The Tin Drum
Die Blechtrommel

Movie Poster

Country	France Poland West Germany
Directed by	Volker Schlöndorff
Release Date	May 3, 1979
Language	German Hebrew Italian Russian Polish
Distributor	United Artists

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Oskar Matzerath	David Bennent
Alfred Matzerath	Mario Adorf
Agnes Matzerath	Angela Winkler
Jan Bronski	Daniel Olbrychski
Maria Matzerath	Katharina Thalbach
Sigismund Markus	Charles Aznavour

The Tin Drum is the 1979 film adaptation of the novel by Günter Grass by Volker Schlöndorff. On his third birthday, Oskar Matzerath, born in the Free City of Danzig (Gdansk) in 1924, refused to allow further growth and participation in the adult world. The eternal child expresses his protest against Nazis and sympathizers on his tin drum, and only after the war ends does Oskar decide to grow again - and to have a say.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980 at the 52nd Academy Awards.

The following weapons were used in the film The Tin Drum:

Pistols

Luger P08

A German officer is very briefly seen with a Luger P08 during the surrender of the Polish defenders.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

The Luger is seen on the left next to the held Karabiner.

Rifles

Steyr Mannlicher M1895/30

Jan Bronski (Daniel Olbrychski), Kobyella (Mieczyslaw Czechowicz) and other Polish defenders of the Post Office in Danzig are armed with Austrian full-lenght Steyr Mannlicher M1895 rifles and carbines. Some SS Heimwehr Danzig and Sturmabteilung (SA) members can also seen with this rifle during the surrender of the Polish defenders.

Steyr M1895 Long Rifle (M1930 Conversion) - 8x56mmR Mannlicher

Steyr M1895 Short Rifle (M1930 Conversion) - 8x56mmR Mannlicher

Jan holds his just received Steyr rifle which offers a view of the stacking pin.

Oskar (David Bennent) examines a 8x56mmR Mannlicher round.

Another view of Jan's rifle.

A carbine carried by a defender. Note the ejection hole.

Top view of the receiver and the straight pull handle.

Kobyella chambers his Steyr rifle.

The German on the right aims his Steyr at the PoWs.

Karabiner 98k

The Karabiner 98k is used by German soldiers.

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

A Heimwehr member chases Jan with his carabiner over his back.

A German soldier forces the defenders out of the Post office with his Kar98k.

Submachine Guns

PPSh-41

Soviet Soldiers at the end are armed with PPSh-41 submachine guns.

PPSh-41 with 71-round drum magazine - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

A Soviet soldier with his PPSh opens the cellar door.

KP m/44

Some Finnish Tikkakoski m/44s, copy of the PPS-43, with drum magazines are also used by Red Army soldiers.

Tikkakoski M/44 - 9x19mm Parabellum. The M/44 magazines are interchangeable with the Suomi KP/-31 box and drum magazines.

A Russian kneels before Oskar and his mother. Note the grip.

The same soldier points his gun at Alfred Matzerath.

Machine Guns

MG42

The MG42 is first seen during the beginning of World War Two in 1939 and later on bunkers of the Atlantikwall.

MG42 Light Machine Gun 7.92x57mm Mauser

An SS soldier fires his MG42 at the Post office in 1939.

MG42 being fired from a Bunker.

Browning M1919A6

Three Browning M1919A6 are seen on the Atlantikwall scenes.

M1919A6, late WWII manufacture with muzzle booster - .30-06 Springfield

A mounted Browning on the truck.

Two other Brownings in a bunker.

Other

Armored Car

The German armored cars are American White M3 Scout Cars mocked up to resemble accurate Austrian Steyr ADGZs which are actually used during the post office siege.

10.5-cm-leichte Feldhaubitze 18/40

A leichte Feldhaubitze 18/40 howitzer is used by the attackers of the Post Office. The predecessor would have been more historically correct since it was also used in the siege.