Land of War: The Beginning

Land of War: The Beginning Offical Boxart Release Date: June 10, 2021 Developer: MS Games Publisher: MS Games sp. z o.o. Platforms: Microsoft Windows Genre: First-Person Shooter

Land of War: The Beginning is a 2021 first-person shooter developed and published by Polish studio MS Games. In a setting rarely touched upon by Second World War media, players control Polish soldiers fighting the German invasion of their homeland in September 1939, the earliest days of the Second World War.

The following weapons appear in the video game Land of War: The Beginning:

Handguns

Luger P08

The Luger P08 is, naturally, the standard sidearm of Wehrmacht forces. It is referred to as the "P08 Parabellum".

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Kowalski holds a Luger P08.

Aiming down the tiny front sight.

Reloading a Luger P08, which consists of flicking out the (invisible) magazine, loading a new one, and then releasing the toggle lock.

Vis wz. 35 Radom

The Vis wz. 35 Radom is the standard sidearm of the Polish forces, known as the "ps Vis wz. 35".

Vis wz. 35 Radom - 9x19mm

In a trench network, Kowalski comes across a wz. 35.

Having been hounded by German bombers in recent times, he aims at the sky.

Reloading a Vis wz. 35 Radom in an animation mostly recycled from the Luger, save for Kowalski thumbing the slide release when empty.

Vis P-35p

A Vis wz. 35 with a chrome finish is a DLC weapon and is modeled after the Vis P-35p, the German designation for wz. 35s produced at the Radom factory for use by the Wehrmacht after the occupation of Poland. It is referred to as the "VIS P-35p", however, the full designation of the German-produced wz. 35 was 9 mm Pistole 645(p). It is functionally identical to the common variant. Due to the circumstances of this particular pistol's production, it can be considered somewhat anachronistic.

Vis wz. 35 Radom - 9x19mm

Kowalski arrives to show-off his fancy P-35p pistol to his comrades.

Unbeknownst to his fellow soldiers, Kowalski flags one of his buddies with the chrome P-35p.

Reloading- not too much to say here as it reuses the basic wz. 35's animation.

wz. 30 Nagant

The wz. 30 Nagant, a Polish-produced variant of the Nagant Revolver, is available as a DLC weapon under the name "wz. NG 30 Nagant".

wz. 30 Nagant - 7.62x38R Nagant. Compared to the Russian Nagant, the Polish-produced Nagants are slightly lighter and have a shorter barrel.

Kowalski finds himself with a rather antiquated sidearm.

Aiming a Wz. 30 Nagant with its typically tiny late 19th century pistol sights.

"This reload time is exhilarating!"

Shotguns

Becker Model 1899

The Becker Model 1899 is the game's sole shotgun. Being a somewhat obscure hunting shotgun not designed for combat, its presence during the invasion of Poland is dubious.

Becker Model 1899 - 16 gauge

Kowalski overlooks the Baltic coast with a Becker Model 1899 in hand.

Aiming the Becker Model 1899 at the empty amphibious assault site.

Reloading. The ejector rod is correctly used to eject the last shell and then new shells are loaded into the chambers one by one.

Submachine Guns

Haenel MP28/II

The Haenel MP28/II appears as the "Maschinenpistole 28" and is encountered in German hands.

Haenel MP28/II - 9x19mm

After clearing Germans from a trench, Kowalski liberates an MP28/II for himself, using the oft ill-advised technique of holding it by the magazine well.

Kowalski interrogates another MP28/II as to the whereabouts of his friends.

Reloading.

M1928 Thompson

The M1928 Thompson appears under its contemporary Polish designation of "pm Thompson wz. 28".

M1928 Thompson with 50-round drum magazine - .45 ACP

Kowalski brings some American firepower to the front.

Kowalski aims, determined to be the first man to give the Nazis their first taste of .45 ACP.

Reloading. The drum magazine is correctly slid into place and then the charging handle given a tug.

MP40

While called a "Maschinenpistole 38" in-game, this weapon is actually an anachronistic MP40.

Maschinenpistole 40 - 9x19mm

Kowalski with a time-traveling "Maschinenpistole 38". Note the non-fluted upper part of the receiver and Margolit lower receiver typical for many MP40s.

Aiming the MP40 at some suspicious dirt.

Reloading the MP40. For some reason, every submachine gun produces a large amount of smoke from the barrel- not the muzzle, but rather the entire barrel. This effect is best seen here.

PPD-29

The PPD-29 was added in a post-release update as the "Degtyaryov PPD-30".

PPD-29 - 7.63x25mm Mauser

Kowalski finds himself with an obscure Soviet prototype. Best not to dwell on where he got it.

Aiming the PPD-29 at the frontlines.

Reloading the PPD-29 by removing the pan magazine, placing a new one, and pulling the charging handle. Appropriate for an SMG that resembles a miniature Degtyaryov DP-27.

wz. 39 Mors

The Wz. 39 Mors appears as the "pm Mors wz. 39". It is depicted as much more common in the field than it ever was in real life- only 39 wz. 39s were produced by the start of World War II.

Wz. 39 Mors - 9x19mm

Holding a Wz. 39 Mors at the site of a battered farmstead.

Aiming the Wz. 39 Mors after getting in some field testing on German defenders.

Reloading, Like the other SMGs, the Mors produces a large cloud of black smoke after sustained fire, accompanied by a rather worrying sizzling sound.

Rifles

Karabiner 98k

Karabiner 98k Infantry

The Karabiner 98k is, of course, the standard issue rifle of German forces. Referred to as the "Karabiner 98 kurz".

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Holding a captured Karabiner 98k. The in-game model seems rather compact or squashed.

Aiming the Karabiner 98k. The flag safety seems to have been placed a bit too far forward and the striker incorrectly does not move when fired.

Reloading the Karabiner 98k.

Karabiner 98k (Sniper)

A Karabiner 98k with a scope is used by Wehrmacht snipers. It strangely gets a completely new designation of "Mauser Kar98 Sniper".

Karabiner 98k with Zeiss ZF42 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Kowalski requisitions a scoped Kar98k. The scope and mount do not appear to be based on any used by the Kar98k during the actual war.

Aiming through the scope reveals a classic three-post reticle.

Reloading the scoped Karabiner 98k. No stripper clips this time.

wz. 29 Mauser

The wz. 29 Mauser is the standard issue rifle of Polish infantry, marking Land of War as one of this rifle's rare video game appearances. It appears as "kbk Mauser wz.29".

Wz. 29 Mauser - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Kowalski muses on the irony of him and his countrymen fighting Germans with the Kar98k's Polish cousin. Like the Kar98k, this rifle also seems a bit too short.

Aiming the wz. 29 Mauser. Unlike the Kar98k, this Mauser variant lacks a hooded front sight.

Like the Kar98k, however, it is loaded either round-by-round or with a stripper clip.

wz. 38M

The wz. 38M appears as the "kbsp Maroszka wz. 38M" and is the only self-loading rifle in-game. Like the wz. 39 Mors, the wz. 38M appears much more prominently in-game than it ever did in real life.

Wz. 38M - 7.92x57mm Mauser

While holding a wz. 38M, Kowalski surveys a burning farm.

Aiming the wz. 38M reveals sights that are small, but clear and readable.

Reloading. Kowalski loads the rifle with two 8mm Mauser stripper clips (note the second clip in his off hand) before he (very subtly) puts the bolt into battery by pulling the trigger.

wz. 35 Ur

The wz. 35 Ur appears as "Kb ppanc Ur wz. 35" and is used in its intended role as a stationary anti-tank rifle. Unlike some other depictions of the wz. 35 Ur in video games, it cannot be picked up and used while on the move and is more sensibly used only when the bipod is deployed.

Wz. 35 Ur - 7.92x107mm DS

Wz. 35 Ur in game.

Wz. 35 Ur in game.

Machine Guns

MG34

The MG34 with Patronentrommel 34 magazine appears as "Maschinengewehr 34".

MG34 with 75 round saddle drum magazine Patronentrommel 34 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Kowalski borrows an MG34 from the Germans.

Aiming reveals the drum magazine clutters quite a bit of your view. It's an "accuracy through volume" kind of gun.

Reloading. The charging handle is pulled, the magazine swapped, and a new one put in its place.

MG 15

German Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers have rear-mounted MG15s.

Maschinengewehr 15 with 75-round double drum - 7.92x57mm Mauser

wz. 28 Browning

The wz. 28 Browning, a Polish license-produced Browning Automatic Rifle, appears as "rkm Browning wz. 28".

wz. 28 Browning - 7.92x57mm Mauser

In an absurdly-spacious Warsaw sewer, Kowalski holds a wz. 28 Browning.

Aiming through the flipped up rear sight.

Reloading through a simple swap of the magazines.

Maxim MG08

The Maxim MG08 appears as a stationary weapon under its Polish designation of "ckm Maxim wz. 08". It has unlimited ammo, but is governed by a usual video game "overheating" mechanic.

Maxim MG08 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Coming across an MG08.

Kowalski mans the MG08 to defend this particular dirt road.

Hotchkiss wz. 25

The Hotchkiss wz. 25, a Polish-produced Hotchkiss M1914 in 7.92x57mm Mauser, is another stationary weapon and is incorrectly referred to as "ckm Hotchkiss wz. 14". Unlike the other stationary machine guns, it does not have unlimited ammo and the 30-round belt must be replaced. It is also mounted on some vehicles.

Hotchkiss wz. 25 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A wz. 25 Hotchkiss mounted on a TK-3 tankette.

ckm wz.30

The ckm wz.30 appears as "ckm Browning wz. 30". It is usually found in machine gun nests and on some vehicles. It is functionally identical to the Maxim MG08.

ckm wz.30 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A ckm wz.30 with a belt that would realistically be good for less than five seconds of sustained fire.

Using the ckm wz.30.

A Polish 7 TP twin-turreted tank with two mounted Ckm wz.30 machine guns.

Launchers

Sturmpistole

The Sturmpistole appears under its same name.

Sturmpistole - 26.65mm

Holding a Sturmpistole.

Aiming the Sturmpistole. The ladder sight is not used to rangefind and Kowalski simply lines up shots through the middle slot.

Explosives

Dynamite

Dynamite is given to complete objectives.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

German soldiers are seen using Model 24 Stielhandgranates.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

A Model 24 grenade stuck to a German soldier. While presumably meant to be tucked into his belt, it's not quite clear what the grenade is actually affixed to.

wz. 33 Granat Obronny

The wz. 33 Granat Obronny is the game's usable grenade, known as "Defensive Grenade wz. 33".

wz. 33 Granat Obronny

Kowalski prepares to play hot potato with a wz. 33 grenade.

Mounted

2 cm KwK 30

German Panzer II light tanks, Kfz. 222 scout cars, and Sd.Kfz. 234/1 armored cars are equipped with KwK 30 autocannons.

Kampfwagenkanone 30 mounted on an Sd.Kfz. 222 - 20x138mmB

20 mm Nkm wz.38 FK

An Nkm wz. 38 FK autocannon is seen mounted on a Polish TK-3 tankette.

37 mm Hotchkiss Gun

An unusable 37 mm Hotchkiss Gun is seen in a trench during the Battle of Mokra.

7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18

Two Infanteriegeschütz 18 support guns are found during the single-player campaign.

Leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 - 75x89mmR

The Infanteriegeschütz 18 is seen behind sandbags.

76.2 mm divisional gun M1902

Putilov Field Gun - 76.2mm (3 in)

8 cm Granatwerfer 34

What appears to be a Granatwerfer 34 Mortar is seen during the mission in Warsaw

Granatwerfer (GrW) 34 - 81.4 mm (3.20 in)

8.8 cm Flak 37

The Flak 37 appears throughout the campaign. It cannot be used, but is often the target of sabotage objectives.

8.8 cm FlaK 37 - 88x571mm R

8.8 cm FlaK 37 in game.

15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33

A German Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B "Bison" self-propelled gun is seen with a mounted Infanteriegeschütz 33.

Schweres Infanteriegeschütz (sIG) 33 - 149.1 mm (5.87 in)

152 mm Laskowski Coastal Cannon

Two Laskowski Coastal Cannons are stationed on the Hel Peninsula.

wz. 36 Bofors plot

The wz. 36 Bofors plot, a Polish-produced Bofors 40mm, is used as an anti-aircraft gun, manned by Kowalski in some missions.

wz. 36 Bofors plot - 40x311mmR

Coming across a wz. 36 Bofors plot.

Kowalski scans the skies through the gun sight.

Bofors 37 mm anti-tank gun

The Bofors 37 mm anti-tank gun, specifically the Polish-produced wz. 36 Bofors przeciwpancerna is used to destroy German armor in some missions. Polish tanks also use the tank gun variant. It is referred to as "Armata ppnac Bofors wz.".

Wz. 36 Bofors ppanz - 37x257R

After dealing with the planes, Kowalski commandeers a Bofors 37mm to deal with a more grounded threat.

The tiny aperture doesn't allow the operator to see much...

...unless they use the telescopic scope, which Kowalski uses to sight up a Panzer.

A Polish Polish single-turret 7TP tank with a mounted wz. 36 Bofors ppanz.

wz. 37 Szczeniak

The Wz. 37 Szczeniak, a flexible aircraft machine gun based on the Browning Automatic Rifle, is used as the defensive gun of the PZL.37B Łoś medium bomber, which contains three. It is referred to as the "ckm Szczeniak wz. 37".

Wz. 37 Szczeniak - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Kowalski finds himself as the tail gunner of a PZL.37B Łoś.

Another threat has Kowalski head to the nose mounted wz. 37.