They Fought for Their Motherland (1975): Cast & Plot
They Fought for Their Motherland is a 1975 war drama starring Pyotr Merkuryev as soldier, Vasiliy Shukshin and Igor Efimov. It runs 2 hours 38 minutes.
Russian What Is They Fought for Their Motherland About?
The premise of They Fought for Their Motherland without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in July 1942, the Soviet rearguard holds the Don River bridgehead against German forces as retreating troops evacuate across the bridge. As they withdraw through the countryside toward Russian lines, the soldiers display camaraderie, emotion, fear and heroic determination to protect their motherland.
They Fought for Their Motherland Cast & Characters
Pyotr Merkuryev leads the cast as soldier, with Vasiliy Shukshin as Piotr Lopakhin and Igor Efimov as Pyotr Lopakhin (voice).
- Pyotr Merkuryev as soldier
- Vasiliy Shukshin as Piotr Lopakhin
- Igor Efimov as Pyotr Lopakhin (voice)
- Mykola Shutko as cook lisichenko
Also Starring in They Fought for Their Motherland
· 38 more- Angelina Stepanova old Cossack woman
- Vyacheslav Tikhonov pvt. Nikolay Strel'tsov
- Sergey Bondarchuk pvt. Ivan Zvyagintsev
- Andrei Rostotsky corporal Kochetygov
- Tatyana Bozhok nurse
- Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy surgeon
- Nonna Mordyukova Natalya Stepanovna
- Evgeniy Samoylov Colonel Marchenko
- Georgi Burkov pvt. Alexander Kopytovsky
- Lidiya Fedoseyeva-Shukshina Glasha
- Natalya Gundareva Glikeriya (voice)
- Yuriy Nikulin pvt. Nekrasov
- Irina Skobtseva head nurse
- Nikolay Gorlov санитар
- Ivan Lapikov sergeant Poprischenko
- Aleksey Vanin soldier Akim Borzykh
Show all 42 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Andrei Popov author's narration
- Nikolai Gubenko lieutenant Goloschyokov
- Vitaliy Leonov soldier
- Mikhail Chigaryov soldier
- Viktor Volkov Nemets
- Stanislav Borodokin soldier
- Aleksandr Konyashin Ryadovoy
- Danylo Ilchenko Luka Mikhalych
- Leonid Trutnev soldier
- Vladimir Myshkin
- Nikolay Volkov pvt. Nikiforov
- Anatoli Pereverzev Khmiz
- Igor E. Kuznetsov
- Gennady Safronov the chairman
- Boris Nikiforov captain Sumskov
- Kolya Yefremov Malchik
- Khoshim Rakhimov
- Gennadi Nenashev
- Yermakhmad Aralev
- Lev Pavlov
- Nikolay Petrenko
- Yunus Yusupov
They Fought for Their Motherland Plot Summary
What happens in They Fought for Their Motherland from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
July 1942 finds a Soviet rifle regiment withdrawing to the outskirts of Stalingrad, seeking a brief pause on the harsh Don steppe after taking heavy losses. In the uneasy quiet between shelling and marching, the men trade stories, talk about life back home, share small comforts, bathe, and drift toward sleep under a gray, watchful sky. One soldier, Piotr Lopakhin [Vasily Shukshin], known for his merry tricks, slips away to a nearby village for salt and a bucket to cook freshly caught crayfish. He tries to charm an old Cossack woman [Angelina Stepanova], but she rebuffs him, letting the locals fend for themselves as the regiment pulls back.
Full summary
The whole story of They Fought for Their Motherland, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know They Fought for Their Motherland?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year was the film "They Fought for Their Motherland" released?
They Fought for Their Motherland Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “They Fought for Their Country” and “Oni srazhalis za Rodinu”.
- Also known as
-
- They Fought for Their Country
- Oni srazhalis za Rodinu
- A hazáért harcoltak
- Sie kämpften für die Heimat
- Bojovali za vlast
- Ils ont combattu pour la Patrie
- Morreram pela Pátria
- Lucharon por su patria
- Те се сражаваха за родината
- Oni walczyli za ojczyznę
- Họ Đã Chiến Đấu Vì Tổ Quốc
- Eles Lutaram pela Pátria
+3 more Show fewer
- Viņi cīnījās par dzimteni
- 그들은 조국을 위해 싸웠다, ისინი სამშობლოსთვის იბრძოდნენ
- 他们为祖国而战
Seen They Fought for Their Motherland?
They Fought for Their Motherland FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, cast, post-credit scenes and language of They Fought for Their Motherland, each answered in a sentence.
How long is They Fought for Their Motherland?
They Fought for Their Motherland runs 2 hours 38 minutes (158 minutes).
When was They Fought for Their Motherland released?
They Fought for Their Motherland was released on November 5, 1975.
Who is in the cast of They Fought for Their Motherland?
They Fought for Their Motherland stars Pyotr Merkuryev as soldier, Vasiliy Shukshin as Piotr Lopakhin and Igor Efimov as Pyotr Lopakhin (voice), among 42 credited actors.
Does They Fought for Their Motherland have a post-credit scene?
No. They Fought for Their Motherland has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is They Fought for Their Motherland in?
The original language of They Fought for Their Motherland is Russian.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
