TV Rossiya - Liberators The Soldiers of the Red Army (2010) Part 6 The Artillery

From foot soldiers to fighter pilots, step into the shoes of those who fought for one of the largest armies in history. This series highlights ordinary foot soldiers, intelligence officers, mine pickers, gunners, tank men, marines, alpine and airborne raiders and fighter and attack aviation pilots whose role in the Allied victory over the Nazis played a crucial part in the war effort. Using the latest computer graphics and technology, viewers witness the combat equipment design, tactics and strategy of conducting a battle. Rare newsreel shots and the reconstruction of the events allow viewers to feel they are being transported back to the battlegroud, allowing them to see war through a soldier's eyes.

Part 6: The Artillery

In 1941-42 the main anti-tank gun of the Soviet army was 45mm gun model 1937, which soldiers called the “sorokopyatki.” Later in the army came the famous “Katyusha”. Anti-gunners and howitzer batteries, anti-aircraft gunner and “Katyusha” was to play a decisive role in the Battle of Stalingrad.The purpose of the summer campaign of the German command extended to the shores of the Caspian Sea and was to seize the oil fields of Baku and Grozny. In this operation, the sixth army under Paulus played an important role - to cover the flank of groups aiming to seize oil and Don steppes exit to Stalingrad. Artillery is often called “the god of war.” Powerful artillery preparation was laying before the onset of the German positions, and allowed Soviet troops with fewer losses to move forward. Knowing that standing behind its artillery, infantry could feel confident in the face of enemy tanks.In 1943 appeared the new German heavy tanks “Tiger”, “Panther” and upgraded T-IV with a thickness of 80 mm frontal armor were already too tough to “sorokopyatki.” To combat these machines Soviet artillerymen received 57-mm anti-tank gun ZIS-2, and BM-13 - rocket launcher called “Katyusha”. The episode details on the combat training of gunners and computer graphics showing the device and operation of howitzers and “Katyusha”. A separate chapter is devoted to the history of the Order of the Patriotic War.

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This is the Full version of the last episode (12).