The Caravan of Sailors

The Caravan of Sailors Die Karawane der Matrosen Movie Poster Country Germany Directed by Jürgen Stumpfhaus Release Date October 6, 2006 Language German Turkish Studio Lichtblick Film- und Fernsehproduktion Distributor ARTE Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) Main Cast Character Actor Hellmuth von Mücke Oliver Kniffki Matrose Pinkert Olaf Stieg Mtr. Berg Berg Andreas Mtr. Keil Hartmann Claus Narrator Otto Sander

The Caravan of Sailors is a 2006 German docudrama directed by Jürgen Stumpfhaus. German Navy base in Qingdao, China: World War I begins on August 4, 1914. The light cruiser SMS Emden, which Count Spee releases from his unit, becomes a successful privateer in the Indian Ocean. But the cruiser is finally sunk by the Australian warship Sydney off Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean. 50 survivors set off on the adventurous journey back home, which takes them across the Arabian Peninsula and right through the middle of a war zone.

The following weapons were used in the film The Caravan of Sailors:

Pistols

Luger P 04

A Navy P 04 is seen used by Hellmuth von Mücke (Oliver Kniffki) before landing on Cocos Islands.

P 04 - 9x19mm Parabellum

His Luger in the opened drawer.

Von Mücke took the pistol to put it in his holster what offers a look at the longer barrel.

Rifles

Gewehr 1888/05

Many sailors of the Emden landing party are armed with Gewehr 88/05 rifles. Turkish troops in al-Hudaida can also be seen with Gewehr 88s which is a correct choice since the Germans largely supplied the Ottoman Empire with these rifles apart from their own variants. Some of Lawrence's Bedouins also use the Gew. 88 during the ambush in the desert.

Gewehr 1888/05 - 7.92x57mm (8x57 IS)

Two Turkish soldiers standing guard with their Gewehr.

A closer view of the same rifles shows the muzzles.

A sailor aims his rifle during the ambush in the desert.

This view reveals the notch on the receiver.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Some Gewehr 98s are also used by the sailors. It is accurate in this plot which is set in 1914/15 that the Turks are not equipped with this Mauser rifle that was only supplied by their German allies toward the last years of the war.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm

A sailor on the left covers von Mücke trying to convince the Turkish Bedouins with the Reichskriegsflagge (German war flag during this time) that are allies.

Three Gewehr 98s stacked together.

This rifle has a raised Lange Visier rear sight.

Another sailor in the center holds his Mauser at the ready.

Ottoman Musket

After reaching the southwest part of the Arabian peninsula, Turkish Bedouins confronting the landed sailors are seen with Ottoman Muskets.

Ottoman Musket

Three Bedouins welcome the German officers with their muskets.

Von Mücke hands over a Reichsmark coin to one of the Bedouins.

Bedouins riding camels hold their muskets.

Enfield P14

Matrose Pinkert (Olaf Stieg) captured a Pattern 1914 Enfield from hostile Bedouins. It is called a "brand new British Enfield" by the narrator (Otto Sander).

Pattern M1914 (P 14) Enfield - .303 UK

Pinkert returns with the captured Enfield over his back.

Clibbing over the sand dune shows the short grasping groove.

Machine Guns

Maxim MG 08

Two MG08s mounted on Dreifuss 16 tripods are used by the sailors.

Maxim MG 08 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Maxim being fired at hostile forces.

The gun crew awaits further attacks.

A short view of the left side.

Other

Cruiser Aurora

The SMS (abbreviation for Seine Majestät Schiff; His Majesty Ship) Emden is portrayed by the Russian Cruiser Aurora, currently a museum ship in Saint Petersburg.

Right side up of the Aurora with its 152 mm/L45 (6 in) Pattern 1892 Canet guns.