How the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal) (1942)How the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal) (1942) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video GamesHow the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal) (1942)
How the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal, also released in English as Heroes Are Made) is a Soviet 1942 historical drama directed by Mark Donskoy and based on the eponymous novel by Nikolai Ostrovsky (1932-1934). The protagonist, Pavel ("Pavka") Korchagin, is a young man from small Ukrainian town of Shepetovka (currently Shepetivka) who joins Reds during the Russian Civil war.
This movie is the first screen adaptation of the original novel, followed by 1956 movie Pavel Korchagin and 1973 TV series, reworked in 1975 into two-part theatrical version. The novel was also adapted for screen in Yugoslavia in 1988 and in China in 2000.
The following weapons were used in the film How the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal):
Red sailor Fyodor Ivanovich Zhukhrai (Daniil Sagal) uses a Nagant M1895 revolver when he hides in Korchagins' house. This is an authentic pre-1930 version.
Several German Imperial officers carry out of time Walther PP pistols. Pavel Korchagin (Viktor Perest-Petrenko) steals a pistol from the room of German commandant.
When Pavka Korchagin (Viktor Perest-Petrenko) steals a pistol from the room of German commandant, Walther PP switches to equally out of time TT-33. Later a TT is used by Fyodor Zhukhrai (Daniil Sagal). Some German officers carry TT holsters but the pistols aren't seen.
Revolutionary Russian soldiers, Red Guards, Red patrisans and Haidamaks (soldiers of Hetmanate army) are armed with Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles. Both Infantry and Dragoon versions can be seen.
Some of Red partisans and Red Army men, notably brothers Artyom (Viktor Bubnov) and Pavel (Viktor Perest-Petrenko) Korchagins, are seen with Mosin Nagant M1907 Carbines.
Artyom Korchagin (Viktor Bubnov) also carries an Arisaka Type 38 Carbine instead of previously seen Mosin Nagant M1907 carbine. A large number of Arisaka Type 30 and Type 38 rifles was purchased by Russian Empire from Japan during the Great War, among which no less than 30,000 carbines, so this weapon wasn't uncommon in the years of Russian Civil war.
German Imperial soldiers are armed with M98/29 Persian Mauser rifles, standing for correct Mauser Gewehr 98s. Same rifles are also used by Haidamaks. Such rifles, identified by the shape of front sight protector and the position of top sling swivel, were available after Iranian army was disarmed during Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. They are seen in several other Soviet movies, filmed in 1942-1944, like Neulovimyy Yan.
German Imperial soldiers are also armed with Tokarev SVT-38 rifles, chosen probably for their availability (in 1942 these rifles were mostly withdrawn from active service and moved to training units) and for uncommon outlook in comparison with Mosin rifles, making them more "foreign". Same usage of SVT rifles for German Imperial troops is seen in several other Soviet movies, filmed in 1942-1944, like Aleksandr Parkhomenko.
