The Penal Battalion

The Penal Battalion (Russian: Shtrafbat, штрафбат) is a 2004 Russian eleven-part miniseries, directed by Nikolay Dostal, set on the Eastern Front of World War II. Vasilii Tverdokhlebov (Aleksey Serebryakov) is the sole survivor of a firing squad after his unit is captured by the Germans during Operation Barbarossa. Accused of cowardice and desertion, he is given a choice: summary execution, or the task of leading a battalion of political prisoners, petty criminals, deserters, and those accused of cowardice in suicidal missions as "redemption". 
The following weapons can be seen in the miniseries The Penal Battalion:
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= Revolvers =
== Nagant 1895 ==
In a flashback to his civilian days, Antip Glymov (Yuriy Stepanov) is seen playing Russian Roulette with a Nagant M1895 revolver. This is a pre-1930 model.
= Pistols =
== Luger P08 ==
Antip Glymov (Yuriy Stepanov) captures a Luger P08 in Episode 2. He is noticeably seen using it to execute a thief in Episode 3.
== Tokarev TT-33 ==
Soviet officers carry the Tokarev TT-33 in hip holsters. It is only drawn twice in the series however; once by an NKVD officer in a fight with a Soviet soldier, and by a Militsioner in a flashback. 
== Walther P38 ==
A captured Walther P38 is seen on a table in Episode 3. In Episode 5, a German soldier is seen reaching for a P38, only to be shot by Russian soldiers before he can use it.
= Submachine Guns =
== PPSh-41 ==
Vasiliy Tverdokhlebov (Aleksey Serebryakov) and other Soviet officers and soldiers carry the PPSh-41, with 71-round drum magazines.
== MP38 ==
German soldiers carry the MP38. Several Soviet soldiers use captured MP38s throughout the series, most noticeably Aleksey Shustrov (Aleksandr Bashirov).
== MP40 ==
The main submachine gun for the Germans is the MP40. They are also carried by Soviet soldiers, most notably Antip Glymov (Yuriy Stepanov).
= Rifles =
== Mosin Nagant M91/30 ==
The Penal Battalion soldiers are issued the Mosin Nagant M1891/30 before first going into combat. Although many quickly swap it for the MP40, it is seen used throughout the rest of the series by replacements and other Soviet soldiers. Father Mikhail (Dmitriy Nazarov) carries a Mosin Nagant when he becomes the unofficial Battalion chaplain. 
== Karabiner 98k ==
The main weapon of the German soldiers is the Karabiner 98k. Several Soviet soldiers are seen using them. In Episode 7, several German soldiers have bayonets fitted to their rifles during urban combat.
==PTRD-41==
Several Soviet soldiers carry and use the PTRD-41 anti-tank rifle.
==PTRS-41==
In Episode 6, the Battalion is issued several PTRS-41 and PTRD-41 anti-tank rifles, which they use several times throughout the rest of the series.
=Machine Guns=
==Degtyaryov DP-27==
At the beginning of the series, the battalion is issued several Degtyaryov DP-27 machine guns, which are used throughout the series.
==Maxim M1910/30==
Among the weapons issued to the battalion are several Maxim M1910/30 machine guns, which are typically fired from the Solokov wheel mount. Father Mikhail (Dmitriy Nazarov) is noticeably seen firing it to repel a German counterattack in Episode 12. NKVD barrier troops use the Maxim to fire on retreating Soviet soldiers in Episode 3.
== Maxim M1910 ==
An original Maxim M1910 is seen in one scene.
==MG34==
German soldiers use the MG34, although it is only fired once in the series. In Episode 4, two marching Russian soldiers carry MG34's.
=Grenades=
==F-1 Hand Grenade==
Aleksey Shustrov (Aleksandr Bashirov) throws an F-1 hand grenade into a German bunker in Episode 2. Two grenades are also seen besides a PTRS-41 in Episode 7.
== RGD-33 Hand Grenade ==
In one scene, a Soviet soldier is seen with a bundle of RGD-33 hand grenades.
= Other Weapons =
== 45mm 53-K AT Gun ==
A 45mm 53K AT gun is seen during a river crossing.
Category:Russian Produced/Filmed
Category:Mini-Series
Category:Television
Category:War