The Road Home (Synovya)
Modern DVD Cover
The Road Home Synovya ("Sons")) is a Soviet B&W 1946 war drama, directed by Aleksandr Ivanov. The story is set in German occupied Latvia. A Latvian farmer Yanis is arrested by Germans, being suspected in helping partisans. He makes an escape but is arrested by his younger brother Valdemar who chooses to serve occupation power. Escaping again, Yanis joins a Soviet Latvian partisans unit. In order to capture Yanis, Germans use his family as a lure, but partisans outwit and defeat enemies.
The following weapons were used in the film The Road Home (Synovya) :
Pistols Tokarev TT-33 A partisan (Vasili Leonov ) dual-wields TT-33 pistols when firing at German patrol. TT pistol is also seen in hands of a German soldier during the pursue after Yanis in forest.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Pre-1947 version. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing An SS soldier with a dog participates in pursue after Yanis. His handgun appears to be a TT. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan fires at German soldiers. Luger P08 German officers and NCOs, including Major Von Grabbe (Vitali Politseymako), Oberleutnant Brenner (Grigoriy Shpigel ) and Oberleutnant Rotter (Yu. Ototskiy), carry Luger P08 pistols.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German NCO at the left holds a P08. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An SS soldier with a dog participates in pursue after Yanis. He holds a Luger. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brenner holds a Luger during the pursue after Yanis in forest (he has insignia of SS Untersturmführer despite being credited as Oberleutnant ). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brenner fires his Luger in another scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rotter holds a Luger (he has insignia of SS Obersturmführer despite being credited as Oberleutnant ). Error creating thumbnail: File missing He fires at pursuing Yanis. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grabbe, disguised as a woman, fires his Luger during grapple with Yanis. Mauser C96 A Mauser C96 is used by a German soldier in one scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing An SS soldier with a dog participates in pursue after Yanis. He holds a Mauser C96. Submachine Guns MP40 German soldiers, including Gefreiter Valdemar (Nikodim Gippius), and Soviet partisans use MP40 SMGs.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MP40 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier guards railroad. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An Obergefreiter (Lev Stepanov ) fires at escaping Yanis and Andys (the character has insignia of SS Rotenführer). Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same character carries his MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing SS soldiers with MP40s. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The commander of Soviet partisans unit (Gennadiy Michurin ) carries an MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan carries MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan (Vasili Leonov ) carries an MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Valdemar holds an MP40 (at the left). MP38 At least a single MP38 is seen in hands of a soldier from Brenner's SS unit.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MP38 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rifles Karabiner 98k SS soldiers carry Karabiner 98k rifles in numerous scenes. 98k rifles are also used by partisans.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soldiers capture escaped Yanis (Oleg Zhakov ) and Andys (Pavel Shtraus). Error creating thumbnail: File missing An SS soldier holds a 98k rifle with bayonet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier on guard holds a 98k rifle with bayonet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing During the ambush on Yanis' farm most soldiers are armed with 98k rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan at the left holds a 98k rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Yanis fires at Rotter in the final scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of Yanis' rifle in the same scene. Mauser vz. 16/33 In one scene Yanis (Oleg Zhakov ) holds a rifle that appears to be Czech vz. 16/33 (German index Gewehr 33/40 (t)).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Czech vz. 16/33 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Yanis holds a Mauser rifle. Note the groove on stock that allows to differ this rifle from Karabiner 98k. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of vz. 16/33 rifle in hands of German soldier. Note the groove on stock that allows to differ this rifle from Karabiner 98k. Mauser Gewehr 98 A full length Mauser rifle is seen in hands of a soldier during the ambush on Yanis' farm. This are most likely a Mauser Gewehr 98 of post-1918 version (it has a flat rear sight rather that Lange-Visier) or its Czech or Polish 1920s derivative.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing BRNO Vz.98/22 Czech Mauser - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A standing soldier holds a full length Mauser rifle. Unidentified Mauser Rifle Short Mauser rifles with side mounted sling swivels are seen in several scenes (probably a single reused prop). Such unusual position of swivels is common for cavalry models of Mauser 98 family.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Yanis (Oleg Zhakov ) holds a rifle, captured from a German soldier. The bottom sling swivel is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The rifle has straight bolt handle and a groove on stock. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The top sling swivel is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing What appears to be the same rifle with side mounted swivels is seen in hands of a soldier on motorcycle. Machine Guns Degtyaryov DP-27 Soviet partisans use a DP-27 during the attack on German headquarters. A DP is also seen mounted on a motorcycle of Red Army unit.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Degtyaryov DP-27 - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisans fire a DP. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A DP is seen mounted on motorcycle. Degtyaryov DA Degtyaryov DA machine guns are seen mounted on motorcycles of Red Army unit. This is correct as DA machine guns, outdated for aircraft service, were sometimes converted for land service and mounted on cars and motorcycles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing DA machine gun - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing DA machine guns are mounted on motorcycles. The shape and position of front sights allows to differ DA from similar looking DT. MG34 German soldiers and Soviet partisans use MG34 machine guns in several scenes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MG34 with front and rear sights folded down - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing An MG34 is seen on the top of the train with prisoners. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An MG34 is deployed in ambush on Yanis' farm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan carries an MG34 at the background during the attack of German headquarters. Other Weapons Flare Pistol A partisan (Vasili Leonov ) uses a flare pistol in one scene. It looks similar to SPSh Flare Pistol but seems to have a trigger guard so it can be an OSSh-42, earlier flare pistol also designed by Georgy Shpagin.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: OSSh-42 Flare Pistol - 26.5mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing RM-40 Mortar A Soviet 50mm RM-40 light mortar is used by German soldiers. Later partisans use the same mortar.
Soviet 50-mm RM-40 Mortar Error creating thumbnail: File missing SS soldiers with a mortar. The shape of bipod allows to differ RM-40 from similar RM-38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisans raise a mortar on rooftop. Trivia Holsters Error creating thumbnail: File missing Valdemar carries a Luger P08 holster. Error creating thumbnail: File missing In the final scene Valdemar carries a universal holster for Walther P38 and Luger P08. Armour Error creating thumbnail: File missing In the final scene Red Army soldiers use Lend-Lease M3 Scout Car armoured cars. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing 152mm ML-20 gun-howitzers are seen in documentary footage. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Katyusha rocket launchers are seen in documentary footage.
