To recreate the battlefield "authentically", the Soviets bulldozed away two hills, laid five miles of roads, transplanted 5,000 trees, sowed fields of rye, barley and wildflowers and reconstructed four historic buildings. To create the mud, more than six miles of underground irrigation piping was specially laid. Most of the battle scenes were filmed using five Panavision cameras simultaneously – from ground level, from 100-foot towers, from a helicopter, and from an overhead railway built right across the location. The battle reportedly cost $5 million of the $25 million budget. It was the largest battlefield ever used for a film.
To recreate the battlefield "authentically" the Soviets bulldozed away two hills laid five miles of roads transplanted 5000 trees sowed fields of rye barley and wildflowers and reconstructed four historic buildings To create the mud more than six miles of underground irrigation piping was specially laid Most of the battle scenes were filmed using five Panavision cameras simultaneously – from ground level from 100-foot towers from a helicopter and from an overhead railway built right across the location The battle reportedly cost $5 million of the $25 million budget It was the largest battlefield ever used for a film