Heroes of Shipka (Geroite na Shipka)

Heroes of Shipka (Geroite na Shipka) Russian Poster Country Bulgaria USSR Directed by Sergey Vasilyev Release Date 1955 Language Russian Bulgarian Studio Boyana Film Bulgar Film Lenfilm Main Cast Character Actor Ivan Katorgin Ivan Pereverzev Stepan Osnobishin Viktor Avdyushko Sashko Kozir Georgiy Yumatov Makar Lizyuta Konstantin Sorokin Panayot Stefan Pejchev Petko Apostol Karamitev Borimechka Petko Karlukovsky Gen. Mikhail Skobelev Evgeniy Samoylov Gen. Fyodor Radetsky Aleksandr Kireev Gen. Nikolay Stoletov Vladimir Chobur

Heroes of Shipka (Bulgarian title Geroite na Shipka, Russian title Geroi Shipki) is a 1955 Bulgarian-Soviet epic historical war movie directed by Sergey Vasilyev. It depicts the events of Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, especially focusing on the Battle of Shipka Pass.

The following weapons were used in the film Heroes of Shipka (Geroite na Shipka):

Handguns

Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873

Russian and Bulgarian officers carry revolvers that appear to be French Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873. In reality Chamelot-Delvigne was never issued to Russian or Bulgarian armies; the service Russian revolver of this war was Smith & Wesson No.3 Russian Model.

Chamelot-Delvigne Mle. 1873 (factory bare finish) - 11x17mmR

Russian Gen. Nikolay Stoletov (Vladimir Chobur) holds a revolver during the battle on Shipka Pass.

Gen. Stoletov fires his revolver.

A Russian officer holds a revolver during the attack on Turkish fortification of Pleven.

Maj. Gortalov (Konstantin Starostin) in action with sword and revolver.

Flintlock Pistol

Oriental-style Flintlock Pistols are briefly seen, carried by Bulgarian Hajduk rebels and Turkish bashi-bazouk irregular troops.

Turkish Flintlock Pistol

A bashi-bazouk grapples a flintlock pistol while trying to escape from a Cossack.

Submachine Guns

PPS-43

In the final scene that is set in September 1944 a Soviet Cossack Sergeant carries a PPS-43.

PPS-43 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

A Cossack Sergeant with a PPS-43 on sling salutes to the monument on Shipka Pass.

PPSh-41

In the same scene numerous PPSh-41s are also seen.

PPSh-41 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

A number of Soviet soldiers, standing in formation, carry PPSh-41s (seen in circled area).

Rifles

Berdan No.2 Rifle

All Russian and most Bulgarian infantry soldiers are armed with Berdan No.2 full-length rifle, fitted with bayonets. Some Turkish soldiers also use Berdan rifle, probably due to insufficient amount of Peabody-Martini rifles.

Russian Berdan No.2 (M1870) Infantry rifle - 10.67x58mm R

Russian soldiers with Berdan rifles climb the high bank of Danube.

The aged soldier Ivan Katorgin (Ivan Pereverzev) reloads his rifle. Next to him Cossack Makar Lizyuta (Konstantin Sorokin) holds a Berdan carbine.

A Russian soldier at the background fires a Berdan rifle.

A good view of Berdan rifle in hands of Petko (Apostol Karamitev).

Russain soldiers with Berdan rifles on march.

Stepan Osnobishin (Viktor Avdyushko) holds a Berdan.

A Berdan rifle is seen over the body of Russian soldier.

Russian soldiers in bayonet charge.

Berdan No.2 Carbine

Russian Cossacks are armed with Berdan No.2 Carbines.

Berdan No.2 Carbine at the bottom

Two Cossacks hold Berdan carbines during the crossing of Danube.

Cossacks carry Berdan carbines on sling.

Sashko Kozir (Georgiy Yumatov) fires a carbine single-hand.

Boyana (Zheni Bozhinova) fires a carbine. Next to her Petko (Apostol Karamitev) holds a full-length Berdan rifle.

Sashko Kozir fires a carbine.

Makar Lizyuta (Konstantin Sorokin) reloads his carbine.

Another view of Lizyuta's carbine.

Krnka M1869 Rifle

Some Bulgarian soldiers are seen with Krnka M1869 Rifles.

Russian M1869 Krnka Rifle - 15,24x40mmR

A Bulgarian soldier on the bow of a boat fires a Krnka rifle during the crossing of Danube.

Another view of the same scene.

Peabody-Martini Rifle

Many Turkish soldiers are armed with Peabody-Martini rifles.

Martini-Henry Mk. I (1871-1876) - .577-.450 caliber. Turkish Peabody-Martini rifle, chambered in 11.43x55R, was very close to British Mk.I.

Ottoman soldiers in attack with Peabody-Martini rifles with spear bayonets.

A soldier with Peabody-Martini climbs on a cliff.

A shot Turk drops his rifle.

Unidentified rifles

Some Bulgarian soldiers carry rifles with Mle 1866 Yataghan sword bayonets. These bayonets were issued for Chassepot 1866 but the screen rifles look different. In reaity Chassepot was a service rifle of Bulgarian troops in the early part of the war (about 20,000 Chassepot were purchased in Germany where they were stored after French-Prussian war); later these rifles were replaced with Krnka rifles.

Panayot (Stefan Pejchev) holds a rifle with bayonet.

Another view of the same scene.

The stock of the rifle is seen.

A good view of Yataghan sword bayonets.

More Bulgarian soldiers with unknown rifles.

Trivia

Artillery

Both Russian and Turkish troops use breech-loading cannons. Most of them appear to be Russian M1867 or M1877 guns (both models have same outlook) of several various calibers.

Turkish artillery fires at Russian troops, crossing Danube. These guns are of 6-inch caliber.

Turkish artillerymen at 6-inch cannon.

Russian artillery readies to open fire. These guns are supposed to be 4-pounder (86.7mm) field cannons.

Russian soldiers tug a field cannon over a mountain road.

A close view of Turkish cannon of probably 6-inch caliber.

Armor

In the final scene that is set in September 1944 Soviet T-34-85 tanks and SU-76M SPGs are seen.

A SU-76M.

A pair of T-34-85.