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The Penal Battalion
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 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 Nagant M1895 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 Aleksey Shustrov (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 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 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. In Episode 7, several German soldiers have bayonets fitted to their rifles during urban combat.
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 rest of the series.
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.
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 Russians in Episode 3.
Maxim M1910
Original Maxim M1910 is seen in one scene.
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
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.
RGD-33 Hand Grenade
In one scene a Soviet soldier is seen with a bundle of RGD-33 hand grenades.
Other Weapons
45mm 53-K AT Gun
A 45mm 53K AT gun is seen during a river crossing.