I live in Germany. I'm trying to understand the mysterious German soul. I collect gossip about the Germans. If anyone can help with this, I would be very grateful.
Everything is fine in Germany, only you wake up in the morning, look out the window, and there are Germans in the city!
According to a popular joke in Europe, in heaven the Germans are mechanics, and in hell they are policemen.
English playwright B. Shaw: “The Germans have great virtues, but they also have one dangerous weakness - an obsession with taking every good thing to the extreme, so that good turns into evil.”
Madame de Staël noted that the Germans manage to find a lot of obstacles for the simplest things, and in Germany you hear “This is impossible!” a hundred times more often than in France (and this despite the fact that all her work was started as a criticism of the French order).
In pre-revolutionary Russia for a long time There was a popular joke about the revolted German proletarians who walked in an organized column along Unter den Linden exactly until they came across a “No Trespassing” sign. At this point the revolution ended, and everyone went home safely.
Flower coffee.
Actually, this is a German idiom. The Germans call this very weak coffee, such that through the layer of the drink you can see the flower painted on the bottom of the cup. However, with light hand Academician Likhachev, this expression has taken root in Russian speech and now means any thing done not as it should be, but as poverty or stinginess allows.
There is a joke that the Germans made three mistakes - the First World War, the Second World War and the release of the Volkswagen Passat B5.
The unforgettable Dobrolyubov, who was not only a critic, but also a poet, warned 150 years ago: “Our train will not go as the German train goes...”
In “Ode on the Death of Nicholas I,” Dobrolyubov brands the tsar a “tyrant,” a “German brat,” who “sought... to make Rus' a machine,” “exalted only military despotism.”
The idiom “Hamburg score” means “a genuine system of values, free from momentary circumstances and selfish interests,” going back to the story told by Viktor Shklovsky about Russian circus wrestlers of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, who usually determined the winner of the fight in advance, by agreement, but once in year, supposedly meeting in Hamburg, away from the public and employers, in order to find out in a fair fight which of them is actually stronger. According to circus legend, retold by Paustovsky, once a year wrestlers from all over the world gathered in some Hamburg tavern, locked the doors, curtained the windows and fought honestly, “without fools.” It was then, under the spotlights, in public, that an elegant handsome man would effectively throw a bear-like strongman over his hip, some “Mr. X” would win a fight against a famous champion... but once a year, in Hamburg, for themselves, the wrestlers figured out who was worth what , who is truly the first, and who is only ninety-nine." ...
“The Hamburg score is an extremely important concept.
All wrestlers, when they fight, cheat and lie down on their shoulder blades on the orders of the entrepreneur.
Once a year, wrestlers gather in a Hamburg tavern.
They fight at behind closed doors and curtained windows. Long, ugly and hard.
Here the true classes of fighters are established, so as not to go astray."
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol wrote that every nation is distinguished by its own word, which, by the way, expresses part of its character. The word of a Briton will respond with wise knowledge of life, the word of a Frenchman will flash and scatter, a German will intricately come up with his own, “but there is no word that would be so sweeping, lively... would seethe and vibrate so much as a well-spoken Russian word.”
MOUNTAIN ONION
If a person cries, this is bad. But the reason that brings tears to the eyes is not always worthy of attention and respect. Try peeling or rubbing an onion: your tears will flow freely... Out of grief? From onion grief!
The Germans know another expression: “onion tears.” These are the tears that flow over trifles. And in a figurative sense, by “onion grief” we mean small sorrows, insignificant sorrows that do not deserve tears.
The French love the most beautiful, the Germans love the most, the rabbits love the fastest, but the goats love the most.
Germans don't like to work, but they know how.
On August 8, the Stargate ride malfunctioned at the German-American folk festival in Berlin, dpa reports. In a gondola blocked at a height of 15 meters, 14 passengers hung upside down for half an hour. Only after the apparatus was set in motion were people safe. Many of them received medical assistance. It is reported that one passenger did not notice anything unusual and was sure that the gondola stop was part of the attraction's program.
"German, pepper, sausage,
rotten cabbage!
Ate a mouse without a tail
and said it was delicious!"
©Tease for children, folklore.
For some reason, they tease the German-pepper-sausage; before the revolution, the Germans were called “sausage makers”
Sausage maker, sausage maker's wife. || An abusive or humorous nickname for the Germans.
Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian language Vladimir Dahl
SAUSAGE
One day, Tsar Peter, accompanied by Menshikov, visited the house of the pharmacist Klaus Seidenberg in the German settlement. He demanded Dutch cheese, butter, rye and wheat bread, strong ale, wine and vodka. The pharmacist did not have enough decanters, and he served the Danzig liqueur to the king in a flask. After tasting the liqueur and eating his ger;ucherte Wurst, Peter asked what it was, because he liked this last product. The pharmacist, believing that the question referred to the vessel in which he served the liquor, answered: “Fask, sir.” This is how the famous decree of Peter the Great was born, which ordered all classes to “make sausages from lamb intestines and stuff them with various tripe.”
At the same time, the expression “sausage” appeared. Peter, when he was in a good mood, would often say to Menshikov: “Alexasha, let’s go to the pharmacist and let’s get some medicine.”
The Germans have a saying: “who wears the pants in the family,” which in our way means: “who is the boss of the house.”
The fire at the pyrotechnics factory in Drosselberg raged for 6 hours. None of the firefighters dared to extinguish such beauty. (Joke)
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov died on the night of July 2, 1904 in a hotel room in the German resort town of Badenweiler. The German doctor decided that death was already behind him. According to the ancient German medical tradition, a doctor who has given his colleague a fatal diagnosis treats the dying man with champagne... Anton Pavlovich said in German: “I am dying” - and drank a glass of champagne to the bottom.
The philosopher Immanuel Kant said: “Das ist gut.”
- Last words Einstein remained unknown because the nurse did not understand German.
Alles hat ein Ende nur die Wurst hat zwei. - Everything has an end, only sausage has two (my version is three!).
German folk proverb.
I was interested in the origin of the expression: What's good for a Russian?(Dal’s is great) then the German is dead. As I expected, this is directly related to the German word Schmerz - pain, suffering, sorrow (?), grief (?). Apparently, it was not easy for the Germans to live in Rus', they often complained about life, for which they even received the contemptuous nickname - Schmerz (along with the nickname Sausages).
Information about the exact origin of this particular expression is contradictory, for example, excerpts from the memoirs (1849) of Thaddeus Bulgarin (It’s not a problem that you’re a Pole. ;)):
“You, my dear readers, have no doubt heard the humorous saying more than once: “It’s great for the Russian, death for the German!” General von Klugen assured me that this proverb was born during the storming of Prague. Our soldiers, having smashed the pharmacy, which was already engulfed in flames, took the bottle out into the street, tasted what was in it, and began to drink, praising: glorious, glorious wine! At this time, a horseman of our artillery, originally from the Germans, passed by. Thinking that the soldiers were drinking ordinary vodka, the horseman took a glass, drank a little - and immediately fell down, and a short time later he died. It was alcohol! When Suvorov was informed about this incident, he said: “A German is free to compete with the Russians! It’s great for the Russian, but death for the German!” These words formed a saying. Whether Suvorov repeated the old and forgotten, or invented a new saying, I can’t vouch for it; but I say that I heard.”
N.A. Polevoy (1834) "Stories of a Russian Soldier",
“When our general Leonty Leontievich Beniksonov showed Bonaparte that a Russian is not a Prussian and that in winter a Russian fights even better, according to the proverb, what is great for a Russian is death for a German, and vice versa, Bonaparte was glad to make peace and pretended to be such a fox that our great Emperor Alexander Pavlovich believed him.”
Let us now turn to the word Schmertz
According to Vasmer, this is “a mocking nickname for a German,” Olonetsk. (Sandpiper.). From it. Schmerz "sorrow, pain", perhaps, according to the consonance of German. words from Russian stink (see below) P.D. Boborykin Vasily Terkin, 1892 “A kind of “schmertz”, a land surveyor, but he speaks to him, Chernososhny, like a boss with a petitioner, albeit in a respectful tone... Nothing to do... Times like these! We must be patient!" Where there are no Germans, she is in the blues, And gave herself over to the smoked heart It's not smoked. By the way, Vyazemsky has funny quatrains about the Germans: The German is a dock for everything, The German is so thoughtful That you will fall into it. But, according to our cut, If a German is taken by surprise, And especially in winter, The German - your choice! - is bad. Sukhovo-Kobylin (who hasn’t read it, I recommend reading his trilogy, especially Delo - modern to the point of trembling) has a character with the last name Shmertz. I can’t get past the completely understandable nickname of the Germans - Sausage Man:), from Dahl I found the word Perekolbasnik (Germanize) with an example: “Peter oversausified all the Russians, everyone became oversausified, became Germanized.” :)). And here "to the sausage" Die Kalebasse (German), calabash (English) calebasse (French) - pumpkin bottle.Sausage is literally an intestine stuffed with meat, shaped like a pumpkin bottle (kalebasse)." -I was joking :), I know that Vasmer vehemently denies this etymology :)). But, by the way, I myself use the word kolabashka in relation to solid a round object about the size of a fist :). But I digress, I continue. The origin is German word Schmerz I don’t know, I don’t know German, I really ask German-speaking friends to help with the etymology of this word. I hear in it Russian Death(in German death is Tod). By the way, let’s look at the etymology of the word Death and at the same time Smerd. Smerd(there is an opinion that the German nickname Schmerz also meant Smerd, in a negative sense): Vasmer: other Russian. smird "peasant" Praslav. *smеrdъ from *smеrdeti (see stink). This word bears the imprint of contempt for agriculture, which was regarded as a base occupation and was the lot of slaves and women From the Brockhaus-Efron dictionary: From one place in the Ipatan Chronicle (under 1240) it is clear that S. could rise to the highest strata and even to the rank of boyar; at least the Galician boyars, according to the chronicle, came “from the Smerdya tribe.” At the initiative of Leshkov, in our historical and legal literature for quite a long time they took S. for a special class, which consisted in some close relationship to the prince I have not been able to find out at what point the word acquired an abusive meaning (back in the 16th-17th centuries, the word smerd was used to designate the service population in official appeals to the tsar and the tsar to the population.) And then these proverbs appeared (from A.G. Preobrazhensky)
- The distance is short - expletive: German, sausage maker
In the dictionary M.I. Mikhelson we find a quote from a poem by P. Vyazemsky Eliza (I couldn’t find the poem itself on the Internet)
Her mind is delirious with smoked shmertz,
The German is ranked among the sages,
There is also an opinion that the nickname Schmerz hints at German sentimentality (on the popular rhyme Schmerz-Herz - heart).
Death:
Vasmer: Praslav. *sъmьrtь along with *mьrtь (in Czech mrt, gen. p. mrti zh. “a dead part of something, dead tissue on a wound, barren land”), it finds common roots even with ancient Indian. mrtis, not to mention the understandable Latin mors (mortis). Slavic *sъ-мърть should be associated with Old Indian. su- “good, good”, original. “good death”, i.e. “one’s own, natural”, is further connected with *svo- (see one’s own).
In Karamzin we read: “The name smerd usually meant peasant and mob, that is ordinary people, not military, not bureaucrats, not merchants... Under the name of smerds we mean the common people in general. .. Probably the name smerd came from the verb to stink... Smerds were free people and in no case could they be equal to slaves... Smerds paid the princes sales, tribute or penalties, and there was no monetary penalty from the slaves, for they did not had property" (I apologize, I am writing in Russian because I have no other font). You can also look in different dictionaries or on the wiki.
A stinking look is worse than a curse!
The spruce stump is unbroken, the stinking son is unbowed.
This was a long time ago - when there were two Germanys, and the USSR was a great power. A group of tourists from the Kalinin region, through the Bureau of International Youth Tourism “Sputnik” of the Komsomol Central Committee, went to Western Germany, to the city of Osnabrück, the German sister city of the Soviet city of Kalinin.
Our acquaintance with Germany began at Frankfurt am Main International Airport. Having landed softly, our graceful Tu-154 made its way for a long time to the place where passengers disembarked among the herd of fat-bellied Boeings and Airbuses. At first glance, it became clear that everything here is organized according to different standards - different from those we are used to. The guests were received by one of the largest air transport hubs in Europe - so huge that, at first glance, it was easy to get lost in it. However, even with a quick acquaintance with this rationally organized space with its numerous boards, signs and escalators, we became convinced that it was impossible to get lost here, even if you wanted to.
The further road to Osnabrück ran through one small, almost toy German town, which politely sheltered us for the first night. Midnight was approaching, but the young envoys of the Upper Volga region could not wait to feel the German soil under their feet and breathe its air. Having settled into the hotel, we went out for a walk before going to bed.
Empty streets and squares froze in anticipation of the coming night. In the center of the town, at a lonely traffic light, looking respectfully at the red light, stood an elderly German with a dog. Having caught up with him and without hesitating for a second, the Kalinin residents confidently turned to red and crossed the roadway with jokes.
Why stand on ceremony: the cars clinging to the narrow streets are immobilized until the morning, respectable burghers are sleeping, so a traffic light at night is not a decree for a Russian person! The only witness - an old man - also does not count, since from amazement he seemed to have fallen into a state of suspended animation for a long time. I still remember the open mouth, bulging eyes and the German’s checkered hat slid down the back of his head. Perhaps his ancient Gothic ears, sensitive to historical memory, once (under other circumstances) already heard Russian speech? But most likely, the ordered consciousness of the German did not accept the very possibility of violating any instructions, especially the sacred Traffic Rules.
It was at that moment that I remembered the catchphrase: “What is great for a Russian is death for a German.” It accurately notes the presence of significant differences in individual features of the Russian and German national characters. Then, during our journey, at every step we received convincing evidence that, in fact, the concepts of the rules of life among our peoples are often diametrically different.
The program of stay in Osnabrück included many events, among which the most exciting was visiting German families. The tourists were divided into pairs, and the Germans themselves chose which one to invite. My friend and I were chosen by the architect's family.
The architect, a plump man of about forty, led us to an elderly mouse-colored Mercedes with big-eyed, acorn-like headlights, and, patting the hood affectionately, said enthusiastically:
- Diesel!
The rattling ancestor of passenger diesel engines slowly brought us to the outskirts of Osnabrück. Along the way, the owner, in every way, including displaying a glass of soda standing motionless on the dashboard, demonstrated the enviable smoothness of the German Autobahn, which, as apparently intended, made an indelible impression on us. But what impressed me even more was the architect’s home, which looked like a glass shelf, organically inscribed at the foot of a small hill covered with tall pine trees. However, the main novelty was not even this, but the fact that industrially manufactured furniture was completely absent inside the living quarters. The architect proudly showed cabinets, sofas and shelves self made, practically built into the walls. Of course, the interior decoration of the rooms was immaculately orderly and clean.
The stingy aesthetics of the house cooled the soul and restrained the overflow of friendly feelings. However, we did not lose hope of establishing closer contact and tried to explain ourselves using an untranslatable language. German mixtures of Russian and English words. How else to communicate: we did not understand German, and the German did not understand Russian; he basically did not know English due to his undisguised aversion to the Britons, Angles and various Saxons. Soon the limited resource of gestures and exclamations was completely exhausted. It was necessary to find some life-tested method of consolidating the emerging sympathy, and I decided to resort to a proven national remedy - a bottle of vodka, which I fished out from a case filled with gifts to the receiving party, and which I immediately, looking eye to eye, solemnly handed over to the owner. So to speak, according to Russian custom, as a present, but still in the undisguised hope of a small drink - for getting to know each other!
The German's face lit up inner light. He perked up, tenaciously grabbed the neck of Stolichnaya with his meaty fingers and carefully placed the bottle in a cabinet of his own making.
- Oh, gut, gut - rusishe votka! – he was sincerely happy, rhythmically waving his tousled eyebrows and patting himself on his capacious belly.
The joy, however, was short-lived, since it was not general, and a languid silence hung in the room again. After consulting, we wholeheartedly, without hiding the innermost desires written on our faces, presented a second bottle of vodka, which immediately suffered the same fate as the first. Then the third. But it also inevitably took pride of place in the neatly lined up line of the world-famous brand. The result of the alcohol intervention was disappointing: a) three-quarters of the collective reserves of “second currency” brought from snow-covered Russia were wasted (each tourist could carry no more than a liter of vodka across the border); b) desired result not achieved.
Time writhed in a pause, which carried my friend’s thoughts somewhere far, far away, to where the bottle physically could not remain in the closet for a long time. Traces of memories, apparently, were reflected so clearly on our mournful faces that the German, fussily moving his feet on the shiny parquet floor, hurried to the kitchen and brought from there a wicker basket with two bottles of beer at 0.33 each:
- Bitte.
We quickly uncorked them, offered them to the owner for the sake of decency, and after the expected refusal, with a feeling of deep satisfaction, we emptied the unimportant containers. The silence became oppressive. The owner, sighing heavily, went back to the kitchen and put out two more small-caliber bottles. Yes, he was clearly lacking in imagination! Drowning our nerves in beer, we stared blankly at the empty container. With a doomed look, breathing noisily, the architect went for the next portions of beer, which without delay poured into our stomachs. It seems that the German finally realized that beer is not vodka and the conversation will not stick together. He looked sadly at the cabinet with vodka and thought intensely about something.
The situation was defused by the pretty hostess, who invited guests and family members to the table. It was covered with a brand new scarlet tablecloth, which, as soon as everyone was seated, was stained by the owners’ son, pouring juice. The head of the family pointed his finger at the spot and sternly reprimanded the boy.
I felt sorry for all the Germans: what is German swearing compared to the widest range and high destructive power of Russian profanity?! According to our classification, German swearing is a meaningless verbal form that does not have well-deserved international recognition and, most importantly, does not evoke reciprocal feelings. Here they are, of course, far from us. However, the notation still had an effect: everyone became disciplinedly quiet.
The smiling Frau suggested starting with salad. The friend became embarrassed, and in order to maintain the momentum gained over the beer, I boldly scooped it up with a beautiful silver spoon directly from the bottom of a huge porcelain salad bowl, towering exactly in the center of the table. The pile of green vegetation mixed with mayonnaise turned out to be so large and unstable that those sitting at the table froze. I also tensed, but this was only internally, and externally - easily and confidently, maintaining, as expected, the necessary balance, I led the hay in a straight line towards my plate. And such an international embarrassment must have happened that, right in the middle of the journey, the green-white lump treacherously slid onto the scarlet firmament of the table.
Seconds began to stretch into minutes. While those sitting at the table were silently hypnotizing the pile, which was cheerfully enlivening the ceremonial array of plates and cutlery, the owner’s daughter - a girl of about eighteen - scooped up the ill-fated mountain with two (!) spoons and, smiling warmly at me, decisively moved it to my plate. There was a huge stain left on the tablecloth, which the owner looked at doomedly, while everyone else stared at me and remained silent. I... ate a salad. No problems! So to speak, in order to mitigate the international tension that has arisen.
The next day, the host Osnabrück party, led by the burgomaster, organized a grand celebration in honor of the Soviet delegation, where Kalinin residents were given plenty of beer from aluminum barrels and treated to various German delicacies such as pork legs with sauerkraut and delicious sausages. They drank just enough to communicate without the help of translators, dance German dances and sing Russian songs. Members of the German families who invited the tourists generously presented the guests with gifts. Unfortunately, no one from the architect’s family came...
For another week we traveled by bus through the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, a country of strict geometric lines, outlined by a giant compass. Outside the window flashed, as if in an animated film, like drawn pictures: like a field, but unusually well-groomed; like forests, but translucent through; toy towns, villages and boringly smooth roads. This kingdom of form had everything, and yet something was sorely missing.
There was not enough space, air, and therefore the breadth and scope of the soul. Tightness in everything! We longed for the free wind in a wild field, for Russian uncertainty and disorder - for our unreasonableness. In the end, we even missed the dirt - ordinary Russian dirt, which covered Russian roads, directions, car wheels and shoes in abundance. The same dirt that more than once saved the Fatherland from various misfortunes.
Truly, what is good for a Russian is death for a German. And vice versa.
Reviews
I read it with my wife and was painfully offended by the usual Russian laxity, dirt, and lack of grooming in everything. But we can, if we want to do no worse, and there is no need to refer to the vast expanses, huge distances, and so on. Everyone just needs to start from their own home, yard, the same fence, and the authorities from the road and discipline in everything. And there will be no boredom. We had the opportunity to visit the Baltic states and Paris more than once and see something similar to what is in your story. And it was so ashamed and painful for our... My wife and I try not to imitate them, but simply to settle down as our conscience and upbringing allow. Although we are already approaching seventy. Smart story! Everyone would like to have it as an instruction manual. bedside table. Woke up and looked, looked and did...
Victor, thank you for the quality and substantive review. I agree with you. Still, I want to clarify the following (since the story failed to focus the reader’s attention on this).
First. Honestly, I couldn’t live in Germany for even a month: I would feel bored, cramped and sick of the order that paralyzes the will and imagination, although I love order. But the order is different - within a different relationship of time and space. Now I’ll try to build a bridge from the specific to the general.
Second. Why are we - Russians and Germans - so different, what is the essence of the differences?
In Germany, with its compact territory and favorable climate, time seems to flow more evenly, equally, than in Russia, where during the short summer it was always compressed to the limit, so that, at the cost of much greater effort than in Germany, to prepare for the extended time harsh winter and survive it. Let me remind you that to this day the agenda is relevant in Russia: “On measures to prepare for the adventure heating season"The Germans quickly established order in their small living space, based on absolute respect for the law and total regulation, and it turned out to be easier for them to do this, again because of good climatic conditions. But due to overcrowding, the consciousness of every German turned inward, acquired an individualistic character and did not allow intrusion into personal space. Russians have a collectivist consciousness of space, with a spirit of conciliarity, solidarity, ease of contacts, and the ability to open up to everyone they meet. Instructions in our large spaces do not work so effectively; they get stuck in time zones; in our country, time-tested ethical norms, traditions and rules of behavior that shape the atmosphere of society are more important. For example: a sea of laws has now been adopted, but the desired result has not been achieved because the appropriate atmosphere has not been created in society.
Third. There is an opinion that the vector of all the changes that have shaken our country in recent decades has its starting point in climate change - it has become warmer, they say. I wish it were colder...
There are many interesting expressions, proverbs and phraseological units in the Russian language. One of these sayings is the famous phrase “What is good for a Russian is death for a German.” Where did the expression come from, what does it mean and how can it be interpreted?
Difference between Europe and Russia
It is known that the physical constitution of a person largely depends on the natural and climatic conditions in which society is forced to live. The European climate, like the Russian one, gives rise to a corresponding character.
The climate in Europe is mild and moderate. The life of the peoples inhabiting these lands has always been the same. The time when it was necessary to work was distributed evenly throughout the year. While the Russians were forced to either rest or work beyond their strength.
The natural conditions of Russia cannot be called soft. The short summer and long, cold winter have contributed to what is commonly called the Russian soul. Forced to constantly struggle with cold winters, Russian people have a special character that can’t help but be called a little aggressive. In addition, climate has a significant impact on the formation of the physiology of a nation. This must be kept in mind when explaining the meaning of the saying “What is good for a Russian is death for a German.” And of course, every nation has its own history, which affects the mentality of people, their way of life. The difference between Western European countries and Russia is in this case very revealing.
The first version of the origin of the proverb “What is good for a Russian is death for a German”
This expression is used in everyday speech all the time. When pronouncing a proverb, people do not think about its origin. “What is good for a Russian is death for a German” - no one will remember who said this for the first time and where this phrase came from. Meanwhile, according to one version, its origins should be found in history Ancient Rus'. On one of the holidays in Rus', a table was set, rich in various delicious dishes. In addition to them, they brought traditional sauces, horseradish, and homemade mustard. The Russian hero tried it and continued the feast with pleasure. And when the German knight tasted the mustard, he fell under the table dead.
Another version of the origin of the proverb
“What is good for a Russian is death for a German” - it is difficult to say whose expression this was before. There is an interesting story explaining the origin catchphrase. A doctor was called to see the sick craftsman boy. After conducting an examination, he concluded that he did not have long to live. The mother wanted to fulfill any last wish of the child, to which the young doctor allowed him to enjoy any food. After the child ate cabbage and pork, which the hostess had prepared, he began to recover.
Then a German child who suffered from the same disease was invited to dinner. When the doctor ordered him to eat cabbage and pork, the unexpected happened: the boy died the next day. The doctor made a note in his notebook: “What is good for a Russian is death for a German.”
Russia will save the world
What else is so different that it allows many great minds to call Mother Russia the savior of the world, in particular of Europe? Some differences appear even in private life. An illustrative example is the banal habit of washing. Many Western historians can find notes indicating that the Slavs have a strong habit of constantly pouring water on themselves. In other words, Russians are accustomed to washing in running water.
What is good for a Russian is death for a German, or Everyday habits of different nations
To compare historically established European and Russian customs, it is necessary to make a short excursion into the past. During the Roman Empire, cleanliness was always the key to not only health, but also a full life. But when the Roman Empire fell, everything changed. The famous Roman baths remained only in Italy itself, while the rest of Europe amazed with its uncleanliness. Some sources say that until the 12th century, Europeans did not wash at all!
The case of Princess Anna
“What is good for a Russian is death for a German” - this proverb expresses the essence of the differences between representatives different cultures and nations. An interesting incident happened with Anna, the Kyiv princess, who was supposed to marry King Henry I of France. After arriving in France, her first order was to take her to the bathhouse to wash. Despite the surprise, the courtiers, of course, carried out the order. However, this did not guarantee deliverance from the princess’s wrath. She informed her father in a letter that he had sent her to a completely uncultured country. The girl noted that its inhabitants have terrible characters, as well as disgusting everyday habits.
The price of uncleanliness
Surprise similar to that experienced by Princess Anna was also expressed by the Arabs and Byzantines during the Crusades. They were amazed not at the strength of the Christian spirit that the Europeans had, but at a completely different fact: the smell that reeked a mile away from the crusaders. Every schoolchild knows what happened afterwards. A terrible plague broke out in Europe, killing half the population. Thus, we can safely say that the main reason that helped the Slavs become one of the largest ethnic groups and resist wars, genocide and famine was precisely cleanliness.
An interesting fact is that after Galicia came under Polish rule, Russian baths completely disappeared there. Even the art of perfumery itself arose in Europe in order to combat unpleasant odors. And this is reflected in the writer’s novel “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.” In the book, the author vividly describes what was happening on the streets of Europe. All biological waste was poured out of the windows directly onto the heads of passers-by.
Pharmacy legend
When Russian troops captured Prague on November 4, 1794, the soldiers began drinking alcohol in one of the pharmacies. Having shared this alcohol with the German veterinarian, they accidentally took his life. After drinking the glass, he gave up the ghost. After this incident, Suvorov uttered the catchphrase: “What is good for a Russian is good for a German,” which translated means “pain, suffering.”
It should also be noted interesting fact. The proverb “What is good for a Russian is death for a German” does not exist in German. It is offensive, so it is better not to say it in the presence of representatives of this people. For us it means the following: what may be useful to one person may be harmful to another. In this sense, its analogue can serve as the well-known proverb “Another person’s soul is darkness” or “To each his own.”
It is also necessary to remember that previously in Rus' not only people from Germany were called Germans. All foreigners bore this name. Those who did not know local traditions, Russian customs and could not speak Russian were called dumb, or Germans. Because of this, they could find themselves in various comical and sometimes unpleasant situations. Perhaps this proverb was born as a result of such cases.
This phrase has a deep meaning practical significance. Very often people are incapable of empathy. It is not for nothing that ethical sense among children is considered giftedness. But for adults, the ability to put themselves in the position of another person and “try on their skin” is very important for successful interaction in society. It also has a similar meaning that says that you shouldn’t make judgments about a person or judge him in any way until the person who wants to make a judgment has spent a day in his shoes.
What is beneficial for one person is extremely undesirable for another. And maybe even fatal. Take, for example, the widespread statements that you should not recommend to your loved ones, friends and acquaintances the medications that helped you - they can not heal, but aggravate the disease. And this will also help to fully understand the true meaning of the famous proverb, which in fact does not contain a single drop of nationalist views.
IN modern wars and local military conflicts, a significant role is assigned to special reconnaissance and sabotage operations carried out on enemy territory. For such operations, the armies of developed countries around the world have special-purpose units and units. They are designed for covert penetration and combat missions both in the enemy’s front-line zone and in his deep rear; conducting reconnaissance for a long time and, if necessary, destroying important military targets of the enemy, as well as performing other specific tasks. The main tasks of special forces are to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage operations against important government and military targets of the enemy in order to obtain necessary information, inflicting military, economic and moral damage on him, disorganizing military command and control, disrupting the work of the rear and a number of other tasks.
VSS sniper rifle (top) and special AS machine gun (bottom)
To equip special-purpose units formed in the Soviet Union by the 1970–1980s - several brigades and separate special-purpose battalions, as well as special units of the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs; reconnaissance units of motorized rifle, tank, airborne divisions and formations Marine Corps The Soviet Army and Navy needed effective covert weapons different types and purposes, including small-sized and silent small arms.
One of such means for domestic special forces was a unified system of silent small arms, developed at TsNIITOCHMASH in the 1980s. It included a special sniper complex, consisting of a 9-mm special VSS sniper rifle, a 9-mm special AS machine gun and special 9-mm cartridges.
This complex emerged as a result of intensifying confrontation between the Soviet Union and the West in the 1960s and 1970s. The expansion at this time of the geography of undeclared wars and local military conflicts, which were fought on almost all continents, required successful fight with our potential adversaries, more and more new types of special weapons, including those for defeating enemy personnel equipped with means at short distances personal protection.
A significant drawback of domestic models of the first generation silent small arms, which by this time were in service with the Soviet special forces, was the relatively low combat and service-operational characteristics compared to weapons for general use - effective firing range, lethal and penetrating effect of the bullet, weight and size characteristics . As a result, the existing models of silent weapons could not fully replace standard combined arms weapons and were, in essence, only an addition to the standard models of special forces weapons. These models of automatic small arms were equipped with special muzzle devices for silent and flameless shooting, so-called “silencers,” and their cartridges were modified to increase the mass of the bullet and reduce its initial speed to subsonic. However, since the most important condition Since the execution of combat missions by special forces units on enemy territory was due to the secrecy of actions, the use of weapons with small unmasking factors of a shot - sound, flame and smoke, i.e., “silent” weapons, acquired particular importance in carrying out such operations. In addition, when by the end of the 1970s the combat missions of special forces changed significantly, the insufficient effectiveness of certain types of special (silent) weapons and ammunition for them was revealed.
It was by this time, in accordance with the state program for the development of weapons and military equipment, refers to the beginning of research and development work (R&D) to develop a concept and create a unified system of silent small arms to replace certain types of special weapons, which were then in service with special forces units of the Soviet Army and the KGB.
The implementation of this work was entrusted to the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TSNIITOCHMASH) in Klimovsk, with the leading role of the KGB Research Institute of the USSR, together with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. Soviet gunsmiths approached the solution of the task in a comprehensive manner. The creation of a unified silent small arms system was planned to be carried out through the development of new designs; reducing the range of special weapons and ammunition, developing the necessary types of similar weapons designed for standardized cartridges.
After analyzing typical tactical tasks solved by special forces units and conducting a number of different research work It was decided to create several silent rifle systems for all special forces, including a sniper system, which would include three main components: “weapon - ammunition - sight.”
9-mm SPECIAL SNIPER RIFLE VSS “VINTOREZ”
In 1983, requirements were developed for a new special sniper complex (received the code “Vintorez”). This weapon was supposed to ensure the covert destruction of enemy personnel at ranges of up to 400 m, including personal ammunition protection equipment. Such a problem could only be solved using a new cartridge with a heavy bullet, which would have a sufficient lethal effect and high accuracy of combat throughout the entire target range of up to 400 m. Sniper shooting at such a range required the creation of new optical (day) and electro-optical (night ) sights.
Incomplete disassembly of the VSS sniper rifle
Since the special forces had to carry all the necessary equipment to carry out combat missions behind enemy lines, the new weapons were subject to very stringent requirements in terms of weight and dimensions. In addition, to carry out a number of special operations, such a rifle had to be disassembled into small-sized main components, which made it possible to covertly carry it and quickly transfer it to a combat position.
Based on the requirements, research on the topic “Vintorez” was carried out by Klimov gunsmiths in the following directions:
– testing the technical feasibility of ensuring effective shooting range from a silent sniper rifle (i.e., shooting at a range of 400 m, at which the probability of hitting the target should be at least 0.8);
– choice of the principle of muffling the sound of a shot and reducing its fiery intensity;
– development design diagram sniper cartridge with a subsonic bullet speed, providing the specified accuracy when firing, damaging effect and reliable operation automation;
– design of the cartridge and justification of its main design parameters;
– development of a design scheme for automatic weapons that ensures the desired accuracy of fire; gunshot sound level; reliable operation of automation; weight and dimensions characteristics;
– design of a sniper rifle;
– development of new optical sights.
The design of a special sniper complex at TsNIITOCHMASH began with the creation of a new automatic cartridge designed to defeat enemy personnel in specific conditions.
The main problem that the Klimov designers had to solve was solving the issue of sound and shot suppression.
The intensity of the sound of a shot depends on the muzzle pressure of the powder gases. In addition, the bullet itself, if it has a supersonic initial speed (more than 330 m/s), also generates a shock (ballistic) wave. All this unmasks the shooter's firing position. To eliminate the sound from the ballistic wave, a weapon with a silencer must have a subsonic muzzle velocity. However, the lower the speed of the bullet, the less its damaging effect and the worse the flatness of the trajectory, which significantly reduces the effective firing range. Thus, in special small arms for concealed use, two incompatible properties had to be combined - the required effective firing range and the sufficient lethality of the bullet at its relatively low initial speed. Moreover, suppressing a shot in such a sniper complex could only be achieved using silencers and a subsonic initial speed.
The result of this work was a new 7.62 mm experimental cartridge, consisting of a 7.62 x 54 mm 7 N1 sniper rifle cartridge bullet and a 7.62 x 25 mm TT pistol cartridge case. This cartridge satisfied the requirements of the tactical and technical specifications (TTZ) for the Vintorez in terms of accuracy, but its bullet did not provide the necessary lethal effect. In addition, when developing a new sniper cartridge, it was taken into account that in the future, increased requirements for the penetrating effect of a bullet may be imposed on a silent automatic system in the near future. During the work, the issue of unifying the sniper rifle and machine gun in terms of the ammunition used was also considered.
Further work on the promising ammunition was aimed at creating a fundamentally new cartridge design. A group of specialists from TsNIITOCHMASH under the leadership of Vladimir Fedorovich Krasnikov developed another 7.62 mm sniper cartridge with a subsonic (300 m/s) bullet speed, which received the index “RG037”, based on the 5.45 x 39 mm machine gun cartridge case. Its bullet was structurally made according to the bullet pattern of the 7 N1 rifle sniper cartridge. Its external shape was determined taking into account the external ballistics requirements for subsonic bullets. The new sniper cartridge had a length of 46 mm, a total weight of 16 g, a bullet weight of 10.6 g and had excellent accuracy. Thus, at a range of 100 m for this cartridge, R50 was 4 cm, and at 400 m - 16.5 cm. However, the new RGO37 cartridge did not allow one to confidently hit enemy personnel in anti-fragmentation vests at a direct shot range of 400 m.
A silent sniper rifle was designed for the 7.62 mm RGO37 cartridge, which received the index “RG036”. The leading designer of the rifle was Pyotr Ivanovich Serdyukov.
The selected automatic operation scheme with a gas engine and rigid locking of the barrel bore when turning the bolt ensured reliable operation of the rifle in different conditions operation. A combined silencer, consisting of a chamber muzzle silencer with obliquely located separator partitions and an expansion chamber for partial discharge of powder gases from the barrel, reduced the sound level of a shot to a value similar to a 9-mm PB pistol.
But despite the fact that the 7.62-mm sniper complex consisting of the RG036 rifle and the RG037 cartridge passed preliminary tests, further work with it was stopped, since by the end of 1985 the USSR Ministry of Defense Industry approved new requirements for a special machine gun complex - another element of the silent weapon system. Based on the TTZ, it was necessary to create a weapon that would allow one to confidently hit group targets (manpower) protected by type 6 B2 body armor (III class of protection) at a range of up to 400 m. The machine gun also had high requirements for silent firing, including automatic fire. It was assumed that for ease of carrying it would have a folding stock; in addition, it would be possible to equip it with various optical sights. Therefore, it was clearly necessary to unify the sniper and machine gun systems in terms of the ammunition used.
20-round magazines for a special AC assault rifle with 10-round clips with 9 x 39 mm special cartridges (from left to right): 7 H12; SP. 6; SP. 5
Based on the new tasks, the designers were able to correctly assess that the 7.62-mm RG037 cartridge bullet would not be able to defeat manpower protected by advanced personal protective equipment. In accordance with this, the requirements for the silent sniper complex themselves were revised.
Therefore, the designers of TsNIITOCHMASH N.V. Zabelin and L.S. Dvoryaninova had to begin work on creating a new 9x39-mm special sniper cartridge SP based on the cartridge case of the 7.62-mm automatic cartridge of the 1943 model. 5 (index 7 N8) with a heavy bullet weighing 16.2 g (with a subsonic initial speed of 290 m/s). This bullet was more than twice as heavy as the 7.62 x 39 mm cartridge from 1943 and almost five times as heavy as the 5.45 x 39 mm machine gun cartridge.
SP cartridge bullet. 5 had a composite core: a steel head (with a truncated top with a diameter of 0.5 mm) and a lead core, rolled into a bimetallic shell. A steel core was placed in its nose to increase the penetrating effect of the bullet. The lead core not only gave the bullet the necessary mass, but also ensured that it would cut into the rifling of the barrel. The pointed ogival shape of the bullet provided it with good ballistic properties when flying at subsonic speeds. Despite the subsonic initial speed, a bullet with such a mass had significant kinetic energy - at departure it was about 60 kgm, and at a distance of 450 m - 45 kgm. This was quite enough to reliably destroy manpower wearing light personal protective equipment. Tests have shown that at a distance of up to 400 m the bullet of the SP cartridge. 5 has enough energy to penetrate a 2-mm steel sheet while maintaining the necessary lethal effect. Weight of SP cartridge. 5–32.2 g, cartridge length – 56 mm, cartridge bullet length – 36 mm.
Distinctive coloring of the bullet of SP cartridges. 5 do not have. Only on the corking cardboard boxes of 10 rounds was the inscription “Sniper” applied.
Already in 1987 new sample special sniper weapon, created on the basis of RG036, and re-barrel for the 9-mm SP cartridge. 5 (known under the code name “Vintorez”), are adopted by special forces units of the KGB of the USSR and reconnaissance and sabotage units of the Soviet Armed Forces under the designation “special sniper rifle” (VSS) index 6 P29.
The new weapon, which is a group means of covert attack and defense, was intended for hitting targets with sniper fire in conditions requiring silent and flameless shooting at open enemy personnel (destruction of enemy command personnel, his reconnaissance groups, observers and sentries), as well as for withdrawal from building surveillance devices, elements of military equipment and destroying unarmored equipment at ranges up to 400 m.
The VSS rifle consisted of: a barrel with a receiver; muffler with sighting devices; butt; bolt frame with gas piston; shutter; return mechanism; impact mechanism; trigger mechanism; forend; gas tube; receiver and magazine covers.
The automation of the VSS sniper rifle worked on the principle of removing powder gases from the barrel. Locking was carried out by rotating the bolt around its axis by 6 lugs. The safety box, located on the right side of the receiver at the same time, covered the groove for the reloading handle, preventing dust and dirt from getting inside. The fire type translator is mounted inside the trigger guard, behind the trigger. When it moves horizontally to the right, single fire is conducted, and when it moves to the left, automatic shooting occurs. The reloading handle is located on the right side of the receiver. Sighting devices consisted of an open sector sight mounted on the muffler body and designed for a firing range of up to 420 m, and a front sight in the muffler. Food was supplied from a plastic box magazine with a double-row arrangement with a capacity of 10 rounds. The butt is a wooden frame type with a rubber butt.
The trigger mechanism of the VSS rifle ensured high firing accuracy with single shots. The striking mechanism with a separate mainspring allowed both single and automatic fire.
Single fire is the main one for the VSS sniper rifle; it is characterized high accuracy. When firing single shots from a prone position from a rest position at a distance of 100 m in a series of 5 shots, R 50 was 4 cm, and at 400 m – R 50–16.5 cm. At the same time, continuous fire in bursts can be used in case of a sudden meeting with the enemy at short distances, or when it becomes necessary to hit a target that is not clearly visible. Taking into account that the magazine capacity of the VSS rifle is only 10 rounds, therefore automatic fire, as a rule, can be carried out in short bursts of 2–4 shots, and in exceptional cases - in one continuous burst until the cartridges in the magazine are used up.
A reduction in the sound of a shot (up to 130 decibels at a distance of 3 meters from the muzzle - corresponds to the sound level when fired from a small-caliber rifle) was achieved along with a special “integrated type” muffler with a powder gas flow separator using the SP sniper cartridge. 5 with optimal ballistic characteristics. The “integrated” silencer made it possible to significantly reduce the overall length of the weapon.
Controls of the VSS sniper rifle
Along with this, the capabilities of the VSS rifle have been significantly expanded by a whole range of sights, both optical and night vision. According to customer's requirement sniper rifles were equipped with various sights: for the KGB - optical daytime 1 P43 (allowing daytime targeted shooting at 400 m) and night unilluminated 1 PN75 (MBNP-1), in the dark, designed for a range of up to 300 m; and for GRU special forces - respectively - daytime PSO-1-1 and PO 4 x34 and night - 1 PN51 (NSPU-3). Especially at the request of the state security authorities, to ensure concealed carrying, the rifle can be disassembled into three units (barrel with a silencer, receiver with a trigger mechanism and butt) and, together with the sight and magazines, is packed in a “Diplomat” type suitcase with dimensions of 450 x 370 x 140 mm, and the time required to transfer the weapon from the transport position to the combat position is no more than one minute.
The VSS rifle kit includes a bag for carrying a sight, four magazines, spare parts, and a bag for carrying the rifle.
After the appearance of the SP cartridge. 6 its use in the VSS sniper rifle made it possible to defeat enemy personnel even at the maximum range of aimed fire, and at a distance of 100 m - in body armor up to protection class II inclusive (according to modern classification), which put it on a par with the most formidable types of infantry small arms.
VSS sniper rifle with a tactical flashlight (top) and a special AS machine gun (bottom) (right view)
In 2000, teachers of the Combined Arms Military Academy named after. Frunze and its branch, the Shot Course, Colonels V.V. Korablin and A.A. Lovi published in the brochure “Modern Small Arms of Russia” a review of the combat use of this weapon, allowing a more complete assessment of the high qualities of the VSS sniper rifle: “Motorized rifle commander company of one of the regiments, operating in 1995 in the mountainous region of Yarysh-Mordy south of Grozny, now Major V.A. Lukashov, from personal experience, considers the VSS a good addition to the standard weapons of motorized rifle units in those conditions. His company operated in isolation from the main forces of the unit and conducted reconnaissance of the enemy with its own forces and means. The company was supplied with several sets of VSS rifles. The commander of the group allocated for reconnaissance - usually the company commander himself or one of the platoon commanders - was armed, in addition to the standard machine gun, with a VSS rifle and carried it on his back on a belt. When during reconnaissance it was necessary to hit an individual target at a distance of up to 400 m, a silent shot from the VSS did not allow the enemy to detect the group. This weapon was also successfully used in other cases that required silent and flameless shooting.”
9-mm SPECIAL AUTOMATIC AS “VAL”
The VSS sniper rifle turned out to be such a successful example of a special small arms weapon that P.I. Serdyukov, at the same time, based on it, is developing another set of silent weapons on the “Val” theme. The new complex included: a special AS assault rifle, which is a modernized version of Vintorez, and a special SP cartridge. 6 with a bullet of increased penetration.
Special AS machine gun with folded butt (left view)
At TsNIITOCHMASH, for the Val automatic complex, designer Yu. Z. Frolov and technologist E. S. Kornilova developed a fundamentally new special cartridge SP. 6 (index 7 N9) with an armor-piercing bullet (with a bare core). This bullet had a higher penetrating effect than the bullet from the SP cartridge. 5. Designed to defeat manpower protected by splinter-proof vests up to protection class III inclusive (according to modern classification), as well as unarmored vehicles at a distance of up to 400 m, it ensured 100% penetration of a 6-mm sheet of special steel at a firing range of 100 m , and at ranges up to 400 m - a 2-mm steel sheet (a steel army helmet (helmet) or a steel sheet 1.6 mm thick and a 25-mm pine board while maintaining a sufficient lethal blocking effect, which is equivalent to the penetrating effect of the American 5.56- mm M16 A1 automatic rifle, 7.62 mm AKM assault rifle and 5.45 mm AK 74.
Ballistic characteristics of SP cartridges. 5 and SP. 6 are close to each other, so both cartridges can be used in weapons with the same scope. Accuracy of SP cartridge bullets. 5 higher than that of SP cartridge bullets. 6.
The design of the bullets, their penetrating effect and ballistics also determined the purpose of these cartridges: for sniper shooting at openly located unprotected personnel, SP cartridges are usually used. 5, and for hitting targets wearing personal protective equipment located in vehicles or behind light shelters - SP cartridges. 6.
SP cartridge bullet. 6 consisted of a steel core, a lead jacket and a bimetallic shell. Due to its design, the bullet of the SP cartridge. 6 had a higher penetrating effect than the SP cartridge bullet. 5. Heavy bullet SP. 6 had a bimetallic shell with a rear cone and a pointed heat-strengthened steel core protruding 6.5 mm (7.5 mm in diameter) in a lead jacket. The steel core of this bullet was significantly longer than that of the SP cartridge bullet. 5. The length of the leading part of the SP bullet. 6 was reduced to 10 mm by a shoulder that formed a cylindrical centering section (9 mm in diameter and 6 mm in length), so the nose of the bullet protruded from the shell. The core had an ogive head and a posterior cone. Bullet weight – 15.6 g. SP cartridge bullet. 6 had a mass of 15.6 g, a core mass of 10.4 g, and a cartridge mass of 32.0 g. The cartridge length was 56 mm, and the bullet length was 41 mm. The tip of the SP cartridge bullet. 6 was painted black. The sealed cardboard boxes for these cartridges were marked with a distinctive black stripe. Later, after the appearance of 9-mm machine gun cartridges with the 7 N12 armor-piercing bullet, the tip of the bullet of the SP cartridge. 6 began to turn blue.
New cartridge SP. 6 received the most flattering reviews from experts. The developers of this cartridge wrote: “The 9-mm cartridge, which has a unique penetrating and damaging effect, will reach your enemy wherever your vision reaches him, simultaneously penetrating any body armor that real person can be worn without outside help. And not too long a burst can cause enough damage to disable a truck, a launcher or a radar.”
Incomplete disassembly of a special automatic machine AC
The AS "Val" assault rifle (index 6 P30) is a personal weapon of covert attack and defense and is designed to hit targets in conditions requiring silent and flameless shooting at protected enemy personnel, as well as at unarmored or lightly armored military equipment.
The AS assault rifle consisted of: a barrel with a receiver; pistol grip and butt; muffler with sighting devices; bolt frame with gas piston; shutter; return mechanism; impact mechanism; trigger mechanism; forend; gas tube; receiver and magazine covers.
The automatics of the AS "Val" assault rifle worked on the principle of removing powder gases from the barrel bore. Locking was also carried out by turning the bolt by 6 lugs. The striker-type trigger mechanism was designed for single and automatic fire. The fire type translator is mounted in the rear of the trigger guard. The safety check box, which prevents a shot if the trigger is accidentally pressed and the barrel is unlocked, is located on the right side of the receiver above the pistol fire control handle. The reloading handle is located on the right side of the receiver. The sighting device consists of an open sight designed for a firing range of up to 420 m and a front sight in the front sight. The cartridges are fed from plastic box magazines with a double-row arrangement and a capacity of 20 cartridges. To speed up the loading of the magazine, the machine comes with clips with a capacity of 10 rounds. Unlike the AK 74 assault rifle, the adapter for attaching the clip to the magazine was assembled with the clip. To reduce the sound level, a special device for silent-flameless shooting of the “integrated type” was used.
The design of the AS assault rifle was 70% unified with the VSS sniper rifle, including the types of sights used. However, the machine gun, unlike the rifle, received a new 20-round magazine (fully interchangeable with the 10-round magazine from VSS) and a metal frame stock that folds onto the left side of the receiver, which made it much more compact and maneuverable. The AS assault rifle is convenient for conducting combat operations in limited areas: in buildings, underground passages, trenches, etc.; when moving in thickets, bushes, boarding and disembarking vehicles; during landing. The AS assault rifle can be used for aimed fire with the butt folded. Like the rifle, the machine gun is equipped with day and night sights.
Special assault rifle AS with optical sight PSO-1–1
The cartridges for the VSS rifle and the AC assault rifle are also interchangeable. Compared to the Vintorez rifle, the Val assault rifle is more suitable for conducting automatic fire at targets protected by body armor at ranges of up to 200 m using the SP cartridge. 6 short bursts of 2–4 shots; against unprotected targets - with the SP cartridge. 5, in tense moments of battle at short distances - in long bursts of 6-8 shots, and if necessary - continuous fire until the cartridges in the magazine are used up. Shooting single targets with single fire is more effective and economical. In all cases, the sound of the shot and the flame are significantly reduced by the silencer, making it difficult for the enemy to determine the shooter's position. In terms of reliability of automatic operation, including in difficult conditions, it is not inferior to the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, and weighs a whole kilogram less, which is extremely important in battle.
The AC machine kit includes a case for carrying the machine; a bag for carrying a scope and a vest for stowing and carrying six magazines; two flares or one flare and a knife; three hand grenades; PSS pistol and a spare magazine for it.
The production of the VSS sniper rifle and the special AS assault rifle was mastered by the Tula Arms Plant.
Special AS machine gun with night sight 1 PN93–1 (right view)
Special-purpose weapons - VSS sniper rifles and special AS assault rifles, which have withstood all the wars and military conflicts of the last thirty years with dignity, deservedly enjoy authority not only in elite special forces units, but also in the Russian Armed Forces. Currently, VSS rifles are used as an additional and very effective weapon in reconnaissance units of parachute and motorized rifle units.
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