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The Penal Battalion
 Work In Progress This article is still under construction. It may contain factual errors. See Talk:The Penal Battalion for current discussions. Content is subject to change. |
The Penal Battalion (Russian: Shtrafbat, штрафбат) is a 2004 Russian eleven-part miniseries set on the Eastern Front of World War Two. Vasilii Tverdokhlebov (Aleksey Serebryakov) is the sole survivor of a firing squad after his unit is captured by the Germans during Operation Barbarossa. Accused of cowardice and desertion, he is given a choice: to lead a battalion of political prisoners, petty criminals, deserters and those accused of cowardice in suicidal missions as "redemption".
The following weapons can be seen in the miniseries The Penal Battalion:
Sidearms
Luger P08
Antip Glymov (Yuriy Stepanov) captures a Luger P08 in Episode 2. He is noticeably seen using it to execute a thief in Episode 3.
Russian Nagant 1895
In a flashback to his civilian days, Antip Glymov (Yuriy Stepanov) is seen playing Russian Roulette with a Russian Nagant 1895 revolver.
Tokarev TT-33
Russian officers carry the Tokarev TT-33 in hip holsters. It is only drawn twice in the series however; once by an NKVD officer in a fight with a Russian soldier, and by a police officer in a flashback.
Walther P38
A captured Walther P38 is seen on a table in Episode 3. In Episode 5, a German soldier is seen reaching for a P38, only to be shot by Russian soldiers before he can use it.
Submachine Guns
PPSh-41
Vasilii Tverdokhlebov (Aleksey Serebryakov) and other Russian officers and soldiers carry the PPSh-41, with 71-round drum magazines.
MP38
German soldiers carry the MP38. Several Russian soldiers use captured MP38's throughout the series, most noticeably Tzukerman (Aleksandr Bashirov).
MP40
The main submachine gun for the Germans is the MP40. They are also carried by Russian soldiers, most notably Antip Glymov (Yuriy Stepanov).
Rifles
Mosin Nagant M91/30
The Penal Battalion soldiers are issued the Mosin Nagant M91/30 before going into combat. Although many quickly swap it for the MP40, it is seen used throughout the rest of the series by replacements and other Russian soldiers. Father Mikhail (Dmitriy Nazarov) carries a Mosin Nagant when he becomes the Battalion chaplain.
Karabiner 98k
The main weapon of the German soldiers is the Karabiner 98k. Several Russian soldiers are seen using them.
PTRD-41
Several Russian soldiers carry and use the PTRD-41 anti-tank rifle.
PTRS-41
In Episode 6, the Battalion is issued several PTRS-41 and PTRD-41 anti-tank rifles, which they use several times throughout the series.
Machine Guns
Degtyaryov DP-28
At the beginning of the series, the battalion is issued several Degtyaryov DP-28 machine guns, which are used throughout the series.
Maxim M1910/30
Among the weapons issued to the battalion are several Maxim M1910/30 machine guns, which are typically fired from the Solokov wheel mount. Father Mikhail (Dmitriy Nazarov) is noticeably seen firing it to repel a German counterattack. NKVD barrier troops use the Maxim to fire on retreating Russians in Episode 3.
MG34
German soldiers use the MG34, although it is only fired once in the series. In Episode 4, two marching Russian soldiers carry MG34's.
Grenades
F-1 Hand Grenade
Tzukerman (Aleksandr Bashirov) throws an F-1 Hand Grenade into a German bunker in Episode 2. Two grenades are also seen besides a PTRS-41 in Episode 7.
