Ernst Thälmann - Leader of his Class Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse
Movie Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
Ernst Thälmann
Günther Simon
Fiete Jansen
Hans-Peter Minetti
Änne Jansen
Karla Runkehl
Robert Dirhagen
Paul R. Henker
Wilhelm Pieck
Hans Wehrl
Walter Ulbricht
Karl Brenk
Wilhelm Florin
Gerd Wehr
Ernst Thälmann - Leader of his Class is a 1955 East-German movie directed by Kurt Maetzig. The second part covers the period from 1930 until Thälmann's assassination in 1944. It shows Thälmann's struggle for the united front of the German workers against the National Socialists, his arrest after Hitler's seizure of power, and the eleven years of imprisonment in which he remains steadfast until his death. An attempt by the comrades to liberate him fails and Thälmann rejects a corrupting offer of freedom by Göring. And he has to witness how his brave fellow fighter Änne Jansen is killed in a bomb attack in the women's prison across the street. Änne's husband Fiete Jansen, who was already at Thälmann's side as a friend and fighter in the first part, becomes the second supporting figure of the film. As commander of the Thälmann Battalion, he fights for the people's cause in Spain and later in the ranks of the Red Army for a quick end to the fascist war.
The following weapons were used in the film Ernst Thälmann - Leader of his Class :
Pistols
Luger P08
Luger P08 pistols are used by German police, SS guards, and some soldiers. Obersturmbanführer Quadde (Werner Peters ) is briefly seen with a P08 during an attempt to free Thälmann
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Police officers pulls out his Luger pistol at a roadblock.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same policeman gives signal withhis piostol to withdraw.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing After the plan to free Thälmann was exposed, the communist in disguise shots at the prison window.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The German General (Frithjof Ruede surrenders his Luger to the Russians.
FN Model 1922
Fiete Jansen (Hans-Peter Minetti ) is seen leading a charge with an FN Model 1922 during the Spanish Civil War.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing FN Model 1922 - .32 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fiete holds his FN pistol.
Submachine Guns
PPSh-41
Most Soviet Soldiers are armed with PPSh-41 submachine guns, as well, Fiete Jansen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PPSh-41 Submachine Gun with 71-round drum magazine - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fiete Jansen carries a PPSh during the deployment of the Soviet battalion "Ernst Thälmann".
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Closer view of the front barrel and sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing He looks after the rolling out tanks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet soldier on the right guards captured SS officers including arrogant Quadde.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soviet soldiers preparing a BM-13 Katyusha rocket launcher have PPSh with 25-round magazines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A partisan with his PPSh-41 over his back.
PPS-43
Some PPS-43 are also seen wield by Red Army soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PPS-43 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier sitting in the middle has PPS-43.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same tank reached the German HQ, note the two soldiers with the SMGs.
Rifles
Mauser Model 1889/36
The most seen rifle is the Belgian Mauser 1889 /36 which is first used by Berlin police forces in 1930.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Belgian 1889 Mauser Carbine - 7.65x53mm Mauser, for comparision.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Belgian Mauser Model 1935 - 7.65x53mm, for comparision.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A farmer struggles with a policeman's Mauser. The striking magazine is seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A view of the front sights.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Left view of one Mauser held by a police officer.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A fighter of the Spanish International Brigade fires his Belgian rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The young German soldiers fires his Mauser at an SS officer.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Note the typical "ear" protectors.
Mauser Gewehr 1898M
Two SA (Sturmabtelung ) men are seen with Gewehr 98 M rifles while guarding arrested communists after the Reichstag Fire Decree of February 28, 1933. Contrary to what is portrayed in the film, it was only one communist, Dutch Marinus van der Lubbe, who set fire to the Reichstag building on February 27 and not a planned action by Hitler. However, this was a welcome opportunity for Nazi propaganda to crackdown on leftists.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898M - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing One SA henchmen brandishes his Gewehr. Despite the long bolt handle, this rifle has a notch for a turned-down one.
Karabiner 98k
The Karabiner 98k is briefly seen in the hands of German soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Note the side-mounted sling slot and turned-down bolt handle.
Gewehr 1888/05
What appears to be a Gewehr 1888/05 is briefly seen held by a guard at a barracks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gewehr 1888/05 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier in center.
Karabiner 1888
A liberated KZ prisoner has a Karabiner 1888 over his shoulder.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 1888 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
File:ErnstThälmannLeader-Kar88-1.jpg The man in the foreground left carries the Kar 88 over his back. Note the muzzle and hole in the magazine's bottom.
Mosin Nagant
Some Red Army soldiers are also armed with Mosin Nagant Rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldiers next to Fiete.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of a Mosin-Nagant on the right.
Lebel 1886
Some Spanish Republican fighters can be seen with French rifles that appear to be Lebel 1886s .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lebel Model 1886 - 8x50mmR Lebel
Error creating thumbnail: File missing One fighter chambers a round on his rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another Republican charges with his rifle equipped with a “Rosalie” bayonet.
Unknown Rifle
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The not so straight magazine matches a Steyr-type rifle but the rest part to a Kar 88 with straight bolt-handle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same rifle on the far left.
Assault Rifles
Sturmgewehr 44
The Sturmgewehr 44 is the second most used rifle by German soldiers and liberated prisoners.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sturmgewehr 44 - 7.92x33mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier with an M35 Stahlhelm in camouflage holds his STG.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A happy KZ prisoner celebrates with his Soviet liberators.
MKb 42(H)
At the end of the movie, two prison guards of the KZ Buchenwald are armed with MKb 42(H) assault rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sport Systeme Dittrich reproduction of the Haenel MKb 42(H) - 7.92x33mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Guard :"Guess you know what comes next! " Thälmann :"Yes! A better Germany! "
Machine Guns
MG34
German soldiers use MG34s .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MG34 with front and rear sights folded down - 7.92x57mm Mauser.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An MG34 behind its dead user on the Eastern Front.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An SS officers opens fire at three incoming Soviet parliamentaries.
MG42
Two MG42s are transported by prisoners.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MG42 Light Machine Gun 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The MG42s carried in the background.
Maxim MG 08
One Maxim MG08 is seen among the smuggled in weapons for the prisoners.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The spade grips of the Maxim are seen behind the PPShs.
Launchers
Panzerfaust
Some Landser s are seen with Panzerfausts .
Panzerfaust 30 - 44mm with 140mm warhead
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Panzerschreck
A single Panzerschreck , that appears to be a mock-up, is carried by one German soldier.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing RPzB 54 "Panzerschreck" rocket launcher - 88mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Other
15cm sFH 18
Various schwere Feldhaubitzen 18 can be seen at a weapons factory.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing sFH 18 howitzer displayed at CFB Borden Military Museum, Ontario, Canada - 150mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing