The Keep

The Keep (1983)

The Keep is a 1983 horror film that was the second feature directed by Michael Mann (his first being the James Caan thriller Thief). Only later would Mann become well known to the American public through his hit television series Miami Vice which ran from 1984-1990. During the 1980s, Mann became famous for his fondness for catchy pop music and synth scores as well as hip and flashy (for the time) cinematography. His fondness for unconventional cinematography shows its inception in this film and would later explode into the neon colors of Miami Vice and his third feature film Manhunter. It has gained something of a cult film status and many consider it a camp classic. One of the details which drew attention from film buffs was its accurate (for the time) portrayal of the weapons and equipment of the SS and Heer units in 1940. Despite the glaring anachronism that the SS Allgemeine (the only SS division authorized to wear the iconic Black uniform with party armband) never operated outside the borders of Germany (this film takes place in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania), the uniforms, backpacks, equipment and gear of the SS and the Heer Soldiers showed a surprising attention to detail. Most World War II films up to that time had little accuracy when costuming any German forces.

The following firearms are used in the 1983 film The Keep:

MP38

Captain Klaus Woermann (Jürgen Prochnow) carries an MP38. A few of his men do, too.

MP38 Submachine gun - 9x19mm

Woermann reflexively aims his MP38 at the Keep's caretakers when they startle him.

Lutz (John Vine) with his MP38 while on sentry duty.

Sergeant Oster (Phillip Joseph), at the far right, with his MP38 as Woermann confronts Major Kaempffer (Gabriel Byrne).

Haenel-Schmeisser MP28 MP28/II

The Einsatzkommando commanded by Major Kaempffer (Gabriel Byrne) mostly use Haenel-Schmeisser MP28/II submachine guns.

Haenel-Schmeisser MP28/II Submachine Gun - 9mm

The Einsatzkommando, including the adjutant (Wolf Kahler), with their Haenel-Schmeisser MP28/II submachine guns.

An Einsatzkommando opens fire with his MP28/II.

Closeup of a smoking MP28/II barrel.

Walther PPK

SS Major Erich Kaempffer (Gabriel Byrne) carries what looks like a Walther PPK as his sidearm.

Early Nazi PPK - 7.65x17mm Auto (.32 ACP)

Kaempffer with his Walther PPK

Karabiner 98k

The Wehrmacht soldiers use Karabiner 98k rifles. Although the Einsatzkommando mostly use submachine guns, a few are seen with Karabiners. They're also seen used by the Romanian Iron Guard soldiers at the border.

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

The Einsatzkommando in the foreground holds a Karabiner 98k as the SS arrest Glaeken Trismegestus (Scott Glenn).

MG34

The MG34 is used by German sentries at the entrance to the Keep.

MG34 7.92x57mm Mauser with front and rear sights folded down.

A sentry rests next to his MG34.