The Winter War (Talvisota) is a Finnish movie from 1989. The film begins with the mobilization of the Finnish Army in October 1939 and ends on 13th of March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty. We follow a few soldiers from their mobilization through the trench warfare and massive Soviet artillery barrages until their surrender. It's the most costly Finnish film to date and its historically very accurate considering they interviewed Finnish veterans prior to the filming.
2nd Lieutenant Jussi Kantola (Vesa Vierikko) carries a Russian Tokarev TT-33 Pistol
Error creating thumbnail: File missingTokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev.Error creating thumbnail: File missing2nd Lieutenant Jussi Kantola (Vesa Vierikko) on the right is seen thawing his pistol near the stove so it can function properly. During the Winter War (Dec 1939 - March 1940) the cold was a major concern. The temperatures often dropped to -40 degrees C. (-40ºF).Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother view of 2nd LT "Jussi Kantola" (Vesa Vierikko) with his TT-33. Note the hammer and very large rear sight.Error creating thumbnail: File missingJussi Kantola (Vesa Vierikko) is seen firing his TT-33 at the Russians during close quarter fighting.
Rifles
Mosin Nagant M1891/30
The Mosin Nagant M1891/30 is the main rifle used by Red Army soldiers throughout the film. The rifle is also seen in the hands of some Finnish soldiers. Historically the Finnish Army during the war had a severe lack of equipment and weapons and they used Russian weapons whenever practible.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingFull-length, Soviet Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54RA Finnish soldier advising his comrades to use enemy bolts. Note the translation calls it "Breeches". In addition, the M91/30 he is holding seems to be a Finnish two piece "pot belly" stock variant.
Finnish M/28-30 Civil Guard Mosin-Nagant Rifle
The main character, Martti Hakala (Taneli Mäkelä) uses the M/28-30 Civil Guard Mosin-Nagant Rifle, including his brother Paavo (Konsta Mäkelä), and a few other characters are members of Suojeluskunta ("Civil Guard", also known as "White Guard"). The "White Guard" was a voluntary militia and training organisation for reservists. In the beginning of the movie, the Hakala brothers are seen leaving their home as the Finnish army mobilizes, and they bring with them their own M/28-30 rifles. The M/28-30 was a Mosin-Nagant variant designed by the White Guards, and can be distinguished from other Mosin-Nagant rifles by their distinctive foresight guards and shorter stocks, among other things. It is similar to the M/27 Infantry Rifle adopted earlier by the Finnish Army, the main differences being the barrel band design, which is a single piece compared to the M/27's hinged band, and an improved trigger design. A major improvement over its Civil Guard predecessor, the m/28, was the straight Mansner rear sight and screw-adjustable front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe Finnish M/28 and M/28-30 rifles - 7.62x54RError creating thumbnail: File missingOne of the rifles being picked up in the beginning of the film.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother image of the two rifles seen in the beginning.Close up of the bolt.Image of the front sight.Error creating thumbnail: File missingClose up of the front sight.Close up of the cocking knob/safety of the bolt. Note how the screw head which is part of the firing pin is lined up and flush with the index mark on the knob. This indicates proper bolt assembly and firing pin protusion.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA sideview of the M/28-30 rifle.Error creating thumbnail: File missingMartti Hakala (Taneli Mäkelä) fires his M/28-30 at the advancing Russians.Martti reloads his M/28-30. Note how it appears to be dummy rounds.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe Hakala brothers: Martti Hakala (Taneli Mäkelä) and Paavo Hakala (Konsta Mäkelä) with their M/28-30 rifles during a lull in the fighting. Note the blocky rear sight base and straight rear sight leaf of the m/28-30.
Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 Rifle
Several Finnish soldiers can be seen using earlier Model 1891 rifles. The rifles are either Russian M91s, Finnish M91s, Finnish M24s, or Finnish P26s.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingFull-length, Mosin Nagant M1891 - 7.62x54mm RPrivate Pentti Saari with his Model 1891. Note the three "Molotov Cocktails" underneath the rifle.Private Vilho Erkkilä staying low with his Model 1891.Finnish soldier firing his Model 1891.
Tokarev SVT-40 Rifle
The Tokarev SVT-40 Rifle is seen in the hands of both Russian and Finnish soldiers, the latter usage was historically correct due to a lack of equipment and weapons on the Finnish side. In reality, the Red Army used the older version, SVT-38, in Winter War, and SVT-40 did not enter service until July 1940, several months after the end of the conflict. However, since SVT-38 is a much rarer weapon, it's understandable that the SVT-40 is being used as a "stand-in" for it.
Lahti-Saloranta LS/26, the standard light machine gun of the Finnish army in that period, is used by the Finnish soldiers.
File:Lahtim26.jpgLahti-Saloranta LS/26 - 7.62mmx54RussianError creating thumbnail: File missingA Finnish soldier firing his "Lahti". Note the magazine on the ground. It seems to be loaded with live rounds, or possible "disabled" rounds with no powder and/or blasting cap but with a genuine projectile attached.
Degtyaryov Dp-27/28
The DP LMG is used by both the Red Army soldiers and the Finnish soldiers.
The Finnish soldiers during the move make good use of the stick hand grenade M/32.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe Hakala brothers: Martti Hakala (Taneli Mäkelä) and Paavo Hakala (Konsta Mäkelä) with a Finnish stick-hand grenade in the foreground.
Molotov Cocktail
The Finns are also seen using the "Molotov Cocktail" against tanks. The "Cocktail" was an historical incendiary device named after the Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. It is basically a bottle filled with a mixture of incendiary substances and has a stick-fuse attached to the side for ignition.
