Westfront 1918 Vier von der Infanterie
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Movie Poster
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Country
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Germany (Weimar Republic)
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Directed by
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Georg Wilhelm Pabst
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Release Date
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May 23, 1930
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Language
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French German
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Studio
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Bavaria Film Nero-Film
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Distributor
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Vereinigte Star-Film GmbH
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Main Cast
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Character
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Actor
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The Bavarian
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Fritz Kampers
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Karl
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Gustav Diessl
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The Student
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Hans-Joachim Moebis
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The Lieutenant
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Claus Clausen
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Westfront 1918 is a 1930 German anti-war film that tells the story of four German soldiers on the western front in France in World War One. The Bavarian sees the war primarily as an adventure. The Student experiences his first great love with the Frenchwoman Yvette. Their superior, the Lieutenant, knows only one thing, namely duty fulfillment. When Karl, the fourth in the league, returns to the front after a home leave in which he surprises his wife with another man in bed, the four fall victim to their fate.
The movie was based on the novel Vier von der Infanterie by Ernst Johannsen, which was also the German subtitle and was released before All Quiet on the Western Front in Germany.
The following weapons were used in the film Westfront 1918:
Handguns
Ruby
A French soldier can be seen with a Ruby pistol during a trench raid.
Garate, Anitua y Cia Ruby-Type Pistol - .32 ACP
The French soldier storming the German trench holding the pistol.
The French soldiers start falling back after taking a German prisoner.
Rifles
Mauser Gewehr 1898
The Mauser Gewehr 1898 is the standard weapon for the German infantry in the movie including the Bavarian (Fritz Kampers), Karl (Gustav Diessl), and the Student (Hans-Joachim Moebis). During the last charge, German soldiers were seen advancing with G98s with fixed Seitengewehr 98/05 bayonets.
Early Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Late Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A German artillery runner with a slung forward G98 awaits orders.
The squad looks at the returned Student while cleaning their rifles.
Karl puts his rifle on the ground as he comes home.
Later Karl looks at his wife and the butcher with his Mauser in his hands.
He chambers his Gewehr while taking aim at the butcher (Carl Ballhaus).
The Bavarian fires the rifle at advancing French soldiers. Note his rifle has a grasping groove which is the late version.
Mauser Gewehr 1871
Many Mauser Gewehr 1871 are seen in the German artillery bunker and in the hands of French and German soldiers.
Mauser Infanterie-Gewehr Modell 1871 - 11.15x60mmR Mauser
German soldiers in a parade marches with Gewehr 1871.
The French soldier taking cover behind a tank carries the rifle.
Another view of the same rifle shows the rear part.
During close-combat, a French armed with a Mauser gets hit by an artillery shell.
A promotional picture of the hospital seen at the end of the movie. The Mauser is seen on the left next to the sitting officer.
Chassepot Mle. 1866
The majority of French soldiers are seen armed with old single-shot Chassepot 1866 rifles, recognizable by the smooth receiver that differentiates it from the improved Gras Model 1874.
Chassepot Fusil modèle 1866 - 11mm
French soldiers fleeing from the approaching poison gas attack Note the upside-down held rifle on the left offers a view of the smooth receiver.
A slightly different view of the same Chassepot shows the rest of the gun.
Lebel Mle. 1886
A Lebel 1886 rifle can also be briefly seen near a trench.
Lebel Fusil d'Infantrie Modèle 1886 - 8x50mmR Lebel
The unused Lebel is seen lying on the ground to the right.
Machine Guns
Maxim MG 08/15
A Maxim MG08/15 is used by German soldiers. Karl briefly fires the gun before he gets wounded.
Maxim MG 08/15 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
German soldiers prepare the position for the Maxim.
The MG team repel the French attack.
Hotchkiss Mle. 1914
A Hotchkiss M1914 Machine Gun is mounted on a French tank.
Hotchkiss Modèle 1914 - 8x50mmR Lebel
A promotional picture of the two tanks with actors fraternizing behind the scenes. The right tank is equipped with the Hotchkiss.
Hand Grenades
Model 17 Stielhandgranate
German soldiers use correct Model 17 Stielhandgranates which are identifiable by the belt clip and star-shaped screw cap. The Leutnant (Lieutenant) (Claus Clausen) is seen with a bundle before the counterattack.
Model 17 Stielhandgranate
Some M17s lying on the edge of the German trench during the trench raid.
While in No Man's Land, the Student tries to throw a Model 17 Stielhandgranate.
The Bavarian carries three M17s on his belt.
Another unused grenade on the left.
Model 16 Stielhandgranate
Some older Model 16 Stielhandgranates are also used by German soldiers.
Model 16 Stielhandgranate
The Model 16 lies in the middle between the two soldiers.
Model 1914 Ball Grenade
French soldiers use the Model 1914 Ball Grenade during the trench raid.
Model 1914 ball grenade without fuse
The two French soldiers to the left and right hold Ball Grenades.
A Ball Grenade thrown in front of the Maxim position (between the broken tree trunks).
Other
French Tank
The French army uses mockup tanks from a Schneider CA1 and a Renault FT-17.