Mino

Mino Il piccolo alpino Ein Junge zwischen den Fronten Country West Germany Italy Directed by Gianfranco Albano Release Date December 25, 1986 Language German Italian Studio Tangram Film RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) Televisión Española (TVE) Distributor Rai 1 Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) Main Cast Character Actor Giacomino "Mino" Rasi Guido Cella Michele Rasi Ray Lovelock Maggiore Lupo Mario Adorf Freda Stolz Barbara May Karl "Carlo" von Stolz Michael Heltau Neno Simona Cavallari Tenente Rossi Franco Trevisi Enrica Rasi Ottavia Piccolo Vavra Dieter Schidor

Mino is a 1986 German-Italian mini-series that ZDF broadcasted as part of its annual Christmas series. The script was written by Sandro Petraglia, Stefano Rulli, and Pietro Schivazappa. The series was directed by Gianfranco Albano and is based on the 1926 Italian war novel Il Piccolo Alpino by Salvatore Gotta. The series was released in the respective country with a different number of episodes; four in Italy and six in Germany. Another Christmas series is the 1982 mini-series Jack Holborn starring Patrick Bach and Matthias Habich.

On Christmas Eve in 1914, 10-year-old Giacomo Rasi, known as Mino, is on a mountain hike with his parents when they are suddenly caught in a snowstorm and buried by an avalanche. Mino is separated from his parents and is eventually discovered and rescued by a St. Bernard dog. He initially lives with two brothers in the mountains, who earn their living by smuggling. He thinks his parents are dead. When Italy entered the war in 1915, the smuggler Rico is drafted into the Italian mountain troops, the Alpini. Mino follows his friend to the front after being thrown out of the house by his brother Bastian. This introduces him to the Italian Major Lupo, who takes care of the boy. As a result, Mino experiences the Alpine Front from 1915 to 1918 (White War).

The following weapons were used in the miniseries Mino:

Handguns

Bodeo M1889

Both variants of the Bodeo M1889 are carried by Italian officers. In the third episode, Giacomino "Mino" Rasi (Guido Cella) takes the revolver of Tenente (Lieutenant) Boldini (uncredited).

Bodeo Modello 1889 Tipo B - 10.35 Italian

An officer holds his Bodeo with the folding trigger during the night watch (Ep. 01).

Bodeo Modello 1889 Tipo A - 10.35 Italian

Mino points Boldini's revolver at an incoming Fiat truck.

A front view of the scene offers a view of the trigger guard.

The grip is seen as he lets go of the revolver (Ep. 03).

Steyr M1912

During the assault on Monte Negro in the second episode, Capitano (Captain) Favero (Dore De Rosa) is seen carrying an Austrian Steyr M1912. This weapon was not officially in use with the Italian Army; but he could have acquired one privately or captured it from an enemy.

Repetierpistole Modell 1912 - 9x23mm Steyr

Capitano Favero runs with the Steyr pistol.

A Tenente brandishes the pistol (Ep. 02).

An Austro-Hungarian officer fires his Steyr M1912 (Ep. 06).

Glisenti Model 1910

While in Austro-Hungarian occupied territory, Tenente Rossi (Franco Trevisi) is given two Glisenti Model 1910s by his agent which he hands one to Giacomino "Mino" Rasi (Guido Cella) who in return gives it to his father Capitano Michele Rasi (Ray Lovelock).

Glisenti Modello 1910 - 9x19mm Glisenti

Rossi gives one Glisenti to Mino.

Michele Rasi holds the received pistol.

Rossi fires at approaching Austro-Hungarian soldiers.

A view of the right side (Ep. 06).

Rifles

Carcano Model 1891

Italian Carabinieri and soldiers including Rico Girardet (Pierre Cosso) are armed with Carcano M1891s. Many of them are seen with Sciabola-Baionetta Mod. 1891 bayonets. Other notable characters are Americano (Calogero Buttà), Bloz (Giampaolo Saccarola), Sopranzi (Antonello Peleggi), Andrea (Gianni Bersanetti), Giuseppe (Delio Chittò), Coringrato (Nicola Di Pinto), Sergente (Sergeant) Terenzi (Silvio Anselmo), Nicola Cirasola (Oreste Rotundo), Fontolan (Franco Castellano), and Rignani (Vittorio Amandola).

Fucile Modello 1891 - 6.5x52mm Carcano

"Avanti Savoia!"
Italian soldiers go over the top to attack the Monte Negro.

More soldiers climb over the parapet into No Man's Land.

Two Carcanos are seen behind Mino who reads Giuseppe's letter from his son to him. The ejecting holes of the magazines are visible.

Bloz and another soldier (Lauro Versari) with their slung rifles load a wagon (Ep. 02).

A soldier cycles the straight bolt handle of his Carcano while defending his position. A spent casing is seen flying in mid-air. However, in a scene before, the bolt was directed upwards, and yet he pretended to fire the rifle; bashing the left side of the chamber.

Alpini rest with their Carcanos in a trench at the Carso front.

A soldier on guard receives the order from Capitano Balestra (Maurizio Mattioli) to take Mino the artillery observation post (Ep. 03).

Startled by the opening of the chapel door, Fontolan and Rignani immediately point their rifles at Mino (Ep. 04).

Cantatore (Pino Quartullo) and Mino encounter a retreating column during the 1917 Battle of Caporetto. The muzzle and the front sight are seen.

A scattered platoon crosses a village (Ep. 05).

Carcano M91/24

What appears to be an anachronistic Carcano M91/24 short rifle is carried by an Italian customs officer in the first episode and Giuseppe (Delio Chittò) in the last episode. The short rifle has a large rear sight, a turned bolt handle, and a longer front barrel, which are features of a converted full-length rifle into a short variant.

Moschetto di Fanteria Modello 91/24 - 6.5x52mm Carcano

The customs officer reached the three fugitives. The other one (not seen in this screenshot) carries a full-length Carcano (Ep. 01). The large rear sight and turned bolt handle are visible.

Mino meets Giuseppe again after a long time.

Another view of the rifle (Ep. 06).

Karabiner 98k

The majority of Austro-Hungarian soldiers are equipped with anachronistic Karabiner 98ks.

Karabiner 98k with S84/98 III bayonet - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A Soldat aims his Karabiner and awaits an Italian attack in 1915.

A close up of the bolt handle and safety of another carbine.

Many of the Kar98ks have late WWII welded barrels band hooded front sights. Note the helmet which appears to be the Berndorfer Stahlhelm which was only introduced in 1916.

Dead Austro-Hungarian and Italian soldiers lie next to their rifles (Ep. 02).

A soldier charges with his Karabiner which has a straight bolt handle (Ep. 03).

Naida: "The Austrians have already arrived. They (the Italians) blew up the bridge over the river Piave."
Mino: "Italy is now over there..."
Mino and Naida watch victorious marching soldiers accompanied by the Radetzky Marsch during the 1917/18 occupation of northeastern Italy after the Battle of Caporetto.

After the second Battle of the Piave River at the end of June 1918, a column of defeated soldiers return from the frontline (Ep. 05).

M1 Garand

Some highly anachronistic M1 Garands are also wielded by Austro-Hungarian and Italian soldiers.

M1 Garand - .30-06 Springfield

Two Austro-Hungarian soldiers fire their Garands from a trench.

The Garand in the foreground has a malfunction (Ep. 02).

Italian soldiers carry M1 Garands over their backs.

Another Italian with the Garand on the left (Ep. 04).

Mannlicher M1895

At least Austro-Hungarian soldiers at the prisoner of war camp have accurate Mannlicher M1895 rifles.

Infanterie Repetier-Gewehr M.95, System Mannlicher - 8x50mmR Mannlicher

Freda Stolz (Barabara May) walks past a soldier guarding Italian prisoners (Ep. 04).

A better view of a Zugsführer with the Mannlicher (Ep. 05).

A prison guard on the right carries a Mannlicher (Ep. 06).

Mauser Model 1943

A few Austro-Hungarian soldiers in the sixth episode have anachronistic M43 Spanish Mausers.

Mosquetón Mauser Coruña modelo 1943 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A soldier second from left sitting opposite Nena (Simona Cavallari) holds his Spanish Mauser. Note the auxiliary bayonet lug and under-mounted sling swivel.

Machine Guns

Fiat-Revelli M14

The Fiat-Revelli M1914 is used by Italian soldiers.

Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914 - 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano

Coringrato turns around while manning the Fiat-Revelli.

A view from the front of the same gun as Maggiore Lupo used binoculars.

The two grips are seen in a closer view (Ep. 03).

Rossi's agent places the Fiat-Revelli ontop the tripod.

To make the escape possible, Michele Rasi takes control of the machine gun (Ep. 06).

Schwarzlose M.07/12 (Mockup)

Austro-Hungarian soldiers are seen with a Schwarzlose M.07/12 which is a mockup because it has the muzzle located in the center of the water-cooling jacket instead of the bottom and other features described in the following pictures.

Schwarzlose Modell 1907/12 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher

A soldier operates the Schwarzlose with the misplaced muzzle and rear sight. The trigger, which is mounted too high up, can already be seen in this picture.

The abandoned gun after the Italian assault which shows that it does not have an ejecting port and absence of an ammo belt (Ep. 02).

Two soldiers transport the Schwarzlose before setting it down on the ground. The tripod appears to be from the Fiat-Revelli.

A firing Schwarzlose in a dugout. Note where the gunner presses with his hand to pull the trigger; the real Schwarzlose has the trigger right between the two grips.

An Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) arrived at the scene of the shooting and gives the order to cease firing after discovering what is going on (Ep. 03). Note the gun lacks the charging handle and receiver cover. Aside from that, the lower side seems to be open, as something like a toggle-action moves when firing.

Soldiers fire the Schwarzlose at a tree trunk floating in the water (Ep. 05).

Other

15 cm Feldhaubitze M.14

In Episode 3, Italian soldiers are briefly seen using an Austro-Hungarian Feldhaubitze M.14 heavy howitzer during the 1916 Battle of Asiago. Another Feldhaubitze is seen in the fifth episode, but this time with rubber tires.

Škoda Feldhaubitze Modell 14 - 149.1 mm (5.87 in)

A passing camera shot shows the just fired howtzer, which was not acutally fired since there was no recoil.

A soldier hands over a 149.1 mm shell (Ep. 03).

A Feldhaubitze stands in a street among fleeing Italian civilians and soldiers (Ep. 05).

7.5 cm Gebirgskanone M.15

Several Gebirgskanone M.15 mountain guns are seen among an Austro-Hungarian column.

Gebirgs-Kanone Modell 15 - 75x129mmR

Two mountain guns drawn by horses. The lower shields of the cannons are missing.

Another gun is seen while Naida (Susanna Fassetta) provides water to the soldiers which shows the front side (Ep. 05).

Holsters

Italian officers like Maggiore Lupo (Mario Adorf), Capitano Favero (Dore De Rosa), Capitano Balestra (Maurizio Mattioli), Tenente Boldini, and Tenente Rossi (Franco Trevisi) carry Glisenti pistol holsters. Major (Mayor) Delkin (Helmut Hagen), Zugsführer (Master Corporal) Vladislav Vavra (Dieter Schidor), and other Austro-Hungarian officers are seen with holsters of unknown types.

Maggiore Lupo with his holster (Ep. 02).

Tenente Boldini with his Glisenti holster (Ep. 03).

Major Delkin with the unknown holster.

The carried holster of Zugsführer Vavra (Ep. 05).