First Squad: The Moment of Truth

First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009)

First Squad: The Moment of Truth (original Russain title Pervyy otryad, Japanese title ファーストスクワッド, Fāsuto sukuwaddo) is a Russian-Japanese-Canadian anime released in 2009.

Taking place in the onset of World War Two, the USSR is invaded by Nazi Germany in 1942. However, along the Eastern Front, Operation Barbarossa fails to penetrate the strong Soviet defenses. Desperate to break through the lines, the German SS supernatural section "Ahnenerbe" begins Operation "Sword of Retribution". The occult will resurrect an army led by Baron Von Wolff, a Crusader who died in the "Battle of the Ice" against the Russians in the 12th Century, from the dead to break through the Soviet lines during the "Moment of Truth". The Division Six of Soviet Military Intelligence unit, also a supernatural section who wages war with the German Ahnenerbe alongside the contemporary soldiers, enlists teenagers in their program, First Squad, to train them with supernatural abilities and fight against the Ahnenerbe. Four of the five original First Squad members were annihilated in the beginning of the war by the Ahnenerbe, leaving Nayda, a girl who has the ability to contact the dead and has amnesia, the lone survivor. Finding her in the Front under the guise of a psychic entertainer, Division Six tasks her to contact the dead and enlist the help of her old squad members, Leo, Zena, Marat, Valia, to fight against Baron Von Wolff and save the course of history from being intervened by the supernaturals.

The following weapons were used in the anime film First Squad: The Moment of Truth:

Handguns

Tokarev TT-33

Captain Alexander Nemov has a Tokarev TT-33 when he commands his soldiers into battle. Other users include Zena (Chromed version), Valia, and the twin German spies.

TT-33, pre-1947 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

The chromed Tokarev in the Hunchback's armory.

One of the Spy twins readies her TT-33s.

The Twin Spies hunt down Nayda with their TT-33s.

Captain Nemov leads his men with a TT-33 in hand.

Zena and Valia with their TT-33s.

Mauser C96

Leo uses a Mauser C96 with a holster stock to save Nadya in the finale. He got it from the Hunchback's armory.

C96 "Broomhandle" Mauser fitted with holster/stock combo - 7.63x25mm Mauser

Leo using his Stock C96.

Leo pulls out the C96.

The Stock C96 in the Hunchback's armory.

Walther P38

Several German officers can be seen with a Walther P38. It also appears in the Hunchback's armory.

Walther P38 with black grips - 9x19mm

A German officer on the left holds a P38 among riflemen.

A bunch of P38s in the Hunchback's armory.

Luger P08

Several German officers can be seen with a Luger P08. It also appears in the Hunchback's armory.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

While it isn't exactly clear from this image, the German officer on the left holds a firearm of similar shape.

A bunch of Lugers in the Hunchback's armory.

Submachine Guns

PPSH-41

The Russian Army is equipped mostly with Mosin-Nagant rifles and PPSh-41. Valia takes one from the Hunchback's armory to fight in the living world.

PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

The Russian soldier in the middle has a drum PPSH-41.

The Russian soldier behind has a PPSH-41.

The Russian army prepares to attack the German lines. The crawling one up front has a PPSH-41.

Some PPSH-41s, in both drum and box magazine variants, are stacked up on a gun rack in the Hunchback's armory.

Valia fires his PPSH at the resurrected soldiers.

MP40

The Wehrmacht has the MP40 as their standard submachine gun.

MP40 - 9x19mm

MP40s are seen in a historical reel, where some German soldiers are fighting the Russians.

A German soldier kills a Russian civilian with his MP40.

The two German soldiers are armed with MP40 defend themselves from the attacking Russians.

Some MP40s are stacked up on a gun rack in the Hunchback's armory.

M1A1 Thompson

While not shown fully, the M1A1 Thompson stock could be seen in the Hunchback's armory.

M1A1 Thompson - .45 ACP

The Thompson stock can be seen on the far left side of the image.

Rifles

Kar 98K

The German Wehrmacht has the Karabiner 98k as their standard rifle. In one instance, a sniper-version of the Karabiner 98k is used.

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

In a historical reel, the German army equipped with Kar 98ks and MP40s fight the Russians.

The Germans storm Nayda's hometown, mostly equipped with Karabiners.

The German army, mostly equipped with Kar98ks, attacks Nayda's hometown.

A German soldier stands guard by the commander, providing security.

The German army entrench themselves, armed with Kar 98ks to fend off the Russian defenders.

Kar98ks right besides the MP40s in the Hunchback's armory.

Karabiner 98k with Zeiss ZF39 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A German sniper peers over the trench with his Scoped Kar98k.

Mosin Nagant

The Red Army uses the Mosin Nagant Rifle as their standard rifle. Leo takes a Mosin with a scope from the Hunchback's armory.

Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R

In Nayda's flashback, Leo trains with the Mosin Nagant rifle during the First Squad program.

Russians soldiers take cover in their trenches with their bayonet-tipped Mosins.

Russian soldiers with their standard issued rifles and SMGs.

The Russian Army, armed with Mosin rifles and PPSh SMGs, prepare to attack the German lines.

Leo takes a scoped Mosin Nagant from the Hunchback's armory.

Leo snipes the resurrected soldiers with his scoped Mosin Nagant.

Machine Guns

Degtyaryov DT

Soviet T-34/76 tanks are seen armed with Degtyaryov DT machine guns.

DT machine gun - 7.62x54mm R

MG15

German planes like the Stuka Ju 87 dive bombers are armed with MG15 machine guns.

MG15 with 75-round double drum - 7.92x57mm Mauser - 7.92x57mm Mauser

MG17

The MG17 machine gun is mounted in the Stuka's wings.

MG17 machine gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser

MG34

The German army can be seen equipped with several MG34s.

MG34 w/ 50 round belt drum - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A squad of German soldiers along with its machine gunner on the MG34, prepares for the Russian assault.

MG42

The German army can be seen equipped with several MG42s alongside the MG34s. Understandable as the MG42 is on the process of supplementing the MG34 at this time period. Marat also takes a MG42 from the Hunchback's armory to use against the resurrected soldiers.

MG42 with drum magazine - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Several German soldiers near their MG42 stand guard at the defense line.

A German machine gunner fires at the rushing Russians with his MG42.

The MG42 on the left side.

Marat takes the MG42 as his weapon of choice.

Marat fires his MG42 in the air at the newly, resurrected soldiers.

Marat fires his MG42 at the resurrected soldiers until it the magazine run drys.

Maxim M1910/30

The Russian Army uses the Maxim M1910/30 as one of their standard machine guns.

Maxim 1910/30, post 1941 manufacture with top hatch on cooling jacket - 7.62x54mmR

A Maxim M1910 is left in the open as its crew take cover from the incoming artillery.

The Maxim M1910/30 in front of the Type 92.

Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun

The Japanese Type 92 HMG can be seen in the Hunchback's armory.

Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm SR

The Type 92 right behind the Maxim M1910/30.

M2 Browning

A M2 Browning on a tripd can be temporarily seen in the introduction of the Hunchback's armory.

Browning M2HB on M3 tripod - .50 BMG.

The M2 Browning on the floor by the mortar.

Grenades

A variety of grenades can be seen after Valia stocks up on various kinds in the armory.

RGD-33 Stick Grenade

RGD-33 HE fragmentation stick grenade

A RGD-33 hanging on the wall by the Mauser and the Tokarev.

Some RGD-33 grenades can be seen as Valia packs the grenades.

RG-14 Hand Grenade

Valia has some RG-14/30 Grenade in the finale.

RG-14/30 Soviet hand grenade.

Valia tosses some RG-14 grenades with fragmentation sleeves on into a group of resurrected soldiers.

RG-42 hand grenade

Valia can be seen packing some RG-42 hand grenade into his rucksack.

RG-42 Soviet fragmentation hand grenade.

Valia packs some RG-42 grenades into his rucksack.

Model 39 Eihandgranate

Model 39 Eihandgranate hand grenade

A M39 Grenade can be seen on the floor. It is the round, blueish grenade.

Flamethrowers

Flammenwerfer 35

A German soldier is seen burning the First Squad Academy with a Flammenwerfer 35.

Flammenwerfer 35

A German soldier in the background uses a flamethrower to burn the First Squad Academy.

M2 Flamethrower

In the finale, Zena takes a M2 Flamethrower from the Hunchback's armory to fight the resurrected soldiers.

M2 Flamethrower

Zena takes a M2 Flamethrower from the Hunchback's armory.

Zena uses the M2 to torch several resurrected soldiers.