Special Operations Squad
DVD Cover
Special Operations Squad Otryad spetsyalnogo naznacheniya ) is a Soviet 1987 five-part mini-series directed by Georgiy Kuznetsov and based on the memoirs "Eto bylo pod Rovno" (It Happened Near Rovno ) by Dmitriy Nikolaevich Medvedev. The plot depicts the activities of Soviet special force Pobediteli (The Victorious) under the command of Medvedev that acted deep behind the enemy lines in the Nazi-occupied Ukraine in 1942-1944. One of the main characters is Nikolai Grachyov (Aleksandr Mikhaylov ), on-screen representation of Nikolay Ivanovich Kuznetsov, Soviet intelligence officer and partisan who acted under disguise of a German officer and personally assassinated a number of high-ranking German officials.
This mini-series is a second screen representation of Nikolay Kuznetsov, following 1967 film Silnye dukhom
The following weapons were used in the miniseries Special Operations Squad (Otryad spetsyalnogo naznacheniya) :
Revolvers Nagant M1895 A partisan carries a Nagant M1895 revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nagant M1895 - 7.62x38R Nagant. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The grip of holstered Nagant is seen. Pistols TT-33 Partisan Nikolay Prikhodko (Vladimir Andreev ) uses a TT-33 in his last battle. Some Soviet officers and partisans carry TT holsters but generally they seem empty.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Post-1947 version Error creating thumbnail: File missing Prikhodko fires at a Hilfspolizei who identified him. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The pistol in Prikhodko's dead hand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet pilot carries a TT in holster; the grip can be seen. Note that the spare magazine carrier is empty which hardly can be in reality. Luger P08 Nikolay Grachyov (Aleksandr Mikhaylov ) uses a Luger P08 during several operations under disguise of German Oberleutnant Paul Siebert (mostly he uses a Walther P38 ). Lugers are also used by German officers and NCOs, including SS Hauptsturmführer Martin von Gettel (Boris Klyuev ) and SS Hauptsturmführer Peter Krause (Uldis Lieldidzs ), and traitor Naumov (Oleg Korchikov ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gettel tests Naumov's loyality, handing him a Luger and ordering to shoot his comrade. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Naumov follows the order. Error creating thumbnail: File missing SS Obersturmführer Friedrich Miller (Aleksandr Salovskiy) holds a Luger during the massacre of innocent civilians. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov holds a Luger, taken from disarmed Gettel. In previous moment Gettel carried a P38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Deadly wounded Naumov draws a Luger from the holster of killed SS Untersturmführer Ranke (Aleksandr Kurlovich). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov holds a Luger during the abduction of Gen. Max IIgen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of Grachyov's pistol in same scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov aims the pistol at Gen. Ilgen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A closeup of the Luger. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A SS Scharführer (Evgeniy Belonogov) aims his Luger during the mock execution of Valentia Dovger. Walther P38 Nikolay Grachyov (Aleksandr Mikhaylov ) mostly uses a Walther P38 during his operations. The report of SS Hauptsturmführer Krause claims that the pistol, used in assassinations, was "a 7-shot, caliber 7.65mm" - meaning a Walther PPK . In one scene SS Hauptsturmführer Martin von Gettel (Boris Klyuev ) puts a P38 in his pocket, but when Grachyov disarms him, the pistol swtiches to a P08 due to a continuity error.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Walther P38 WWII dated with black grips - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov holds his P38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He gives his pistol to Valentia Dovger (Natalya Mikheeva). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov trains with the pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A closeup of the P38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gettel puts a P38 in his pocket (not the best choice for a backup gun). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov holds a P38 with obviously fake sound suppressor when he interrogates captured Gettel. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov's aide Jan Kaminski (Anatoliy Kotenyov ), disguised as a German officer, holds a P38 during the abduction of Gen. Ilgen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov fires at Deputy Governor of Galicia District, Otto Bauer, and his secretary Heinrich Schneider. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov readies his pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He fires at the commander of the German road block. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The commander of a group of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) (Yuriy Rudchenko ) aims his pistol. Mauser C96 The commander of special force, Col. Dmitriy Nikolaevich Medvedev (Yuri Grebenshchikov ), carries a Mauser C96 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing Medvedev's Mauser C96 in iconic wooden holster. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Medvedev checks his pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Medvedev personally executes traitor Kosulnikov. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing He puts the pistol back in holster. Submachine Guns PPSh-41 PPSh-41 submachine guns are widely used by partisans, including Dmitriy Medvedev (Yuri Grebenshchikov ) and Nikolay Grachyov (Aleksandr Mikhaylov ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov (at the left) and Lt. Kochetkov (Mikhail Gorbunov) carry PPSh-41s. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan with a PPSh. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nikolay Prikhodko (Vladimir Andreev ) carries a PPSh and two Karabiner 98k rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Prikhodko fires a PPSh at German soldiers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Naumov (Oleg Korchikov ) holds a PPSh. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan (Georgiy Bovykin) with a PPSh. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan liaison in the town of Rovno fires a PPSh at German soldiers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisans, mostly armed with PPSh-41s, prepare for battle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan scout watches with binoculars for Soviet soldiers. MP38 Some partisans and German soldiers are armed with MP38 SMGs.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MP38 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan (Pyotr Vashchik) carries an MP38. Note the circular opening on the magazine housing. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier with MP38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A member of Grachyov's group Nikolay Krutinskiy (Aleksandr Kolbyshev), disguised as a German NCO, holds an MP38 during the abduction of Gen. Ilgen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lt. Boris Krutikov (Nikolai Sektimenko ), the commander of group acting under the guise of UPA fighters, carries an MP38 (in next scene his SMG switches to an MP40). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Jan Kaminski (Anatoliy Kotenyov ) carries an MP38 (in previous scene he had an MP40). MP40 MP40 submachine guns are widely used by German troops, Hilfspolizei personnel, Soviet partisans and UPA fighters.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MP40 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nikolay Prikhodko (Vladimir Andreev ) carries an MP40 when he throws a grenade at a car. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier fires at escaping underground fighter Avraam Ivanov. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A commander of Ukrainian Hilfspolizei unit carries an MP40 during the murder of underground fighter Konstantin Dovger. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kosulnikov (Nikolay Smirnov (II)) fires his submachine gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nikolay Krutinskiy (Aleksandr Kolbyshev), disguised as a German soldier, fires his MP40 at Ranke and Naumov. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lt. Kochetkov (Mikhail Gorbunov) with MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisan Ivan Belov (Anatoliy Lukyanenko ) carries an MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nikolay Grachyov (Aleksandr Mikhaylov ), in German uniform, holds an MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lt. Boris Krutikov (Nikolai Sektimenko ) with MP40. In previous scene he had an MP38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov and Jan Kaminski (Anatoliy Kotenyov ) fire MP40s. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kaminski with MP40. In next moment it switches to an MP38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An UPA fighter (Viktor Stepanenko ) holds an MP40 at the background. Rifles Mosin Nagant M1891/30 Some partisans are armed with full-length Mosin Nagant rifles, most likely M1891/30 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Full-length, Soviet Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Several Mosin Nagant rifles are seen in hands of partisans. Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbine Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbines are also seen in several scenes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbine - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Hilfspolizei carries an M38 Carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A female partisan at the left carries an M38 Carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisans at the left carry M38 Carbines. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An UPA fighter with an M38 Carbine. Karabiner 98k German soldiers, Hilfspolizei personnel and Soviet partisans use Karabiner 98k rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser. Manufactured in Germany, 1937. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan of Krutinskiy's group fires a 98k rifle during the ambush on Hilfspolizei on the forest road. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nikolay Krutinskiy (Aleksandr Kolbyshev) carries a 98k rifle after the battle on the road. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Hilfspolizei personnel with 98k rifles.Error creating thumbnail: File missing Prikhodko (Vladimir Andreev ) carries two captured rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ukrainian Hilfspolizei with 98k rifles are convoying captured partisan liaison. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Same Hilfspolizei during the murder of underground fighter Konstantin Dovger. Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers in Rovno. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan (Pyotr Vashchik) holds a 98k rifle. A Kriegsmodell 98k rifle, not fitting for 1942-1943, is seen in one scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k "Kriegsmodell" - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Hiwi soldier (former POW turned collaborator) (Aleksandr Lebedev ) carries a Kriegsmodell 98k rifle with bayonet, acting as a sentry at Gen. Ilgen's house. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grachyov holds the rifle, taken from the sentry. Machine Guns Degtyaryov DP-27 Degtyaryov DP-27 light machine guns are used by partisans, notably by the Commissar of the special force Maj. Sergey Trofimovich Stekhov (Yuriy Kuznetsov ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Degtyaryov DP-27 - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan carries a DP-27. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A DP-27 is seen among the weapons of Krutinskiy's partisans group. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Commissar Stekhov fires at attacking German soldiers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisan Vasiliy Drozdov (Anatoliy Sokolovskiy ) of Lt. Krutikov's group fires a DP-27. Note the MP40 magazine pouch set, not so often seen piece of equipment. Degtyaryov DT In one scene a scout of special force uses a Degtyaryov DT machine gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing DT machine gun - 7.62x54mm R. DT could be dismounted from the tank or armored car and used with a bipod as a light machine gun. In such configuration it was favored by paratroopers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A scout fires a DT. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Same character carries a DT on march. MG34 German troops and 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 Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing An MG34 on tripod is used for the massacre of innocent civilians. Note: as other scenes show only non-firing MG34, there is a possibility that this MG is a visually modified PK, like the one in next section. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An MG34 is mounted on a motorcycle in the scene on German road block. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan of Krutikov's group carries an MG34 (in center). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another partisan of Krutikov's group with an MG34. Kalashkinov PK (visually modified as MG34) PK machine guns, visually modified to resemble MG34 , are seen in several scenes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A picture of the original MG34 and PK conversion Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A visually modified PK is seen mounted on a German motorcycle. Note the shape of the receiver. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers with fake MG34 in the battle with Krutikov's group. Maxim M1910 Partisans use Maxim M1910 machine guns in several scenes. Very likely this is a same prop reused.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim M1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisans with a Maxim. Note the smooth water jacket. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan drags a Maxim when they prepare for battle. Maxim M1910/30 A Maxim M1910/30 is seen in sledge during the winter march.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim M1910/30 machine gun - 7.62x54mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Maxim in the sledge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The ribbed barrel shroud is seen. Other Weapons PTRD-41 A PTRD-41 is seen among partisans weapons.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PTRD-41 - 14.5x114mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisans carry a PTRD on march (at the left). RGD-5 During his final battle, Nikolay Grachyov (Aleksandr Mikhaylov ) holds an URG-N, a training version of RGD-5 hand grenade. This post-war model doesn't fit for that time.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing URG-N training version of RGD-5 grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing The black body indicates a training version URG-N. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A closeup of the grenade fuze in Grachyov's hand. F-1 An F-1 hand grenade is used by a partisan liaison (Vyacheslav Kirilichev) during the shootout in an abandoned house in Rovno.
F-1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan readies an F-1 grenade to blow himself together with German soldiers. Model 24 Stielhandgranate Model 24 Stielhandgranates are used by partisans.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing The weapons of Krutinskiy's partisans group: a pair of Stielhandgranate is seen together with a DP-27 , a pair of PPSh-41s and numerous MP40 SMGs and Karabiner 98k rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vasiliy Drozdov (Anatoliy Sokolovskiy ) carries a Stielhandgranate in his belt. Stick Hand Grenade Stick hand grenades are seen in hands of Nikolay Prikhodko (Vladimir Andreev ) and Kosulnikov (Nikolai Smirnov (II)). These grenades are larger than RGD-33 but longer and slender than RPG-40 . Possibly these are inaccurate mockups of RGD-33.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: RGD-33 high-explosive fragmentation stick grenade, shown with the diamond-patterned fragmentation sleeve. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nikolay Prikhodko throws a grenade at a car. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kosulnikov holds a similar grenade. 7.5 cm Pak 40 Pak 40 AT guns are seen on march.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun - 75x714mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing A BTR-152, standing for German half-track APC, tows a Pak 40. Trivia Soviet post-war BTR-40 and BTR-152 APCs are used as German half-track APCs in several scenes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A BTR-40 on road. It tows a Pak 40 AT gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Several BTR-40s are seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A BTR-152 on road. It tows a Pak 40 AT gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A BTR-152 on road. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A BTR-152 is seen in the scene of Krutikov's group activities. A German armoured train is seen in one scene. It appears to be a full-size mockup.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The armoured train on the bridge is seen with binoculars. Various weapons are seen in wartime documenatry footage, taken in Spring-Summer 1942 and during the Battle of Kursk in Summer 1943.
MP40 Error creating thumbnail: File missing MP40 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing An MP40 of a dead German soldier. PPSh-41 Error creating thumbnail: File missing PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet soldier with PPSh-41 and hand grenades. Karabiner 98k Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing German infantry with Karabiner 98k rifles. Mosin Nagant M1891/30 Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soviet soldiers with Mosin Nagant rifle and PTRD-41 AT rifle. Maxim Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim M1910/30 machine gun - 7.62x54mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing A destroyed Maxim in Soviet trench. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soviet soldiers fire a Maxim . PTRD-41 Error creating thumbnail: File missing PTRD-41 - 14.5x114mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soviet soldiers with Mosin Nagant rifle and PTRD-41 AT rifle. RGD-33 Error creating thumbnail: File missing RGD-33 Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet soldier with PPSh-41 and RGD-33 and RPG-40 hand grenades. RPG-40 Error creating thumbnail: File missing RPG-40 Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet soldier with PPSh-41 and RGD-33 and RPG-40 hand grenades. Artillery Error creating thumbnail: File missing 15cm sFH 18 heavy howitzer in action. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A 76.2mm ZiS-3 in action. Error creating thumbnail: File missing 85mm 52-K AA guns used for salute in Moscow.Armour Error creating thumbnail: File missing A turret of German armoured car with 20mm KwK 30 autocannon. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pz IV Ausf.C or D tank. Airplanes Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ju 87 in flight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ju 87 drops bombs. Navy Error creating thumbnail: File missing A quadruple 2-pounder "pom-pom" on a Royal Navy ship fires at enemy planes. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Royal Navy J-class destroyer. 
