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| The Road Home (Synovya)
|
|
Modern DVD Cover
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| Country
|
 USSR
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| Directed by
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Aleksandr Ivanov
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| Release Date
|
1946
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| Language
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Russian
German
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| Studio
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Lenfilm
Riga Film Studios
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|
|
The Road Home (US release title; original title Synovya ("Sons")) is a Soviet B&W 1946 war drama, directed by Aleksandr Ivanov. The story is set in German occupied Latvia. A Latvian farmer Yanis is arrested by Germans, being suspected in helping partisans. He makes an escape but is arrested by his younger brother Valdemar who chooses to serve occupation power. Escaping again, Yanis joins a Soviet Latvian partisans unit. In order to capture Yanis, Germans use his family as a lure, but partisans outwit and defeat enemies.
The following weapons were used in the film The Road Home (Synovya):
Pistols
Tokarev TT-33
A partisan (Vasili Leonov) dual-wields TT-33 pistols when firing at German patrol. TT pistol is also seen in hands of a German soldier during the pursue after Yanis in forest.
Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Pre-1947 version.
An SS soldier with a dog participates in pursue after Yanis. His handgun appears to be a TT.
A partisan fires at German soldiers.
Luger P08
German officers and NCOs, including Major Von Grabbe (Vitali Politseymako), Oberleutnant Brenner (Grigoriy Shpigel) and Oberleutnant Rotter (Yu. Ototskiy), carry Luger P08 pistols.
A German NCO at the left holds a P08.
An SS soldier with a dog participates in pursue after Yanis. He holds a Luger.
Brenner holds a Luger during the pursue after Yanis in forest (he has insignia of SS Untersturmführer despite being credited as
Oberleutnant).
Brenner fires his Luger in another scene.
Rotter holds a Luger (he has insignia of SS Obersturmführer despite being credited as
Oberleutnant).
He fires at pursuing Yanis.
Grabbe, disguised as a woman, fires his Luger during grapple with Yanis.
Mauser C96
A Mauser C96 is used by a German soldier in one scene.
Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser
An SS soldier with a dog participates in pursue after Yanis. He holds a Mauser C96.
Submachine Guns
MP40
German soldiers, including Gefreiter Valdemar (Nikodim Gippius), and Soviet partisans use MP40 SMGs.
A soldier guards railroad.
An
Obergefreiter (
Lev Stepanov) fires at escaping Yanis and Andys (the character has insignia of SS Rotenführer).
The same character carries his MP40.
Valdemar holds an MP40 (at the left).
MP38
At least a single MP38 is seen in hands of a soldier from Brenner's SS unit.
Rifles
Karabiner 98k
SS soldiers carry Karabiner 98k rifles in numerous scenes. 98k rifles are also used by partisans.
Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Soldiers capture escaped Yanis (
Oleg Zhakov) and Andys (Pavel Shtraus).
An SS soldier holds a 98k rifle with bayonet.
A soldier on guard holds a 98k rifle with bayonet.
During the ambush on Yanis' farm most soldiers are armed with 98k rifles.
A partisan at the left holds a 98k rifle.
Yanis fires at Rotter in the final scene.
Another view of Yanis' rifle in the same scene.
Mauser vz. 16/33
In one scene Yanis (Oleg Zhakov) holds a rifle that appears to be Czech vz. 16/33 (German index Gewehr 33/40 (t)).
Czech vz. 16/33 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Yanis holds a Mauser rifle. Note the groove on stock that allows to differ this rifle from Karabiner 98k.
A good view of vz. 16/33 rifle in hands of German soldier. Note the groove on stock that allows to differ this rifle from Karabiner 98k.
Mauser Gewehr 98
A full length Mauser rifle is seen in hands of a soldier during the ambush on Yanis' farm. This are most likely a Mauser Gewehr 98 of post-1918 version (it has a flat rear sight rather that Lange-Visier) or its Czech or Polish 1920s derivative.
Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
BRNO Vz.98/22 Czech Mauser - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A standing soldier holds a full length Mauser rifle.
Unidentified Mauser Rifle
Short Mauser rifles with side mounted sling swivels are seen in several scenes (probably a single reused prop). Such unusual position of swivels is common for cavalry models of Mauser 98 family.
Yanis (
Oleg Zhakov) holds a rifle, captured from a German soldier. The bottom sling swivel is seen.
The rifle has straight bolt handle and a groove on stock.
The top sling swivel is seen.
What appears to be the same rifle with side mounted swivels is seen in hands of a soldier on motorcycle.
Machine Guns
Degtyaryov DP-27
Soviet partisans use a DP-27 during the attack on German headquarters. A DP is also seen mounted on a motorcycle of Red Army unit.
Degtyaryov DP-27 - 7.62x54mm R
A DP is seen mounted on motorcycle.
Degtyaryov DA
Degtyaryov DA machine guns are seen mounted on motorcycles of Red Army unit. This is correct as DA machine guns, outdated for aircraft service, were sometimes converted for land service and mounted on cars and motorcycles.
DA machine gun - 7.62x54mm R
DA machine guns are mounted on motorcycles. The shape and position of front sights allows to differ DA from similar looking DT.
MG 34
German soldiers and Soviet partisans use MG 34 machine guns in several scenes.
An MG 34 is seen on the top of the train with prisoners.
An MG 34 is deployed in ambush on Yanis' farm.
A partisan carries an MG34 at the background during the attack of German headquarters.
Other Weapons
OSSh-42 Flare Pistol
A partisan (Vasili Leonov) uses a flare pistol in one scene. It looks similar to SPSh Flare Pistol but seems to have a trigger guard so it is supposed be an OSSh-42, earlier flare pistol also designed by Georgy Shpagin.
OSSh-42 Flare Pistol - 26.5mm
RM-40 Mortar
A Soviet 50mm RM-40 light mortar is used by German soldiers. Later partisans use the same mortar.
Soviet 50-mm RM-40 Mortar
SS soldiers with a mortar. The shape of bipod allows to differ RM-40 from similar RM-38.
Partisans raise a mortar on rooftop.
Trivia
Holsters
In the final scene Valdemar carries a universal holster for
Walther P38 and Luger P08.
Armour
In the final scene Red Army soldiers use Lend-Lease M3 Scout Car armoured cars.
152mm ML-20 gun-howitzers are seen in documentary footage.
Katyusha rocket launchers are seen in documentary footage.
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