The Battle of Neretva
Note that the submachine gun seen is a Soviet PPS-43 , a gun not seen in the film.
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 World War II. The film was an Italian-German co-production directed by Veljko Bulajic and was the most expensive film produced in the country of what was then still Yugoslavia. The international cast included 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 weapons were used in the film 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.
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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
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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
Beretta Model 38/42 are used by partisans and chetniks.
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 Chetnik fire his submachine gun.
Beretta Model 38/44
Beretta Model 38/44 are also used.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta Model 38/44 - 9x19mm. This model replaced the 38/42 and features an unfluted barrel and lacks the recoil spring extension from the back of the receiver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Serb Cetnik cavalryman holds his M38/44. Note the slim unfluted barrel.
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
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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 - 6.5 mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An Italian soldier carries a rifle on his back.
Hand Grenades
M52 Hand Grenade
Partisans carry post-war Yugoslav M52 Hand Grenades of several modifications. The grey-blueish color of the body indicates training version.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M52 P1 Yugoslavian Hand Grenade
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M52 P2 Yugoslavian Hand Grenade
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Partisan dances with hand grenades hanging from his belt. An M52 P2 is seen at the left while the left grenade is an M52 or M52 P1.
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing Several M52 or M52 P1 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.
Unidentified grenade
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
Leuchtpistole
A Leuchtpistole is used for signalling.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Leuchtpistole - 26.65mm
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.
Granatwerfer 42 Mortar (GrW 42)
The chetniks deployed against a partisans the Granatwerfer 42 Mortars .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42
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2 cm Flakvierling 38
Partisans capture a German 2 cm Flakvierling 38 anti-aircraft gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2 cm Flakvierling 38 - 20x138mm B
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85mm Air Defense Gun M1939 (52-K)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 85mm Air Defense Gun M1939 (52-K) - 85×629mm R
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisan commander Martin (Sergey Bondarchuk ) fires a 85mm Air Defense Gun M1939 (52-K) at German aircraft
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Partisans destroy their heavy artillery before retreating into the mountains.
5 cm PaK 38
Partisans fire a 5 cm Pak 38 anti-tank gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 5 cm-Pak 38 anti-tank gun.
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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. While the Germans used the M4 Under the designation Panzerkampfwagen M4-748(a), it was rare to see a captured M4 in action
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An American M4 Sherman tank painted in German colors.