Cross of Iron

Cross of Iron American Poster Country United States Directed by Sam Peckinpah Release Date 1977 Language English Studio EMI Films Main Cast Character Actor Rolf Steiner James Coburn Stransky Maximilian Schell Colonel Brandt James Mason Captain Kiesel David Werner

Cross of Iron is a 1977 WWII film directed by Sam Peckinpah and stars James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, and James Mason. The film tells the story of a disgruntled yet highly decorated German Sergeant (Coburn), and his reconnaissance platoon that is fighting on the Kuban Bridgehead, Soviet Union. All is going as well as can be expected during a retreat until a zealous Captain turns up, so jealous of Steiner's awards that he sets about a vendetta to rid himself of Steiner and at the same time win the coveted Iron Cross.

The following weapons were used in the film Cross of Iron:

Submachine Guns

PPSh-41

Steiner (James Coburn), as well as many of the men he is commanding, use looted PPSh-41's in the attack on a mortar position early in the movie. Steiner then uses it throughout the film. Originally chambered for 7.62x25. The PPSh-41 was later adopted by the German army & renamed the MP717(r) and re-chambered for 9mm parabellum. It should be noted that the drum magazine could not be used with the 9mm conversion, so Steiner's has to be in the original caliber.

Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Steiner with his PSSh-41.

Steiner getting sweet revenge with his PPSh-41.

Karl 'Schnurrbart' Reisenauer (Fred Stillkrauth) holds a PPSh-41 as the squad storm the farmhouse.

MP40

MP40's are carried by most of Steiner's platoon before the attack on the mortar position, though afterward only Privates Kern and Anselm continue to use it. It is also used by many of the German soldiers seen throughout the film including Colonel Brandt (James Mason) and Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell). Stransky tries to use one in the finale but demonstrates his incompetence to Steiner when he cannot reload it.

MP40 - 9mm.

A German soldier fires his MP40.

Steiner with the MP40 at the beginning of the film.

A member of Steiner's squad, probably Karl 'Schnurrbart' Reisenauer, in disguise as a Soviet soldier, fires a PPSh-41, a MP40 slung over his left shoulder.

Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell) panics when he can not figure out how to reload his MP40.

Rifles

Mauser Karabiner 98k

The Karabiner 98k is carried by several German soldiers in the film including a Private in Steiner's platoon.

Karabiner 98k, 7.92x57mm

Dietz (Michael Nowka) holds a Karabiner 98k.

Mosin Nagant M91/30

Some Red Army soldiers are armed with Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifles.

Mosin Nagant M91/30, 7.63x54R

Russian soldier with Mosin Nagant M44 Carbine. Note the folding "spike" type bayonet.

Mosin Nagant M91/30 sniper rifle

In the beginning sequence a Mosin Nagant M91/30 sniper rifle is picked up by Private Maag (Burkhard Driest) from a dead Russian soldier, Maag continues to use it for the rest of the film until he pretends to be a Soviet prisoner.

Mosin Nagant M91/30 sniper rifle, 7.63x54R

Private Maag inspecting the Mosin Nagant M91/30 that he uses for the rest of the movie

Handguns

Beretta Model 1934

Stransky's sidearm is a Beretta Model 1934, seen when he draws it in preparation to shoot the young Russian boy.

Beretta M1935, .32 ACP version of the M1934

Stransky and his Beretta M1934.

File:Max34.jpg

Stransky cleans his Beretta M1934.

Walther P38

The Walther P38 is used by Corporal (Unteroffizier) Krüger (Klaus Lowitsch) in a close combat situation when his submachine gun runs dry.

Walther P38

Corporal Krüger fires his Walther P38.

Luger P08

Sergeant (Feldwebel) Steiner carries a Luger P08 pistol as his sidearm throughout the movie. It is most notably seen when he drops his webbing and the Russian child soldier (Slavko Štimac) takes it out of it's holster as nobody watches but decides to not use it.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Michail (Slavko Štimac) picks up Steiner's Luger P08.

Machine Guns

Maxim M1910

Red Army soldiers are seen manning the Russian adopted version of the Maxim machine gun. In a notable instance, a close up actually allows for the observation of the weapon's cooling mechanism.

Maxim 1910 with 'Sokolov' wheel mount & shield - 7.62x54mmR

A Soviet machine gun crew with their Maxim M1910.

MG42

German forces are seen using the MG42.

Cpl Karl 'Schnurrbart' Reisenauer (Fred Stillkrauth) and Schütze Hollerbach man a MG42 nest, while under enemy fire.

A Wehrmacht soldier fires a MG42.

Degtyaryov DP-28

Soviet forces are also seen using the Degtyarov DP-28 light machine gun.

Degtyarev DP-28 machine gun - 7.62x54mm Russian

A Degtyarev DP-28 machine gun on a table inside the farmhouse.

A Soviet soldier fires a Degtyarev DP-28 during the film's climax.

Other

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

Steiner's men use Model 24 Stielhandgranaten at the beginning of the film to take out a Soviet mortar position.

Anti-personnel fragmentation M24 hand grenade.

Karl 'Schnurrbart' Reisenauer (Fred Stillkrauth) pulls a Model 24 Stielhandgranate.

PTRS-41

The PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle is seen used by Soviet ground forces during the climax.

PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle 14.5x114mm

The PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle fired by a Soviet soldier.

76 mm divisional gun M1942 (ZiS-3)

Both the Germans and the Soviets use a Zis-3 76mm anti-tank gun during the assault on the factory. The movie was filmed in Yugoslavia and used old army equipment including Soviet type tanks, guns and mortars. Another Zis-3 is seen towed by a Soviet truck.

The ZiS-3 76mm Soviet Anti-tank gun in action.

A ZiS-3 76mm Soviet Anti-tank gun, though this time fired by the Germans.