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, (but inexperienced), 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), plus a few of his men, use looted PPSh-41's that they captured from the attack on the mortar position early in the movie. Steiner then uses a PPsh 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.

"How do I reload, Sgt. Steiner?". 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

A Soviet soldier is seen with an un-scoped, but still with a curved bolt, during the climax.

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.

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.

Nagant Revolver (probable)

In a very brief shot a Russian soldier is seen with a revolver. The shot is not detailed enough to properly identify the gun, but since the movie was filmed in (then) Yugoslavia, which adopted the gun even before the second world war, it is most probable that the gun is a Russian Nagant variant.

Nagant M1895 Revolver - 7.62x38N cartridge (aka 7.62 Nagant ammo).

A very fast paced shot of a Russian soldier with a revolver.

Machine Guns

Maxim M1910/30

Red Army soldiers are seen manning the Russian adopted version of the Maxim machine gun, the Maxim M1910/30. In a notable instance, a close up actually allows for the observation of the weapon's cooling mechanism.

Russian Maxim 1910/30, post 1941 manufacture with top hatch on cooling jacket allowing it to be filled more quickly or with snow - 7.62x54mmR

A Soviet machine gun crew with their Maxim M1910/30.

Frontal shot of the Maxim. The Russians used water-cooled machineguns which, though from the first World War, were still as effective (though heavier) as the more modern air-cooled machineguns.

Side shot of the Maxim.

Zastava M53 (MG42 copy)

German forces are seen using the Zastava M53 which is a Yugoslavian post-war copy of the German MG42. Although the M53 has a slower rate of fire than the original MG42, in the movie due to post-editing the rate of fire is even slower: approximetly 400–600 rounds per minute which is the equivelant of a Browning M1919 Machine Gun.

Zastava M53 Machine Gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser.

Original German MG42 with sling and bipod collapsed - 7.92mm Mauser

Cpl Karl 'Schnurrbart' Reisenauer (Fred Stillkrauth) and Schütze Hollerbach man a Zastava M53 nest, while under enemy fire.

A Wehrmacht soldier fires a Zastava M53.

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.

Kruger (Klaus Löwitsch) arming his grenade just before he throws it at a Russian mortar crew. Note the silver anti-tank badge on his right arm signifying he is responsible for the destruction of an enemy tank using a grenade, satchel-charge or whatever weapon available.

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.

7.5 cm Pak 40

During the rear-guard scene, German soldiers are seen operating the 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun.

7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun - 75x714mm R

German soldiers firing the 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun during a Soviet offensive.

T34-85 tank

A Soviet T34-85 tank during the rear-guard assault.

Second angle of said tank during the assault.

82-PM-41 mortar

Both Russians and Germans are seen using the 82-mm mortar Model 1941.

German soldiers firing the Soviet 82-PM-41 mortar.

Second shot of German soldiers firing the Soviet 82-PM-41 mortar.

2 cm Flakvierling 38

The Germans are seen with what appears to be the 2 cm Flakvierling 38. Since the movie was filmed in former Yugoslavia it is possible the AA is a mockup.

2 cm Flakvierling 38 - 20x138mm B

2 cm Flakvierling 38 used by the Germans.