Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever?
Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben?

Movie Poster

Country	West Germany
Directed by	Frank Wisbar
Release Date	April 7, 1959
Language	German Romanian Russian

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Oberleutnant Gerd Wisse	Joachim Hansen
Major Linkmann	Wolfgang Preiss
Gefreiter Krämer	Peter Carsten
Katja	Sonja Ziemann
Feldwebel Böse	Horst Frank
Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Paulus	Wilhelm Borchert

Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever? (Hunde, wollt ihr ewig Leben?) is a 1959 West-German film, directed by Frank Wisbar and based on the novel of the same name by Fritz Wöss. The young, Nazi-influenced First Lieutenant Wisse is transferred in the fall of 1942 as a liaison officer to Stalingrad. Although the German troops have conquered the city with great losses, but are already encircled by the Red Army. Many of the ordinary soldiers have realized that they are at the mercy of the opponent. But with orders from the top, the officers under General Paulus still believe in victory. As the situation worsens dramatically, Wisse recognizes the futility of this war and turns more and more away from the Nazi ideology. In the freezing cold, almost without ammunition and food, he fights for survival on the side of the lost 6th Army.

The title is similar to the literary model by Fritz Wöss and is a reference to a quotation from Frederick the Great. He is said to have cried to his fleeing soldiers in anger during the battle of Kolin, who lost Prussia to Austria: "You damned rascals, do you want to live forever?". The movie was released almost simultaneously with the German award-winning film The Bridge and has many similarities to the 1993 Stalingrad.

The following weapons were used in the film Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever?:

Handguns

Luger P08

Oberleutnant Gerd Wisse (Joachim Hansen) is briefly seen with a Luger P08 pistol as he flees from Soviet soldiers in the ruins of Stalingrad.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Wisse unlocks his Luger.

Better view of the pistol.

Sauer Model 1913

The personal weapon of Major Linkmann (Wolfgang Preiss) is a Sauer Model 1913 Pocket Pistol which is only seen in one short scene in the movie.

Sauer Model 1913 - .32 ACP

Major Linkmann pulls out his Sauer Model 1913...

... and threatens Wisse.

Promotional picture.

The pistol lies on his table.

Rifles

Karabiner 98k

German, Romanian and Soviet solders use Karabiner 98ks. It's correct for the Romanians to use this rifle but for the Soviets the rifle stands for the Mosin Nagant M91/30.

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Frightened Romanians carrying their Kar98ks during the beginning of "Operation Uranus".

Two German soldiers with Karabiner 98k on their back.

Gefreiter Krämer (Peter Carsten) holds his rifle.

Later Gefreiter Krämer aims at Major Linkmann.

Many Karabiners in a heap of weapons.

Belgian Mauser Model 1935

At least one German soldier can be briefly seen carrying a Belgian Mauser Model 1935 rifle.

Belgian Mauser Model 1935 - 7.65x53mm

The soldier in the middle between chaplain Busch (Alexander Kerst) and Wisse. Note the typical "ear" protectors.

Carcano M91/38

A Soviet soldier is briefly seen with an Italian Carcano M91/38 Short Rifle. Near at the end of the movie a German soldier throws a Carcano into a heap of weapons.

Carcano M91/38 - 6.5x52 mm

The Soviet soldier on the left next to Katia (Sonja Ziemann).

Note the shape of the magazine and the type of the barrel on the left.

Mauser Rifles

Some German and Romanian soldiers are briefly seen with Mauser rifles with straight bolt handles.

Mauser Standard Modell - 7.92x57mm Mauser

On the left.

A Romanian soldier with the rifle.

A German soldier shots a Soviet soldier.

Submachine Guns

MP41

German and Romanian soldier's main submachine gun is the MP41. It is used by Gerd Wisse, Feldwebel Böse (Horst Frank), Kunowski (Günter Pfitzmann), Leutnant Fuhrmann (Gunnar Möller) and Major Linkmann. Oddly enough, the wooden stocks were removed and replaced by MP40 stocks.

MP41 - 9x19mm

Wisse aims at two Soviet soldiers sneaking to his comrades.

"No prisoners are taken here. On no sides!"
Kunowski charges his MP to shoot a Soviet PoW.

After being deterred by Wisse, he examines the Soviet food bag.

Major Linkmann with his MP to form a Kampfgruppe.

Sgt. Böse holds the submachine gun in the field hospital.

The MP41 of Major Linkmann on the left next to Wisse. Note the fire selector and the plunger rotator on the end cap.

PPSh-41

PPSh-41 are the primary weapon of the Red Army. Oberleutnant Wisse exchanged his Luger P08 for an PPSh-41.

PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Soviet soldier dies with PPSh-41 in hand.

Soviet soldiers with PPSh-41s during street fighting.

Wisse looks at a dead Soviet lying next to an PPSh-41.

Red Army soldiers and disguised Wisse with their SMGs over the shoulders.

Gerd Wisse with an PPSh-41 on a promotional picture.

Machine Guns

MG 42

Various MG42s are used by German including Kunowski and Romanian soldiers. The MG is shown with post-1943 vertical charging handle instead of the period appropriate and rare slab-sided horizontal handle.