Description

This minifigure represents a Soviet Red-Army Winter Rifleman of World War II, the archetype of the “Ivan” who made up the bulk of the Soviet Union’s fighting force. Between 1941 and 1945, over 34 million men and women served in the Red Army, enduring unimaginable hardship yet ultimately pushing the Wehrmacht back to Berlin.

The standard Soviet uniform consisted of the khaki gymnastiorka tunic, simple trousers, and sturdy jackboots or puttees. Soldiers wore the pilotka side cap, the ushanka fur cap in winter, or the steel SSh-40 helmet for combat. The minifigures printing highlights this simplicity, with crossed ammunition belts and pouches typical of frontline infantry.

Weapons were diverse but iconic. Many infantrymen carried the Mosin–Nagant bolt-action rifle, while others were armed with the fearsome PPSh-41 submachine gun, which gave Soviet troops overwhelming firepower in close-quarters fighting. Squad support weapons included the DP-28 light machine gun, nicknamed the “record player” for its round pan magazine. Grenades, bayonets, and anti-tank rifles rounded out their arsenal.

Soviet infantry bore the brunt of the war’s bloodiest battles. At Stalingrad (1942–43), they fought house to house in a brutal struggle that turned the tide of the war. At Kursk (1943), the largest tank battle in history, Red Army soldiers repelled the last great German offensive. From the frozen fields outside Moscow to the final storming of the Reichstag in Berlin (1945), Soviet infantry endured staggering casualties but emerged victorious.

This minifigure reflects the ordinary Soviet soldier — ill-equipped at times, but hardened by resilience and driven by the defence of the Motherland.

Includes 1 x Soviet Red-Army Winter Rifleman minifigure disassembled.

Pcs: 9

Age rating: 14+