Many large-scale Soviet cinematic epics were made possible only with the help of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The military assisted film studios with consultants, necessary props, and of course, extras. For example, for the filming of "Liberation: The Fire Bulge" in 1967, the Soviet Army provided dozens of T-34 tanks and BM-13 "Katyusha" rocket launchers, hundreds of Soviet rifles from the wartime period, captured German firearms, and several thousand servicemen. Collaboration with filmmakers was sometimes very stressful for the Ministry of Defense. The military had their own combat training standards, and the constant "kidnapping" of soldiers and equipment by film studios for their needs hindered their fulfillment. The Soviet Army worked most successfully with director Sergei Bondarchuk. Up to 18,000 soldiers and officers participated in the filming of "War and Peace." The generals were pleased with the battle scenes and the fact that not a single soldier was injured. It was during the filming of "War and Peace" that a military unit appeared whose only task was to star in films. Until its disbandment in 2002, the 11th Separate Cavalry Regiment played roles in dozens of films and series, including "White Sun of the Desert" and "Midshipmen, Forward!" At the same time, the Soviet Army did not only appear in historical projects. In "In the Zone of Special Attention" and "Response," soldiers played themselves – these action films were dedicated to the exercises of the Soviet Armed Forces. Not everything that was filmed back then could be shown to the general public. For security reasons, some of the footage was destroyed.