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.
This weapon is never seen used on film, but the holster of the Mauser C96 (which distinct appearance is a tell-tale sign of it being a Mauser C96) can be seen on the belt of a Finnish officer in few scenes.
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 Tokarev on 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), his brother Paavo (Konsta Mäkelä), and a few other characters are members of Suojeluskunta ("Civil Guard", also known as "White Guard") and can be seen using the M/28-30, a variant of the Mosin-Nagant designed for the members of the organization. The "White Guard" was a voluntary militia that had its roots in the Finnish Civil War of 1918, and later acted as a training organisation for Finnish reservists who wished to improve their military skills. 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 Mosin-Nagant rifles. The M/28-30 was an improved version of the earlier M/28 Mosin-Nagant variant designed by the White Guards, which 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. In turn, major improvements of the M/28-30 over the earlier M/28 were the straight Mansner rear sight and screw-adjustable front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMosin-Nagant M/28-30 - 7.62x54mmRError 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 (Timo Torikka) with his Model 1891. Note the three "Molotov Cocktails" underneath the rifle.Private Vilho Erkkilä staying low with his Model 1891.Private Pentti Saari (Timo Torikka) firing his Model 1891.
Tokarev SVT-40 Rifle
The Tokarev SVT-40 Rifle is seen in the hands of both Russian and Finnish soldiers as a stand-in for the historically correct SVT-38. The SVT-40 did not enter into Red Army service until July 1940, several months after the end of the conflict. During the war the Finns did use captured weapons such as the SVT-38 due to a lack of equipment and weapons. However, since SVT-38 is a much rarer weapon, it's understandable that the SVT-40 was used in production as a "stand-in" for the 38.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingTokarev SVT-40 Rifle - Soviet World War 2 Semi Automatic Rifle chambered for 7.62x54RError creating thumbnail: File missingA Finnish soldier using the SVT-40. For some reason the soldier is seen sliding the bolt back manually after each shot, even though the weapon is a semi-automatic. It might have something to do with the weapon not being adapted for blank fire use or poor performance of the rifle automatics in the cold.Error creating thumbnail: File missingPrivate Vilho Erkkilä (Heikki Paavilainen) with his captured SVT-40 slung on his shoulder.
Submachinegun
Suomi KP/-31
The standard SMG of the Finnish Army was the Suomi KP/-31 and it is frequently seen during the movie.
Lahti-Saloranta LS/26, the standard light machine gun of the Finnish army in that period, is used by the Finnish soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingLahti-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 Maxim M1910 is used by Finnish soldiers against Red Army soldiers in one scene.
Maxim M1910 machine gun, 7.62x54mm RA Finnish soldier firing a M1910 machine gun.The M1910 machine gun seen at the left of the screen.
Explosives
m/32 stick hand grenade (practice grenade mockup)
Several Harjoituskranaatti m/41 ("practice grenade model 41") are seen standing in for m/32 stick hand grenades. They can be identified as practice grenades from the rims and hole on the metal casings.
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.Error creating thumbnail: File missingMore stick grenades lie in wait. The holes meant for simulation charges are clearly visible.
Molotov Cocktail
The Finns are also seen using the "Molotov Cocktail" against tanks. Though the Finns didn't invent the improvised incendiary device, having been first seen in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39, it was the Finns who named theirs after Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. While the popular image of a Molotov cocktail uses a burning rag at the mouth of the bottle, Finns improved on the recipe with storm matches taped to the side, and is shown such in the film.
