and 19 wounded".
Until the end of the War, only 15 such units were established.
They were the Lead Commander reserve and appeared where the regular infantry proved to be unsuccessful.
However, those storm-brigades couldn't become the basis of Red Army.
The fighting then happened on the huge territory. Thousands of soldiers were died each day.
It was quite impossible to fill up the Army with full equipped, high-skill infantry units.
Thus, the regular infantry has been equipped with inexpensive light weapon, equipment and closing
YouTube - Russian body armor in WW2
