# WWII - Russian Suicide Runs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2004, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-russian-suicide-runs/253029 "2004-07-01T10:48:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-russian-suicide-runs/253029/1 "2004-07-01T10:48:45Z")
In the film _Enemy at the Gates_ and the game _Call of Duty_ Russian conscripts are forced to charge German machine guns unarmed - did this actually happen? How common was this practice? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-russian-suicide-runs/253029/2 "2004-07-01T10:51:40Z")
I heard of “de-mining” methods where russian recruits we made to run through mine fields… even worse example. As for the film itself… I read the book recently and I don’t remember a specific scene like that. The russians were mostly on the defensive anyway. Still it was common practice of commisars (political officers) to shoot “deserters” or anyone retreating without orders. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-russian-suicide-runs/253029/3 "2004-07-01T13:19:07Z")
> [@Mr. Kobayashi](#): > > In the film _Enemy at the Gates_ and the game _Call of Duty_ Russian conscripts are forced to charge German machine guns unarmed… In the movie they’re kind of armed… they were in pairs and shared a gun.