The Luger P08 appears to be the sidearm of choice in this film. All executions by pistol are done with Lugers. The Lugers used had to be flashpaper guns, and were likely retained in later scenes for continuity reasons.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingLuger P08 - 9x19mmError creating thumbnail: File missingAn SS-Sturmann executes an ailing woman with a Luger. Note the hose portruding from the bottom of the gun and leading into his sleeve. This is most likely a hose for the gas used to simulate a real muzzle flame.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSame scene at the moment of pulling the trigger. Note that although a prop weapon it still cycles and ejects a case.Error creating thumbnail: File missingGoeth attempts to shoot the rabbi for inefficiency. The pistol misfires at first, and then Goeth removes and checks the magazine, pulls back on the toggle bolt (ejecting a round) and tries to fire again, with the same result. Barring an act from God, there's probably something wrong with the firing pin (as speculated by Goeth's men.)Error creating thumbnail: File missingGoeth executes one of twenty-five men to warn against future escape attempts. Notice the weird muzzle-flash, indicating that these are probably flash paper guns.
Walther P38
A Walther P38 is only seen in one scene, when Goeth has to dig up and then burn the bodies from the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto. One of his men, Oberscharführer Albert Hujar (Norbert Weisser) who was also a historical figure, is severly affected by the spectable, screaming and firing into the mass of burning corpses.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWalther P38 pistol (manufactured at the Mauser Factory) - World War Two dated - 9x19mmError creating thumbnail: File missingAlbert Hujar (Norbert Weisser) fires into the mass of burning corpses. Unlike the flash paper guns, the gun he fires looks like a genuine item. Albeit he is most likely firing blanks.
CZ 27
During the scene where Goeth tries to execute Rabbi Lewartow for not making enough hinges, his Luger keeps misfiring. Goeth takes out a CZ 27, which will not fire either. He has to settle for pistol whipping the rabbi with the CZ 27.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingCzech CZ 27 - 7.65mm. When Germany took over Czechoslovakia, all production and stores of Czech weapons were immediately commandeered by the German Armed Forces.Error creating thumbnail: File missingGoeth pulls a CZ 27 pistol from his pocket after his Luger misfires. It's surprising that a concentration camp commander would feel the need to have a backup pistol.Error creating thumbnail: File missingGoeth is frustrated that his backup pistol won't finish the job either. He repeatedly racks the slide, but no rounds are ejected. Though during production, the pistol was probably just unloaded, in reality, having bent feed lips (perhaps by dropping the loaded magazine) will keep rounds in the magazine but not let the first one ride high enough to be picked up by the bolt face. This is a common problem with damaged magazines. Since Goeth would not make a novice mistake of not noticing that his own pistol is unloaded, "Failure to feed due to deformation of the feed lips" is probably what was being portrayed in the film.Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Unknown revolver
In a quick editing mistake, the CZ27 is exchanged for a large revolver. Goeth drops it on the pavement when he walks away. This handgun is much too big to have come out of Goeth's pocket. It is possible that it is a Nagant M1895.
A company of Wehrmacht troops is seen marching through Krakow and several NCO's are carrying the Haenel-Schmeisser MP28/II. In 1939 both the Wehrmacht (Regular Army) and the Waffen SS (Armed wing of the Nazi Party) had not yet been fully equipped with the MP28's successors (MP38 and MP40).
Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) uses a Steyr Mannlicher-Schoenauer fitted with a scope to kill prisoners in the labor camp. Spielberg shot this whole scene, (Goeth without a shirt shooting prisoners in the morning), from the testimonies of living witnesses and a series of photographs of Goeth shirtless with his rifle. The historical photographs, though, shows him with an unscoped regular Karabiner 98k.
An anachronistic MG42 makes an appearance. The MG42 was not available in 1939 when the scene takes place. The MG42's first combat experience was in May 1942 in Tunisia against the British.
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