Seldom has there been a movie that has had the courage and daring to depict so realistically the true horrors of battle as "Enemy at the Gates". Here in America, knowledge of the Russian effort in WWII--and especially the Battle of Stalingrad--is sadly lacking. Just generalities are known about it here in the U.S. But in this-one of the most terrible battles in history--the Russians first stopped the Nazi conquests.
P.S.-->don't miss Bob Hoskins spectacular cameo as Nikita Kruschev!
i thought that paperagent was kinda winning the argment but then i noticed that he at the bottom it said he did research on wikipedia and i made me chuckle. wikipedia. lols
Ha, reading all these arguments is quite funny, you think your better than eachother but it comes back down to the facts that A, you dont know what your on about, and B, your talking about shit that is irrelevent to the clip.
The person who uploaded this is also retarded. This was in no way better than Saving private Ryan. This got no award nominations. Saving private Ryan- 11 oscar nominations and winner of 5. This 0. And the reason he said he like this movie is also stupid. Saving private Ryan is in no way trying to glorify the Americans just because it's an American war movie. It just shows 8 guys trying to save one guy nothing else. Anyone who believes otherwise is fucking retarded.
Uh, yea it does you fucking idiot because if it wasn't it wouldn't get nominated in the first place. Do you think they give awards for shitty performances? What you said makes NO sense. By the way Oscars are the highest movie awards available. Than come Golden Globe. So actually you're the ignorant piece of shit. By the way smart people like you don't forget to finish their sentences.
What are you? Twelve? A movie can be better than another movie based on someones opinion. Honestly I can't tell if you're trolling or just this stupid. By the way, if you're trying to correct my grammar, I wouldn't be putting up shit like, "THAN COME GOLDEN GLOBES." Kind of hurts your pathetic argument.
I never put those words in capitals you fucking idiot. And why is it that you say this movie is better like it's ever bodies opinion? And by the way film critics are experts in watching movies. And any day I could find someone that would say that Saving private Ryan is their favorite movie but when I mention this they wouldn't know what I was talking about. More people like Saving private Ryan than Enemy at the Gates. My argument is facts and educated opinions. Yours is just an opinion.
LMFAO. Yep you're twelve. You act like this is some harsh debate. Get it through your thick fucking skull that movies are liked based on two things, intense advertisement and OPINION.
I'm subscriber of the official Academy Awards youtube page, and I have done my research on Wikipedia so I have sources. I can search up any movie award on that website. So I do have sources. Would you like me to give you a link?
Dude,I know this is 2 weeks old but be quiet.Everyones entitled to their own opinion.Who gives a fuck, if Saving Pvt Ryan is better than this movie,they're both great movies.
You all seem to be forgetting something, if it wasn't for Britain holding its own in the battle of Britain, Hitler would of controlled. Period. Now that may of sounded bias, but I'm Australian, bitches so hah! Can't be towards the British. But, to remain on subject I think both the USSR and The US were the key players in the war. So, without them we'd of been pretty screwed.
whoever says the american wasnt lucky in this war russia lost about 2 million soldier/civillian just in the battle of stalingrad JUST IN THIS CITY 2 MILLIONS FUCKIN DEATH america aint even got that in the whole war dunt fuck with me the russian guy that was able to survive trought this shit was a fuckin hero period
Ok, first off. The Russians weren't anywhere near as well trained as American Troops were. Russia is a HUGE country and has a huge population. They mostly ran at the germans and hoped they got far enoguh to kill them. The American's were far more strategic and still are. You don't believe me? View my page. We were the only ones in Japan and that was half the war fighting people who had no value for themselves and just wanted to kill ONE of us. You don't know what a hero is period.
ok y the russian army destroyed 500 division of the 612 in the german army? and american were fighting in japan??? ure crazy they just bombed that shit up american aint strategic american are straight pussy
ok, sorry american's weren't stupid enough to just run at the germans, I believe it was better that alot of us didn't die. And, we weren't even in the Eastern front Long enough to do alot. But we single handedly took out the Japanese in every way. Their Army, Navy, and Air Force. Gone. Neither sides were pussies.
americans wasnt defending their principal city..... u really think if washintong new york or any big city like that were invade they wont send straight infantry to destroy the invader? ure dumb think about the situation the russian was in and they were strategic dunt trust movie srsly they were using sniper booby trap and everything they got in hand to push the invader back usa never did war on their own land so u cant compare the two period
stop being dumb and think movie tell history they take a part of history and make a story around it period the russian never just charged like that they were mostly booby trapping sniping and charging supply point trying to destroy them thats all they destroyed 500 of the 612 division of the strongest army in the time with only infantry... russian just own everyone if it comes to war
Russia got face raped in terms of casualties in ww2. and if you think russia kicks ass when it comes to war, the go read up on the winter war against the finns
@Kward107 Really? I think that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. In the beginning of the war the Soviet troops were VERY disorganized. But in the end it was Soviet planning that brought down the Germans(who were superior in many ways), yes they had numerical superiority, the Germans had technological superiority, yet the Soviet generals used the numbers to their advantage. You really have no idea what you're talking about.
I hate to put some ash in your food, but the german tanks could not stand the -30 of the Russian land. The Russian tanks were superior there. The Russian soldiers had better clothing and protection against the extreme cold.
But yeah, in on German soil, the Germans had the technological advantage. They just didn't have enough manpower after 5 years of fighting.
Rofl, and you quoted from nismjoes page, saying you;d use logic, youno dbout a redneck in my books, with no logic wahtsoever, and i guarantee your as big headed as alot of people would say, Hop off. moron.
Yea I put Nismojoe at the end of the quote. Don't call me stupid when you can't even read fuck face. Two; The reason American could whoop Russia's ass is because we have superior technology, training, and manpower. You call me dumb for not giving any logic, but the only thing you managed to do is give illogical jokes. You are retarded beyond all repair.
i dont think either the soviets or the americans could have won the war alone. imagine what woud have happened if hitler had captured stalingrad and the oil fields on the volga. the western allies wouldn't have stood a chance. and if the americans wouldn,t have attacked france the soviets would have never been able to apply as much pressure on the germans as they did. and if not for the french...um nevermind.
@MrIlovebaseball99 Really? I guess the millions upon millions of Chinese soldiers fighting millions of Japanese soldiers since 1937 is "nothing" right?
Okay, you ignorant pricks, in your opinion a rusian who served just as long as an American deserves more recognition? And you don't care that we were the only ones in Japan? we took an ENTIRE HALF of the war, and the bloodiest. I'm not saying we won the entire war, but we won with our fellow allies. You seem to think Europe won completeley by themselves, and did not need us.
no the USSR was critical to the sucess of the western powers. they diverted more than half of germany's army, which partially allowed the sucess of D-day
the USSR also defeated about 500 of germany's 612 divisions and took action in the final battle of berlin they also took about 16 million casualities compared to the US's 3 million. (27 million if you add the civilians)
u cant be more right mate, im sick of the Americans making bullshit up about how they won the war, what their forgetting is the fact and how the russians were the first of the allied forces into berlin and the force to take down the reichstag, YOU ARE ONE LEGEND MATE!
True about the info. saving private ryan is major propaganda. it was based on a true story but the men where brits thats why they where so anoyed about gojng after an american soldier but thats american history. (if your american dont take offense im just talking about certain people in america)
i always thought saving private ryan was about russians, my friends mom (moved to america from russia) yelled at me because i thought it was real when i was like 12. but you saying they were brits makes more since
Interesting how usually in WWII movies all the Germans are played by British actors, while in this film all the Russian parts seem to be played by British actors.
The only significant German part is played by the American Ed Harris. At least they got an actual German actor to play Paulus.
dude thats just ignorance...germans weren't bad..nazis were bad. nazis are germans but germans aren't nazis. Why do you wish the german would have won? he was a nazi!
hey man i dont know why i thought you said germans were bad but i am sorry that i did...I don't like the soviet union either but like alot of the russians were fighting against the nazi invaders who were invading their country not for the soviet union. Also if i remember right they would be shot if they wouldnt fight for the union
Yea Great Movie but BAND OF BROTHERS puts the BA in badass, and wow spr is so well known is because of the cast matt damon tom hanks and the Steven Speilberg
What the fuck are you talking about? Why are you assuming? Are you brainwashed? ..Russia defeated Germany in the East, US defeated Germany in the West. Russia took out Japans army, USA took out Japans navy. What you think USA didn't do shit?
What are you talking about? Anyway USA helped Russia so much in the war. Especially with trucks and shit. Stalin even said without SPAM, the Red Army would starve to death.
"I am sick to death of Americans using World War II as a basis for films that generally amount to little more than propaganda" this movie is propaganda. it's a disgrace to the soviet soldiers of ww2.
Really, a disgrace? From what I can see, this movie is showing viewers how amazing Russian soldiers were at sniping during the time period of World War II. I doubt the film producer originally planned a movie that would become propaganda. Think about it, "Hmm, World War II, shooting, violence, heros. These are the things the typical movie viewer would like to watch." That is why Americans use World War II as a basis for war films.
Plus you also ignored the fact that they also base war movies on World War I, the Vietnam war, the Middle East war, and even the American Civil war. Please consider each and every single variable before you judge.
sorry but that's no excuse for the gross misrepresentation of this film. maybe i see it differently from you, but can you imagine a russian movie depicting american soldiers this way? getting gunned down by there own men by the dozens? being told to run towards well entrenched enemies without weapons?
I see the angle you are coming from, but there have been movies and history documents which shows Americans in a bad light. No nation in the world has been perfect nor shall there be one in the future.
Enemy at the gates was a terrific movie. I had read a book in my school library called "True stories of the Second World War" and it included the story of Vassili in it. They have Konig's telescopic sight in one of the museums. I found Bob Hoskins as Khrushchev very well done. Also, has anyone else noticed how very smiler this movie is to the mission "Vendetta" in Call of Duty World at War?
THis was a very good movie with a lousy ending that was very unrealistic. Snipers would not make the mistake that Koenig made at the end. Like Cross of Iron, this film makes it clear that communism was no good alternative to fascism (Joseph Fiennes to Jude Law/James Coburn to Russian boy dialogue).
I agree its very unrealistic,no German sniper would just get up like that after shooting. Zaitsev said one thing he noticed about all German snipers is that they were very persistant and determined
watch letters from iwo jima more better and its what called a war movie and drama u should watch it much better trust me =) and btw im not saying that this movie is shit its Great Movie and i like it but letters from iwo jima much better :D
The death rating does not matter about who turns the tide of battle, germany did not have millions of men to throw away while russia and the U.S. had a near unlimited amount of resources, germany was all out and used tactics that were inferior to the allys in a turn matter hitler did not make the right choice and refused to pull out of stalin losing 1/3 of his army to the blood thirsty soviets
American movies always make it seem like U.S soldiers had to do the brunt of the fighting, while they only took out some 10% of the German army, at a higher loss then the Germans had.
Yes, but which side has the most reliable reports? It's reasonably safe to assume both Germany and the Soviet Union didn't have accurate reports when suffering heavy casualties.
Undoubtly, the Soviets lost more men then the Germans did, but hitler once (somewhere in 1941/42) claimed, the Germany army only lost 1.5 million soldiers, against some 11 million Red Army soldiers, I mean, that just can't be right.
If u read books from the eastfront, by for instant Grossman, and the icredible book "stalingrad" by Antony Beevor, you can see the conflict from both Axis and Sovjet eys.
Not slightly it was ways better. But still I wonder how we could lose against such poorly armed men, who were whipped into combat like cattle to the butcher by their cruel commanders.
I dont know if the stupid Stalin russia discution is stil on but if you follow US point of vuw of historie they never where the bad guys always the other nations where nuts and had to be saved from themselves thats what there doing in Iraq right now what makes US better then russia back then because the respected more there men .course they did they dint needto force em germany was already dead the war was almost over
You know what v1skie...I 110% agree with your description. This was basically the best movie that had ever shook the world. A true sharpshooter doing its duty for his country. He was truly the BEST and I mean THE BEST sniper ever in World War 2.
By the way, did you guys know that Vasily Zaitsev inspired armies by using the sniper rifle? If you don't believe in me, STFU.
A truly respected soldier of all time. Rest In Peace Mr. Vasily :)
Actually he wasn't the best. A finn named Simo Hähyä managed to kill 500 ppl+ with his sniper riifle withing 3 months. He also didnt use a scope due to the risk of being detected by reflections from the scope.
Although American films do look as if Americans are killing Germans 10 to 1 this was actually how much of the western front operated. In Saving Pvt. Ryan there was a force of germans on the beaches and directly inland of only a small amount, 20 percent, and they were partly old men and boys. I'm sure there is a little bias in there but there is also bias in Enemy at the Gates. Good Movie.
great video, I love it! you did a really good job with the scene placement. I especially like the ending of this movie, it's my personal favourite war scene.
yes the music IS in black hawk down (another one of the best ever war movies) it is called leave no man behind and it was written and conducted by Hans Zimmer
"Major Koenig" didn't die that way,if he even existed a s asniper at all. No officers were "snipers" for starters., howevers many officers did in fact become the targets for snipers. Despite what they said on "the History channel",that might be true of some German sniper ,but it wasn't an officer, and certainly no "Major Koenig"...
His real name wasnt koenig - It was Koning and he is real - General Chuikov said the sniper was real.And Vassili stalked him for a week with Nikolai Kulikov and Vassili saw Koning under a sheet of metal and shot him in the head
Bear in mind tho..that although the russian sniper was a real person, his exploits were more Russian propaganda than actual fact..example..his long running fight through the movie with the German Major is completely made up..a search through holders of the Knights Cross (the medal at the germans throat) reveals that no such person as "Major Koenig" ever existed!!!.
Well Jesus, everything in that entire war was more Russian propaganda than actual fact: just about everything that was ever said with the exception of "We won the war!" was directly false or meant to further some other end. Nothing is more full of crap (then or now, come to think of it) than Pravda.
The Russians never credited the West for their aid that saved their asses more than anything they themselves did,something the narators never seem to do in other types of WW2 actual videos...
How is this film Soviet propaganda. It showed officers massacring their troops for retreating from an impossible assault. It showed how under equipped the army was. This was a story of heroic actions by desperate people (both soldiers and civilians alike) who fought against evil. If you want to see propaganda in its purest form go see Pearl Harbor (made in 2001, same year as this) with Ben Aflack. That film disgusts me, but I'm sure its on every rednecks top 10 list.
For sure the Americans helped defeat the Nazi's by supplying huge numbers of aircraft, cars, guns/bullets, radios, food, and medical equipment.. but would they have wanted to trade places? A preemptive invasion by Germany who had been amassing the world's largest and best military stockpile, and being on the back foot for 4 years, (having thousands of villages and towns destroyed, millions of people dying every year, while simultaneously trying to manufacture tanks), versus.......
being on a peaceful island across the Atlantic and receiving a gift in disguise which was federal spending which went towards both the war in the pacific and across the Atlantic... which would take you out of the great depression once and for all and into an era of unprecedented economic success. Hmm that's a tough choice. Real toughy there. The US had its own war in Japan, but one they didn't have to go to, and Japan stood no chance. They were betting on the US not going to war with them.
(continued from above) industrial schedule for weapons production. It was ALWAYS going to be a war of genocide from either side, and only depended on who stuck first. Your child-like hero worship of the Soviets is a giggle.
And as for the movie itself, for all it got wrong in the story, it got how the Soviets fought right- total brutality. Stalin himself said, "It takes a brave man to be a coward in the Soviet Army"- by which he meant they shot their own people by the thousands. It was TRUE.
I got two words for you: FUCK YOU. You're an American who lived thru the cold war, so your judgment for truth is compromised. Stalin and Hitler were friends, when Hitler broke their treaty, Stalin had a nervous breakdown and refused to acknowledge the facts. I don't worship the Soviets, I WAS BORN THERE. My grandfather fought in WWII on 3 fronts, including Stalingrad, got injured twice, and lost both his brother and his mother in the war. His father was executed during Stalin's repressions.
If you think I should get a different perspective on how the Soviets fought outside of my grandfather (who is still alive) or his book, or his veteran friends, I have watched numerous documentaries on the subject with testimony's/descriptions by German soldiers. I trust their opinion of how the Soviets fought more than some redneck like you. Brutally?? You wouldn't say such bullshit if you had to live through the Seige of Leningrad like my grandfather, who was digging up trenches at after school
Are you kidding me? You're clearly drinking some Nashi koolaid about the Eastern Front my good man, because Stalin really did say that, and they really did shoot tens of thousands of their own people in the back, and killed hundreds of thousands for the high crime of getting captured by Germans: go to your own people, like red army colonel Dmitri Volkogonov, or historians like Robert Conquest, not the propaganda organs that feed your hick country and all the peasants dying to be lead like sheep.
Fuck you back, Stalin lover- you don't get any more compromised than a person who lived on Pravda, and there is no coming back from it: you wouldn't know what biased was to save your life. Just because the Germans were raving lunatics does NOT make Stalin the good guy; the Soviets were simply set up in a backward country of hicks who couldn't afford going next door to kill tens of millions and had to do it at home. The Eastern Front was two bad guys going at it in a war of extermination.
please don't talk to me. you don't know anything about history or about russians. we are sheep? 10 million were killed for standing up against the grain, for standing up for whats right, for not kneeling to the pressure to admit something they didn't do. many countries histories are filled with things like this.. all countries except the usa, where george bush stole an election, did a lot of other shit (too much to list) and no one is brave enough to fight to their death for these things.
Kennedy stood up. got assassinated, and that was the end of it. every few years another Kennedy is knocked off, but no one cares. Calling me a Stalin lover, me who has family members killed by the tyrant... the Soviets hicks... and that Nashi coolaid comment.... I'm just loving it.
Hey pal, you're the one spouting off about valiant Soviet efforts during the war, not giving accurate information about how they actually prosecuted it. What is it about you people needing to whine so badly? You haven't suffered shit, except for maybe an alcohol induced coma. If you don't want to be called a Stalin lover, quit making up how they got the Russian people to fight- it was a sad, nasty, brutal affair, not some glorious history.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
"please don't talk to me" Wait a minute, you're the one talking to *me*- go look right up there, you saying stupid things like only the specially dumb can. MORE than 10 million were killed not for standing up against anything, but were eaten by a system that thought it could afford to kill a goodly portion of the country. I like how you want to whine about Stalin but also brag about him at the same time: very Soviet of you. I also like how you take civilized politics in the US as a vice- heh.
When my grandfather's mother found out he had volunteered into the army at age 16, she had a heartattack. She obviously thought he was a dead man walking. No one had any illusions of the glory of war. He told me how before a few hours before a big attack, officers would give the men vodka and bread (any that was available) for courage and as well as a sort of last meal. Everyone knew their duty. They didn't need any extra motivation. Ofcourse there were special circumstances.
When my grandfather fought with Polish troops for example, the men consisted of some Russians, some Catholic Poles, some atheist/Soviet Poles, and many former prisoners who were granted freedom in return for service in the war. They staged a demonstration that they cannot fight together, (moral was very low, they didn't even speak the same language). Suddenly Stalin's "BLACK Raven" came and hung 11 of them (randomly selected) for desertion. This was already shocking, not a scene repeated often.
But if you're talking about shooting your own men. Well later in the war when the Germans were reaching Stalingrad, Stalin ordered the "point of no retreat" or something like that (forgot the name). Before, soldiers already often fought to the last man, but sometimes would retreat to save some to use in the next town. But Stalin cared more about the name of the town, then the men. (same with Hitler). Which is why so many died there, and
Best ww2 film to date.
unfluencedarea 3 months ago
@starpasbelle the US were never the bad guys? wtf are you talking about? what kind of eutopia do you live in?
jennygranillo 5 months ago
@foxesv its not very similar
jennygranillo 5 months ago
@paperagent02
you say the russians got their ass whooped by " smelly afghans"?
well the US is getting raped by the taliban.
jennygranillo 5 months ago
@Dirkan1234 You welcome ;-)
RAMIDUScz 6 months ago
@Dirkan1234 Hans Zimmer - Black Hawk Down OST - Leave No Man Behind
RAMIDUScz 6 months ago
best shot of the film 3:00 :)
coreza663 10 months ago
Seldom has there been a movie that has had the courage and daring to depict so realistically the true horrors of battle as "Enemy at the Gates". Here in America, knowledge of the Russian effort in WWII--and especially the Battle of Stalingrad--is sadly lacking. Just generalities are known about it here in the U.S. But in this-one of the most terrible battles in history--the Russians first stopped the Nazi conquests.
P.S.-->don't miss Bob Hoskins spectacular cameo as Nikita Kruschev!
zooeyhall 11 months ago
0:48 . A pig.
iBaNezRG95 2 years ago
i just read the discription. why do you think that this film has got anything to do with saving pvt ryan? its only another war film.
EvilMonk3y1999 2 years ago
@EvilMonk3y1999
people say that it is just a rip off of saving private ryan with a few differences but i dont see how.
boarderx113 2 years ago 2
i thought that paperagent was kinda winning the argment but then i noticed that he at the bottom it said he did research on wikipedia and i made me chuckle. wikipedia. lols
EvilMonk3y1999 2 years ago
Ha, reading all these arguments is quite funny, you think your better than eachother but it comes back down to the facts that A, you dont know what your on about, and B, your talking about shit that is irrelevent to the clip.
fearofspoons 2 years ago
The person who uploaded this is also retarded. This was in no way better than Saving private Ryan. This got no award nominations. Saving private Ryan- 11 oscar nominations and winner of 5. This 0. And the reason he said he like this movie is also stupid. Saving private Ryan is in no way trying to glorify the Americans just because it's an American war movie. It just shows 8 guys trying to save one guy nothing else. Anyone who believes otherwise is fucking retarded.
Paperagent02 2 years ago
Wow, just because a movie wins a fucking Oscar doesn't mean it's a good movie. You're an ignorant piece.
wonderbread93 2 years ago
Uh, yea it does you fucking idiot because if it wasn't it wouldn't get nominated in the first place. Do you think they give awards for shitty performances? What you said makes NO sense. By the way Oscars are the highest movie awards available. Than come Golden Globe. So actually you're the ignorant piece of shit. By the way smart people like you don't forget to finish their sentences.
Paperagent02 2 years ago
What are you? Twelve? A movie can be better than another movie based on someones opinion. Honestly I can't tell if you're trolling or just this stupid. By the way, if you're trying to correct my grammar, I wouldn't be putting up shit like, "THAN COME GOLDEN GLOBES." Kind of hurts your pathetic argument.
wonderbread93 2 years ago
I never put those words in capitals you fucking idiot. And why is it that you say this movie is better like it's ever bodies opinion? And by the way film critics are experts in watching movies. And any day I could find someone that would say that Saving private Ryan is their favorite movie but when I mention this they wouldn't know what I was talking about. More people like Saving private Ryan than Enemy at the Gates. My argument is facts and educated opinions. Yours is just an opinion.
Paperagent02 2 years ago
LMFAO. Yep you're twelve. You act like this is some harsh debate. Get it through your thick fucking skull that movies are liked based on two things, intense advertisement and OPINION.
wonderbread93 2 years ago
And I'm not 12, I'm 14.
Paperagent02 2 years ago
By the way, without citing your sources then saying your information is fact you sound like a fucking moron. Stop arguing with me you troll. Goodbye.
wonderbread93 2 years ago
How the fuck did I not research all this? Did I pull all of this out my ass? NO! You assume shit that is 100% bullcrap.
Paperagent02 2 years ago
Haha, wow fourteen, big difference. You're still as about as mature as a five year old either way, spewing shit without sources to back it up.
wonderbread93 2 years ago
I'm subscriber of the official Academy Awards youtube page, and I have done my research on Wikipedia so I have sources. I can search up any movie award on that website. So I do have sources. Would you like me to give you a link?
Paperagent02 2 years ago
Dude,I know this is 2 weeks old but be quiet.Everyones entitled to their own opinion.Who gives a fuck, if Saving Pvt Ryan is better than this movie,they're both great movies.
Area51T 2 years ago
By the way when did Russians speak English all the time?
Paperagent02 2 years ago
You all seem to be forgetting something, if it wasn't for Britain holding its own in the battle of Britain, Hitler would of controlled. Period. Now that may of sounded bias, but I'm Australian, bitches so hah! Can't be towards the British. But, to remain on subject I think both the USSR and The US were the key players in the war. So, without them we'd of been pretty screwed.
EpicPhail124 2 years ago 2
whats the name of the song?
Shean2009 2 years ago 2
Leave No Man Behind-Hans Zimmer
Nasty1337pro 2 years ago
whoever says the american wasnt lucky in this war russia lost about 2 million soldier/civillian just in the battle of stalingrad JUST IN THIS CITY 2 MILLIONS FUCKIN DEATH america aint even got that in the whole war dunt fuck with me the russian guy that was able to survive trought this shit was a fuckin hero period
whitycrip 2 years ago
Ok, first off. The Russians weren't anywhere near as well trained as American Troops were. Russia is a HUGE country and has a huge population. They mostly ran at the germans and hoped they got far enoguh to kill them. The American's were far more strategic and still are. You don't believe me? View my page. We were the only ones in Japan and that was half the war fighting people who had no value for themselves and just wanted to kill ONE of us. You don't know what a hero is period.
MrIlovebaseball99 2 years ago
ok y the russian army destroyed 500 division of the 612 in the german army? and american were fighting in japan??? ure crazy they just bombed that shit up american aint strategic american are straight pussy
whitycrip 2 years ago
ok, sorry american's weren't stupid enough to just run at the germans, I believe it was better that alot of us didn't die. And, we weren't even in the Eastern front Long enough to do alot. But we single handedly took out the Japanese in every way. Their Army, Navy, and Air Force. Gone. Neither sides were pussies.
MrIlovebaseball99 2 years ago
americans wasnt defending their principal city..... u really think if washintong new york or any big city like that were invade they wont send straight infantry to destroy the invader? ure dumb think about the situation the russian was in and they were strategic dunt trust movie srsly they were using sniper booby trap and everything they got in hand to push the invader back usa never did war on their own land so u cant compare the two period
whitycrip 2 years ago 2
oh yeah, forget about the revolution, 1812, civil war, and the mexican-american war because those never happened
Kward107 2 years ago
and russians are dumb. most casualties in the war by huge amounts... no strategy except charge the enemy and hope he runs out of ammo basically
Kward107 2 years ago
stop being dumb and think movie tell history they take a part of history and make a story around it period the russian never just charged like that they were mostly booby trapping sniping and charging supply point trying to destroy them thats all they destroyed 500 of the 612 division of the strongest army in the time with only infantry... russian just own everyone if it comes to war
whitycrip 2 years ago
Russia got face raped in terms of casualties in ww2. and if you think russia kicks ass when it comes to war, the go read up on the winter war against the finns
Kward107 2 years ago
@Kward107 Really? I think that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. In the beginning of the war the Soviet troops were VERY disorganized. But in the end it was Soviet planning that brought down the Germans(who were superior in many ways), yes they had numerical superiority, the Germans had technological superiority, yet the Soviet generals used the numbers to their advantage. You really have no idea what you're talking about.
strongman325 1 year ago
@strongman325
I hate to put some ash in your food, but the german tanks could not stand the -30 of the Russian land. The Russian tanks were superior there. The Russian soldiers had better clothing and protection against the extreme cold.
But yeah, in on German soil, the Germans had the technological advantage. They just didn't have enough manpower after 5 years of fighting.
theeightsin 5 months ago
America could whoop Russia's ass in a war any day. That's why you guys got destroyed by some smelly ass Afghans.
Paperagent02 2 years ago
Rofl, and you quoted from nismjoes page, saying you;d use logic, youno dbout a redneck in my books, with no logic wahtsoever, and i guarantee your as big headed as alot of people would say, Hop off. moron.
Mrhiskles 2 years ago
Yea I put Nismojoe at the end of the quote. Don't call me stupid when you can't even read fuck face. Two; The reason American could whoop Russia's ass is because we have superior technology, training, and manpower. You call me dumb for not giving any logic, but the only thing you managed to do is give illogical jokes. You are retarded beyond all repair.
Paperagent02 2 years ago
Lmao, how the fuck do you know what Russia's man power, technology, and training is even like?
wonderbread93 2 years ago
@Paperagent02 are you seriously that stupid bro? you probably don't even know shit about US thechnology, training or manpower.
you are not a military expert, don't act like you are.
jennygranillo 5 months ago
i dont think either the soviets or the americans could have won the war alone. imagine what woud have happened if hitler had captured stalingrad and the oil fields on the volga. the western allies wouldn't have stood a chance. and if the americans wouldn,t have attacked france the soviets would have never been able to apply as much pressure on the germans as they did. and if not for the french...um nevermind.
GOfilms01 2 years ago
@MrIlovebaseball99 Really? I guess the millions upon millions of Chinese soldiers fighting millions of Japanese soldiers since 1937 is "nothing" right?
strongman325 1 year ago
Okay, you ignorant pricks, in your opinion a rusian who served just as long as an American deserves more recognition? And you don't care that we were the only ones in Japan? we took an ENTIRE HALF of the war, and the bloodiest. I'm not saying we won the entire war, but we won with our fellow allies. You seem to think Europe won completeley by themselves, and did not need us.
0oTheGhilliedGhosto0 2 years ago
no the USSR was critical to the sucess of the western powers. they diverted more than half of germany's army, which partially allowed the sucess of D-day
the USSR also defeated about 500 of germany's 612 divisions and took action in the final battle of berlin they also took about 16 million casualities compared to the US's 3 million. (27 million if you add the civilians)
ysakoko 2 years ago
oh yea, the british and austrailians (forgive my spelling) fought along side the US troops commanded by MacArthur.
also the bloodiest part of ww2 was the first half
learn some history man
ysakoko 2 years ago
Europe obviously needed Americans, D-Day set the stage for Hitlers ruin.
charfman84 2 years ago
Russia a victory and without D-Day
32167BD 2 years ago
no us british fought japan as well
evilduck1000 2 years ago
u cant be more right mate, im sick of the Americans making bullshit up about how they won the war, what their forgetting is the fact and how the russians were the first of the allied forces into berlin and the force to take down the reichstag, YOU ARE ONE LEGEND MATE!
themilkman321 2 years ago
True about the info. saving private ryan is major propaganda. it was based on a true story but the men where brits thats why they where so anoyed about gojng after an american soldier but thats american history. (if your american dont take offense im just talking about certain people in america)
theworldisyettobe 2 years ago
i always thought saving private ryan was about russians, my friends mom (moved to america from russia) yelled at me because i thought it was real when i was like 12. but you saying they were brits makes more since
donkeyhammer44 2 years ago
Interesting how usually in WWII movies all the Germans are played by British actors, while in this film all the Russian parts seem to be played by British actors.
The only significant German part is played by the American Ed Harris. At least they got an actual German actor to play Paulus.
Treblaine 2 years ago 2
It's because British actors know how to act. Most hollywood actors are useless.
Kampfer1445 2 years ago 18
@Kampfer1445 ye
anedcav 11 months ago
@Kampfer1445 thats totaly not biased
DJsharp707 5 months ago
ron pearlman is not a pretty man, theres no arguement there
WildBillHickums 2 years ago 2
i wish the german sniper have won
in sick of seeing germans as evil
you ppl should watch
'' all quiet on the western front '' (1979)
Aantonho 2 years ago
Err, Germany = OK
Nazis = evil
Loads of Russians fought for the Nazi cause, if there is JUST ONE war you don't want the Germans to win it would have to be this one.
GSG9 = also great
Treblaine 2 years ago
dude thats just ignorance...germans weren't bad..nazis were bad. nazis are germans but germans aren't nazis. Why do you wish the german would have won? he was a nazi!
Nate4duke 2 years ago
ignorance..????
who said germans were bad???
i didnt
i wish he had won because i dont like the soviet union....
so yeah
and ''dude'' im not ignorant
i know more about ww2 than you do..........
Aantonho 2 years ago
hey man i dont know why i thought you said germans were bad but i am sorry that i did...I don't like the soviet union either but like alot of the russians were fighting against the nazi invaders who were invading their country not for the soviet union. Also if i remember right they would be shot if they wouldnt fight for the union
Nate4duke 2 years ago
You are right about not all Germans being evil
Just think of the men of July 20th.
Those are the German Heroes of World War 2
Dametri100 2 years ago 2
Good movie, for sure.
Skiz0id 2 years ago
if its as good as the book ill be happy!
donkeyhammer44 2 years ago
what is it
cromartie117 2 years ago
is this the black hawk down theme, i dont know i cant find it, what is
cromartie117 2 years ago 8
it is "leave no man behind"
rasput5 2 years ago
thanks, i got it
cromartie117 2 years ago
Great film
but not the real death of koenig.
SBRosenheim 2 years ago 2
black hawk down theme :D
stuartallford 2 years ago
yeah. odd since enemy at gate score is so good.
tessler6868 2 years ago
On territory USA fighting did not pass.
hhhhhhhuuuummmmeer 2 years ago
Yea Great Movie but BAND OF BROTHERS puts the BA in badass, and wow spr is so well known is because of the cast matt damon tom hanks and the Steven Speilberg
InnateFlame 3 years ago
and oleyanks to top it off america also cleared out all of the east asian island there are hundreds of them so d day wasnt the only invasion
iTzERiCzBisKITZ 3 years ago
The Film bad! Zaycev has killed the thousand a fascist, but in film he ram.
It Is Seen that film did the american!
hhhhhhhuuuummmmeer 3 years ago
Thousands? He trained alot of people, and him and his students combined killed thousands. And FYI it's a British actor.
OleYanks 3 years ago
You know how much people гибло in Stalingrade?
A Millions with german sides and with russian.
You know that in Stalingrade passed the most blood fighting in the world.
hhhhhhhuuuummmmeer 3 years ago
Uh ...duh? Thanks for the obvious.
During the fighting, soldiers judged where the enemy was firing from by what dead body they were by.
OleYanks 3 years ago
You probably think that американы passed whole war? You think that they have most of all done for the world?
hhhhhhhuuuummmmeer 3 years ago
What the fuck are you talking about? Why are you assuming? Are you brainwashed? ..Russia defeated Germany in the East, US defeated Germany in the West. Russia took out Japans army, USA took out Japans navy. What you think USA didn't do shit?
OleYanks 3 years ago
On your territory never passed fighting. Beside you did not shoot up the people and did not keep in hunger of the city
hhhhhhhuuuummmmeer 3 years ago
What are you talking about? Anyway USA helped Russia so much in the war. Especially with trucks and shit. Stalin even said without SPAM, the Red Army would starve to death.
OleYanks 3 years ago
That that in Leningrad people only bread ated.
Your meal nobody has not tasted why that.
hhhhhhhuuuummmmeer 3 years ago
Oh is your propaganda blocking out US aid in WWII now?
OleYanks 3 years ago
The Propaganda? You do not know about city Leningrad? There, the people ated one bread.
Your meal left only platoon, which veins not plenty of.
hhhhhhhuuuummmmeer 3 years ago
I know the city of Leningrad, Stalingrad, Kiev etc....learn more english because I have no clue where you are going.
OleYanks 3 years ago
lol i love your english
handsandleet 2 years ago
60 million people died in World War 2
gisli94 3 years ago
"I am sick to death of Americans using World War II as a basis for films that generally amount to little more than propaganda" this movie is propaganda. it's a disgrace to the soviet soldiers of ww2.
lovenfrenchfries 3 years ago
Really, a disgrace? From what I can see, this movie is showing viewers how amazing Russian soldiers were at sniping during the time period of World War II. I doubt the film producer originally planned a movie that would become propaganda. Think about it, "Hmm, World War II, shooting, violence, heros. These are the things the typical movie viewer would like to watch." That is why Americans use World War II as a basis for war films.
AndyTNguyen 3 years ago
Plus you also ignored the fact that they also base war movies on World War I, the Vietnam war, the Middle East war, and even the American Civil war. Please consider each and every single variable before you judge.
AndyTNguyen 3 years ago
sorry but that's no excuse for the gross misrepresentation of this film. maybe i see it differently from you, but can you imagine a russian movie depicting american soldiers this way? getting gunned down by there own men by the dozens? being told to run towards well entrenched enemies without weapons?
lovenfrenchfries 3 years ago
well it was true, that was world war 2 man.
chairwarrior 3 years ago
I see the angle you are coming from, but there have been movies and history documents which shows Americans in a bad light. No nation in the world has been perfect nor shall there be one in the future.
AndyTNguyen 3 years ago
Enemy at the gates was a terrific movie. I had read a book in my school library called "True stories of the Second World War" and it included the story of Vassili in it. They have Konig's telescopic sight in one of the museums. I found Bob Hoskins as Khrushchev very well done. Also, has anyone else noticed how very smiler this movie is to the mission "Vendetta" in Call of Duty World at War?
foxesV 3 years ago
THis was a very good movie with a lousy ending that was very unrealistic. Snipers would not make the mistake that Koenig made at the end. Like Cross of Iron, this film makes it clear that communism was no good alternative to fascism (Joseph Fiennes to Jude Law/James Coburn to Russian boy dialogue).
mrrimfire 3 years ago 3
I agree its very unrealistic,no German sniper would just get up like that after shooting. Zaitsev said one thing he noticed about all German snipers is that they were very persistant and determined
SashaVedernikov 3 years ago
Major Koenig didnt get up right away. If you look the frame ends and the scene is alot darker.
NeedlesKain6794 3 years ago
enemy at the gates is a fantastic movie see it somtimes, im just surprised how little people know about it
Koptfoeva 3 years ago
The German film Stalingrad is better.
ChadHorney 3 years ago 3
Stalingrad (the movie) was a big disappointment to me. I expected better.
mrrimfire 3 years ago
i think its more accurate
willhaytch 3 years ago
Certain aspects of it were
mrrimfire 3 years ago
I like Enemy at the gates more than Saving Private Ryan and Letters from Iwo Jima....Thats just my opinion
SashaVedernikov 3 years ago
I would put Letters to Iwo Jima above Enemy due to Ken Watanabe.
mrrimfire 3 years ago
watch letters from iwo jima more better and its what called a war movie and drama u should watch it much better trust me =) and btw im not saying that this movie is shit its Great Movie and i like it but letters from iwo jima much better :D
boshkaly 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Crap Hollywood movie. Saving Private Ryan is much better.
degree7 3 years ago
LOL this is not a hollywood production noob
Periquito79 3 years ago
no, your mom its much better.
FIFA07Addicted 3 years ago
HARHARHAR your so fucking funny!
degree7 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
the soviets lost about 43 million to 47 million people in WWII
blygox129 3 years ago
Don't speak false. We lost 27 millions. About 8 millions were soldiers.
Ninelon 3 years ago 4
lololol 47 million people
FIFA07Addicted 3 years ago
awesome. I love the powerful music from Black hawk down over the footage. very moving.
jerijerod14 3 years ago 3
nice vid man. And nice black hawk down theme.
aliaz94 3 years ago 2
The death rating does not matter about who turns the tide of battle, germany did not have millions of men to throw away while russia and the U.S. had a near unlimited amount of resources, germany was all out and used tactics that were inferior to the allys in a turn matter hitler did not make the right choice and refused to pull out of stalin losing 1/3 of his army to the blood thirsty soviets
rawrcheetos 3 years ago 2
germany was in the same position as britain. but unfortunately for germany they werent an island.
lolmancunt 3 years ago
Judging by the fact that all the people in this movie are from the UK I'm guessing this isnt an American movie.
wwekane2468 3 years ago
American movies always make it seem like U.S soldiers had to do the brunt of the fighting, while they only took out some 10% of the German army, at a higher loss then the Germans had.
somethingboring 3 years ago
Thats bullshit and you know it!
If you compare the german and allied armies, the german army was the best army during ww2.
If u take the k/d ratio against both the japanees and the german, the US are supperior
Ponduz1337 3 years ago
Source?
somethingboring 3 years ago
Compare causlties and were/when they died... Its pretty simple...
Ponduz1337 3 years ago 2
Yes, but which side has the most reliable reports? It's reasonably safe to assume both Germany and the Soviet Union didn't have accurate reports when suffering heavy casualties.
somethingboring 3 years ago
Sovjets are not ennywhere near accurate... they was either killed by germans, sovjet officers or the NKVD.
But still i think the germans numbers are pretty accurat, at least until late 44, 45.
Ponduz1337 3 years ago 2
Undoubtly, the Soviets lost more men then the Germans did, but hitler once (somewhere in 1941/42) claimed, the Germany army only lost 1.5 million soldiers, against some 11 million Red Army soldiers, I mean, that just can't be right.
somethingboring 3 years ago 2
Hitler was not a reliabel source... Sorry=)
If u read books from the eastfront, by for instant Grossman, and the icredible book "stalingrad" by Antony Beevor, you can see the conflict from both Axis and Sovjet eys.
Ponduz1337 3 years ago
Never said he was, just presenting an example of the gross exagerations of enemy kills on the German side.
somethingboring 3 years ago
where is this music from?
omltherunner 3 years ago
Black Hawck Down
chc8488 3 years ago
StalinGrad was a slightly better movie
OmegaTroll69 3 years ago 3
Not slightly it was ways better. But still I wonder how we could lose against such poorly armed men, who were whipped into combat like cattle to the butcher by their cruel commanders.
36Special 3 years ago
I dont know if the stupid Stalin russia discution is stil on but if you follow US point of vuw of historie they never where the bad guys always the other nations where nuts and had to be saved from themselves thats what there doing in Iraq right now what makes US better then russia back then because the respected more there men .course they did they dint needto force em germany was already dead the war was almost over
Starpasbelle 3 years ago
If you're going to make a point you should get your facts straight first and maybe try to spell a little better
MaDuece13 3 years ago
You know what v1skie...I 110% agree with your description. This was basically the best movie that had ever shook the world. A true sharpshooter doing its duty for his country. He was truly the BEST and I mean THE BEST sniper ever in World War 2.
By the way, did you guys know that Vasily Zaitsev inspired armies by using the sniper rifle? If you don't believe in me, STFU.
A truly respected soldier of all time. Rest In Peace Mr. Vasily :)
ronaldo761 3 years ago
Actually he wasn't the best. A finn named Simo Hähyä managed to kill 500 ppl+ with his sniper riifle withing 3 months. He also didnt use a scope due to the risk of being detected by reflections from the scope.
LurigLuring 3 years ago
Although American films do look as if Americans are killing Germans 10 to 1 this was actually how much of the western front operated. In Saving Pvt. Ryan there was a force of germans on the beaches and directly inland of only a small amount, 20 percent, and they were partly old men and boys. I'm sure there is a little bias in there but there is also bias in Enemy at the Gates. Good Movie.
Sunshine121121 3 years ago 2
phhttt NERDS
2142king 3 years ago
great video, I love it! you did a really good job with the scene placement. I especially like the ending of this movie, it's my personal favourite war scene.
antifascist7 4 years ago
this music is agonizingly familiar, was it in black hawk down?
edubctown 4 years ago
yes the music IS in black hawk down (another one of the best ever war movies) it is called leave no man behind and it was written and conducted by Hans Zimmer
Phill1794 3 years ago
"Major Koenig" didn't die that way,if he even existed a s asniper at all. No officers were "snipers" for starters., howevers many officers did in fact become the targets for snipers. Despite what they said on "the History channel",that might be true of some German sniper ,but it wasn't an officer, and certainly no "Major Koenig"...
erwintommy 4 years ago
His real name wasnt koenig - It was Koning and he is real - General Chuikov said the sniper was real.And Vassili stalked him for a week with Nikolai Kulikov and Vassili saw Koning under a sheet of metal and shot him in the head
USSRsniper 4 years ago
König never existed. His real name was Heinz Thorval.
machinemen165 4 years ago
König/Thorval is considered a myth..
ForbryderSyndikatet 4 years ago
Yes,everything points to this.
erwintommy 4 years ago
That's what they WANT you to think!
abanyai123 4 years ago
Bear in mind tho..that although the russian sniper was a real person, his exploits were more Russian propaganda than actual fact..example..his long running fight through the movie with the German Major is completely made up..a search through holders of the Knights Cross (the medal at the germans throat) reveals that no such person as "Major Koenig" ever existed!!!.
2491tj 4 years ago
Well Jesus, everything in that entire war was more Russian propaganda than actual fact: just about everything that was ever said with the exception of "We won the war!" was directly false or meant to further some other end. Nothing is more full of crap (then or now, come to think of it) than Pravda.
mencken 4 years ago
The Russians never credited the West for their aid that saved their asses more than anything they themselves did,something the narators never seem to do in other types of WW2 actual videos...
erwintommy 4 years ago
How is this film Soviet propaganda. It showed officers massacring their troops for retreating from an impossible assault. It showed how under equipped the army was. This was a story of heroic actions by desperate people (both soldiers and civilians alike) who fought against evil. If you want to see propaganda in its purest form go see Pearl Harbor (made in 2001, same year as this) with Ben Aflack. That film disgusts me, but I'm sure its on every rednecks top 10 list.
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago 2
For sure the Americans helped defeat the Nazi's by supplying huge numbers of aircraft, cars, guns/bullets, radios, food, and medical equipment.. but would they have wanted to trade places? A preemptive invasion by Germany who had been amassing the world's largest and best military stockpile, and being on the back foot for 4 years, (having thousands of villages and towns destroyed, millions of people dying every year, while simultaneously trying to manufacture tanks), versus.......
(continued)
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago 2
being on a peaceful island across the Atlantic and receiving a gift in disguise which was federal spending which went towards both the war in the pacific and across the Atlantic... which would take you out of the great depression once and for all and into an era of unprecedented economic success. Hmm that's a tough choice. Real toughy there. The US had its own war in Japan, but one they didn't have to go to, and Japan stood no chance. They were betting on the US not going to war with them.
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago
(continued from above) industrial schedule for weapons production. It was ALWAYS going to be a war of genocide from either side, and only depended on who stuck first. Your child-like hero worship of the Soviets is a giggle.
And as for the movie itself, for all it got wrong in the story, it got how the Soviets fought right- total brutality. Stalin himself said, "It takes a brave man to be a coward in the Soviet Army"- by which he meant they shot their own people by the thousands. It was TRUE.
mencken 3 years ago
I got two words for you: FUCK YOU. You're an American who lived thru the cold war, so your judgment for truth is compromised. Stalin and Hitler were friends, when Hitler broke their treaty, Stalin had a nervous breakdown and refused to acknowledge the facts. I don't worship the Soviets, I WAS BORN THERE. My grandfather fought in WWII on 3 fronts, including Stalingrad, got injured twice, and lost both his brother and his mother in the war. His father was executed during Stalin's repressions.
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago 2
If you think I should get a different perspective on how the Soviets fought outside of my grandfather (who is still alive) or his book, or his veteran friends, I have watched numerous documentaries on the subject with testimony's/descriptions by German soldiers. I trust their opinion of how the Soviets fought more than some redneck like you. Brutally?? You wouldn't say such bullshit if you had to live through the Seige of Leningrad like my grandfather, who was digging up trenches at after school
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago 2
Are you kidding me? You're clearly drinking some Nashi koolaid about the Eastern Front my good man, because Stalin really did say that, and they really did shoot tens of thousands of their own people in the back, and killed hundreds of thousands for the high crime of getting captured by Germans: go to your own people, like red army colonel Dmitri Volkogonov, or historians like Robert Conquest, not the propaganda organs that feed your hick country and all the peasants dying to be lead like sheep.
mencken 3 years ago
Fuck you back, Stalin lover- you don't get any more compromised than a person who lived on Pravda, and there is no coming back from it: you wouldn't know what biased was to save your life. Just because the Germans were raving lunatics does NOT make Stalin the good guy; the Soviets were simply set up in a backward country of hicks who couldn't afford going next door to kill tens of millions and had to do it at home. The Eastern Front was two bad guys going at it in a war of extermination.
mencken 3 years ago
please don't talk to me. you don't know anything about history or about russians. we are sheep? 10 million were killed for standing up against the grain, for standing up for whats right, for not kneeling to the pressure to admit something they didn't do. many countries histories are filled with things like this.. all countries except the usa, where george bush stole an election, did a lot of other shit (too much to list) and no one is brave enough to fight to their death for these things.
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago 3
Kennedy stood up. got assassinated, and that was the end of it. every few years another Kennedy is knocked off, but no one cares. Calling me a Stalin lover, me who has family members killed by the tyrant... the Soviets hicks... and that Nashi coolaid comment.... I'm just loving it.
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago 2
Hey pal, you're the one spouting off about valiant Soviet efforts during the war, not giving accurate information about how they actually prosecuted it. What is it about you people needing to whine so badly? You haven't suffered shit, except for maybe an alcohol induced coma. If you don't want to be called a Stalin lover, quit making up how they got the Russian people to fight- it was a sad, nasty, brutal affair, not some glorious history.
mencken 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
"please don't talk to me" Wait a minute, you're the one talking to *me*- go look right up there, you saying stupid things like only the specially dumb can. MORE than 10 million were killed not for standing up against anything, but were eaten by a system that thought it could afford to kill a goodly portion of the country. I like how you want to whine about Stalin but also brag about him at the same time: very Soviet of you. I also like how you take civilized politics in the US as a vice- heh.
mencken 3 years ago
When my grandfather's mother found out he had volunteered into the army at age 16, she had a heartattack. She obviously thought he was a dead man walking. No one had any illusions of the glory of war. He told me how before a few hours before a big attack, officers would give the men vodka and bread (any that was available) for courage and as well as a sort of last meal. Everyone knew their duty. They didn't need any extra motivation. Ofcourse there were special circumstances.
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago 6
When my grandfather fought with Polish troops for example, the men consisted of some Russians, some Catholic Poles, some atheist/Soviet Poles, and many former prisoners who were granted freedom in return for service in the war. They staged a demonstration that they cannot fight together, (moral was very low, they didn't even speak the same language). Suddenly Stalin's "BLACK Raven" came and hung 11 of them (randomly selected) for desertion. This was already shocking, not a scene repeated often.
KeepYourMindClean 3 years ago
But if you're talking about shooting your own men. Well later in the war when the Germans were reaching Stalingrad, Stalin ordered the "point of no retreat" or something like that (forgot the name). Before, soldiers already often fought to the last man, but sometimes would retreat to save some to use in the next town. But Stalin cared more about the name of the town, then the men. (same with Hitler). Which is why so many died there, and