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Battle of the Bulge

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Battle of the Bulge (1965)

Battle of the Bulge is the 1965 World War II film that focuses on the events of the famous battle that occurred during the German winter offensive of 1944. As was customary for World War II films of the time, this film features an all-star cast including Henry Fonda, Telly Savalas, Charles Bronson, and Robert Shaw.

The production was filmed in Spain, which provided a large amount of armor and weaponry (sometimes anachronistic). Despite the several impressive tank battle sequences, the film has an end title that states many of the events and characters in the film were heavily "synthesized" to capture the "essence" of the battle.


The following weapons were used in the film Battle of the Bulge:


Rifles and Carbines

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand is carried by numerous US soldiers throughout the film.

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M1 Garand semiautomatic Rifle with leather M1917 sling - .30-06
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Lt. Col. Dan Kiley (Henry Fonda) takes aim with the M1 Garand. Note the absence of a rear sight.
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German infiltrators disguised as US troops surprise Col. Hessler (Robert Shaw). The Garand is carried by several infiltrators.
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US Troops with their M1 Garand rifles retreat from oncoming German armor.
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Several US Troops fire their M1 Garand rifles at escaping German tankers.
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In a restored scene, a young boy is seen using an M1 Garand to take a shot at Col. Hessler.

M1C Garand

An M1C Garand fitted with a scope is in the hands of Sgt. Duquesne (George Montgomery).

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M1C Sniper Variant with M82 scope - .30-06
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Sgt. Duquesne (George Montgomery) with the scoped Garand.
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Sgt. Duquesne (George Montgomery) shoots the sniper rifle.

M1 Carbine

The M1 Carbine is seen briefly held by a German infiltrator disguised as a US soldier. M1 Carbines are also carried by US troops as well. The majority of these carbines are of the anachronistic Korean War era.

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Korean War Era M1 Carbine, with Birch Stock, Adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch - .30 Carbine. Most of the World War II variations of the M1 Carbine were sent back to the Military Arsenals and retrofitted with the Bayonet Lug and adjustable rear sight. This is the version seen after late 1945 and all the way until the 1960s. This version is seen most often in World War II movies, despite being anachronistic for most World War II battles
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German infiltrators disguised as US troops surprise Col. Hessler (Robert Shaw). The M1 Carbine is carried by the infiltrator on the left.
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Kiley (Henry Fonda) carries the M1 Carbine (fitted with the anachronistic bayonet lug).

Sturmgewehr 44

A Sturmgewehr 44 is seen in the hands of Lt. Weaver (James MacArthur) taken from a captured German soldier and this is the rifle examined by Lt. Col. Kiley (Henry Fonda) and Col. Pritchard (Dana Andrews).

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Sturmgewehr 44 7.92x33mm
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Col. Pritchard (Dana Andrews) examines the Sturmgewehr 44.

Karabiner 98k

German infantry is seen armed with Karabiner 98k rifles throughout the film.

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Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser
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German troops carry the Karabiner 98k rifle.
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German infantry is seen armed with Karabiner 98k rifles throughout the film

Submachine Guns

M3 Grease Gun

The M3 Grease Gun is the most common submachine gun carried by US troops in the film and is seen in the hands of Sgt. Duquesne (George Montgomery), Wolenski (Charles Bronson), and Lt. Col. Dan Kiley (Henry Fonda).

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M3 "Grease Gun" - .45 ACP
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Sgt. Duquesne (George Montgomery) holding an M3 Grease Gun as he inspects the battlefield with Lt. Weaver (James MacArthur).
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Lt. Col. Dan Kiley (Henry Fonda) fires Wolenski's Grease Gun.
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Schumacher (Ty Hardin), one of the Germans disguised as an American MP, opens fire with the Grease Gun.

Sten Mk II

A Sten Mk II can briefly be seen being carried by an American soldier.

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Sten Mk II Submachine gun - 9x19mm
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The Sten is carried by the soldier climbing into the truck.

MAT-49

What appear to be MAT-49 submachine guns are carried by US troops guarding artillery at the rail yard. These particular SMG's weren't introduced until after the war.

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MAT-49 Submachine Gun - 9x19mm
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What appear to be MAT-49 submachine guns are carried by US troops guarding artillery at the rail yard.

MP40

The MP40 is used by German forces as well as by Lt. Weaver (James MacArthur).

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MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm
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Lt. Weaver (James MacArthur) holds an MP40. This appears to be a continuity error as he took this off the German infiltrator Schumaker (Ty Hardin), who had been carrying an M3 Grease Gun.
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Lt. Weaver (James MacArthur) fires the MP40 at escaping German tankers.

Machine Guns

Browning M2HB

The Browning M2HB can be seen mounted atop American M24 Chafee tanks and American half-tracks. These half-tracks are also depicted as German vehicles.

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Browning M2HB - .50 BMG
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An M24 Chaffee tank has the Browning M2 mounted on the turret.
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On the right, the US half-track has the Browning M2 mounted in the turret.
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The Browning M2 is mounted atop the half-track painted to resemble a German vehicle.

Browning M1919A4 Machine Gun

Browning M1919A4 are seen mounted on the American M24 Chaffee tanks and is fired handheld by Sgt. Guffy (Telly Savalas). US troops fighting against German armor also use M1919A4's.

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Browning M1919A4 - .30-06
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Closeup of the M1919A4 forward mounted on a German tank.
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Closeup of the M1919A4 forward mounted on an American M24 Chaffee tank.
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Sgt. Guffy (Telly Savalas) firing the M1919A4 handheld.
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US troops fighting against German armor also use M1919A4's.

MG42

An MG42 is used by German troops at the Malmedy Massacre.

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MG42 Machine Gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser
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A German machine gunner prepares his MG42 during the infamous event.

Handguns

Colt M1911A1

What appear to be the Colt M1911A1 is seen in the holster of US officers and used by Lt. Weaver (James MacArthur). It is also possible that some of these are really Star Model B pistols, as the 1911 had troubles firing blanks in vintage films, and the movie was filmed in Spain, so it would be available.

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Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP
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Lt. Weaver (James MacArthur) has his M1911 out as they observe the oncoming German offensive.
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Lt. Weaver (James MacArthur) holds his M1911.

Walther P38

A Walther P38 is seen carried by German tankers including Colonel Hessler (Robert Shaw).

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Walther P38 pistol (manufactured at the Mauser Factory) - World War II dated - 9x19mm
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On the right, the Walther P38 is seen pulled by one of Hessler's men in a restored scene.

Other

Spanish M-65 Rocket Launcher

Wolenski (Charles Bronson) uses an Spanish M-65 Rocket Launcher with a blast shield to damage a German Tiger Tank. The upgraded bazookas were provided by the Spanish Army, which supported several war films and television series made in Spain in the late 1960s.

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Spanish M65 Rocket Launcher 88.9mm
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Wolenski (Charles Bronson) fires the Bazooka using the shoulder of Lt. Col. Kiley (Henry Fonda).
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The Bazooka fired.

M7 rifle grenade launcher

The M7 Rifle Grenade Launcher is seen fitted to several M1 Garand rifles.

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M7 rifle grenade launcher
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Rifle grenades preparing to be used by Sgt. Duquesne (George Montgomery) and several other soldiers. The mounted grenade is not a WW2-era device, instead being a Spanish Instalaza M61 HEAT grenade from the 1960s.
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Wolenski shows a soldier how to properly plant and fire the launcher. At full size it can be seen the launcher has deep ridges: this is a 1950s M7A3 rather than a period M7.

Mk II hand grenade

Mk II Hand Grenades are carried by US troops. Kiley tosses one into the turret of a German tank.

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Mk 2 Hand Grenade
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Kiley tosses a Mk II grenade into the turret of a German tank.
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A paratrooper on the left at Bastogne carries hand grenades.

Trivia

M47 Patton

The tanks used in the film to represent the German Tigers are in reality anachronistic US made M47 Pattons.

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German "Tigers" advance through the forest.
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Col. Hessler looks out of the cupola as the tigers advance.
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The tigers move into US territory along with a US M3 halftrack which is most likely standing in for a Sd.Kfz. 251.
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The tigers clash with the US tanks during the climatic tank battle. This battle is a highly "Hollywooded" version of the Battle of Celles where in reality, the German tanks were already stranded and out of fuel.

M24 Chaffee

The M24 Chaffee is the tank widely seen in the film as the primary tank of American forces. While the M24 was introduced into the war at around this time, the more prevalent tank used by the US during this battle was the M4 Sherman.

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The M24's clash with the German tigers. While the M24 is a World War II era tank, it was not as prominently seen as depicted in the film.