TV Rossiya - Liberators The Soldiers of the Red Army (2010) Part 9 The Sappers

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 9: The Sappers

October 16, 1944 Red Army 9th “Sappers” noticed that they have crossed the Soviet border and stepped into German territory. In Eastern Prussia shoulder to shoulder with the infantry and tank crews were soldiers and officers of the engineering troops who helped storm the enemy positions, roads, render ineffective minefields, build the crossing, bridges and airfields. Awaiting them was a huge amount of hazardous waterways, through which the Germans had destroyed bridges. Sappers were to conduct engineering and reconnaissance in the rivers, finding fords, through which the T-34 could cross. Liberators went to Konigsberg. The city, blocked from the north, east and south, the north-west was held by German troops on the Samland Peninsula. Strengthening Konigsberg consisted of external and internal zones of defense. Forts erected as early as the mid-nineteenth century by German engineers were turned into a truly impregnable fortress. Front line of defense entirely covered by minefields. On the night of 5 April 6, before the storming of the fortress, the engineers were doing passages in enemy minefields, clearing the approaches to the forts. During the war period training of deminers was reduced to three months. Classes are held every day without weekends. Students studied the mine case, masking, the construction of fortified fences, bridges, command posts and other structures. Future sappers were taught the “hidden”, “movable” and other types of mining and demining tricks. Sappers were armed with metal detectors and simple probes. The episode describes the types of German mines and peculiarities of their clearance, that is behind the word “Checked - no mines”, and what tasks were performed by assault engineering brigade. Also in the episode - the story of the creation of medals for the liberation of cities.

Full Version Available Upon Request
This is the Full version of the last episode (12).