Latest revision as of 08:05, 26 March 2024

The Black Battalion
Černý prapor

DVD Cover

Country	Czechoslovakia
Directed by	Vladimír Cech
Release Date	1958
Language	Czech French
Studio	Štúdio umeleckých filmov Bratislava
Distributor	Československý státní film

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Václav Malý	Jaroslav Mareš
Legionnaire Peter	František Peterka
Commander Ketham	Zdenek Kryzánek
Sgt. Storch	Kurt Oligmüller
Commander Wolf	Hannjo Hasse
Major	Ladislav Chudík

The Black Battalion (Czech: Černý prapor) is a 1958 Czechoslovakian B&W historical drama film about the Czech members of the French Foreign Legion, who fight for the French during the First Indochina War. At war's end, they are returned to their homeland on the basis of amnesty. The film depicts the story of one of those who did not return.

The following weapons were used in the film The Black Battalion (Cerný prapor):

Submachine Guns

MAS-38

Both main characters are seen with a French MAS-38.

MAS-38 Submachine gun - 7.65x20mm

Václav (Jaroslav Mareš) hands a weapon to Commander Wolf.

Newly appointed Commander Wolf (Hannjo Hasse) holds his MAS-38.

MP 40

The French Foreign Legion uses the MP 40.

MP 40 - 9x19mm

A Legionnaire fires his MP 40 at Vietnamese villagers.

Legionnaire Peter (František Peterka) fires his MP 40 during a firefight.

Sgt. Storch (Kurt Oligmüller) and another Legionnaire carry MP 40s.

Sten Mk II

Sten Mk IIs are used by both sides during the Indochina War.

Sten Mk II - 9x19mm

File:Zdenek Kryzánek-Sten.jpg

The commander Ketham (Zdenek Kryzánek) carriers his Sten.

A VPN guerrilla fighter hiding in the bushes mows down French troops with his Sten

Legionaries carry Sten and MP 40 submachine guns as they move through the jungle.

Rifles

M1 Carbine

The legionnaires also use M1 Carbines of various types.

M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine

A legionnaire hastily leaves the battlefield with a slung M1 carbine.

M1A1 Carbine - .30 Carbine

Václav Malý (Jaroslav Mareš) carries an M1A1 Carbine in the jungle.

An M1A1 Carbine hangs from a bed.

M1 Garand

M1 Garand rifles are also seen.

M1 Garand with leather M1917 sling - .30-06 Springfield

A Garand is seen at the left.

Machine Guns

MG 34

MG 34 machine guns are used by legionnaires.

MG 34 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

An MG 34 is mounted on a car.

Legionnaires with an MG 34.

DShK

A DShK is also seen.

DShKM on tripod - 12.7x108mm

Explosives

Hand Grenade

The legionnaires and guerillas carry "pineapple" hand grenades. They can be compared to the Mills Bomb in size but have a different shape. Possible guesses are the Italian S.I.P.E. or, even more likely, Ottoman Empire "Type 2" grandes (both of First World War vintage).

For comparison: Italian S.I.P.E. hand grenade

For comparison: Turkish Type 2 hand grenade

A legionnaire carries "pineapple" grenades on his belt.

VPN troops carry the same grenade.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Image:The_Black_Batalion-poster.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Black Battalion (1958)]]
+{{Infobox Movie
+|name = ''The Black Battalion''<br>''Černý prapor''
+|picture = The_Black_Batalion-poster.jpg
+|caption = ''DVD Cover''
+|country = [[File:CZE.jpg|25px]] Czechoslovakia
+|director = Vladimír Cech
+|date= 1958
+|language = Czech<BR>French
+|studio=Štúdio umeleckých filmov Bratislava
+|distributor=Československý státní film
+|character1=Václav Malý
+|actor1=[[Jaroslav Mareš]]
+|character2=Legionnaire Peter
+|actor2=[[František Peterka]]
+|character3=Commander Ketham
+|actor3=[[Zdenek Kryzánek]]
+|character4=Sgt. Storch
+|actor4=[[Kurt Oligmüller]]
+|character5=Commander Wolf
+|actor5=[[Hannjo Hasse]]
+|character6=Major
+|actor6=[[Ladislav Chudík]]
+}}
-'''The Black Battalion ''' (original: Černý prapor) is a 1958 Czechoslovakian film about Czech members of the French Foreign Legion fighting in the French Indo-China War.
+'''The Black Battalion''' (Czech: Černý prapor) is a 1958 Czechoslovakian B&W historical drama film about the Czech members of the French Foreign Legion, who fight for the French during the First Indochina War. At war's end, they are returned to their homeland on the basis of amnesty. The film depicts the story of one of those who did not return.
-A plane carrying returning Foreign Legionnaires lands at a local airport. Waiting for them with anticipation are the relatives of legionnaires, including an old woman who questions the returning soldiers as to the fate of her son, however none of the men seem to recognize his name or photograph. The film then flashes back to Indochina, where private Vaclav Maly ([[Jaroslav Mareš]]) from Pilsen, after a year service in Algeria, arrives with other soldiers as reinforcements for a small fort. Soon after his arrival, the newcomers are involved in their first combat action. It ends in a fiasco, as the unit suffers great losses, including their commander. A new commander replaces him, ethnic German Wolf ([[Hannjo Hasse]]). This information is of great interest to Vaclav Maly. Since it is rumored that in World War II, Wolf possibly served in the SS overseeing the Wenceslas sector of Prague. A junior pay clerk, responsible for payments to the soldiers, has discussions with Maly which confirm his suspicions, that Wolfe indeed served in Pilsen with the SS, 90 kilometers west of Praque, where Malys' family lived. Many of them were killed by the SS during this time. Tensions between the commander and his subordinates begin to grow as ethnic Czechs plot revenge for the atrocities enacted by the Germans. An opportunity arises during a battlefield operation, as Commander Wolf decides to go out on his own and survey the field. He requests one volunteer and Maly eagerly agrees. The two men venture into the jungle. The film is then flashes forward, back to Prague and the airport scene. The mother, still unsuccessfully looking for her son, he asks a man called Petr ([[František Peterka]]), who served with Vaclav Maly, but he denies that he knows him and continues walking towards the main Airport building.
-'''The following guns were used in the 1958 Czechoslovak film ''The Black Battalion'':'''
+{{Film Title}}
 __TOC__<br clear=all>
+= Submachine Guns =
+== MAS-38 ==
+Both main characters are seen with a French [[MAS-38]].
+[[Image:Mas38_1.jpg |thumb|none|450px|MAS-38 Submachine gun - 7.65x20mm]]
+[[Image:Jan_Mares-MAS-38.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Václav ([[Jaroslav Mareš]]) hands a weapon to Commander Wolf.]]
+[[Image:Hannjo_Hasse-MAS-38.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Newly appointed Commander Wolf ([[Hannjo Hasse]]) holds his [[MAS-38]].]]
-== MP40 ==
+== MP 40 ==
-In service the French foreign legion has occurred also at the [[MP40]] submachine gun.
+The French Foreign Legion uses the [[MP 40]].
-[[Image:MP40.jpg|thumb|none|400px|MP40 - 9mm.]]
+[[Image:MP40.jpg|thumb|none|400px|MP 40 - 9x19mm]]
-[[Image:Legie-MP40.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Legionnaire shoots from MP40 at the Vietnamese villagers.]]
+[[Image:Legie-MP40.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A Legionnaire fires his MP 40 at Vietnamese villagers.]]
-[[Image:Frantisek_Peterka-MP40.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Legionnaire Peter ([[František Peterka]]) in fight with guerrillas rescued by exact dose from submachine gun Václav´s life.]]
+[[Image:Frantisek_Peterka-MP40.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Legionnaire Peter ([[František Peterka]]) fires his MP 40 during a firefight.]]
-[[Image:Legionaries-MP40.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Sgt. Storch ([[Kurt Oligmüller]]) with a legionaries armed MP40 submachine guns.]]
+[[Image:Legionaries-MP40.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Sgt. Storch ([[Kurt Oligmüller]]) and another Legionnaire carry [[MP 40]]s.]]
-== Sten ==
+== Sten Mk II ==
-To fight in the jungle was [[Sten]] used by both sides of Indochina´s war.
+[[Sten Mk II]]s are used by both sides during the Indochina War.
-[[Image:Sten.jpg‎ |thumb|none|450px|Sten Mk II - 9x19mm.]]
+[[Image:Sten.jpg‎ |thumb|none|450px|Sten Mk II - 9x19mm]]
-[[Image:Zdenek_Kryzánek-Sten.jpg|thumb|none|500px|The commander Ketham ([[Zdenek Kryzánek]]) was very fond of the Sten submachine gun.]]
+[[Image:Zdenek_Kryzánek-Sten.jpg|thumb|none|600px|The commander Ketham ([[Zdenek Kryzánek]]) carriers his Sten.]]
-[[Image:VPA-Sten.jpg|thumb|none|500px|VPN soldier equipped with a Sten submachine gun mowed down legionaries of hiding in the bushes.]]
+[[Image:VPA-Sten.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A VPN guerrilla fighter hiding in the bushes mows down French troops with his Sten]]
-[[Image:Legionaries-Sten_MkII_%2BMP40.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Legionaries are moved through in the jungle with submachine guns Sten and MP40.]]
+[[Image:Legionaries-Sten_MkII_%2BMP40.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Legionaries carry Sten and MP 40 submachine guns as they move through the jungle.]]
+= Rifles =
 == M1 Carbine ==
-The legionaires also was used a U.S. [[M1 Carbine]] of various types.
+The legionnaires also use [[M1 Carbine]]s of various types.
-[[Image:M1_Carbine.jpg‎|thumb|none|400px|M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine]]
+[[Image:M1_Carbine.jpg‎|thumb|none|450px|M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine]]
-[[Image:Legionary-M1_Carbine.jpg|thumb|none|500px|The legionnaire hastily leaving the battlefield with a rifle on strap.]]
+[[Image:Legionary-M1_Carbine.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A legionnaire hastily leaves the battlefield with a slung M1 carbine.]]
-[[Image:M1A1Carbine.jpg|thumb|none|400px|M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine]]
+[[Image:M1A1Carbine.jpg|thumb|none|450px|M1A1 Carbine - .30 Carbine]]
-[[Image:Jan_Mares-M1_Carbine.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Václav Malý ([[Jaroslav Mareš]]) to way through the jungle with a [[M1A1 Carbine]].]]
+[[Image:Jan_Mares-M1_Carbine.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Václav Malý ([[Jaroslav Mareš]]) carries an [[M1A1 Carbine]] in the jungle.]]
-[[Image:Jan_Mares-M1_A1_Carbine57.jpg|thumb|none|500px|After return from a combat hang his rifle an at the bed.]]
+[[Image:Jan_Mares-M1_A1_Carbine57.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An M1A1 Carbine hangs from a  bed.]]
-== MAS-38 ==
+== M1 Garand ==
-[[Image:Mas38_1.jpg |thumb|none|400px|MAS-38 Submachine gun - 7.65mm.]]
+[[M1 Garand]] rifles are also seen.
-[[Image:Jan_Mares-MAS-38.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Václav ([[Jaroslav Mareš]]) consist [[MAS-38]] submachine gun for the commander Wolf.]]
+[[Image:M1 Garand.jpg|thumb|none|450px|M1 Garand with leather M1917 sling - .30-06 Springfield]]
-[[Image:Hannjo_Hasse-MAS-38.jpg|thumb|none|500px|New commander Wolf ([[Hannjo Hasse]]) with his submachine gun in hand.]]
+[[File:Cerny prapor-Garand-Add1.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A Garand is seen at the left.]]
+= Machine Guns =
+== MG 34 ==
+[[MG 34]] machine guns are used by legionnaires.
+[[Image:mg-34.jpg|thumb|none|450px|MG 34 - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
+[[File:Cerny prapor-MG34-Add1.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An MG 34 is mounted on a car.]]
+[[File:Cerny prapor-MG34-Add2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Legionnaires with an MG 34.]]
-== Training Grenade ==
+== DShK ==
-The legionnaires use what look like modified Great War Italian Pineapple grenades.  France purchased many Grenades from Italy during WW1 and started building their own after a while.  Though this film takes place in the post-WW2 years, the production seemed to use Italian Pineapple style training grenades, to impersonate French F1s or American Mk IIs.
+A [[DShK]] is also seen.
-[[Image:FL-grenades.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Legionnaire hung with “Pineapple” grenades in his belt.]]
+[[Image:DSHK.jpg|thumb|none|400px|DShKM on tripod - 12.7x108mm]]
-[[Image:VPA-Mk_2.jpg|thumb|none|500px|This a same type hand grenade was equipped also soldier VPN.]]
+[[File:Cerny prapor-DShK-Add1.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
-[[Image:Frantisek_Peterka-US_Mk2_“Pineapple”.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Legionnaire Petr ([[František Peterka]]) is addition equipped with a submachine gun also by pair of the grenades.]]
+[[File:Cerny prapor-DShK-Add2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
+= Explosives =
+== Hand Grenade ==
+The legionnaires and guerillas carry "pineapple" hand grenades. They can be compared to the [[Mills Bomb]] in size but have a different shape. Possible guesses are the Italian S.I.P.E. or, even more likely, Ottoman Empire "Type 2" grandes (both of First World War vintage).
+[[File:Italian SIPE Hand Grenade.jpg|thumb|none|150px|For comparison: Italian S.I.P.E. hand grenade]]
+[[File:Turkish WW1 Hand Grenade.jpg|thumb|none|150px|For comparison: Turkish Type 2 hand grenade]]
+[[Image:FL-grenades.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A legionnaire carries "pineapple" grenades on his belt.]]
+[[Image:VPA-Mk_2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|VPN troops carry the same grenade.]]
+<!--[[Image:Frantisek_Peterka-US_Mk2_“Pineapple”.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Legionnaire Petr ([[František Peterka]]) carries a pair of grenades.]]-->
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Battalion (Cerný prapor), The}}
 [[Category:Movie]]
 [[Category:B&W]]
+[[Category:Drama]]
 [[Category:War]]
 [[Category:Czech Produced/Filmed]]

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