Error creating thumbnail: File missing Join our Discord!
If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here.

Front Without Mercy (Front ohne Gnade) - Part 1

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
Jump to navigation Jump to search


Front Without Mercy (Front ohne Gnade)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Country Error creating thumbnail: File missing East Germany
Language German
Channel DDR1
Creator DEFA
Broadcast 1984
Main Cast
Character Actor
Hermann Anders Jürgen Zartmann
SS-Obersturmbannführer Maas Alfred Struwe
Albert Günter Naumann
Anni Petra Blossey
Lydia Messmer Renate Blume
SS-Obersturmführer Menge Klaus-Peter Thiele
Cyrus Maria Rosenfeld Hans Teuscher
Heinrich Bartels Jörg Kleinau



Front Without Mercy (Front ohne Gnade) is a 1984 East German TV series directed by Rudi Kurz. The story depicts the activities of a group of Communist anti-Nazi resistance in Germany in 1930s-1940s, lead by Hermann Anders (Jürgen Zartmann). The first part (Eps. 1-4) is set in Berlin in Summer 1934 when Anders' group starts the activities against the Nazi regime.


The following weapons were used in the film Front ohne Gnade:


Pistols

Walther PP

Walther PP pistols are seen in hands of Communist resistance fighters, notably Hermann Anders (Jürgen Zartmann), Lydia Messmer (Renate Blume), Jochen Hellmann (Bernd Braun), and SS and Gestapo personnel, notably SS-Obersturmführer Menge (Klaus-Peter Thiele).

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Walther PP - 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Jochen Hellmann holds a Walther PP when escaping from Gestapo in "In letzter Minute" (Ep.1).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A closeup of Menge's pistol (Ep.1).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Menge shoots at arrested Hellman.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Anders holds a Walther PP (Ep.1). In previous moment he was armed with a CZ 27 (see below).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of Anders' Walther.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Lydia Messmer holds Anders' Walther.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
In "Tod in der Vill" (Ep.2) Anders, disguised as a Sturmabteilung (SA) officer, takes a Walther PP.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A good view of Anders' Walther PP.

Mauser M1914

Mauser M1914 pistols are used by Communist resistance fighters, notably Lydia Messmer (Renate Blume), and SS and Gestapo personnel.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M1914 Mauser Pocket Pistol - 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A Gestapo operative (Alexander Wikarski) holds a Mauser pocket pistol in "In letzter Minute" (Ep.1). Its shape and size match M1914 version in 7.65mm caliber.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another Gestapo operative (Karl Sturm) (at the right) with a Mauser pocket pistol (Ep.1).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Same character carries the pistol tucked in his belt.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Lydia picks up the pistol of the said Gestapo agent.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A good view of the pistol in Lydia's hand. Later she hands her pistol to Hermann Anders, but it immediately switches to a CZ 27 (see below) due to a continuity error.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A Gestapo operative (Alexander Wikarski) holds his pistol.

CZ 27

Due to several continuity errors in Ep.1, Mauser M1914, given by Lydia Messmer to Hermann Anders, switches to a CZ 27. Next moment Anders' pistol switches again, to a Walther PP, while the CZ 27 appears in hands of Gestapo agent Helmut Leif (Willi Schrade).

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
CZ 27 - 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Hermann Anders aims at Helmut Leif.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Now Anders holds a Walther PP while Leif surrenders his CZ 27.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Anders passes the pistol to Lydia.

Luger P08

SS and Gestapo personnel mostly use Luger P08 pistols.

Note: see additional images on talk page.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Luger P08 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Einsatzleiter Gestapo (the head of Gestapo operative group) (Klaus-Jürgen Steinmann) holds a Luger in "In letzter Minute" (Ep.1).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Same character threatens Lydia Messmer.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another close view of the pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
In "Tod in der Vill" (Ep.2) SS-Untersturmführer Zeise (Harald Warmbrunn) holds his Luger during the events of the Night of the Long Knives (the massacre of Sturmabteilung (SA) leaders in Summer 1934).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Zeise executes the commander of SA Standarten (regiment) Otto von Wittke (Hans-Joachim Hegewald).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A Gestapo guard (Detlef Bierstedt) holds a Luger in "P3X Schweigt Fur Immer" (Ep.4).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
He loads the pistol.

Walther Model 4

In "Fund in der Nacht" (Ep.3) a Communist resistance fighter Heinrich Bartels (Jörg Kleinau) takes a Walther Model 4. According to the story, it must the same pistol that was previously used by Hermann Anders, but the latter was seen with a Walther PP and never uses a Model 4.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Walther Model 4 - 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Bartels finds the pistol and documents, hidden by Anders.

Rifles

Karabiner 98k

Karabiner 98k rifles are widely used by SA and SS personnel. In reality Karabiner 98k entered service only in 1935, and many of screen gun are of even later modifications, like version with hooded front sight, issued in 1939, and simplified Kriegsmodell version that appeared in 1944.

Note: see additional images on talk page.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
SA stormtroopers with 98k rifles on road block in "In letzter Minute" (Ep.1).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
In "Tod in der Vill" (Ep.2) SS-Sturmmann Gustav (Ulrich Voß) carries a rifle when riding a bicycle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A closer view of the barrel of Gustav's rifle. It has hooded front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Rifles of the SS unit in gun rack. About half of them are Karabiner 98k, and the other half have Vz.24 style front sights.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of the rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
An SA stormtrooper on guard holds a 98k with hooded front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
SS men fire their rifles during the massacre in von Wittke's estate. The rifle at the left is a Kar 98k while two other rifles have Vz.24 style front sights.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of same scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
More SS personnel fire at SA stormtroopers. The rifle at the left has Vz.24 style front sights, and the one at the right is a Kar 98k with hooded front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
An SS man carries a Kar 98k.

Karabiner 98k Sniper

In "In letzter Minute" (Ep.1) the head of Einsatzleiter Gestapo (Gestapo operative group) (Klaus-Jürgen Steinmann) is armed with a 98k with sniper scope.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Karabiner 98k with Zeiss ZF39 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The Gestapo agent holds the sniper rifle. Note the hooded front sight and simplified top barrel band.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
He aims.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A close view of the sniper scope.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The Gestapo agent holds his sniper rifle when arresting Communist Jochen Hellmann (Bernd Braun) who is wounded by the sniper.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of the scene.

Mauser Vz.24/98k rifle

Mauser rifles of a different model are also seen in "Tod in der Vill" (Ep.2) and "Fund in der Nacht" (Ep.3). They have the front sight of Vz.24 Czech Mauser (it is different from all version of Karabiner 98k) and grasping grooves on the stock. But these rifles also have Karabiner 98k style open top upper handguards, attachment of the rifle sling and in some cases turned down bolt handles. Possibly such combination of the features of two Mauser rifles is a result of postwar reworking of enormous stocks of former Wehrmacht rifles, resulting in a kind of hybrid.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
For comparison: Czech Mauser vz. 24 - 7.92x57mm Mauser. Unlike this sample, screen guns have open top handguards, like Karabiner 98k.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A close view of the barrel of von Wittke's bodyguard.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A general view of the rifle of said character.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Rifles of the SS unit in gun rack. About half of them have Vz.24 style front sights and open top handguards.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of the rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
SS men fire their rifles during the massacre in von Wittke's estate. Rifles at the right and center have Vz.24 style front sights.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
More SS personnel fire at SA stormtroopers. The rifle at the left has Vz.24 style front sights.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
An SS guard carries a Mauser rifle in "Fund in der Nacht" (Ep.3). Note the Vz.24 style front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The guard fires. Note the 98k style bolt handle.

Machine Guns

MG34

In "Tod in der Vill" (Ep.2) during the Night of the Long Knives SS personnel use an MG34 to massacre SA stormtroopers in von Wittke's estate. In reality MG34 entered service only in 1936; in 1934 the light machine gun of German military was MG13.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
MG34 with front and rear sights folded down - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Other Weapons

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

In "Tod in der Vill" (Ep.2) during the Night of the Long Knives SS personnel take Model 24 Stielhandgranate hand grenades but they aren't used in action.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Grenades in the crate.