10 Blood-Stirringly Epic Cinematic Charges

6. Enemy At The Gates (2001)

The Charge: The Soviet Infantry Charge

The Battle of Stalingrad was a major turning point in World War II. Pushed back to the brink by Hitler’s infamous 6th Army, Stalin commanded, “Not a step back!”. An order which would turn the city of Stalingrad into a meat grinder and the site of one of the bloodiest battles in history, lasting over five months and resulting in over two million casualties. Enemy at the Gates portrays this battle in brutal fashion.

It tells the story of Vasily Zaystev, a real life Soviet sniper, during this battle. However, during the films opening he is still a lowly infantryman and he and his comrades are ordered into a suicidal charge against a heavily fortified German position.

Forced into battle without even a rifle, such was the desperation of the Soviets at that time, his comrades are butchered by the German’s overwhelming firepower and the Soviets flee back to their own lines. “Not a step back!”, a Soviet officer cries, and they machine gun down their own men, “no mercy for cowards!”. A stark representation of the reality of this horrific war.