all 127 comments

[–]Krywiggles 73 points74 points ago

I dont think anyone noticed that he has three types of grenades on his belt. the RGD-33 grenade, the F1 grenade, and the RPG-40 anti-tank grenade.

Also, the pistol is a Nagant M1895, a widely used Belgian pistol made for the Russian Empire.

He has 7.62X54 rounds on his belt, which is ammunition for the Mosin Nagant.

and, of course, everyone knows of the PPSH-41 SMG that he is shouldering.

[–]newyorkpilot212 61 points62 points ago

...and that's his entire regiment's ammunition for the week.

[–]strangerzero 3 points4 points ago

They had enough ammo to kick the Nazi's asses and take Berlin.

[–]thetallgiant 4 points5 points ago

o the fallacies, they hurt my brain.

[–]newyorkpilot212 13 points14 points ago

lol you're right - the myth of the ammunition starved Russian army predates the great patriotic war and doesn't ring true there, rather harking back to Crimea, at least in the western perception

[–]mindaika 6 points7 points ago

Wait, you're saying that Western propaganda may have inaccurately portrayed Communist Russia?!

[–]thetallgiant 0 points1 point ago

Not necessarily propaganda but misinformation. Just trying to break some misconceptions which I seem to have done.

[–]blazaiev 0 points1 point ago

Could you explain please? I always thought that this was the case for the russian army during the WWII. Or was it only in the battle of Stalingrad?

[–]Screwmouth 9 points10 points ago

It was a common misperception made by American and British troops after they heard tell of one or two drafted regiments that fought on few supplies in Stalingrad. It expanded into an urban legend, and has since been reinforced by Western media, i.e. Call of Duty and Enemy at the Gates. Closer to the truth was that they were well-armed by the fall of 1942 thanks to a huge industrial effort by Stalin and friends after repulsing the Germans from Moscow. Stalingrad itself was filled with tanks and weapons factories, a few of which even continued production throughout the battle.

[–]bscoop 4 points5 points ago

At minor parts of front lines Red Army was often poorly equipped. At least that happened here in Northern Poland. I heard lots of stories about Russians looting on mass scale, wearing felt boots and using strings instead of gun belts.

Funny story was about my Great Grandfather, when the Russians came to near village he went to salute them for "liberating" the country. He came all way back without his boots on.

[–]newyorkpilot212 0 points1 point ago

Yep, that's accurate. The image of the supply-starved Russian reflects the Imperial Russia's frontier armies in the period between the Napoleonic wars and the 1860s military reforms... though there were major shortages in 1915-17 as well

[–]nerga 0 points1 point ago

When Germany attacked Russia in World War II, they were absolutely blown away by how many tanks the Russians had. Hitler said something along the lines of "Who would have thought they had 40k tanks? No one had 40k tanks."

[–]Toby-one 17 points18 points ago

Note that he has two revolvers one in the holster and one tucked into his ammo belt. The ammo belt he has around his waist is most likely for the Maxim machinegun since it is in a belt and not a stripper clip. Also if you look closely you will see that the two RGD-33 Grenades are two "different" models one with a smooth outer shell and one with a patterned outer shell. The patterned outer shell was a sleeve that you could fit over the grenade in order to create more and heavier shrapnel.

[–]Krywiggles 0 points1 point ago

At first I thought the 7.62 ammo was in individual sleeves but I looked at it again and is in fact a MG belt

[–]mtmdog 2 points3 points ago

I thought maybe the smooth one was a captured German grenade, but your explanation makes much more sense.

[–]Toby-one 8 points9 points ago

I thought so too first but then I looked it up on the link that Krywiggles provided. The reason they had the jacked is because when you have the jacket on it creates such big and heavy shrapnel that it is too dangerous to use in the offensive role. It was rather common during ww1 and ww2 to use high explosive hand grenades during assaults because they didn't give off as much shrapnel and therefore it minimised the risk of friendly fire due to shrapnel. Often fragmentation handgrenade were employed as a defensive grenade for when you are defending a fighting position or a trench the reasoning was that most of your own infantry will be protected by their fighting positions and only the enemy will be exposed to the massive hail of shrapnel.

The concept of offensive and defensive handgrenades fell out of favour because eventhough they are safer during an assault high explosive hand grenades simply aren't very effective unless you throw it into an enclosed space where the pressure wave will incapacitate the enemy. So today most handgrenades are fragmentation grenades.

Also the Germans developed a similar sleeve for use with their M24 and M43 grenades they called it Splitterring. Picture at the bottom of this page.

[–]gynoceros 14 points15 points ago

What, no melee weapons?

Pussy.

[–]supaphly42 26 points27 points ago

What do you think the grenades are for? :)

[–]gynoceros 9 points10 points ago

That's worth contemplating.

[–]mphatik 2 points3 points ago

All else fails, he can use the wool cap on his head.

[–]I_RAPE_PEOPLE_II 4 points5 points ago

Considering the condition the Russians went through, I don't think he'd waste it.

[–]Ahl_Capwn 2 points3 points ago

Actually, seeing as he appears to be a sapper (offensive engineer) he probably has a trench shovel on his back he could use for close encounters.

[–]Leelodor[!] 9 points10 points ago

And for those who don't know, PPSH-41 was a "cheap" copy of Suomi KP/-31 which was also known as " The Tikkakoski sewing machine".

[–]Wakka_bot 3 points4 points ago

my granddad called it "davaj guitar"

[–]eamantite 1 point2 points ago

My great-uncle called it 'Shuriken Pizzatime.'

[–]SkidMcmarxx 3 points4 points ago

We made weapons for the Russian empire? Damn.

[–]killerMinnow 3 points4 points ago

Yup, but it was in the late 19th century. The Russian Empire ordered a large supply of rifles and revolvers, got the first batch, reverse engineered them, cancelled the rest of the huge order, copied the weapons on a massive scale and armed their soldiers with it through two world wars and a revolution. If I recall correctly, Nagant was the Belgian designer for both weapons and developed both guns.

[–]mjawors2 0 points1 point ago

It was the Soviet Union during World War II. The Russian Empire fell in 1917.

[–]SkidMcmarxx 0 points1 point ago

Correct.

[–]catsfive 0 points1 point ago

I would just like to point out that, to me, it appears that this gentleman is wearing two pistols.

[–]Krywiggles 0 points1 point ago

And both are Nagant M1895s

[–]catsfive 0 points1 point ago

Ah, ah. OK. Just making sure. The most I know about pistols is which way to fire one. :)

[–]Wakka_bot 5 points6 points ago

yup, PPSh. Sweet COD2 days.

I know before though, for my granddad used to have one, lol

[–]L0stm4n 2 points3 points ago

Link to the F1 is broken. It should be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F1_grenade_(Russia)

[–]lokitheserious 2 points3 points ago

Those cartridges are not rimmed, so not 7.62x54r, maybe 8mm. The pistol was Belgian designed and a few were made there but most were made in Russia. My guess he is more likely a Russian partisan or Polish fighter than Russian army, the uniform and the non 7.62x54r ammo don't add up.

[–]Ahl_Capwn 0 points1 point ago

i would like to point out he probably also has a trench shovel on his back and it's entirely likely given the AT grenade he has a satchel charge somewhere there as well.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]Krywiggles -1 points0 points ago

yes

[–]FlieGerFaUstMe262 0 points1 point ago

Really, you think no one noticed?

[–]a_friendly_hobo 44 points45 points ago

...he also happens to be the only one.

[–]Ivyking 32 points33 points ago

Gotta be propaganda.

[–]Windir19 -4 points-3 points ago

I came here to say that.

[–]mitre27 51 points52 points ago

He doesn't seem ready for puberty.

[–]andreiknox 10 points11 points ago

He seems ready for anything.

[–]BackNipples 15 points16 points ago

He looks 16

[–]homerr 29 points30 points ago

Who do you think fights in wars? Kids, duh.

[–]orellan 16 points17 points ago

STALIN 1941

[–]a_friendly_hobo 5 points6 points ago

Oh hey Kony, its been a while.

[–]ours 5 points6 points ago

It's not called infantry for nothing.

[–]dashapdv 7 points8 points ago

Great photo. I like his ears and how he holds the riffle submachine gun with mitten:)

[–]Adan714 2 points3 points ago

this is submachine gun : )

[–]dashapdv 2 points3 points ago

Thanks:) I know nothing of guns and less about how they are called in english, so riffle is anything what is not pistol for me:)

[–]Adan714 0 points1 point ago

Извините, Даша. I used to talk with guys here. : )

[–]dashapdv 0 points1 point ago

Нет проблем. :)

[–]AusGap 33 points34 points ago

That was probably the whole platoons supplies.

[–]bensyc 8 points9 points ago

The title of this post sounds like a porn video title

[–]Slippery_Jim 5 points6 points ago

He is too old for a Russian porn video.

[–]nmgoh2 1 point2 points ago

Except lunch apparently.

[–]Laurikens 3 points4 points ago

How does he pull a trigger wearing those gloves?

[–]panzerkampfwagen 9 points10 points ago

$10 says he didn't live to see 45.

[–]bitparity 15 points16 points ago

$50 says he didn't live to see 20.

Can't find my source just yet, but I read somewhere before that 80% of men who were 19 in 1941 (the start of the eastern front war) were killed by the end of the war.

[–]SkidMcmarxx 12 points13 points ago

I think he meant 1945 though and not the age of 45.

[–]panzerkampfwagen 1 point2 points ago

Exactly what I meant.

[–]jayjr 4 points5 points ago

Russians were badasses in WWII. I know it's not taught much in the US, but they pretty much decimated Germany in every single aspect when they tried to do what they should have known from Napoleon was impossible. If Aliens landed on Earth tomorrow, they should know better than attempting to invade Russia.

[–]NIU_1087 2 points3 points ago

Russia's numbers and it's brutal winters helped with that.

[–]jayjr 0 points1 point ago

Exactly.

[–]Tuhulu -1 points0 points ago

In the early years the russians could storm german positions in huge numbers and get mowed down because they were too many and didnt utilize cover.

They had so many men that troops was ordered to charge a position protected with a minefield. The mines detonated on the infantry so the tanks could come later and run through.

Russians were badasses no doubt, but they really had a huge advantage in numbers.

[–]rolltideamerica -1 points0 points ago

The fuck are you talking about not taught in the US much? My history teachers wouldn't shut up about how bad ass the Russians were and how they beat everyone who tried to invade them. As though there were some stupid conspiracy to try and downplay everything russia did in american schools. maybe during the cold war but this is the 21st century.

[–]QualityEnforcer 6 points7 points ago

Higher-resolution version 644 kB (1,400 x 1,966) 504%

skipperbob [OP] may directly remove this comment by clicking here.

[–]onyxpup7 2 points3 points ago

He looks like a kid dressed up in his fathers clothes

[–]SkidMcmarxx 4 points5 points ago

I don't think Russian soldiers were well armed at the time. It's probably staged for propaganda purposes. Anyway great picture.

[–]Adan714 4 points5 points ago

This was staged for family photo albums. : )

[–]Ahl_Capwn 1 point2 points ago

It could have been a combat engineer, or he could have picked it up off someone less fortunate.

[–]teastain 0 points1 point ago

Ha, all it would take is for Ted N. to take a disliking to him.

[–]AtoJtoW 1 point2 points ago

dont fuck with the motherland

[–]davratta 0 points1 point ago

The Soviet version of a Panzer Grenider

[–]Adan714 0 points1 point ago

Soviet version of Pazner Grenadier was shturm forces, ShISBr (Assault field engineer brigade) just look on photos.

Each had armor and hand machinegun.

[–]DeathByPianos 0 points1 point ago

Sounds more like the Russian version of the Sturmpioneere.

[–]Adan714 0 points1 point ago

Yes, you are absolutely right.

[–]The_Matt_Squad 0 points1 point ago

How effective was that armor?

[–]Adan714 1 point2 points ago

Can stop handgun (or sub-machinegun) bullet - very close.

Can stop rifle or machinegun bullet (especially AP, germans loved that) only in end of trajectory.

[–]buckie33 0 points1 point ago

Have nice day.

[–]rezna 0 points1 point ago

oldschool tacticool

[–]Brekkystout 0 points1 point ago

except bending at the waist

[–]hiyosilver64 0 points1 point ago

He looks like he's 12 :(

[–]dgib 0 points1 point ago

I guess the holster is busy.

[–]LomoSaltadoMontado 0 points1 point ago

Call of duty 2!

[–]javastripped 1 point2 points ago

OP got the caption wrong. This is actually Ted Nugent.

[–]nissan_ultima -1 points0 points ago

Are American grenades shaped the way they are because of baseball?

[–]CHIEF_HANDS_IN_PANTS 0 points1 point ago

Interesting thought. I know I could throw the hell out of one though. Not sure how well I'd be able to throw the russian/german grenades.

[–]Ahl_Capwn 1 point2 points ago

Ready for anything

Except possibly, the russian front.

[–]chantistar 0 points1 point ago

god damn

[–]bringmethesampo 0 points1 point ago

Isn't this just a photo of a young Putin?

[–]2beeps_and_then_BOOM 0 points1 point ago

"WHERE ARE THE GERMAAAAANNNNNNSSSSSS?!?!?! THEY WILL KNOW MY FURY"

[–]BandarSeriBegawan 0 points1 point ago

ghostface killah

[–]kdubhimself 0 points1 point ago

I have never seen one of the potato masher grenades other than in video games before. Thanks for sharing!

[–]jvaughn24 1 point2 points ago

You will never be this bad ass.

[–]negative_v1 -1 points0 points ago

More like Russian Child is terrified out of his mind and ready to die a horrible death.

[–]vorpalsword92 0 points1 point ago

whats better than 1 nagant pistol, 2 NAGANT PISTOLS

[–]Marshall40 0 points1 point ago

I remember reading/hearing that during the first couple years of the German invasion, the average lifespan of a new Russian recruit was less than 24 hours. They would give them a helmet and canteen and tell them to go find a gun. Can anyone provide insight into this? I'm curious as to if it is true or not

[–]BananaPeelSlippers 0 points1 point ago

Wow. They even gave him bullets. I knew that movie was bogative.

[–]animalia_ 0 points1 point ago

I wonder if he wore foot cloths rather than socks...

[–]occupythekitchen 0 points1 point ago

He's ready to akimbo those pistols!

[–]VERY_LOUD_COMPLIMENT 0 points1 point ago

I bet his enemies would see him as a loot pinata.

[–]Shotai 0 points1 point ago

Odds are he could have been a redditor had he been born in the 90's. Odds are we would have been in his shoes if we were born in the 20's.

Scary thought.

[–]FlieGerFaUstMe262 0 points1 point ago

No, that is a beautiful thought.

[–]MattPH1218 0 points1 point ago

Obligatory "In Soviet Russia..."

[–]jarvis400 0 points1 point ago

Finns. Is he ready for the Finns?

[–]zombielawngnome 1 point2 points ago

To all those keeping this subreddit alive, I love you.

[–]jamkgrif 0 points1 point ago

To bad for them that well armed russian soldiers did not last very long into the war

[–]farmerfound 1 point2 points ago

Reminds me of Jayne Cobb. "I call her Vera. She is my very favorite gun."

[–]Crohnskid -1 points0 points ago

The first thought that comes to my mind is that this has to be propaganda of some sort; many Russian soldiers had little to no ammo, and some were forced to fight on the front lines with as little as a trench shovel.

Almost anything concerning 19th and 20th century Russian history is an entertaining read (if you're a history nerd like me).

[–]Moldybooks 0 points1 point ago

I don't know why someone down-voted you but that was the first thing I thought of when I saw this photo. I remember reading about a shortage of ammo and some where sent to the front lines with an empty rifle and told to scavenge ammo off the dead. I even remember seeing the same thing in a movie a while back.

[–]ballabear 0 points1 point ago

This is an awesome photo, it deserves to be on the front page, thanks for sharing!

[–]FatesReverend -2 points-1 points ago

That's pretty rare. Russians would send out soldiers in pairs, one with guns the other with ammo. This was probably just for the photo op then he was stripped down after.

[–]Syatek -3 points-2 points ago

Except in reality he probably only had the ammo...

[–]panzerkampfwagen 1 point2 points ago

That's a myth brought to you by movies.

[–]Syatek -3 points-2 points ago

Hahhaa no. It's not. Movies may exaggerate it, but it's no myth. Trust me I've read enough books and text books.