Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Battle of Neretva (1969)
The Battle of Neretva (Original: Bitka na Neretvi ) is a 1969 Yugoslavian war drama recounting the largest combat encounter between the Axis occupiers and the partisans in the territory of the former Yugoslavia during WWII. The film was an Italian-German coproduction directed by Veljko Bulajic and was the most expensive film produced in the then-Yugoslavia country. The film also featured an international cast including Yul Brynner , Orson Welles , Sergei Bondarchuk , Hardy Krüger , Curt Jürgens , Franco Nero and Sylva Koscina and is also notable for the massive amount of Soviet-made armor used in the production.
The following guns were used in The Battle of Neretva :
Handguns
Luger P08
Partisans commanders and officers use German Luger P08 pistols.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 9x19mm
Partisan commander Vlado (Yul Brynner ) draws his pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisan Nikola (Oleg Vidov ) (left) aims a Luger P08 pistol at Capt. Michele Riva (Franco Nero ).
Walther P38
The Walther P38 is used by Partisan and Chetnik officers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Walther P38 pistol - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A wounded Partisan officer draws his pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Chetnik commander (Dusan Bulajic ) holds his P38.
Submachine Guns
MP40
The MP40 submachine gun is used heavily by all factions.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MP40 - 9mm.
File:Hardy Krüger-BN.jpg Col. Kranzer (Hardy Krüger ) (left) holds a submachine gun in his hand.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisan Nikola (Oleg Vidov ) fires his MP40 while fighting German infantry
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Danica (Sylva Koscina ), a female Partisan, uses an MP40
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Comander Stole (Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic ) fires on Cetnik cavalry with his MP40 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Cetnik cavalryman carries a slung MP40.
Beretta Model 38
Partisans used captured Italian Beretta M38A and Beretta Model 38/42 submachine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta Model 38A - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan aims his gun at Nikola.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Ustasha commander (Miha Baloh ) prepares to fire.
Beretta Model 38/42
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta Model 38/42 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan aims his Model 38/42 at German infantry.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Serb Cetnik cavalryman holds his M38/42.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chetnik fire his submachine gun.
Machine Guns
MG42
German and Partisan forces use MG42 machine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MG42 Machine Gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German fires his MG42.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Stipe (Boris Dvornik ), a motorcycle-riding Partisan, carries a slung machine gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Partisan commander, Vlado (Yul Brynner ), fires an MG42 at German airplanes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Novak (Ljubisa Samardzic ), a Partisan machine-gunner, mans his weapon.
MG34
Both sides use MG34 machineguns as well .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MG34 7.92x57mm Mauser with 75-round ammo drum
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisan machine gunner fires his MG34.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chetniks gunners lie dead beside their weapon .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Machinegunner Novak (Ljubisa Samardzic ) with his MG34.
Breda Modello 37
Italian troops use the Breda Modello 37 "heavy" machine gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Breda Modello 37 - 8x59mm RB Breda
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An Italian machinegunner fires on the attacking partisans with his Modello 37.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An M37 machinegun guards a Serbian chetnik camp.
Rifles
Karabiner 98k
Both German and Partisan forces use Karabiner 98k rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing German infantry with K98k rifles in melee combat.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan engages Chetniks with his rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Chetnik returns fire with his K98k
Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifle
The Ustasha patrols carry Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Carcano M91 Rifle
The Italian infantry carry Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbines and Carcano M91/38 Short Rifles .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbine with folded bayonet - 6.5mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An Italian soldier runs toward the train with his rifle in hand.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan woman (Milena Drapcevic ) carries a M91/38 rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Carcano M91/38 Short Rifle - 6.5mm - 6.5mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An Italian soldier carries a rifle on his back.
Hand Grenades
Model 39 Eihandgranate
Partisans carry the Model 39 Eihandgranate .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Model 39 Eihandgranate hand grenade
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan dances with hand grenades hanging from his belt.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Several grenades are seen on Novak's (Ljubisa Samardzic ) belt.
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
German infantry and some partisans carry Model 24 Stielhandgranates .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan prepares to throw a bundle of grenades at an Italian armored car.
Mk 2 hand grenade
A Mk 2 hand grenade is briefly seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mk 2 "Pineapple" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan girl about to throw a grenade at Chetnik cavalry.
Molotov cocktail
Partisans use incendiary Molotov cocktails against the Germans.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan woman (Milena Drapcevic ) throws a Molotov cocktail at German tanks.
Unidentified bomb
The Partisans for disposal of bridge or stockpiles of enemies weapons use a unidentified bombs.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Commander Vlado (Yul Brynner ) holds a unidentified grenades volume in his hand.
Other
Kampfpistole Z
A Kampfpistole Z is used for signalling.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing German Flare Gun 1944 No. 2
PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle
Partisans anti-tank troops are equipped with PTRS-41 rifles .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle 14.5x114mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan aims at a German tank.
Kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42 (GrW 34)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Flak 38
Partisans capture a German Flakvierling 38 anti-aircraft gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Flakvierling 38 - 20x138mm B
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M1939 (52-K) Soviet 85mm Anti Aircraft Gun
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisan commander Martin (Sergey Bondarchuk ) fires a 85mm M1939 (52-K) at German aircraft
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisans destroy their heavy artillery before retreating into the mountains.
7.5 cm PaK 40
Partisans fire a 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 7,5 cm-Pak 40 anti-tank gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Armor
One of the most interesting aspects of this film was the massive amount of Soviet-era armor lent to the production including the following:
T-34
The unmodified T-34 Russian tank is the most widely seen armored vehicle in the film, which was typically seen utilized by the German forces.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing German forces are seen using Soviet T-34's.
Pzkw VI Tiger I
What appear to be Tiger I tanks are also seen used by German forces in the film. In reality, these were T-34's with modified turrets to resemble the Tiger. These mockups were so well detailed that three of them were eventually reused in the 1970 Clint Eastwood war film Kelly's Heroes .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tiger I tanks are also seen used by German forces. These were modified T-34's and were subsequently reused in the film Kelly's Heroes .
M4 Sherman
Strangely, American M4 Sherman tanks are also seen depicted as German armor in the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An American M4 Sherman tank painted in German colors.