The Bridge (1959)

The Bridge (1959)

The Bridge (German title: Die Brücke) is a 1959 WWII film based on the novel by Manfred Gregor and directed by Bernhard Wicki. Set during the final months of the war in Europe when the Germans conscripted teenagers and old men to defend the crumbling Reich, the film focuses seven teens who are abandoned by the retreating, demoralized Wehrmacht to defend a worthless bridge against advancing Americans. The film was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film in 1960 and is considered by many to be the greatest German film about World War II and among the greatest anti-war films of all time. An eponymous remake was released for television in 2008.

The following weapons appear in the film The Bridge:

Walther PP

Throughout the film, Jϋrgen Borchert (Frank Glaubrecht) carries his father’s Walther PP.

War Time Walther PP Pistol. The lesser-known, full-length barreled Walther PP is available in .22LR, 6.35mm auto (.25 ACP), 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP) Auto or 9x17mm (.380 ACP).

Jürgen's mother removing her late husband's Walther PP from the weapon closet in his house

Jürgen aiming his Walther at a German civilian

Jürgen firing his PP in desperation

Jürgen after being killed by an U.S. sniper

Luger P08

A German police officer challenges Corporal Heilmann (Günter Pfitzmann) with his Luger P08.

Luger P08 - 9x19m

A distrustful M.P. aiming his P08 at Sergeant Heilmann

MP40

Military policemen and German officers carry the MP40. Also, protagonist Jϋrgen Borchert (Jürgen Glaubrecht) uses an MP40 instead of his original weapon - an MP44 - when firing his gun.

MP40 - 9x19mm

A German Military Policemen firing an MP40

German MP's with MP40's

A panicked Wehrmacht officer preparing to stop a truck bearing injured soldiers

The officer with his MP40

Protagonist Jürgen firing his MP40 at some American GI's taking cover

Karabiner 98k

Wehrmacht soldiers use the Karabiner 98k.

Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Conscripts training with Karabiner 98k

Conscripts cleaning their Karabiner 98k

Sgt. Heilmann inspecting Jϋrgen’s Mauser

The armory

M1 Garand

U.S. soldiers use the M1 Garand.

M1 Garand - .30-06 Springfield

An American GI wielding his M1 Garand

A US Army sniper aiming his M1 Garand with an M84 telescope

A US sniper having Jϋrgen in his sight

M3 / M3A1 "Grease Gun"

Throughout the film, US soldiers use the M3 / M3A1 "Grease Gun"

M3A1 "Grease Gun"

An American GI aiming at Walter (Michael Hinz)

An American GI shooting it out against Jürgen

Sturmgewehr 44

Jϋrgen Borchert (Frank Glaubrecht) uses a Sturmgewehr 44 as a sniper rifle. However, during actual shooting scenes the MP44 inexplicably trades place with an MP40.

Sturmgewehr 44

Jürgen carrying his MP 44 I

Jürgen carrying his MP 44 II

Jürgen preparing for battle

MG42

Hans Scholten (Folker Bohnet), Albert Mutz (Fritz Wepper), Karl Horber (Karl Michael Balzer) and Klaus Hager (Volker Lechtenbrink) fire an MG42 during the defense of the bridge. Another one is mounted in the hull of a mocked up Sherman tank.