PPSh Machine Gun

The Soviets leaned deadly lessons about the effectiveness of the submachine gun during their winter war with Finland in 1939 as well as the German invasion. Their answer was the PPSh machine gun. About 5 million PPSh guns had been made by 1945, and the Soviets adapted their infantry tactics to take full advantage of such huge numbers. It could hold up to seventy one rounds in a drum and was an effective counter weapon to the German MP 44. The weapon was light and solidly built. If was deadly at close range, making it ideal for the dense eastern European forests or the house to house fighting in Stalingrad.

Mosin Nagant Rifle

This bolt-action rifle was used extensively by the Russian forces at the Battle of Stalingrad and throughout the rest of the war. After the war, the rifle was still used in various forms until the 1960s when a sniper variant called the Dragunov SVD was developed. That rifle is still in service with some former Eastern block nations today. This rifle was reliable, fairly easy to manufacture, and reasonably cheap to produce.

Ju-87 Stuka Dive Bomber

This dive bomber was used before the actual ground assault began to bomb the city and to scare the general public. However, the pilots did not distinguish between civilians and military and as a result civilian casualties were inflicted. This aircraft was most effective if no one on the ground shot back, but once the Russian Air Force and ground-based anti-aircraft crews got organized, the slow-moving Stuka was a very vulnerable target.

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