The Lost Battalion was a 2001 World War I television film that originally aired in the US on the A&E Network. The film chronicles the plight of an American World War I battalion that is trapped behind German lines in the Argonne Forest of France in October of 1918.
Note: There are two famous instances of 'Lost battalions' and people tend to get them confused. One is the World War I event portrayed in this movie, and the second is the World War II event, when 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, 36th I.D. (Texas) became trapped behind German lines in France. In the World War II incident, the Japanese-American 442 Regimental combat team fought through to save them and this battle became particularly famous due to the massive losses incurred by the "Nisei". (442 RCT) I Company went in with 185 men only eight walked out. K Company began with 186 men and ended up with 17 men. As for the Lost Battalion, 230 men were rescued. The 442nd were all named 'honorary' Texans by the Texas state legislature for their actions.
In the World War One Incident, United States 77th Division (with 554 men) were surrounded by German forces. Of the total force, 197 were KIA, 150 were either MIA or POWs, and only 194 were rescued.
The following weapons were used in the film The Lost Battalion:
The Colt M1911 is the main handgun carried by US officers in the film. The hammer spur is small enough to indicate that they got the weapons right for the period by using a Colt M1911 rather than a 1911A1. Used by Captain George McMurtry (Phil McKee) and Captain Nelson Holderman (Adam James).
Major Charles Whittlesey (Rick Schroder) appears to be armed with a Colt MK IV Series 80 in place of the more appropriate M1911. This is obviously an anachronism.
The Luger P08 can be seen used by one of the German soldiers firing on the messenger bird. A Luger P08 is also carried by a German officer as he shakes hands with a released US prisoner.
M1917 Enfields are used by the US troops. It is evident from the bolt handle which projects back and then down rather than out and down that it is a M1917 rather than a M1903. It's correct to see them carrying M1917s as M1903s were short in numbers so the M1917 was manufactured and massively produced in World War I. ( Real life U.S. Soldiers in World War I were armed with either M1917 Enfield or Springfield M1903 )
Several soldiers use Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk Is, and while it would be possible for an American to use a No. 1 Mk III, the use of the WWII-era No. 4 is an error for use in this period film.
Used by the German troops. These have long hand guards and flat tangent sights, suggesting they're Czech Model 98/22 rifles rather than actual German Gewehr 98s. This is a better substitute than the more commonly used Turkish model.
The German sniper appears to be armed with a genuine Mauser Gewehr 1898. It seems to be equipped with a Carl Zeiss Jena Zielacht x8 scope of WWII-era.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm MauserError creating thumbnail: File missingA German sniper aims his Mauser Gewehr 1898. The prominent Lange-Visier rear sight suggests an authentic Gewehr 1898 rather then a Czech Mauser.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe sniper presents the rest of his rifle and himself, presenting a nice target for sharpshooter Pvt. Bob Yoder (Rhys Miles Thomas). Note that the scope are shifted forward, which apparently suggests that this rifle is actually a regular infantry version, which retained the straight bolt handle.
The Chauchat is first seen when Pvt. Cepeglia (Daniel Caltagirone) and Pvt. Jacob Rosen (Michael Goldstrom) show it to the new arrivals in the trenches, declaring it to be 'a piece of garbage' (a sentiment felt by those unfortunate enough to use it in combat). During the battle, Pvt. Abraham Krotoshinsky (Arthur Kremer) carries the Chauchat. The US carried it because of a shortage in LMG's.
