Battle of Moscow (1985)

In 1941 Nazi Germany's armies sweep deep into the Soviet Union and close in on Moscow. Battle of Moscow reconstructs the months that followed, from the frontier battles and the heroic defence of the Brest Fortress to the decisive winter counter-offensive that stopped the Wehrmacht at the gates of the capital. The film moves between the generals and leaders planning in the Kremlin, including Stalin and Marshal Zhukov, and the soldiers and civilians fighting in the snow. It was directed by Yuri Ozerov, known for his monumental war series Liberation, and made in two parts for the 40th anniversary of victory in the Second World War, with massive battle scenes using thousands of extras and real military hardware. Mikhail Ulyanov repeated his famous portrayal of Zhukov.