The Gleiwitz Case (Der Fall Gleiwitz)

The Gleiwitz Case (Der Fall Gleiwitz) Original German Poster Country East Germany Directed by Gerhard Klein Release Date 1961 Language German Studio DEFA Main Cast Character Actor Alfred Naujocks Hannjo Hasse Franz Sitte Christoph Beyertt Hans-Wilhelm Kraweit Wolfgang Kalweit Franz Wyczorek Georg Leopold Cheif of Gestapo Heinrich Muller Herwart Grosse Bieratzki Rolf Ripperger Kuhnel Manfred Gunther A man from the concentration camp Hilmar Thate

The Gleiwitz Case (original title Der Fall Gleiwitz) is a 1961 East German war film directed by Gerhard Klein. The story reconstructs the Gleiwitz incident, a covert Nazi German attack on the radio station in the German town of Gleiwitz near the Polish border on the night of August 31, 1939. The attackers posed as Polish nationals, to create the appearance of Polish aggression against Germany and justify the following invasion of Poland.

The following weapons were used in the film The Gleiwitz Case (Der Fall Gleiwitz):

Pistols

Walther PP

Members of Naujocks' group fire Walther PP pistols during the training.

War Time Walther PP Pistol - 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP)

One of the Naujocks' men aims.

He reloads a pistol.

Two men on improvised shooting range.

A pistol magazine on the table.

A closer view on the pistol.

Luger P08

Two members of Naujocks' group use Luger P08 pistols during the operation in Gleiwitz.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

A prison warden carries a Luger holster.

A man at the left carries a Luger, tucked in his pants.

Another Naujocks' man holds a Luger during the operation.

A man in white shirt holds a Luger.

Wz. 35 Vis

Two more members of Naujocks' group use Wz. 35 Vis pistols during the operation in Gleiwitz.

Wz. 35 Vis - 9x19mm

Alfred Naujocks (Hannjo Hasse) takes a Vis wz. 35 from a pile of Polish uniform, prepared for the fake attackers.

Two of the fake attackers hold Vis pistols.

Unidentified pistol

The fifth member of Naujocks' group holds an unidentified pistol. It seems to be a hammerless pistol with long barrel that bears resemblance with FN Model 1922 but it's a very vague guess.

For comparison: FN Model 1922 - .32 ACP

A man at the left holds a pistol.

Same character is seen in distance.

Submachine Guns

MP38/MP40

A guard in concentration camp carries an MP38 or MP40 (out of time for 1939 but more often seen on screen) submachine gun.

MP40 - 9x19mm

A guard carries an submachine gun.

Rifles

Karabiner 98k

Alfred Naujocks (Hannjo Hasse) uses a Mauser short rifle during the operation in Gleiwitz. It matches the Karabiner 98k except for the straight bolt handle. It can be a 98k that got a Gewehr 98 bolt when underwent post-war repair or maybe a Gewehr 98 that was shortened to carbine length in early 1930s.

For comparison: Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser. Manufactured in Germany, 1937. The screen gun has all same features except for the bolt handle.

Naujocks holds a rifle prior the operation.

A close view of the barrel and front sight.

The buttstock and straight bolt handle are seen.

Naujocks carries the rifle.

Naujocks loads the rifle.

Naujocks fires at a prisoner from concentration camp who then would be presented as a dead Polish soldier.

Karabiner 98a

In one scene German soldiers are seen marching with Karabiner 98a rifles.

Mauser 98AZ (98a) - 7.92x57mm Mauser

German soldiers march with rifles. The scene is seen unclear due to fast movement but guarded front sights and distinctive stacking hooks can be seen.

Footage

Numerous weapons of German army are seen in the newsreel.

Ju 52 cargo/bomber plane.

Cruiser Leipzig.

15 cm sFH 18 howitzers on parade.

Pz.Kpfw. II tank on parade.