Blizzard of Souls

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Blizzard of Souls Dvēseļu putenis Movie poster Country Latvia Directed by Dzintars Dreibergs Release Date November 8, 2019 Language German Latvian Russian Main Cast Character Actor Arturs Vanags Oto Brantevics Edgars Vanags Raimonds Celms Vanags Martins Vilsons Mikelsons Jekabs Reinis Konrads Gatis Gyga Spilva Renars Zeltins Sala Vilis Daudzins

Blizzard of Souls, or also titled as The Rifleman, is a 2019 Latvian war movie directed by Dzintars Dreibergs and based on the novel of the same name by Aleksandrs Grīns. Latvia 1915, 16-year-old Arturs Vanags joins the Imperial Russian Army after losing his mother and home to war. But the hope of glory and the thrill of training is soon followed by the harsh reality of the battlefield. When the war seems to be coming to an end, there is a revolution in their own ranks. Arthur fights from now on in a brutal civil war, which puts the hoped-for peace and the liberation of his homeland again in the far distance.

The following weapons were used in the film Blizzard of Souls:

Revolvers

Nagant M1895

Latvian officers like Father Vanags (Martins Vilsons) and Sala (Vilis Daudzins) are seen using Nagant M1895.

Russian Nagant 1895, produced 1920s. The rounded front sight is a sign of revolvers produced from 1890s until 1930 - 7.62x38N

Nagant M1895 Revolver - 7.62x38R Nagant. This example was dated 1939 manufacture and was a War time issued weapon. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s.

Vanags gives orders to flank the sniper with his revolver in hand.

Pinned down by machine-gun fire, Edgars takes cover with his Nagant with pre 1930 angular front sight

Rifles

Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon

Despite the fact, that Latvian troops during WWI were not equipped with the Dragoon rifle, it is widely used by them including Arturs Vanags (Oto Brantevics), Edgars Vanags (Raimonds Celms), Mikelsons (Jekabs Reinis) and Konrads (Gatis Gaga). But it is a more accurate choice than the M91/30 and Finnish M39 rifles seen in the first trailer.

Mosin-Nagant M1891 Dragoon Rifle - 7.62x54mm R

Arturs proudly inspect his just received Dragoon Rifle.

Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry

The Infantry variant of the Mosin Nagant M1891 is also used by Latvian infantrymen.

Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 - 7.62x54mm

The second soldier from the left fires with other soldiers a salute salve.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Most German soldiers are armed with Gewehr 98s.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Two German solders at the mother's house with their Gewehrs.

A close-up of the Seitengewehr bayonet that has missed Arturs.

A young German soldier encounters Arturs during close-combat.

Mauser Karabiner 98k

An anachronistic scoped Karabiner 98k is used by the German sniper and later by Arturs and his father. Some unscoped Kar98ks are also used by German soldiers.

Karabiner 98k with S84/98 bayonet - 7.92x57mm Mauser.

An abandoned Kar98k with a fixed bayonet on the right.

A distant view through the tall grass of the sniper's Karabiner.

The sniper tries to fire a warning shot.

Vanags holds his camouflaged Kar98k covers Arturs' face with mud.

There are indentations on the buttstock, to show how many kills he got.

Arturs aims the carbine at a German soldier, who stands on top of the edge of the trench as a punishment.

Mauser Puška vz. 98/22

Post-war Vz. 98/22 Czech Mauser‎s can briefly be seen used by German soldiers.

Czech BRNO Vz.98/22 Mauser - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Unknown Rifle

One German soldier can be seen with an unknown rifle in a deleted scene.

Machine Guns

Maxim M1910

Maxim M1910s are used by Latvian soldiers.

Maxim 1910 with 'Sokolov' wheel mount, w/o shield - 7.62x54mmR

A PM 1910 on the barracks' rooftop is used to shoot at a German airplane.

Maxim MG08

Maxim MG08s on Dreifuß 16 tripods are used by German soldiers.

Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A Maxim next to its badly wounded user.

Arturs takes a look at the dying soldier.

Maxim MG08/15

One German soldier hiding in a tree is armed with a Maxim MG08/15.

Maxim MG08/15 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Shot and fallen from his tree, the dazed German keeps firing his MG 08/15.

Hand Grenades

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

Instead of accurate German stick grenades (Model 15, 16, 17), the post-war Model 24 Stielhandgranate is used.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" High-Explosive Fragmentation Hand Grenade

Arturs pockets a captured M24.

Later the next day, he takes it.

RG-14

Artus and other Latvians use RG-14 hand grenades.

RG-14/30 Soviet hand grenade (Model 1914/30 grenade)

On the left, Artus carries a RG-14.

Shorty after, he primes his grenade.

Other

Double Barreled Shotgun

A 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun hangs on a wall of the mother's home.

J. Stevens and Company Side by Side Shotgun (Circa 1878) exposed hammers and designed to fire Black Powder shotgun shells - 12 Gauge

The shotgun is seen hanging on the left side of the entrance.

A German officer checks the shotgun.

15 cm sFH 13

Schwere Feldhaubitze 13 howitzers are seen in German positions.

15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 13

A line of sFH 13s in the German artillery position after the battle.

Romfell Armored Car

An Austro-Hungarian Romfell Panzerwagen supports German forces.