Don't mess with german paratrooper

[Krusher]

Originally posted by Dowding
Cross of Iron by Willi Heinrich really opened my eyes to the plight of the German soldier, especially on the Eastern Front. But the cause they fought for and the atrocities committed along the way (even when they were winning), means I'll never admire them.

When I watch Das Boot I get the same feeling of ambivalence. I want to like these people, but I can never forget the acts committed by the regime their actions were supporting. The horror of watching Schindler's List still affects me, to be frank. Some of the imagery in that film is very powerful.

A German 'Band of Brothers', like an extended Cross of Iron, would be good.

I have not seen that one, but DAS BOOT gave a hair raising look at German sub crews

[Animal]

Originally posted by StSanta
I think Band Of Brothers would look like a walk in the park compared to a story about some German forces.

Outnumbered, always attacked, never enough backup, idiotic orders from the top.

And then the atrocities committed by the troops.

It sure would be an ambivalent film. For one, one cannot ignore the hardships and personal bravery of these men - just as brave as the Americans. But one cannot consider their struggle worthy, and cannot help to be disgusted by the atrocities they committed.

The US population likes black and white films where the hero and bad guys are well defined. I doubt a film like this would be made by Americans. [/I]

Thats not Band of Brothers.
In the series the Germans are not protrayed as the evil people. They are just like the American boys but on the other side. In fact, more atrocities are done by the GIs in the series than by Germans that you can watch in the series.
There is a scene in which one of the GI talks to a German POW and realized that the German soldier is actually an American who grew up in a town close to him, but was forced back to Germany by his parents to answer the call of the homeland.
Right then after, American soldiers apparently commit a crime of war.

In the end after the war is over, you can see GIs talking and cooperating with German soldiers at roadblocks like normal aquaintances.

There is one very emotional episode in which the valor and romanticism of the German soldier is portrayed, as one GI aspires to have a white flower in his uniform, which was carried by the bravest German soldiers.

I too would love to see something about the German soldiers made by the people of Band of Brothers, but its so much easier to do a film about the GIs because its much better documented and it seems there are many more survivors.

Is there a book similar to Band of Brothers about the Germans? I would love to read that.

[Batz]

Combat in the east especially near the end of the war hasnt been "retold" in film. From just reading "historical" accounts theres very little human feel to it.

Das Boot put this "feeling" out there. Just watching it gave you a sense of being there (I dont mean "reality" because this we could never know).

Stalingrad was similiar. So was Cross of Iron but there was an under pinning of an "anti-war" message. Something deeper then just the "re-telling". They were great movies.

Our lack of understanding and inner rejection of everything we heard from 'up there' or 'back home' lead us to accept only one last 'Heimat,' one final homeland. That was our unit, our 'little heap' of men.

A movie that captures that type of feel would be good. Just dont expect one from an American Studio. Maybe a polish or Czech film maker.

[davidpt40]

Jeeze that guy is lucky to be alive after all of those jumps into dangerous places.  I'm sure hes probably seen more combat than most people.

[blitz]

Hey folks,

sure german paratroops was kind of special service. And sure they commited warcrimes.
He told me that they didn't make priosoners on several occassions and so did their enemies.
He was send to sibirian leadmine because he was involved in search and destroy missions against russian terrorists ( for me they were freedom fighters).

I don't admire him for what he did in the past, bet he killed some thousand people eye to eye as he was gunner 1 with an MG42.

Quote:' On some occassions the russians run against us with only every third had a rifle, rest had wooden sticks only '

I like him because he's no bonehead, he had rethought the time over and over, he hates the nazis and war in general and paid hard for what he was involved in with very little chance to say 'NO'.

Regards Blitz

[TWOLF]

A couple of media forms present the aspect of German troops (not Nazi's) during the war.

Cross of Iron: Movie with James Coburn **** imho.  There is a German version with English subtitles, and an English version.

Das Boot: Movie, Same producer as The Perfect Storm.  The book was released 1st, and I recommend that it should be read first.

And Finally a book.  The Forgotten Soldier.  I don't remember the Author's name, but he was from Sarlund (South Western Germany) which was part of France after the treaty of Versailles.  His father was German, and his mother French, so he joined the German army in 1940 in hopes of becoming a pilot.  He washed out, and went through training in Poland as an infantrymen.  He was assigned to the Gross Deutchland Division on the Eastern Front and served there until his capture in 1945. One of the most remarkable martial stories that I have ever read.  If I can find a link to the book then I will edit this post with it.
  I think I still have it, so I will edit with the Author's name when I get off of work.

edit:  Here's the link to the book.  Guy Sajer is the Author's name.
http://www.brasseysinc.com/Books/1574882864.htm

[Montezuma]

This is a very good read.  He wasn't an elite anything, just a young German in bad times.

Anecdotes From My Early Life

[Rockstar]

Paratrooper with some big ol' baggy drawers and a Brit Sten.

[StSanta]

Aye Animal, wasn't referring to BoB with that last comment - more like mainstream American Hollywwod film. Think Independence Day, Rambo and the like.

BoB was remarkably objective - and I dinnae think Mr. Teddy Bear productions would have the tummy to tell a war story like that.

Am slowly buying all the episodes on DVD. Now if I only could get hold of 'Piece a Cake', that'd be good.

[Grendel]

Originally posted by wulfie

I'd love to see a version of 'Band of Brothers' dealing with a German unit, a Japanese unit, a Finnish unit, a Russian unit, etc.
Mike/wulfie

Wulfie,

You're in luck.

That's exactly what is currently in pre production phase here in Finland.

Of course not Band of Brothers, just better and more realistic. Knock on the wood, at least.

Ah, found a reference.

Two movies.

"We intend to create two movies, that take place during the massive offensive of the Red Army in summer 1944 and the defensive victories, that effected the whole history of Scandinavia."

The movie project is supported by the Finnish politics leadership, defence forces and the veteran associations. The protector of the movie project is the ex president Mauno Koivisto, a WW2 veteran himself.

The first movie, "Framom främsta linjen - Etulinjan edessä" (in the front of the front lines) concentrates on the moments of destiny of Infantry Regiment 61, Swedish speaking unit, from the stationary front line of Syväry through the retreat phase and the critical defensive battles of Tienhaara. The main roles represent the iron hard general major Alpo Marttinen and the ranger Harry Järvi operating behind the enemy lines.

- The second movie, "Tali-Ihantala 1944" is a national epic hwo Finland was saved, Stefan Forss tells.
-  It tells a truthful story about the young boys, who were sent into hell.

The movie approaches the massive battle of Tali-Ihantala from personal perspective. The movie culminates in the "miracle of Ihantala", Ihantalan ihme, the defensive victory of the Finnish jaegers. The new film contains also parts of real WW2 combat footage from the exaxtly same battles.

The first movie begins filming this winter and it  comes to theaters n January 2004.

Lindman promises that the movie will be very "heavy sounding" - because the promiment role of the field artillery in the historical battles.

- We haven't had any need to lie in the script - the reality has enough dramatism already, Zilliacus adds.