Shock Troop (1934) - full transcript

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 sound track 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 ultmately 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, 3, I have three.

Beni

About time someone remembered me

- This is for J?rgen
- 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!

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 havn'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!

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 from10th 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 Peronnel

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 cheerfull 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 wan't 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 weo 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

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 flaregun.

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 schl?ft; einsam wacht

Nur das traute hochheilige Paar

Paar

Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,

Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

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.