Death is My Trade Aus einem deutschen Leben
Movie Poster
Country
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Directed by
Theodor Kotulla
Release Date
November 17, 1977
Language
Germanh
Studio
Iduna Film Produktiongesellschaft
Distributor
Filmverlag der Autoren
Main Cast
Character
Actor
Franz Lang
Kai Taschner /Götz George
Else Lang
Elisabeth Schwarz
Heinrich Himmler
Hans Korte
Oberst von Jeseritz
Kurt Hübner
Adolf Eichmann
Walter Czaschke
Obersturmführer Setzler
Claus-Dieter Reents
Constant Sandrail
Nicolas Giraud
Death is My Trade Götz George . The adaptation of the script is based on the 1952 French novel La mort est mon métier by Robert Merle. Like the novel, the film is based on interrogation transcripts from the trial of Rudolf Höß, SS officer and commandant of the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp, as well as on his autobiographical notes, which he wrote while in British custody and, after his extradition, in Polish custody in 1946/47 before he was executed as a convicted war criminal. Instead of the name Rudolf Höß, on whose biography the plot is based, the pseudonym Franz Lang is used in the film following an anonymizing intention. The real Rudolf Höß had initially gone into hiding under this name after the Second World War as a supposed boatmate until he was unmasked and arrested in 1946.
The following weapons were used in the film Death is My Trade :
Handguns Luger P08 Franz Lang (Götz George ) owns a Luger P08 which he referred to as a "Mauser Pistole". The pistol is also held by Siebert (Wilfried Elste).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Franz holds the uncovered Luger. The magazine is seen lying beneath it. Error creating thumbnail: File missing After inserting the magazine he moves the toggle-action. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Luger in the hand of Siebert as a symbol of his offer. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Having accepted the offer Franz aims the Luger. Rast & Gasser 1898 A Rast & Gasser 1898 is used by Franz Lang.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rast & Gasser Modell 1898 - 8x27mm Gasser Error creating thumbnail: File missing Franz draws the Rast & Gasser... Error creating thumbnail: File missing ...and shoots the injured communist spy. Colt M1911A1 A US MP has a Colt M1911A1 in his holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing The MP escorts Franz Lang to the interrogation. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The end of the grip is visible in the white holster. Submachine Guns MP 40 Some Waffen SS soldiers are armed with MP40s .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maschinenpistole 40 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing An SS soldier which appears to be a Rottenführer (Corporal) watches working KZ inmates with his MP 40. Judging by the slab-sided magazine well this is the earlier variant. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another SS guard carries a late variant with a ribbed magazine well. Rifles Karabiner 98k The Karabiner 98k is widely used throughout the movie by German soldiers including Becker (uncredited), Schrader (Peter Franke), and Schmitz (Hermann Günther). Its appearance in 1917 during the First World War is clearly an anachronism, in addition, it is the late WWII variant and in the scenes set from 1941 onwards, it can only be seen from afar being carried by SS soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k with S84/98 bayonet - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers including young Franz (Kai Taschner) and Schrader resting with their carbines next to them. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Franz holds Schrader at gunpoint. Note the protected front sight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close-up of a Karabiner eqipped with an S84/98 bayonet held by a Freikorps Roßbach member in 1919. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of Franz's Kar98k after firing. The white painted swastika on his Stahlhelm M16 was a sign of a warlike appearance for some Freikorps paramilitaries. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A smoking SS guard holds his Karabiner in a courtyard in Auschwitz. Mauser Gewehr 1898 A full-length Mauser rifle is briefly seen in a gun rack which appears to be a Gewehr 98 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing The long Mauser rifle can be seen next to opened door next to SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) Franz Land and Obersturmführer (First lieutenant) Setzler (Claus-Dieter Reents ). Note the longer barrel compared to the Kar98ks next to it. Machine Guns Maxim MG 08 A Maxim MG08 is used by Becker (uncredited) and Schmitz (Hermann Günther).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG 08 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing The unused Maxim among resting soldiers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Becker and Schmitz pick the machine gun up to transport it. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The squad with the deployed Maxim in a trench. In this picture, the different tasks of a German MG crew can be seen well: The Unteroffizier (Corporal) observes the action, gunner 3 loads the belt into the gun, gunner 2 fires it, and the first gunner has constant eye contact with the officer to pass on his orders. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A view of the left side while firing. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Schmitz now acts as the second gunner. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Schmitz carries the Maxim. Error creating thumbnail: File missing After returning to Hauptmann (Captain) Günther (Siegurd Fitzek) exhausted Franz lies next to the Maxim which offers a view of the right ride. Hand Grenades Model 24 Stielhandgranate Three German soldiers are seen with anachronistic Model 24 Stielhandgranates standing in for the Model 17 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Model 24 Stielhandgranate Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier next to the Maxim, the one above the ammunition, and the one who in turn above him have the stick grenades. 
