Emden Men or also titled as Odyssey of Heroes is a 2012 German movie directed by Berengar Pfahl and is based on true events from the First World War. The German light cruiser SMS Emden is stationed in the German colony of Tsingtau on the Chinese coast. After the outbreak of war, the ship takes part in the cruiser war in the Indian Ocean and is to cover the withdrawal of the German East Asia Squadron. Near the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean in November 1914, the Emden is placed by the Australian cruiser Sydney and eventually wrecked, unable to fight or sail. About a third of the crew is killed. The 202 survivors ended up as British prisoners of war. However, about 50 men of a landing party who had gone ashore to destroy a radio station before the enemy attack are still on a small atoll and now have to go on a long and exhausting journey: 13,000 kilometers through water and desert lie ahead of them.
The following weapons were used in the film Emden Men:
Antonia (Sheri Hagen) tries to reach for a pocket pistol. Karl Overbeck (Ken Duken) stops her and takes the pistol. Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be a Rhöner Model 3 or Model 4 starter/gas-firing pistol. It is equipped with non-standard wooden grips, and stands on a period-appropriate pistol, such as FN Model 1905.
Matrose (Sailor) Hilgert (Michael Lott) and other sailors use Gewehr 1888/05 rifles. Maat Kluthe is seen briefly carrying one during the firefight in the desert.
French troops at the railway station carry British Pattern 1914 Enfields over their shoulders. A more accurate choice would be a Berthier or Lebel 1886 rifle.
The hostile Bedouins are armed with unidentifiable muskets, which are, known from an interview with the director, percussion rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingFusil d'infanterie Mle. 1842T St.Etienne - .69 Smoothbore; for comparisonError creating thumbnail: File missingBedouins get into a new position behind a dune with their rifles which have no pistol grips. The percussion cap lock can almost be seen on the left rifle. The shape of the barrel distinguishes them from Arabic muskets.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe guards of the Emir of Mecca carry also these rifles. Note the European-style muzzle band.
The Greek Pisa-class armored cruiser Georgios Averof represents the SMS Emden in the movie.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe crew on the deck of the cruiser. A twin 234 mm (9.2 in) gun can be seen. The Emden's biggest guns were single 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/40 guns.
Warships
The other ships featured in the movies are all CGI models.