In the Hard Hour (V trudnyy chas)

In the Hard Hour (V trudnyy chas) Original Poster Country USSR Directed by Ilya Gurin Release Date 1961 Language Russian Studio Gorky Film Studios Main Cast Character Actor Sgt. Kuzma Kroykov Vladimir Kashpur Varvara Oknova Svetlana Kharitonova Sr. Lt. Pyotr Kotelnikov Yuriy Nazarov Olya Kotelnikova Nina Mager Politruk Parfentyev Vladimir Zamanskiy Senya Igor Kvasha Nina Tatyana Gavrilova Tanya Lidiya Savchenko

In the Hard Hour (direct translation of original title V trudnyy chas) is a 1961 Soviet war drama directed by Ilya Gurin. It depicts the fate of several Soviet soldiers in the Battle for Moscow in Autumn-Winter 1941.

The following weapons were used in the film In the Hard Hour (V trudnyy chas):

Handguns

Nagant M1895

The Nagant M1895 revolver is Politruk (political instructor) Parfentyev's (Vladimir Zamanskiy) service sidearm. Sgt. Kuzma Kroykov (Vladimir Kashpur) and Varvara Oknova (Svetlana Kharitonova) carry holsters for Nagant revolvers but it's impossible to say if they contain revolvers.

Nagant M1895 Revolver - 7.62x38R Nagant. This example was dated 1939 manufacture and was a War time issued weapon. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s.

Parfentyev holds the revolver in attack.

Parfentyev cleans his Nagant.

Tokarev TT-33

The company commander Sr. Lt. Pyotr Kotelnikov (Yuriy Nazarov) carries the TT-33, seen only in holster.

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

Kotelnikov (at the right) carries the TT holster.

Submachine Guns

PPSh-41

During the winter offensive of Red Army many soldiers and officers, including Sr. Lt. Pyotr Kotelnikov (Yuriy Nazarov), Politruk Parfentyev (Vladimir Zamanskiy) and Sgt. Kuzma Kroykov (Vladimir Kashpur), are armed with PPSh-41 SMGs. In the final scene the female scouts Varvara Oknova (Svetlana Kharitonova) and Olya Kotelnikova (Nina Mager) fire PPSh-41s.

Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Lt. Kotelnikov holds the PPSh. Next to his Parfentyev's PPSh is seen.

Kroykov with PPSh in attack.

Kroykov carries the PPSh.

Olya Kotelnikova reloads the PPSh.

Olya Kotelnikova with PPSh.

Varvara Oknova with PPSh.

MP40

In the opening scene Senya (Igor Kvasha), one of the group of soldiers who break from the encirclement, carries the captured MP40. MP40s are seen in hands of German soldiers, at least those who are seen closely; those who appeare only at the background are armed with AK-47s (see below).

MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm

Senya holds the MP40, seen very unclear but still identifiable.

A German soldier with MP40 falls under the heavy fire.

Rifles

Mosin Nagant M1891/30

Most Soviet soldiers are armed with Mosin Nagant M1891/30 rifles.

Full-length, Soviet Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R

Sgt. Kuzma Kroykov (Vladimir Kashpur) holds the M91/30 rifle.

Senya (Igor Kvasha) crawls with M91/30 rifle in hands.

Senya fires his rifle (at the left).

Soldiers with M91/30 rifles and PPSh-41 SMGs on the rest.

A sentry holds M91/30 with bayonet.

Pvt. Milkin (Vladimir Salnikov) (at the left) and military traffic controller Tanya (Lidiya Savchenko) (in center) carry M91/30 rifles.

Military traffic controller Nina (Tatyana Gavrilova) carries the M91/30 rifle.

Assault Rifles

AK-47

A careful view of the advancing German soldiers allows to find out that they are armed with nothing else than AK-47s. The reason of such strange choice is the usage of the regular unit of Soviet Army as the extras. While they are dressed in Wehrmacht greycoats and steel helmets, they retain their service AKs.

Type II AK-47 - 7.62x39mm

Machine Guns

Degtyaryov DP-27

Degtyaryov DP-27 light machine guns are used by Soviet soldiers, notably Sgt. Kuzma Kroykov (Vladimir Kashpur) and unnamed soldier (Daniil Netrebin).

Degtyaryov DP-27 machine gun - 7.62x54mm R

Kroykov, gunner's assistant Senya (Igor Kvasha) and Fedya Zinyalkin (Gennady Sayfulin) on the position with the DP-27.

A closeup of the DP-27.

Kroykov fires.

Senya reloads the machine gun.

Maxim M1910

Maxim M1910 machine gun (version with smooth water jacket) is seen in several scenes.

Maxim 1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR

The Maxim on position.

The Maxim in action.

Unknown Machine Gun

The fake Pz.III tank, based on the SU-76M SPG chassis, has the real front-mounted machine gun that is seen firing. Only the small portion of the barrel is seen. This machine gun could be Degtyaryov DT or Goryunov SGMT.

DT machine gun - 7.62x54mm R

SGMT machine gun - 7.62x54mm R

The front machine gun fires.

The barrel is seen.

Other Weapons

RGD-33

In the final scene the female scouts Varvara Oknova (Svetlana Kharitonova) and Olya Kotelnikova (Nina Mager), running off ammo for their PPSh-41s, ready RGD-33 hand grenades.

RGD-33 high-explosive fragmentation stick grenade, shown with the diamond-patterned fragmentation sleeve.

Olya holds the grenade.

Varvara holds the grenade.

PTRD-41

PTRD-41 AT rifles are briefly seen in several scenes.

PTRD-41 Anti-tank rifle - 14.5x114mm

Soldiers carry the PTRD in trench.

Soldiers carry the PTRD (at the bottom left).

45 mm 53-K AT Gun

45 mm 53-K AT guns are briefly seen while the company is transported in train.

M1937 (53-K) Soviet anti-tank gun - 45 mm (1.77 in)

The 53-K AT gun is seen on the railway flatcar.

45 mm M-42 AT Gun

The 45 mm M-42 AT gun, anachronistic for the Winter 1941/42, is briefly seen in one scene.

M1942 (M-42) Soviet anti-tank gun - 45 mm (1.77 in)

The M-42 is seen towed on the road.

Trivia

Artillery

76.2 mm USV (M1939) field gun is towed on the night road.

USV on march in another scene.

The old Russian 107 mm (42-line or 4.2") M1910 field gun is seen on the side of the snow-covered road. It stands for German gun, abandoned during the retreat of Wehrmacht from Moscow.

Even more ancient 86.7 mm (4-pounder) M1877 field gun is also seen on the road. The 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 rocket launcher is seen at the left background.

Kroykov looks at the Nebelwerfer 41.

The abandoned German 15 cm sIG 33 heavy infantry gun is seen at the left.

Tanks

The mockup of German Pz.III is based on the SU-76M SPG chassis. It has the fake main gun and the real front-mounted machine gun (it is seen firing).

T-34-85 tank, anachronistic for 1941, crosses the snow-covered landscape.

Soviet SU-100 SPG, anachronistic for 1941, is seen on the road.