Ski Battalion (Za Sovetskuyu Rodinu)

Original Theatrical Poster

Country	USSR
Directed by	Rafail Muzykant Yuri Muzykant
Release Date	1937
Language	Russian
Studio	Lenfilm

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Toivo Antikainen	Oleg Zhakov
Arttu	Ivan Chuvelyov
Hjalmar	Ivan Selyanin
Eino	Pyotr Aleynikov
Jukka	Nikolay Kryuchkov
Lt. Riuttu	Pyotr Kirillov
Soviet Commander-in-Chief	Nikolay Cherkasov
Jurgi	Pavel Volkov

Ski Battalion (USA release title; original title Za Sovetskuyu Rodinu ("For the Soviet Motherland"); also known as Padenie Kimas-ozera ("The Fall of Kimas Lake")) is a Soviet 1937 war movie directed by brothers Rafail and Yuri Muzykants. It depicts an episode of Soviet–Finnish conflict in Winter 1921–1922, a raid of Soviet ski battalion, formed of 170 Red Finns under the command of Toivo Antikainen (Oleg Zhakov), behind enemy lines and the victory at Kimas-ozero (Kiimaisjarvi Lake).

The following weapons were used in the film Ski Battalion (Za Sovetskuyu Rodinu):

Revolvers

Nagant M1895

Jukka (Nikolay Kryuchkov), the commander of Karelian Red partisans, carries a Nagant M1895 revolver. During the final battle Arttu (Ivan Chuvelyov) disarms a Finnish gunner of a Nagant.

Russian Nagant 1895, produced 1920s - 7.62x38N

Jukka (in center) holds a Nagant.

Finnish gunner holds his revolver in close combat with Arttu.

Arttu fires captured revolver.

Pistols

M1911

An M1911 is Toivo Antikainen's (Oleg Zhakov) personal sidearm.

Original Colt M1911 (dated 1913) - .45 ACP

Antikainen holds his pistol.

Antikainen puts his pistol back in holster.

Antikainen holds his M1911 in action.

Mauser C96

Finnish officers, including Lt. Riuttu (Pyotr Kirillov) and unnamed Sgt. (Sergey Filippov), carry Mauser C96 pistols.

Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser

Riuttu fires his C96.

Finnish Sgt. carries a Mauser in holster.

Arttu (Ivan Chuvelyov) carries a Mauser in holster and Double Barreled Shotgun, both taken from captured Riuttu.

A Finnish officer (at the right) holds a C96 during the final battle.

Rifles and Muskets

Mosin Nagant M1891

Both Soviet and Finnish soldiers are mostly armed with historically correct Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles. They are notably seen in hands of Red Finns Toivo Antikainen (Oleg Zhakov), Arttu (Ivan Chuvelyov), Hjalmar (Ivan Selyanin), Eino (Pyotr Aleynikov) and unnamed soldier (Stepan Krylov). A Red partisan (Konstantin Nazarenko) holds M91 rifle when he guards captured Lt. Riuttu.

Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Rifle - 7.62x54mm R

A Soviet border guard holds M91 rifle with attached bayonet in the opening scene.

A Soviet soldier fires his M91 rifle.

A closeup of the barrel of M91 in hands of a Finnish soldier.

Arttu carries his rifle on sling while pursuing Lt. Riuttu.

Toivo Antikainen fires an M91 rifle.

A Finnish soldier fires.

A Finnish soldier with M91 rifle and RG-14 hand grenade.

Eino on rest with his M91 rifle.

Hjalmar holds his rifle. Another M91 with attached bayonet is seen at the wall.

A partisan guards Lt. Riuttu.

Red soldiers in attack in the final battle.

Winchester Model 1895

Winchester Model 1895 rifles are used by some Finnish soldiers. This is also correct weapon as in 1918 Finland got several thousands Russian contract M1895s from former Russian army.

A Russian contract Model 1895 in 7.62x54 Russian. Note the loading bridge over the reciever

A Finnish soldier on top holds his Winchester by the sling.

A Finnish soldier drops his Winchester, being hit by grenade blast.

Infantry Musket M1845

In night scene a Red partisan holds a long gun that greatly resembles antique Infantry Musket M1845.

Russian percussion cap musket M1845 - .70

The buttstock is seen.

The barrel is seen. The position of barrel bands match the M1845 Musket.

The top barrel band is seen. It also matches M1845.

Shotguns

Double Barreled Shotgun

Lt. Riuttu (Pyotr Kirillov) carries a Double Barreled Shotgun when he goes on hunt. Some Karelian Red partisans are armed with double barreled shotguns.

Riuttu on hunt. The knife that he carries on belt resembles in shape traditional Finnish puukko but seems to be too long.

Arttu (Ivan Chuvelyov) carries the shotgun, taken from captured Riuttu.

An aged partisan holds a shotgun.

Another partisan carries a shotgun.

Machine Guns

Maxim M1910

In the opening scene Soviet border guards use a Maxim M1910 machine gun during the attack of Finnish troops. In the final scene Finnish soldiers use a Maxim M1910, but Arttu (Ivan Chuvelyov) commandeers the machine gun.

Maxim 1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR

Soviet border guards fire a Maxim from a blockhouse.

Finnish soldiers fire a Maxim in the final battle.

Arttu fires the Maxim.

Chauchat

Antikainen's soldiers use a Chauchat that appears as the only machine gun of Red unit. In reality the ski battalion was supplied with six Cauchat, six Madsens and a number of Fedorov Avtomats.