The Battle of the Rails (La bataille du rail)
Original Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
"Athos"
Lucien Desagneaux
"Camargue"
Tony Laurent
Station master
Robert Leray
Lampin
Jean Clarieux
German railwayman
André Miller
Saint André Station master
Léon Pauléon
The Battle of the Rails La bataille du rail ) is a French 1946 war movie directed by René Clément . It depicts the activities of Résistance-Fer , French resistance group on railroads during the German occupation.
The following weapons were used in the film The Battle of the Rails (La bataille du rail) :
Handguns Luger P08 Luger P08 pistols are used by both German troops and French Resistance fighters.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A French railwayman holds a Luger. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The leader of Resistance group (in center) with a Luger in hand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German officer holds a Luger. M1911A1 What appears to be an M1911A1 pistol is seen in hands of a Resistance fighter in one scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing World War II Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing The man at the right holds a supposed M1911A1. Unique Model 17 A Kriegsmodell version of Unique Model 17 pistol is carried by the commander of Resistance unit. A standard Model 17 is seen tucked at the belt of a French Resistance fighter. A German officer holds a similar pistol in one scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Unique Kriegsmodell, a version of Unique Model 17, manufactured in 1941-44 under German control Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Resistance commander holds the pistol. The shape of the grip matches Unique Kriegsmodell. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The commander fires his pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Unique Model 17 - 7.65x17mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Resistance fighter carries a Unique pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German officer with supposed Unique pistol. Submachine Guns Sten Mk II Some French Resistance fighters use Sten Mk II submachine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sten Mk II - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A man in center holds a Sten Mk II. Note the T-shaped buttstock. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two fighters with Sten SMGs. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A maquisard holds a Sten. MP40 Some German soldiers and French Resistance fighters carry MP40 SMGs.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MP40 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier with MP40 guards French railwaymen, mobilized on German service. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier fires his MP40 during the attack on the armoured train. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A French fighter fires an MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The commander of the Resistance unit holds an MP40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing French Resistance fighters, armed with MP40 and Lebel Mle 1886 rifle, escort German POWs in the final scene. PPSh-41 In one scene two German soldiers carry PPSh-41 SMGs. Both guns lack magazines, so it's impossible to determine if these are original PPSh-41s or the German conversion MP41 in 9mm caliber.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev Error creating thumbnail: File missing MP41(r), German conversion of captured PPSh-41 - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two soldiers on flatcar hold PPSh-41s while the third one is armed with a Lebel Mle 1886 rifle. The magazine wells are empty. Rifles Mauser Vz.24 Most German soldiers are armed with short Mauser rifles with straight bolt handles, tangent-leaf rear sights and both hooded and unhooded front sights. These rifles appear to be Czech Vz.24 , widely used by Wehrmacht under the designation Gewehr 24(t). Some French Resistance fighters also use these rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Czech vz. 24 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers with Mauser rifles on railroad station. Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers arrest a French railway worker, suspected in sabotage. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of a Mauser rifle in the same scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier fires his rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier in the armoured train reloads his Mauser. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier fires. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Retreating German soldiers carry their rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier with a Mauser rifle on sling guards the train. Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine Some German soldiers are armed with Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbines .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier with a Mauser 98AZ on sling patrols railway workshops. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A retreating soldier carries a Mauser 98ASZ carbine in the final scene. Berthier Mle 1916 Carbine Berthier Mle 1916 carbines are often seen in hands of French Resistance fighters. Some German soldiers also carry Berthier carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Berthier Model 1916 Carabine - 8x50mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing A maquisard at the left holds a Berthier carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A man with Berthier carbine is seen at the right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A maquisard with Berthier carbine in ambush. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He fires. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier fires a Berthier from the top of the tank turret. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Resistance fighter patrols the road. Lebel Mle 1886 Lebel Mle 1886 rifles are also used by French Resistance fighters. Some German soldiers also carry Lebels.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lebel Model 1886 Rifle - 8x50Rmm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A man at the left holds a Lebel rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Lebel is seen at the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier on the armoured train holds a Lebel rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing One of the soldiers on flatcar is armed with a Lebel rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing French Resistance fighters, armed with MP40 and Lebel rifle, escort German POWs in the final scene. Machine Guns MG34 Resistance fighters use an MG34 during the attack on the German armoured train. MG34s are also mounted on the armoured train.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MG34 with front and rear sights folded down - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maquisards with an MG34 in ambush.Error creating thumbnail: File missing Loading. The belt is filled with live ammunition. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two MG34 are mounted in the armoured carriage. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Buttstocks of two MG34s and machine gun belts are seen inside the armoured train. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier fires an MG34 from the top of the turret. MG08 An MG08 is mounted on a flatcar of the German armoured train.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing MG08 is mounted on a flatcar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier fires MG08. Chatellerault M1924/29 Chatellerault M1924/29 machine guns are mounted on the German armoured train. French Resistance fighters also use Chatellerault machine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chatellerault M1924/29 - 7.5x54mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier fires a Chatellerault machine gun from the armoured train carriage. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An empty Chatellerault is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A maquisard holds a Chatellerault machine gun at the background. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier fires a Chatellerault machine gun during the night attack of British planes. Reibel Machine Gun A Reibel Machine Gun is mounted on Renault R39 tank coaxial with 37-mm SA 38 gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Reibel machine gun - 7.5x54mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Reibel machine gun is mounted in a large amour protection next to the barrel of 37mm gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the armour cover for machine gun. Flakvierling 38 A Flakvierling 38 quad AA gun is mounted on the German armoured train.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Flakvierling 38 - 20x138mm B Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Flakvierling 38 is seen at the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Flakvierling 38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Flakvierling 38 in action. 3.7cm FlaK 36/37 3.7cm FlaK AA guns are mounted on German trains and armoured trains.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Flak 36/37 is mounted on a flatcar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Flak 36/37 fires from the armoured car. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two 3.7cm Flaks and 105mm howitzer. Other Weapons Model 24 Stielhandgranate Model 24 Stielhandgranate hand grenades are used by Resistance fighters.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" stick grenade with fragmentation sleeve Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maquisards carry grenades.Error creating thumbnail: File missing A maquisard readies to throw a grenade. M9 Bazooka Resistance fighters use an M9 Bazooka during the attack on a German armoured train.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M9 "Bazooka" - 2.36 inch Error creating thumbnail: File missing A maquisard examines his bazooka prior to battle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He fires the bazooka. The face of the shooter is protected by a wrap and welding goggles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The assistant reloads bazooka. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A bazooka rocket flies over heads of German soldiers. Judging by how the men quickly lower their heads and retract shoulders, a rocket was really fired during the filming. Clam Mine French railwaymen use British Clam magnetic mines for sabotage on the railways.
Magnetized Charge "Clam" Mk III Error creating thumbnail: File missing Railwaymen train to use Clam mines. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A railwayman inserts a fuze in Clam mine... Error creating thumbnail: File missing ... and attached it to a locomotive. Trivia Armoured Train A genuine German Panzerzug No32 armoured train was used for filming. It is armed with two 105mm howitzers, two 3.7cm Flak 37 AA guns, a 2cm Flakvierling 38, and numerous machine guns. Also a Renault R39 (version of Renault R35 with a SA 38 L/34 gun) light tank and a Marder I SPG are mounted on flatcars in both ends of the train.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Renault R39 tank is mounted on flatcar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two 3.7cm Flaks and 105mm howitzer. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Flakvierling 38 and 105mm howitzer. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The armoured train in action. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of 105mm howitzer. Tanks Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Pz.IV Ausf. H on a railroad flatcar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Renault R39 tank is mounted on flatcar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing R39 is moving down from the flatcar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing R39 leads the German counterattack on maquisards . Ammunition According to the French Wikipedia , live ammunition was used in the battle scenes as it was easier to find in 1946 than blank ammunition.
