The Unknown Soldier (1985)

The Unknown Soldier Tuntematon sotilas Movie Poster Country Finland Directed by Rauni Mollberg Release Date December 6, 1985 Language Finnish Russian Studio Arctic-Filmi Distributor Kinosto Main Cast Character Actor Koskela Risto Tuorila Hietanen Pirkka-Pekka Petelius Rokka Paavo Liski Rahikainen Mika Mäkelä Lahtinen Pertti Koivula Vanhala Tero Niva

The Unknown Soldier is a 1985 Finnish war movie directed by Rauni Mollberg and is the second filming of the novel of the same name by Väinö Linna. The movie follows Finnish machine troops during the Continental War (1941-1944): During a time of peace, a machine-gun company of the East Finnish Corps of Guards undergoes a medical check-up and trains for future battles. In June, the company is ordered to leave for the unknown and is transported to the eastern border under the command of Lieutenant Vilho Koskela.

Mollberg's film is the second of three film adaptations of Linna's novel and was one of the most-watched Finnish films of the 1980s. The first (1955) was directed by Edvin Laine, and the 2017 third movie by Aku Louhimies.

The following weapons were used in the film The Unknown Soldier:

Pistols

Luger P08

Finnish officers including 2nd Lieutenant Kariluoto (Pekka Ketonen) use Luger P08s.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Kariluoto holds his Luger.

He raises his Luger.

Finnish officer fires his pistol.

Submachine Guns

Suomi KP/-31

Finnish and Soviet soldiers are armed with Suomi KP/-31s.

Suomi KP/-31 - 9x19mm Parabellum

Rokka fires his KP/-31 at soviet soldiers.

A Soviet soldier gets shot while holding a KP/-31.

Another Soviet holds the gun.

Hietanen (Pirkka-Pekka Petelius; he portrayed Captain Kaarna in the 2017 version) fires the KP/-31.

Front view of his Kp.

Rokka empties his KP/-31 at a Soviet squad during the night.

Rifles

Mosin Nagant P26

The majority of Finnish soldiers use Mosin Nagant P26 rifles. Soviet soldiers seem to use also these rifles standing in for Mosin Nagant M91/30.

Mosin Nagant M1891 - 7.62x54mmR. The Finnish P26 looks identical.

The barrel and muzzle is seen.

Lehto (Pauli Poranen) chambers his rifle after he killed the Soviet prisoner.

Amother Finn to the right works the bolt.

A Finn with his Mosin Nagant.

Lehto tries to reach his rifle.

The bolt is seen.

Mosin-Nagant M/39

Some soldiers are seen with M39 Finnish Mosin-Nagant Rifles.

Mosin-Nagant M/39 "Ukko-Pekka" - 7.62x54mmR

A blurred view of the rifle.

A Finn runs with his rifle.

Private Hauhia (Vesa Ala-Seppälä) unlockes his rifle...

...and takes aim.

Machine Guns

Maxim M/09-21

The Maxim M/09-21 is used by Finnish and Soviet MG teams.

Maxim M/09-21 - 7.62x54mmR

A Finn mans the Maxim.

Rear view of the Maxim team.

A Finn prepares an ambush.

Dead Lahtinen (Pertti Koivula) lies near his Maxim.

Maxim M/32-33

The Maxim M/32-33 is also used by Finnish troops. Rokka fires the Maxim from the hip after the river crossing.

Maxim M/32-33 - 7.62x54mmR

Rokka fires the Maxim after the river crossing.

Lahti-Saloranta LS/26

A Lahti-Saloranta LS/26 is briefly seen held by a Finnish soldier.

Lahti-Saloranta LS/26 - 7.62x54mmR

The Lahti-Saloranta is held by the soldier on the left.

Hand Grenades

Harjoituskranaatti M/41

Instead of Varsikranaatti M/32 stick grenades, Finnish soldiers use Harjoituskranaatti M/41 ("practice grenade M41").

A German Model 16 Stielhandgranate on which the the Harjoituskranaatti M/41 is based.

The grenades hang on a belt of a Finnish soldier.

Kariluoto with two stick grenades. Note the holes on the top.

Kasapanos Explosive Charge

4kg Kasapanos Explosive Charges are used by Finnish soldiers.

Lieutenant Koskela (Risto Tuorila) with his Kasapanos.

Finnish soldier holds the satchel charge.

Unknown Grenade

The Soviet soldier, who is taken prisoner, has an unknown grenade.

Lehto holds the grenade taken from the soldier.

Other

76.2 mm Putilov m/02

The 76.2 mm divisional gun model 1902 is seen drawn by horses during the Finnish parade in Petrozavodsk.

Putilov m/02 - 76.2x385mmR