Westfront 1918
Movie Poster
Country
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Directed by
Georg Wilhelm Pabst
Release Date
May 23, 1930
Language
French
Studio
Bavaria Film
Distributor
Vereinigte Star-Film GmbH
Main Cast
Character
Actor
The Bavarian
Fritz Kampers
Karl
Gustav Diessl
The Student
Hans-Joachim Moebis
The Lieutenant
Claus Clausen
Westfront 1918 is a 1930 German anti-war film that tells the story of four German soldiers on the western front in France in World War One. The Bavarian sees the war primarily as an adventure. The Student experiences his first great love with the Frenchwoman Yvette. Their superior, the Lieutenant, knows only one thing, namely duty fulfillment. When Karl, the fourth in the league, returns to the front after a home leave in which he surprises his wife with another man in bed, the four fall victim to their fate.
The movie was based on the novel Vier von der Infanterie by Ernst Johannsen, which was also the German subtitle, and was released before All Quiet on the Western Front
The following weapons were used in the film Westfront 1918 :
Handguns Ruby A French soldier can be seen with a Ruby pistol during a trench raid.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Garate, Anitua y Cia Ruby-Type Pistol - .32 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing The French soldier storming the German trench holding the pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The French soldiers start falling back after taking a German prisoner. Rifles Mauser Gewehr 1898 The Mauser Gewehr 1898 is the standard weapon for the German infantry in the movie including the Bavarian (Fritz Kampers ), Karl (Gustav Diessl ) and the Student (Hans-Joachim Moebis ). During the last charge, German soldiers were seen advancing with G98s with fixed Seitengewehr 98/05 bayonets.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German artillery runner with a slung forward G98 awaits orders. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The squad looks at the returned Student while cleaning their rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karl puts his rifle on the ground as he comes home. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Later Karl looks at his wife and the butcher with his Mauser in his hands. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He chambers his Gewehr while taking aim at the butcher (Carl Ballhaus ). Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Bavarian fires the rifle at advancing French soldiers. Mauser Gewehr 1871 Many Mauser Gewehr 1871 are seen in the German artillery bunker and in the hands of French and German soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1871 - 11x60mmR.. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The rifles behind the Meal Orderly (Vladimir Sokoloff ) in a bunker. Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers in a parade marches with Gewehr 1871. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The French soldier taking cover behind a tank carries the rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same rifle shows the rear part. Error creating thumbnail: File missing During close-combat, a French armed with a Mauser gets hit by an artillery shell. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A promotional picture of the hospital. The Mauser is seen on the left next to the sitting officer. Chassepot Mle. 1866 The majority of French soldiers are seen armed with old single-shot Chassepot 1866 rifles, recognizable by the smooth receiver that differentiates it from the improved Gras Model 1874 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chassepot Fusil modèle 1866 - 11mm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing French soldiers fleeing from the approaching poison gas attack Note the upside-down held rifle on the left offers a view of the smooth receiver. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A slightly different view of the same Chassepot shows the rest of the gun. Lebel Mle. 1886 A Lebel 1886 rifle can also briefly seen near a trench.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lebel Mle. 1886 - 8x50Rmm Error creating thumbnail: File missing The unused Lebel is seen lying on the ground to the right. Machine Guns Maxim MG 08/15 A Maxim MG08/15 is used by German soldiers. Karl briefly fires the gun before he gets wounded.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG08/15 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers prepare the position for the Maxim. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The MG team repel the French attack. Hotchkiss M1914 A Hotchkiss M1914 Machine Gun is mounted on a French tank.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1914 Hotchkiss Machine Gun with tripod - 8x50mmR Lebel / 7.92x57mm Mauser / 11mm Gras Error creating thumbnail: File missing A promotional picture of the two tanks with actors fraternizing. The right tank has the Hotchkiss. Hand Grenades Model 17 Stielhandgranate German soldiers use correct Model 17 Stielhandgranates (Identifiable by the belt clip and star-shaped screw cap). The Lieutenant (Claus Clausen ) is seen with a bundle before the counterattack.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Model 17 Stielhandgranate Error creating thumbnail: File missing Some M17s lying on the edge of the German trench during the trench raid. Error creating thumbnail: File missing While in No Man's Land, the Student tries to throw a Model 17 Stielhandgranate. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Bavarian carries three M17s on his belt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another unused grenade on the left. Model 16 Stielhandgranate Some older Model 16 Stielhandgranates are also used by German soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Model 16 Stielhandgranate Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Model 16 lies in the middle between the two soldiers. Model 1914 Ball Grenade Model 1914 Ball Grenades are used by French soldiers during the trench raid.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Model 1914 ball grenade without fuse. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The two French soldiers to the left and right hold Ball Grenades. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Ball Grenade thrown in front of the Maxim position (between the broken tree trunks). Other French Tank The French army use tanks that are mockup from a Schneider CA1 and a Renault FT-17.
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