Minifigure – Soviet Red Army Submachine Gunner (with Bedroll) WWII

Character Identification: WWII Soviet Red Army Submachine Gunner (with Bedroll)

This custom-printed building block minifigure represents a frontline infantryman and assault soldier of the Soviet Red Army during the early-to-mid years of World War II. Armed with a submachine gun and wearing his heavy gear directly across his body, this figure accurately depicts a highly mobile Avtomatchik (Submachine Gunner) prepared for prolonged combat without the burden of a traditional backpack.

Specific Name and Visual Details

• Specific Name: WWII Soviet Red Army Submachine Gunner / Avtomatchik (M35 Uniform & Diagonal Bedroll)

• Headgear: The figure wears the standard dark olive-green SSh-39 or SSh-40 Steel Helmet, the iconic protective headgear of the Soviet military.

• Facial Features: He has a gritty, battle-worn appearance featuring printed stubble (beard shadow), dirt smudges, and a small combat scar, reflecting the harsh living conditions of a frontline soldier.

• The Uniform (M35 Gymnastiovka): He is dressed in the classic khaki Model 1935 (M35) Gymnastiovka tunic.

  • Collar Tabs (Petlitsy): The tunic features red collar tabs with black piping. During the early phases of the war, red explicitly designated the Infantry branch.

• Tactical Webbing and Gear (The Skrutka):

  • The Diagonal Bedroll: The most defining and historically accurate feature of this specific figure is the greyish-blue fabric roll worn diagonally across his chest and back (over the right shoulder and down to the left hip). This represents the traditional Soviet rolled greatcoat (Shinel) or shelter half (Plash-palatka), often referred to as a skrutka.

  • Belt Pouches: He wears a standard combat belt over the bedroll, featuring printed canvas utility or grenade pouches.

• Rear and Side Gear:

  • The back view reveals a printed military canteen attached to his belt.

  • The side views highlight a printed canvas cover on his hip holding a military entrenching tool (shovel), vital for digging defensive foxholes.

• Footwear: His lower legs feature printed tall black leather boots (Sapogi).

• Weapon: In the action pose, the figure is armed with the legendary PPSh-41 Submachine Gun, complete with its perforated barrel shroud and a high-capacity drum magazine.

Historical Background

During World War II (known in the Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War), the Red Army had to outfit millions of soldiers rapidly, leading to distinct, highly practical methods of carrying gear on the Eastern Front.

• The Skrutka (Rolled Greatcoat): While some soldiers were issued the Veshmeshok canvas knapsack, many front-line troops simply did not have backpacks. Instead, Soviet doctrine taught soldiers to tightly roll their heavy wool greatcoat (Shinel) or their canvas rain cape/shelter half (Plash-palatka) and tie it in a horseshoe shape diagonally across their torso. This freed up their hands, eliminated the need for a backpack, and surprisingly provided a small layer of rudimentary padding against shrapnel and bayonet thrusts during close-quarters combat.

• The Avtomatchik (Submachine Gunner): The soldier is armed with the PPSh-41, a weapon that became synonymous with the Soviet war effort. Because the weapon was cheap to stamp out of sheet metal and devastatingly effective in urban ruins and dense forests, the Soviets deployed entire companies of troops armed solely with these submachine guns. These Avtomatchiki acted as shock troops, relying on the massive 71-round drum magazines to lay down suppressive fire during intense trench raids and city fighting.

• The M35 Uniform Era: The red collar tabs date this soldier to the desperate early-to-mid years of the conflict (1941 to early 1943). Following the turning point at the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviet high command abolished these collar tabs and introduced traditional shoulder boards to boost morale.