Tali-Ihantala 1944

Tali-Ihantala 1944 1944: The Final Defence German Language Movie Poster Country Finland Directed by Åke Lindman Sakari Kirjavainen Release Date December 7, 2007 Language Finnish German Russian Swedish Studio Åke Lindman Film-Productions Distributor Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Lieutenant Puhakka Kari Hevossaari Major Jouko Hynninen Tarmo Ruubel Major Eero Leppänen Kari Ketonen Corporal Olli Taponen Ilkka Villi Radio Operator Kärkkäinen Pete Lattu

Tali-Ihantala 1944 is a 2007 Finnish war movie about the Battle of Tali-Ihantala in 1944 between Finland and the Soviet Union. The battle was the final and largest battle of the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War (1941–1944). Director Åke Lindman (Beyond the Front Line‎) tells the story from the Finnish viewpoint only about their critical defensive victory against overwhelming odds to save the Finnish capital Helsinki from capture by the Red Army. The Battle of Tali-Ihantala is considered the largest battle ever fought in the Nordic countries. The characters and actions are based on true events and stories of veterans. The movie uses many authentic weapons and equipment, some of them used in the actual battle sixty three years before. This movie is also known in English as 1944: The Final Defence or Battle for Finland: Tali-Ihantala 1944.

The following weapons were used in the film Tali-Ihantala 1944:

Handguns

Lahti L-35

A Finnish captain uses a Lahti L-35 pistol.

Lahti L-35 - 9x19mm

The captain fires the pistol.

Luger P08

A few Finnish officers are seen with a Luger P08.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

The officer takes cover behind a tree.

Nagant M1895

A Finnish soldier is briefly seen with a Russian Nagant 1895 Revolver. A Soviet officer is later seen with the revolver.

Nagant M1895 - 7.62x38N cartridge

The soldier loads a round in the cylinder.

Submachine Guns

Suomi KP/-31

The majority of the Finnish army is armed with Suomi KP/-31s.

Suomi KP/-31 - 9x19mm Parabellum

A Finnish soldier fires the KP.

Major Jouko Hynninen (Tarmo Ruubel) with his KP.

A tankist fires the gun.

Close view on the bolt.

Two Finns advance with their Kp/31s.

One of the Finns aims his submachine gun.

PPSh-41

PPSh-41s are used by Soviet soldiers which are equipped with the 35-round stick or 71-round drum magazines.

PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev.

PPSh-41 with 35-round box magazine - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

A Soviet with his PPSh over his back.

Finnish Tanker uses his periscope to aim at a Soviet soldier.

A view from a T34/76's observation slit on a Soviet soldier with a PPSh-41 equipped with 35 round stick magazine.

A Soviet gets shot while holding his PPSh.

PPS-43

At least, one PPS-43 is held by a Soviet soldier riding a T34/85.

PPS-43 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Soldiers cheer to a T34/85. The PPS-43 is seen ob the right.

PPD-40

Some Soviet soldiers are armed with PPD-40 SMGs.

PPD 40 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Two of the Soviet soldiers riding onboard a T-34/85 have PPDs

Rifles

Mosin-Nagant M/39

Finnish soldiers use Finnish M39 as their main battle rifle.

Mosin-Nagant M/39 "Ukko-Pekka" - 7.62x54mm R

A soldier with his rifle in the background.

A Finn takes aim.

Another Finn with his rifle.

Closer view on the rear sight.

Mosin-Nagant M/28-30

The Finnish Civil Guard M/28M/28-30 is also seen used by Finnish soldiers.

Mosin Nagant M/28-30 - 7.62x54R

The rifle over a soldier's back.

Mosin Nagant P26

Soviet and soldiers are armed with Mosin Nagant P26 rifles standing for Russian variants. Some Finnish soldiers are also seen with this rifle.

Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 3rd configuration - 7.62x54mm R.
The Finnish P26 looks the same.

Soviet soldiers advance through a field.

Soldiers prepare a charge for a Finnish tank.

Two Finnish soldiers march with their P26.

Tokarev SVT-40

A Tokarev SVT-40 Rifle is briefly seen in the hands of a Soviet soldier.

Tokarev SVT-40 - 7.62x54mmR

The soldier aims at Major Hynninen.

Machine Guns

Degtyaryov DP-27

Finnish and Soviet soldiers are seen with DP-28s.

Degtyaryov DP-27 - 7.62x54mm R

The DP on the right.

A Finn fires the DP.

Another Finn takes aim.

Maxim M/09-21

Finnish heavy machine gun teams are armed with a Maxim M/09-21.

Maxim M/09-21 - 7.62x54mmR

A Machine Gunner fires the Maxim.

The team use their Suomi KP/-31s after they are out of ammo with their Maxim.

Maxim M/32-33

A Maxim M/32-33 is also used by Finnish troops.

Finnish Maxim M/32-33 - 7.62x54mmR

The MG team transpot the Maxim.

The Maxim on the Battlefield of Ihantala.

Degtyaryov DT

The secondary weapons of the T-34s are Degtyaryov DTs. The Finnish StuGs are also armed with these machine guns, which is historically correct as the Finnish army had replaced the original MG34 with the DT on these vehicles during WWII.

Degtyaryov DT - 7.62x54mm R

The DT mounted on a StuG III.

The DT inside a Finnish T34/76.

Launchers

Panzerfaust

Some Finnish soldiers use Panzerfausts to take out Soviet tanks.

Panzerfaust 30 - 44mm with 140mm warhead

A Swedish voluntary explains the Panzerfaust.

A recruit aims while holding this on his chest.

Panzerschreck

Nearly at the end of the movie, some Finnish soldiers are armed with Panzerschrecks.

RPzB 54 "Panzerschreck" rocket launcher - 88mm

A Finn (with a M40 Helmet) loads the Panzerschreck.

The team awaits the Soviet tanks.

Another team before the Battle.

Handgrenades

OF-15 Hand Grenade

Finnish soldiers use French OF-15 hand grenades with m/35 fuses.

OF-15 Hand Grenade.

A soldier attached a grenade to his belt.

Kasapanos Explosive Charge

The Finnish tank commander uses a Kasapanos Explosive Charge to defend his tank from advancing Soviet soldiers.

The Kasapanos in his hand.

RGD-33

A Soviet soldier attacks a Finnish tank with a RGD-33 stick grenade.

RGD-33 high-explosive fragmentation stick grenade

A Soviet soldier with PPSh-41 and a RGD-33.

The soldier runs with the grenade.

Other

5 cm Pak 38

Finnish soldiers are seen preparing 5 cm Pak 38s before the Battle of Tali Ihantala.

5 cm Pak 38 anti-tank gun - 50x419mm R

Finns prepare the Pak 38.

7.5 cm Pak 40

A 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun is also seen used by the Finns.

7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun - 75x714mm R

Finnish soldiers man the PaK.

45 mm anti-tank gun M1937 (53-K)

A destroyed 45 mm anti-tank gun M1937 (53-K) is seen on the street.

M1937 (53-K) Soviet anti-tank gun - 45mm (1.77 in)

The AT on the right.

Closer view.

152 H 88-37

Finnish army uses ex-Soviet 152 H 88-37 howitzers.

The Howitzer being fired.

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A8/N

Focke-Wulf 190 replicas made by the German company "Flug Werk" GmBH are seen from the German Detachment "Kuhlmey" stationed at Immola airfield in Finland.

Fw 190 replica in the markings of Major Erich Rudorffer's aircraft from Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). In English, the 54th Fighter Wing.

Tanks

Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G

The Finnish army in the movie uses real German Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G assault guns which can also be seen in the 2004 movie Beyond the Front Line.

Note the reverse swastika, the Finnish national insignia.

T-26

A Finnish, ex-Soviet, T-26 is briefly seen joining other ex-Soviet tanks in one scene 28 mins into the movie but is not seen again during the subsequent fighting.

Captured ex-Soviet T-26 in Finnish service arrives at the front.

T-34/76

Finnish and the Soviet army also use real T-34/76.

Captured ex-Soviet T-34/76 in Finnish service.

T-34/85

Soviet infantry hitch a ride on a T-34/85.

KV-1

Finnish and Soviet armies use real KV-1 heavy tanks

Captured ex-Soviet KV1 in Finnish service.

Soviet KV1 advances into the path of Finnish anti-tank defenses.

SU-122

Soviet army self-propelled gun was seen destroyed at the side of the road. during the Finnish counter-attack.

The destroyed Soviet SU-122.