Enemy at the Gates

The theatrical movie poster with the "infamous" reversed image
of a Mosin Nagant M91/30 sniper rifle.

Country	France Germany Ireland United States United Kingdom
Directed by	Frank Borzage
Release Date	March 16, 2001
Language	English German Russian
Studio	Paramount Pictures
Distributor	Paramount Pictures

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Vasily Zaitsev	Jude Law
Commissar Danilov	Joseph Fiennes
Tania Chernova	Rachel Weisz
Nikita Khrushchev	Bob Hoskins
Erwin König	Ed Harris
Koulikov	Ron Perlman
Sasha Filippov	Gabriel Thomson

Enemy at the Gates is a 2001 World War II film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Jude Law stars in the film as Vasily Zaitsev, an ordinary Russian soldier who became a legend for his feats as a sniper fighting during the Battle of Stalingrad. Ed Harris co-stars in the film as German intelligence officer Major Erwin König, an expert sniper tasked to eliminate Zaitsev. The cast also includes Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz and Bob Hoskins. The film is notable for being one of the few modern English-language films to depict the Eastern Front of the war.

The following weapons were used in the film Enemy at the Gates:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Soviet Army Weapons

Rifles/Carbines

Mosin Nagant M91/30 Sniper Rifle

Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law) uses the sniper variant of the Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifle with a PU scope when he is "promoted" to sniper. The sniper version of the M91/30 is also used by other Soviet snipers, most notably master sniper Koulikov (Ron Perlman), Tania Chernova (Rachel Weisz), and junior snipers Volodya (Ivan Shvedoff), Anton (Mario Bandi) and Ludmilla (Sophie Rois), and a Spotter (Robert Stadlober). The use of the PU scope is anachronistic, as the Mosin Nagant rifle with PU scope did not appear until 1943, after the Battle of Stalingrad. Zaitsev actually carried a Mosin Nagant with an earlier PEM scope.

Mosin Nagant M91/30 sniper variant with Russian PU scope and down-turned bolt handle - 7.62x54mmR

A Mosin Nagant rifle in the hands of Zaitsev's grandfather (Mikhail Matveev) hunting wolves in a flashback sequence. The rifle, supposedly meant to be an M1891, is actually the M91/30 sniper variant, noted by the turned down bolt handle (standard M1891s and M91/30s have straight handles) as well as wooden grooves in the foregrip and the holes drilled through the receiver (as seen in the walls of the chamber) for the scope mount screws.

Close-up of the Mosin Nagant M91/30 sniper variant with Russian PU scope and down-turned bolt handle.

Koulikov readies to fire his Mosin Nagant sniper rifle. Note how the scope is too far from his eye for proper eye relief.

Koulikov (Ron Perlman) aims his Mosin Nagant sniper rifle.

Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law) takes aim with his Mosin Nagant M91/30 sniper rifle.

Tania Chernova (Rachel Weisz) back crawls to avoid Major König's rifle fire with a Mosin Nagant sniper rifle.

Zaitsev's Mosin Nagant sniper rifle on the ground.

Zaitsev takes aim at Major König in the destroyed warehouse.

Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law) with his camouflaged M91/30 rifle.

Mosin Nagant M91/30

The Mosin Nagant M91/30 is used by nearly all Soviet infantry enlisted men in the film. Also used by Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law) in the first battle he experiences in Stalingrad. At the beginning of the film, unarmed conscripts are paired up and given a single M91/30 per pair, and told to pick up their partner's rifle when he is shot. This single scene actually ended up leading to a number of rumors and myths that the Red Army only had half as many guns as soldiers, and sent men into combat unarmed. This, like much of the movie, is completely embellished and was added to emphasize the desperation present in the Soviets at the battle of Stalingrad.

Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifle - 7.62x54mmR

Russian infantry charge holding M91/30 rifles in the first battle in Stalingrad.

Junior Politruk Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) aims an M91/30 rifle at the Germans.

Vasily inserts his 5-round stripper clip he received earlier.

A left view of Vasily aiming the Mosin Nagant.

After dispatching four German soldiers from cover, Zaitsev rises to a crouch and aims an M91/30 at the fifth and last.

Red Army soldiers fight with their M91/30 rifles in the ruins of Stalingrad.

Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine

The Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine is carried by Tania Chernova (Rachel Weisz), when she first encounters Vasily Zaitsev.

Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine - 7.62x54mmR

When Tania Chernova (Rachel Weisz) first enters the basement, she is carrying a Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine. Note that she does not use the leather 'rings' of the traditional Mosin Nagant sling, instead she sticks one end through the buttstock sling opening (like a K98 rifle). Probably a field expedient to a damaged rifle sling.

Tania sets her Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine against the wall next to Vasily's sniper rifle.

Volodya (Ivan Shvedoff) also carries the same carbine over his back.

Handguns

Tokarev TT-33

The Tokarev TT-33 pistol is used by Soviet officers and political officers (NKVD NCOs and officers).

Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev - Post-1947 version.

A political officer (Dan van Husen) aims his Tokarev TT-33. Note that this pistol appears to have the finer cocking serrations, indicating it is a later (and thus, anachronistic) variant.

Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev - Pre-1947 version.

"I have to report to the boss. Perhaps you would prefer to avoid the red tape"
Nikita Khrushchev (Bob Hoskins) hands a Red Army General (Hans Martin Stier) his Tokarev TT-33 pistol to commit suicide. Note the shape of the cocking serrations which is typical for the pre-1947 version of TT.

Nagant M1895

The Nagant M1895 Revolver is used by Red Army and NKVD political officers.

Nagant M1895 - 7.62x38mm Nagant

A political officer fires his Nagant M1895 revolver at soldiers who jumped in the river.

A shoulder view of an NKVD officer firing his Nagant revolver.

Red Army and NKVD political officers fire at the retreating soldiers with their Nagant M1895 revolvers.

Submachine Guns

PPSh-41

The PPSh-41 is used by Russian NCOs and NKVD blocking troops as well as standard Red Army soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad.

PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Two political officers open fire their PPSh-41s.

A close-up of a firing PPSh-41.

On the left, a Red Army political officer opens fire with a PPSh-41 on his own retreating troops.

A PPSh-41 seen hanging behind Nikita Khrushchev.

Machine Guns

Degtyaryov DPM

At the Soviet headquarters, Russian guards have the Degtyaryov DPM machine gun.

Degtyaryov DPM - 7.62x54mmR

At the Soviet headquarters, some of the guards have the Degtyaryov DPM machine gun.

Maxim M1910/30

Russian Maxim M1910/30 machine guns can be seen in various fortified positions and on the troop transport train.

Maxim M1910/30, post-1941 manufacture with top hatch on cooling jacket allowing it to be filled more quickly or with snow - 7.62x54mmR

NKVD blocking troops ready their M1910/30 machine gun. Note the post-1941 shape of the cooling jacket.

A close-up of the Maxim in action.

A front view of the Maxim fired by the soldier.

Another close-up of the Maxim's smoking muzzle.

DShK

The DShK heavy machine gun is seen rear mounted on a Russian boat first seen transporting Nikita Khrushchev (Bob Hoskins) and then later transporting Zaitsev (Jude Law) and Koulikov (Ron Perlman).

DShK heavy machine gun on tripod - 12.7x108mm

A DShK mounted on the back of a Russian boat.

Seen behind the Soviet sailors is a DShK mounted on the deck.

Others

M1940 (72-K) Soviet 25mm Anti Aircraft Gun

25 mm automatic air defense gun M1940 (72-K) - 25x218mmSR

An M1940 (72-K) Soviet 25mm Anti Aircraft gun can be seen on the troop transport train. A Maxim M1910/30 machine gun can be seen in the front.

M1942 (ZiS-3) 76mm Divisional Gun

A ZiS-3 Divisional Guns is seen on a Soviet boat.

M1942 (ZiS-3) Divisional Gun - 76mm

The barrel of the Divisional Gun is seen in the background.

85mm Air Defense Gun M1939 (52-K)

85mm Air Defense Gun M1939 (52-K) - 85x629mmR

An 85mm Air Defense Gun M1939 (52-K) is seen in the background.

T-34/85

Several late-war T-34/85 medium tanks are seen in the streets of Stalingrad.

German Army Weapons

Rifles

Karabiner 98k Sniper Rifle

A Karabiner 98k sniper rifle (hand-selected barrels with hard points for a scope mount and a scope) is used by Major Erwin König (Ed Harris).

Karabiner 98k with Zeiss ZF42 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A close-up of the Karabiner 98k sniper rifle used by König.

A Karabiner 98k sniper rifle seen here attached to a fire-damaged department store mannequin, that Major König uses as a decoy. Note that this rifle's scope doesn't have the lens hood that König uses.

A close-up of König's Karabiner 98k in his room.

Major König works the bol handle on his Karabiner 98k sniper rifle after firing at Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law) in the tractor factory.

Major König scans the tractor factory.

Major Erwin König (Ed Harris) looks out with his Karabiner 98k sniper rifle.

Karabiner 98k

The infantry version of the Karabiner 98k is used by German soldiers.

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

German soldiers ready their Karabiner 98k rifles.

A line of Karabiner 98k rifles, ready to fire on Russian troops.

Major König removes a Karabiner 98k from the hands of a dead German soldier before he moved the body out of the way.

"HALT!"
A German MP aims his Karabiner 98k at a soldier (Gotthard Lange) pick-pocketing the dead.

Handguns

Walther PPK

What appears to be a Walther PPK is seen in the holster of General Paulus' Aide de Camp (Holger Handtke).

Early Waffenamt marked Walther PPK - .32 ACP

The Hauptmann (Captain) stands on the left.

Luger P08

The German NCO (Clemens Schick) briefing Major König (Ed Harris) has a holster at his side indicating he carries a Luger P08.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

A German Feldwebel with a Luger P08 in his holster.

Submachine Guns

MP38

The MP38 is used by various German soldiers, usually older NCOs. The precursor to the MP40, finely machined and more difficult to manufacture, the MP38 was phased out in favor of the stamped sheet metal MP40.

MP38 - 9x19mm

A German soldier fires his MP38 at charging Soviet soldiers.

Another German Schütze shoots dead Russians in the fountain with his MP38.

A German Feldwebel (Jim Dowdall) peers out across the battlefield with his MP38.

MP40

The MP40 is used by German soldiers, usually infantry NCOs or Armored troops.

MP40 - 9x19mm

German soldiers shoot at the dead Russians with their MP40s.

MP41

The MP41 (a more expensive, wooden stock version of the MP40) is used by one of the German soldiers firing into the fountain filled with dead Russians.

MP41 - 9x19mm

A German soldier (right) fires his MP41.

Another view of the same soldier holding his MP41.

Machine Guns

MG34

The MG34 is used by German infantry in fortified positions.

MG34 with front and rear sights folded down - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The MG34 in a fortified German position ready to shoot at Russians.

An MG34 mounted on an Sd.Kfz. 251 half truck.

MG42

The MG42 is also used by German soldiers. While the MG42 actually saw limited use at Stalingrad, the film's depiction commits the common error of showing the weapon with the post-1943 vertical charging handle instead of the period-appropriate and rare slab-sided horizontal handle.

MG42 with bipod extended - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The MG42 with a mounted MG.Z.40 scope fired by a German soldier.

An MG42 being reloaded by a soldier.

Two Germans prepare their MG42 to open fire. Note the MG.Z.40 scope.

The MG42 fired by German soldiers. Note the vertical charging handle, a feature which was developed at some point in 1943 after the Battle of Stalingrad.