In 1934, the Munich firm "Aria" made the film "Assault Battalion 1917"
aka "Stoßtrupp 1917", which became one of the most popular films in the 3rd Reich.
Stoßtrupp 1917, one of the first films about
everyday life at the front in the First World War,
when shown in theatres, immediately drew the attention of millions of cinemagoers.
From the point of view of contemporary film some scenes seem a bit stiff, and feigned.
The original film was considered lost for
many years but recently the Federal Archives
with the help of private collectors, restored
the original soundtrack and film print.
Since some film fragments were stored in varying conditions,
some portions of the film and soundtrack could not be restored
even with modern audio and video equipment.
But the result is still there: Society can now see the film "Stoßtrupp 1917"
70 years after its screening, and see the thoughts and feelings of the generation
that embarked on the path of the Nazi dictatorship,
which ultimately led to the Second World War.
German War Film
Assault Battalion 1917 - "Stoßtrupp 1917"
Argonne Forest.
Argonne Forest,
and behind the cemetery can be seen
the cool earth that once was mud.
Where was shed a lot of blood of soldiers and where you can now find peace.
In the spring of 1917, the French were preparing
for a massive offensive on the Western Front.
They had hoped to be in a few weeks on the Rhine.
Never before, had they assembled
at the front so many personnel and war materials.
Aisne / Champagne
Squad! Attention!
The personnel back from the exercise, Lieutenant.
Thank you. At ease, soldiers.
Attention.
Stand at ease... Now pay attention.
Welcome. You know you have joined a fighting Assault Battalion.
We need you.
Tomorrow a reconnaissance will be carried out.
Is that clear to you? Clear sir.
From your company, we need 5 men.
Any volunteers?
Each volunteer will receive 14 days leave.
It's not a holiday Lieutenant.
We all agree to go: Either all or none.
- All to go? - Exactly.
Excellent.
Bergmayer.
Yes. Lieutenant.
Take them to the barracks at ease. Lieutenant...
Come with me.
"The resort Western Front"
I almost got here...
in the "Health" of the Western Front.
Soon it will be called.
"Crematorium Western Front."
- You think? - Yeah?
Come on, let's go.
- Mail came. - Ah, the mail.
- Anderle. - Thank you.
Michael... I'm here.
Wow, three, I have three.
Beni.
About time someone remembered me.
- This is for Jürgen. - Something for me to eat?
There you go... Oh, I see.
And the parcel.
Smoked ham?
Yeah, fresh.
Martl.
And the newspaper for our corporal.
Attention, listen.
I have just come from regimental staff.
Tomorrow, at 5:08 am.
We will go on the attack with the 11th Assault Battalion
11 to the right of us, we are on the left.
Epaulettes, documents
and all that is possible to identify you,
everything must stay here
in case anyone is taken prisoner.
Long grenade throwers by Hans.
Short distance, Girgl.
Follow up group by Beni and Martl.
Starting point will be point A
there will Zapp, and Wolfgang with Fritz.
We must take at least one Frenchman dead or alive.
Prepare to attack!
Attention!
Ready.
Go!
Achtung!
Go ahead!
Duck, all men duck!
Let's go!
Come on! Come on!
Throw grenades!
Lets go!
Get out or croak!
Watch out!
Last holds back all! Let's go.
Last holds back all!
- Anyone still in the trenches? - No-one, no-one. Go, Go!
Stop. Lay a charge.
Forward. Forward. All go.
Where are they?
On the second line.
We go there? Yes, of course.
Let's go. Forward!
Go back.
I've caught one.
Enough, Go back.
They're coming. They have one.
They are coming back from the right flank.
They bringing him here.
Here he is.
Here you go. Take hold of him.
Therefore
based on the testimony of a prisoner of war.
We can say that the whole of the front line
from Reims to Soissons
preparing
large-scale offensive.
Hip, hip, hooray.
And here everybody will be positioned?
Yes. Its our place.
I think it's about to begin
12, 14, 18...
20 balloons in the sky.
Well, you said... all leave was cancelled,
I found someone to surprise.
Attack from the air!
Leaflets
come on. Read it.
"German soldiers."
"The whole world stands against you."
"The powerful and peace-loving country"
"of America has declared war on Germany..."
So, this is the 25th enemy of Germany.
Read more.
"Do you want peace? Do you want to eat well?"
Yes. We all want it.
"You have much experience"
"but now we are getting ready for a battle..."
"the like of which the world has never seen..."
Gentlemen!
Today an order to the whole division.
Comrades,
we are preparing for a large-scale enemy spring offensive.
The position of our division
is located in the center of the enemy offensive.
And so the division will take a leading part in the battle.
We are ready for battle
we are ready to stand against the enemy.
Homeland hopes for us.
Quietly, people. Stay where you are.
Right near me. Lucky I wasn't hit.
Where are you from?
I am a signaller and I am checking the cable
before the onset. But it is totally useless.
We repaired the cable already 10 times, but still no connection.
One position swamped.
But we still have another.
Oh, God, it's our corporal!
Stop!
I must get out!
Fool, rejoice that you are here!
And one, two, heave!
- Hey, are you here? - Yes, here we are.
Where is your company commander?
I am here. What is it?
At 9 am, the company has to come to the front line.
Damn it all!!
Yeah, the usual mess and we go on.
What an abomination!
What is it? Are you going to stand still for a long time?
- Nowhere to go further. - Go there.
And we stay six days.
If I haven't lost count.
Today is Easter Monday.
Right.
We have already been shelled 6 days.
And there is no end in sight.
But sometime it must end!
It is beyond human endurance.
Push it up! Push!!
Push!
It's easing off.
Right.
About time.
Maybe they will go on the attack tomorrow.
We've been waiting 8 days.
Oh God, I'm thirsty.
Is there any more?
Not for a long time.
It's piss.
We've all been drinking from there.
As there is nothing else.
If only come help
there would be a little bit of water to drink.
Have you got a cigarette?
Oh, no, Anderle.
I am surprised that you wanted to ask.
Gas! Gas!
- Bergmayer, you are alone? - Yes, alone.
The men were twice chosen under fire, but they are all scattered somewhere.
Everything is destroyed.
- It is necessary to send for a new team. - I know
I have no strength, Lieutenant.
Can I stay here?
I can understand it.
I want to go, I'm from the assault battalion, and I want to go back there.
That is not important, of course
but you know the territory better.
Take one soldier and return to camp.
Tonight, we will change the position. We will be in the tunnel "C".
- Do you know it? - Yes, Lieutenant.
Here are my documents and valuables.
They should be in the care of the sergeant. Until we return
or have to be sent to my wife.
But I would like to stay with this assault battalion.
Think about your comrades.
Maybe this way you will avoid our fate.
None of us will return.
Quickly run!
Forward!
At the double!
Hurry! Quickly!
None of us will be able to withstand so many
for too long... I know.
Lieutenant, maybe you can even send someone?
Uh huh.
If we had a bit of water.
Some water to...
Some water.
Real drinking water.
- Yes, real water to gulp. - To drink like that.
Yes I know, boys.
Patience.
Help must come soon.
- Help? - Help.
Oh, help
I think nobody is coming.
They should already be here.
We will all be shot.
For sure.
Help. Help! Jaeger troops!
Here we come!
This is Hans!
Thanks.
Take it.
Achtung! All to arms!! Stand to! Take your grenades!
Forward! Forward!
They are finally attacking after 12 days!
Let's go!
Get ready for a counterattack!
Counterattack!
Dirty pig!
Hands up! Hands up!
Throw the grenades!!!
Let's go!
Throw!
Go!
Get out!
Forward!
Benny!
Forward! Come on! Out! Out!
Come on! Out!
Come on. Further!
Go back further!
Further!
Where's the Major? Major?
Major, they surround us.
Fire is coming from our right.
What to do with 1st company?
1st Company remains in place
until further orders.
Hey, send a messenger to the regiment.
All back, come on! Come on!
Onward!
Right, get in the trenches.
Get ready to open fire.
Empty. There is nobody here!
Major.
The 10th company has taken up its positions.
We have 48 "bayonets".
48 "bayonets"?
Is that all?
Yes, Herr Major.
Thank you.
Major. It is simply impossible.
The front line trenches have been taken by the French from us
and I cannot get through to the regimental staff.
Are you "kidding"?
This is not possible.
It's true Herr Major.
The battalions is completely surrounded.
You hear that gunfire at us?
From behind us.
I'm telling you that something is not right.
They are not there. They're out there.
I need two men
who can break through the French line
and convey an important message to the regiment or brigade.
I do not have a carrier pigeon.
We will try, Major.
Well, well, let's go.
The counter attack
failed to weaken the "pincer"
in which the regiment is held.
Our onslaught was met...
What happened?
- Where are you from? - We are from the front.
- And you broke through? - Yes, General.
But we are thirsty.
Thirsty? Well that can be sorted.
- Thank you. - And?
A report.
- From the Major of the 3rd Infantry? - Yes.
Oh, my God!
Mayor, take care of these two. And give them a good rest.
Wake up.
Hey, come on. Get up.
OK, get ready.
OK and so, now listen.
It is extremely important that you break through to the regiment tonight.
- But it is... - it is simply impossible.
You must try again.
Do you want to be captured by the French?
We don't want, but that is what will happen.
Look.
That's not us firing.
You do not believe us?
I believe that's
where our line is.
Come on.
But carefully.
Attention!!
Damn it! They were caught!
Take them to the captain. To the Captain.
- Captain! Captain! - What is it?
Prisoners.
Well, where are these Boche?
They are here, my Captain.
We have brought the captive Boche.
Oh, Fritz!
We must learn about their regiment.
- Do you speak French? - No.
No, I do not understand.
Do you speak French?
What regiment?
That's...
What regiment?
Hey Boche, what regiment?
3rd Infantry.
3rd? Look.
Ha, a souvenir. Look.
This is Bavarian.
Bavarian pig!
Are you Bavarian?
Ooh... yeah.
Find out their location.
Where are the German troops?
There, there and there.
Oo la la!!!
There or is are they there? Where?
Over there!
- There? - Yes.
And the distance? How far?
Just a little.
Very close?
Ask about artillery.
A lot or a little? Well this... guns. Boom boom!
Many.
- A lot. - Yes.
And where?
A lot of artillery guns.
Ask how many.
- A lot? - Yes, a lot of them.
- A lot of heavy artillery? - Yes, and then there are tanks.
They have tanks.
Tanks?
Continue.
And we have none.
So what?
Send them to Division Headquarters.
- Hey, soldier. - Yes, Sir.
Take these two to Division HQ.
- But take care that they do not escape. - On the way there!
What? Where was that?
Reims line of trenches?
An hour ago.
I see...
Thank you. Send a man immediately to Brigade Headquarters.
The enemy are entrenched on this line.
Open fire immediately and shell the line. At short intervals.
Attention!
- What? Are you here? - And you?
The only thing not fouled.
Do you hear that?
It's not the French.
It's too late.
It's all over.
We have lost the whole battalion.
We have only three men left from 10th company.
And we go back to the front lines.
Who have survived from the Assault Battalion?
The three of us here.
Heiner is in hospital.
With Fredl and Martl.
There is no one else.
6 of 15 survived.
But not one Frenchman broke through the main defense.
After losing the battle
deep disappointment swept soldiers of the French Army.
To support its allies
the British attacked the German positions
with a new, incredible strength.
Flanders.
Information for Leave Personnel.
Where should I go?
My regiment has moved somewhere.
You have to go to Bruges.
Your regiment is in Flanders.
All is clear... thank you.
What then...?
- Hey, what are you doing here? - How cheerful you look.
I'm back from leave.
I'm going to re-join my regiment.
We are as well.
We were discharged from hospital today.
- Then you are recovered? - Yeah.
- And you, too? - As you can see.
Tell me how it works in the company? And in our Assault Battalion?
You're somebody I don't know.
The new man... always asking things.
And our Assault Battalion are same desperadoes as before!
- Are we in a quiet area? - In a "quiet" area? Haha.
And do not ask. We are always in the "quiet areas".
Read it.
Flanders has already been shelled for 4 days.
We are, as always, "lucky".
- Well, well, we always get it. - That is our share.
Stop!
Here is your position.
Watch your front
and look out for tanks.
We will look out for them
but how will we stop them?
Now you can just think about it!
Oh Lord!
Let's go.
It's not very nice, but at least we have a roof.
Come on. Come down
Gustav to the window... for one hour.
Unpack everything and bring all the gear
and find something to sit on.
No one needs to know that we are here.
Oh, thats for me.
So we'll be able to see.
- How long are we going to stay here? - No one knows.
When will it end?
Small caliber, it's not dangerous to us.
It seems that it will last 10 years.
Aha! That's real!
What do we do if we meet tanks?
From the right of the trench?
We have nothing to counter their treat.
I have something to use.
We can produce a high-explosive bomb.
Come on. We do not have so many grenades here.
So we can't do it.
But "Tommy" left them in abundance.
We will start to make our bomb
and add their grenades.
What do you think about this one explosive?
You always find adventure "per se".
If you do not believe me, go check.
Not today.
Today is the day of fasting, it is impossible to shed blood.
Come on, don't quarrel.
I can't stand the sight of blood!
God, when is this abomination going to end?
What will you do after the war?
On that day, Carl gets drunk like no one has got drunk!
I only think about how to get good sleep
I will tell you
I will not leave my bed for 3 days
only to eat
and, of course...
for a warm embrace
I'll go home and marry.
Well, my son was born a year ago.
Who wants to be a godfather?
I will be. And me! And me!
Not all at once!
Peace will come.
Hans. What did you say?
Peace.
I can't imagine how it easy it will be to walk peacefully
without being shot at.
But they do not want peace
apparently there is something in us
that makes them hate us so much'
It is too early to think about peace.
But when you come down to it..
No war has lasted more than 30 years.
Well, it's finished.
Now the tank can come.
No, it is better not to let it come!
I wonder where the front line is.
I would like to know.
I think I heard something.
Somewhere near.
I thought they were ours. No harm in dreaming.
Hey, look here!
There is something.
Get ready.
Maybe we should stay here?
No, we will all get killed at the same time.
You're in a war. We have to go out and fight.
Are you wounded?
No, no, thank you.
But of course it's terrible.
There are only three dead.
The others are not so far gone.
I do not quite understand what happened.
They came from two sides.
To surround us, that's what they wanted.
Look, there they are. There on the grass.
But now it is possible to smoke a cigarette?
Gladly!
At least you can just stand on your feet.
Tony... he has died.
Nonsense, he's still alive.
Prop him up.
Give him water.
What happened?
I'm cold It's nothing, Tony.
Sleep.
Soon they will fly again.
If they come
I want to meet them in the open air.
I do not want to wait in here until I am beaten.
Tanks!!
- What? - Where?
They are coming right at us Do not move!
Come on, pull it up.
One coming from the opposite direction!
Stop!
Where is he?
Get out! Move!
Is it possible?
Our cellar is destroyed!
I need some air!
- That there is a new threat? - No, Herr Major.
Points 4A, C, D do not meet any more.
What does that mean?
"4B is occupied by the British I am badly wounded."
That's it.
It's just impossible!
Herr Major, the British Tommies have broken through the defenses.
Do not shoot. We are wounded.
My God, look at that. A war profiteer!
Looks just like us!
Ruddy swines! Aren't they?
War and barbed wire.
The Artillery has arrived.
- They support us? - That's it.
Get ready!
Stick together.
It's a creeping barrage. Just keep up.
Stand beside us.
See what the experienced soldiers are doing.
Stay close to me.
Hey, get out. Help is here.
- What happened? - The relief has come.
Relief?
Thank you, Lord!
Where do we go now?
I don't know. But I will not stay here.
We will go look for another trench.
Oh, I see. Well, let's go.
Well, pals.
Here we are again.
What's for dinner? We want to eat.
Where are our quarters?
Here. In the field.
A field?
- Here in the meadow. - In the open.
A field?
Well, now you can curse
and sleep all day..
But today at 5 pm
there will be an inspection.
And will I check rifle beeches and barrels.
Have you ever heard the like?
Checking the rifle breeches?
Our Assault Battalion will not look in the best light.
Well, well, it happens.
Now I would destroy any threat
to sleep in Bavaria.
Well, you know.
This can all go to blazes.
Hey, look.
Somehow they can still live and sing.
- Let's sing. - Of course.
As we always sing?
"Germany is on the right track"
as never was before
her radiance illuminates the east and west.
She stands like a mountain, guarding against the insidious and vicious enemies.
And like an eagle
her spirit is high in the sky
and we are keeping the flag flying
and we are keeping the flag flying.
We keep our flag flying high.
Show all.
Show all our enemies
that we stand for the truth
how strong is our ancient camaraderie
when you hear a battle cry.
So keep on, despite the storm and the storm.
In the furnace and the mud of Flanders.
Britain's hopes of winning in 1917 became bogged down.
On the Western Front in Winter
in the last months of November
the English break through with hundreds of tanks...
Cambrai
Christmas 1917
- Come on, get a move on. - What is it?
- It's already 6 am. - It's 6 already?
Carl is already on duty. He waits.
Thanks.
Wait, wait, wait.
Bread and this is to raise the alarm. Ah, a flare-gun.
Anxious?
Today, on the eve of Christmas?
Save a cup of punch for me.
It's a very special occasion and we have nothing special to drink.
Thanks.
I think it is necessary to remember those who were with us last Christmas
those who had been in our Assault Battalion.
O Lord, our corporal, was a great man
and Fritz, old friend
and Beni, and Fritz.
- And Ludwig. - And Sepp.
Oh, God, those were the guys.
We have no soldiers. And we generally do not like to bother about winning.
Ohh, Where did you get that?
"Stille Nacht..."
heilige Nacht.
Alles schläft; Einsam wacht.
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht,
"heilige Nacht..."
Get out!
Grenade!
Good. Let's get out of here!
Come on!
Out!
Hurry here!
He is here.
Oh, my God.
Someone is crying there.
Hans!
He is here.
Slowly.
Do not rush.
Get a medic here!
Move.
That's it. There is nothing more I can do.
Come on, light the Christmas tree and rejoice.
This is his last hour.
We thank the German Federal Archives and film
fans, which made it possible to restore this film.