10 Dumbest Decisions In War Movie History
4. Enemy At The Gates - Blind Faith In The Soviet Cause
In contrast to many World War Two films, Enemy At The Gates is entirely focused on the Eastern Front. It recounts one of the bloodiest battles in history and bases its story on the tale of two skilled snipers in Stalingrad.
In the film, Commisar Danilov (played by Joseph Fiennes) is fiercely loyal to the cause and utterly convinced that the USSR will eventually come out on top. But as the siege of Stalingrad wears on, his loyalties are greatly tested. Much of his work is spent away from the frontlines, meaning he has little experience of the hell the troops are going through.
Soon after the battle begins, he is promoted to a senior lieutenant position. The tactic of hit-and-run adopted by the Red Army leads to massive casualties and Danilov soon begins to question his leaders. Had he not been so blind to the cause, he could have rallied the men and moved towards more effective tactics. He eventually loses his will to fight on and exposes himself to the enemy sniper.
As it stands, this fictional character represents the more arrogant side of the Soviet leadership. While they were eventually able to push the Germans all the way in the closing years of the war, the cost was dear. An inability to question their approach and direction ended up costing the Russians over twenty million lives.