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Strong with Spirit
(Silnye dukhom)
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Original Poster
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| Country
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 USSR
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| Directed by
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Viktor Georgiyev
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| Release Date
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1967
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| Language
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Russian
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| Studio
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Sverdlovsk Film Studio
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Strong with Spirit (Silnye dukhom) is a Soviet 1967 B&W two-part war movie directed by Viktor Georgiyev. It depicts the life and activities of Nikolay Ivanovich Kuznetsov, a Soviet intelligence officer and partisan who operated in Nazi-occupied Ukraine in 1942-1944. Acting under disguise of a German officer (mainly as Oberleutnant Paul Siebert), Kuznetsov personally assassinated a number of high-ranking German officials.
This film is the first screen representation of Nikolay Kuznetsov, followed by 1987 mini-series Otryad spetsyalnogo naznacheniya, made by same Sverdlovsk Film Studio.
The following weapons were used in the film Strong with Spirit (Silnye dukhom):
Pistols
TT-33
A TT-33 is seen during the training in close combat in Soviet intelligence service school.
Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Post-1947 version
Voronchyuk (Evgeniy Vesnik) knockes out a TT from hand of another trainee.
Walther PP
While acting as Oberleutnant (later Hauptmann (Capt.)) Paul Wilhelm Siebert, Nikolay Ivanovich Kuznetsov (Gunars Cilinskis) mainly uses a Walther PP.
War Time Walther PP Pistol - 7.65x17mm
Kuznetsov readies his pistol in the scene on a secret address when the Soviet radio station is triangulated by enemy.
During the attack on von Grahn's escort Kuznetsov holds his usual Walther PP and a
Walther P38, dropped by runaway German officer. Due to a continuity error, later in same sequence both Walthers switch to a
Luger P08 (see below).
Another view of two Kuznetsov's Walthers.
One more view of the same scene.
Kuznetsov draws his Walther PP when he meets Polish resistance fighter Jan Kaminski.
A perfect view of the Walther PP in same scene.
Kuznetsov holds a Walther PP in another scene.
Walther P38
In several scenes Kuznetsov uses a Walther P38. Some Soviet intelligence officers and German officers also carry P38s.
Kuznetsov holds a P38 during the attack on von Grahn's escort. In next moment he is seen with a Walther PP and then - with both pistols.
Kuznetsov holds a P38 in same scene.
Kuznetsov holds a P38 (according to the story, it is the same pistol that was dropped by
Oberstleutnant).
A closeup of the pistol. In this scene
Oberstleutnant calls his gun "14-shot Walther".
Kuznetsov fires at SS Oberführer Alfred Funk.
Kuznetsov holds a P38 when he stops a car with a German officer.
Luger P08
During the attack on Oberst (Col.) von Grahn and his escort, Kuznetsov's Walther switches to a Luger P08. Some German officers also use P08s.
Von Grahn's adjutant, an
Oberleutnant (
Anatoliy Romashin) holds a P38 when trying to escape during the attack of Kuznetsov's group.
He fires at pursuing Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov also holds a P08 instead of previous seen Walther PP and Walther P38.
Another view of Kuznetsov's Luger.
The
Oberleutnant is shot and drops his pistol.
German special group fire Lugers during the training for
Unternehmen Weitsprung ("Operation Long Jump"), a plan to assassinate the Big Three at the 1943 Tehran Conference.
Major von Ortel (
Yuri Volkov), the head of special group, holds a Luger.
Mauser C96
Col. Dmitriy Nikolaevich Medvedev (Ivan Pereverzev), the commander of Soviet special unit, carries a Mauser C96 pistol.
Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser
Medvedev carries a Mauser in wooden holster.
The grip with lanyard ring is seen.
Another view of Medvedev's Mauser in holster.
Unidentified pistol
A pistol is briefly seen in hands of an SS officer during the assassination attempt on Oberführer Alfred Funk. The pistol resmbles M1911 or Vis wz. 35 but it's hard to say for sure.
For comparison: Vis wz. 35 - 9x19mm
An officer holds a pistol.
The pistol is seen very blurry due to fast motion but its size can be estimated.
Submachine Guns
PPSh-41
Soviet partisans widely use PPSh-41 submachine guns. Most of PPSh-41s are fitted with drum magazines, but stick magazines are also seen in one scene.
PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
PPSh-41 with 35-round box magazine - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
A PPSh on the base of Medvedev's partisans unit.
Partisans, disguised as
Hilfspolizei personnel, fire their PPSh-41s during the attack on von Grahn's escort.
A disguised partisan fires a PPSh in same scene.
A partisan at the background holds a PPSh.
Several PPSh-41s are seen on partisans base.
Partisans on winter march. PPSh-41s with both drum and stick magazines are seen.
Another view of the same scene. A PPSh with a stick magazine is seen at the background right.
A good view of a PPSh-41 of a partisan.
MP40
Most German soldiers are armed with MP40s. Nikolay Kuznetsov (Gunars Cilinskis), Jan Kaminski (Paul Butkevich) and Belotinskiy (Yuriy Bogolyubov) use MP40s during the final battle of the group.
Note: see additional images on talk page.
A partisan, disguised as a
Hilfspolizei, fires an MP40 during the attack on von Grahn's escort.
Guards at the Reichskommissariat Ukraine headquarters.
Kuznetsov's driver Belotinskiy holds an MP40.
Kuznetsov fires an MP40 during the last battle of his group.
Jan Kaminski fires an MP40.
A German soldier fires an MP40.
Assault Rifles
AK
Out of time AKs are briefly seen in several scenes. It's hard to differ if these are AK-47s or AKMs but AK-47 is more credible for 1967 movie.
For comparison: AK-47 with laminated stock - 7.62x39mm
A
Hilfspolizei at the left holds an AK.
A German officer, helping wounded
Oberstleutnant, holds an AK (typical outlook can be seen).
Rifles
Mosin Nagant M1891/30
Mosin Nagant M1891/30 rifles are seen in hands of Soviet soldiers.
Full-length, Soviet Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R
Soviet soldiers with M91/30 rifles in a lorry on Moscow street. They have bayonets, attached backwards (an exclusively cinematic practice, in reality banned by service manuals).
Karabiner 98k
Some German soldiers and Soviet partisans are armed with Karabiner 98k rifles.
Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A partisan carries a 98k rifle.
German soldiers in the APC hold 98k rifles and
MP40 SMGs.
A 98k rifle is seen on partisans base.
German soldiers carry 98k rifles.
Other Weapons
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
A Model 24 Stielhandgranate is seen in hands of Jan Kaminski (Paul Butkevich).
Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade
Kaminski holds a grenade during the last battle of Kuznestov's group.
45mm 53-K AT Gun
45mm 53-K AT gun, standing for German 3.7 cm Pak 35/36, is seen in the column of German troops on the street of the town of Rovno.
M1937 (53-K) anti-tank gun - 45mm (1.77 in)
Trivia
Holsters
An SS officer carries a
TT-33 holster.
Voronchyuk (Evgeniy Vesnik) carries a TT holster (at the left).
Gettel carries a universal holster for P08 and P38.
Kuznetsov carries a Walther PP holster.
Armour
Soviet post-war BTR-152 APCs, standing for German half-track Sd.Kfz. 251, are seen in the column of German troops on the street of the town of Rovno.
Two BTR-152, one of them tows a 45mm AT gun.
Mosin Nagant M1891/30
Full-length, Soviet Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R
Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbine
Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbine - 7.62x54mm R
SVT-40
Tokarev SVT-40 - 7.62x54mmR
MG 34
A German soldier carries an
MG 34.
Degtyaryov DT
DT machine gun - 7.62x54mm R
Berezin UBK
Berezin UBK (for the wings) - 12.7x108mm
A closeup of Pe-2. The barrel of frontal
Berezin UBK machine gun is seen.
Artillery
Soviet
Katyusha rocket launchers in action during the Battle of Stalingrad.
152mm ML-20 gun-howitzer in action during the Battle of Stalingrad.
A row of ML-20s during the Battle of Stalingrad.
152mm BR-2 heavy guns during the Battle of Kursk.
Katyusha rocket launchers during the Battle of Kursk.
BR-2 gun is transported during the Soviet offensive in January 1944.
Armour
German StuG III self-propelled gun. This is a late version, armed with 75mm StuK 40 gun.
German Panther tank during the Battle of Kursk.
German tanks during the Battle of Kursk.
Soviet SU-85 self-propelled gun.
T-34 tanks during the Soviet offensive in January 1944.
Airplanes
Soviet Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers.
A closeup of Pe-2. The barrel of frontal
Berezin UBK machine gun is seen.
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