The Penal Battalion (2004)
The Penal Battalion (Russian: Shtrafbat, штрафбат) is a 2004 Russian eleven-part miniseries, directed by Nikolay Dostal, set on the Eastern Front of World War II. 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: summary execution, or the task of leading 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:
Revolvers
Nagant 1895
In a flashback to his civilian days, Antip Glymov (Yuriy Stepanov) is seen playing Russian Roulette with a Nagant M1895 revolver. This is a pre-1930 model.
1920's production Nagant M1895 - 7.62x38mmR
Antip Glymov with a Nagant.
Playing Russian Roulette.
Pistols
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.
Antip Glymov with a Luger P08 in his belt.
Glymov cocking the Luger.
Tokarev TT-33
Soviet 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 Soviet soldier, and by a Militsioner in a flashback.
Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
A Soviet soldier struggling with a Tokarev TT-33.
A
Militsioner draws his Tokarev.
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.
A Walther P38 on a table.
A German soldier eyes a P38.
Submachine Guns
PPSh-41
Vasiliy Tverdokhlebov (Aleksey Serebryakov) and other Soviet officers and soldiers carry the PPSh-41, with 71-round drum magazines.
PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Vasiliy Tverdokhlebov urges his troops to attack.
Vasiliy leading from the front with his PPSh-41.
The PPSh-41 leaning against a window.
A PPSh-41 on an officer's desk.
A Soviet soldier with a PPSh.
Vasiliy firing the PPSh during a river crossing.
MP38
German soldiers carry the MP38. Several Soviet soldiers use captured MP38s throughout the series, most noticeably Aleksey Shustrov (Aleksandr Bashirov).
German soldiers with the MP38.
Close-up of the MP38 in a Russian soldier's hands.
Aleksey Shustrov with an MP38 slung.
Shustrov during a night patrol.
An MP38 clutched by the wounded soldier of the "Russian Liberation Army" Aleksandr Sazonov (
Aleksey Pushkin).
Soviet soldiers firing MP38s.
A Soviet soldier crawling with his MP38.
MP40
The main submachine gun for the Germans is the MP40. They are also carried by Soviet soldiers, most notably Antip Glymov (Yuriy Stepanov).
A German soldier fires an MP40.
An MP40 next to a wounded German soldier.
Antip Glymov with a captured MP40.
Glymov loads a new magazine into his MP40.
Glymov cleaning his weapon.
Close-up of an MP40 being fired by a German soldier.
Glymov taking cover with his MP40.
Glymov fires his MP40 during a river crossing.
Rifles
Mosin Nagant M91/30
The Penal Battalion soldiers are issued the Mosin Nagant M1891/30 before first 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 Soviet soldiers. Father Mikhail (Dmitriy Nazarov) carries a Mosin Nagant when he becomes the unofficial Battalion chaplain.
Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R
A Soviet Lieutenant - instructor (Andrey Nevraev) demonstrates how to assemble the Mosin Nagant M91/30. Note that there is no trigger.
Penal Battalion recruits with Mosin Nagant rifles, Stepan (
Oleg Mazurov) at the foreground left, Shlykov (
Viktor Suprun) next to him with a rifle on his shoulder.
Three recruits clean their rifles, Fyodor Baukin (
Andrey Smolyakov) at the foreground.
A Soviet soldier works the bolt on his rifle.
A stack of rifles taken from casualties.
A battalion soldier decides to sacrifice his foot to avoid going into combat.
A Soviet soldier fires his rifle.
A Soviet soldier clearing a trench.
Father Mikhail fires his M91/30 rifle.
A Soviet soldier fires his rifle. Also seen in this image are two MP38 and one PPSh-41 submachine guns.
Karabiner 98k
The main weapon of the German soldiers is the Karabiner 98k. Several Soviet soldiers are seen using them. In Episode 7, several German soldiers have bayonets fitted to their rifles during urban combat.
Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Defectors Nikolay Evseev (Igor Lebedev) (at the left) and Aleksand Sazonov (
Aleksey Pushkin) (at the right) with Karabiner 98k rifles.
A German soldier fires his 98k.
The German is shocked into surrendering, courtesy of a grenade.
A German soldier fires his rifle.
A Soviet soldier with a captured 98k.
A German soldier firing his rifle.
Working the bolt. Another German can be seen with a Karabiner.
PTRD-41
Several Soviet soldiers carry and use the PTRD-41 anti-tank rifle.
Shilkin sports the thousand-yard stare.
A Soviet crew with their PTRD.
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 rest of the series.
Soviet soldiers lugging a PTRS-41.
Semyon Drozhkin (
Aleksandr Tsurkan) awaits the order to open fire. He also carries an M91/30 rifle on sling.
Soviet soldiers displace with the PTRS.
Semyon Drozhkin fires the PTRS.
A dead Soviet soldier with his PTRS-41.
Machine Guns
Degtyaryov DP-27
At the beginning of the series, the battalion is issued several Degtyaryov DP-27 machine guns, which are used throughout the series.
Degtyarev DP-28 - 7.62x54mm R
A pair of Degtyaryov DP-27 machine guns on a table.
A Soviet soldier running into action with his DP.
Kulegenov fires his DP-27.
Soviet soldiers in defensive positions. Pavel Burykin (
Yuriy Shibanov) holds the DP-27.
A Soviet soldier with a DP during a river crossing.
A dead soldier besides his DP-27.
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 in Episode 12. NKVD barrier troops use the Maxim to fire on retreating Soviet soldiers in Episode 3.
Maxim M1910/30 on Solokov wheel mount - 7.62x54mmR
A Soviet machine gun crew.
NKVD barrier troops set up a Maxim.
The barrier troops firing their Maxim.
Soviet machine gunners on the move.
A Soviet crew firing the Maxim.
Setting up the Maxim. Note the wheel mount and the gun shield.
A dead gunner with his weapon.
Maxim M1910
An original Maxim M1910 is seen in one scene.
Maxim 1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR
A Maxim M1910 on a table. Note a smooth water jacket.
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.
An MG34 in a captured trench.
Marching Soviet soldiers with captured machine guns.
A German machine gunner firing an MG34.
Grenades
F-1 Hand Grenade
Aleksey Shustrov (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.
F-1 High-Explosive Fragmentation Hand Grenade
Aleksey Shustrov pulling the pin on an F-1 grenade.
Two grenades beside a PTRS-41.
RGD-33 Hand Grenade
In one scene, a Soviet soldier is seen with a bundle of RGD-33 hand grenades.
RGD-33 high-explosive fragmentation stick grenade, shown with the diamond-patterned fragmentation sleeve.
A Soviet soldier holds a bundle of RGD-33.
Other Weapons
45mm 53-K AT Gun
A 45mm 53K AT gun is seen during a river crossing.
M1937 (53-K) Soviet anti-tank gun - 45 mm (1.77 in)
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