The Stolen Battle

The Stolen Battle Die gestohlene Schlacht Ukradená bitva Czechoslovakian Movie Poster Country East Germany Czechoslovakia Directed by Erwin Stranka Release Date July 31, 1964 Language Czech German Studio Defa Gruppe 60 Deutsche Film (DEFA) Distributor VEB Progress Film-Vertrieb Main Cast Character Actor Christian Andreas Käsebier Manfred Krug Frederick the Great Herwart Grosse Katka Marie Málková Václav Jaroslav Satoranský Karl von Lothringen Josef Kemr Frau von Lothringen Helena Růžičková Josef Barody / Frederick William I of Prussia Rolf Hoppe Armin von Glasenapp Karel Augusta Von Seydlitz Hannjo Hasse Wegelin Hans Klering

The Stolen Battle is a 1972 East German Czechoslovakian movie directed by Erwin Stranka. In 1757, the second year of the Seven Years' War, Frederick II, also known as the Great, stands at the gates of Prague. He has been trying to take the city for weeks, as the enemy commander Duke Charles of Lorraine is inside. Although Frederick has just defeated him, the tide could soon turn against the Prussians, as new Austrian troops are approaching. Frederick has a seemingly ingenious idea: none other than the famous master thief Andreas Christian Käsebier, the ninth son of a poor tailor from Halle and a long-time inmate of the fortress in Stettin, is to sneak into Prague to open the gates from the inside. As a reward, the king promises him freedom. Käsebier accepts the offer because he is tempted to steal an entire city and freedom and a hefty reward are also on the cards.

The cast also includes Horst Kube, Vladimír Dlouhý, Jochen Diestelmann, and Norbert Christian.

The following weapons were used in the film The Stolen Battle:

Flintlock Pistols

Potzdam Model 1731

Kreucher (Günter Junghans), Josef Barody (Rolf Hoppe), and other Prussian soldiers wield correctly Dragoon 1731 Flintlock Pistols.

Kavalleriepistole / Reitpistolle Modell 1731 - 16.8mm

Kreucher points his Dragon pistol at disguised Käsebier.

The left side is perfectly seen as he keeps his eye on Käsebier.

Kreucher approaches the cupboard with the pistol in hand.

A closer view of the muzzle...

...and grip while Josef Barody tucks the pistol into his belt.

Augustin Model 1798

An Austrian Model 1798 Flintlock Pistol is briefly seen held by Hauptmann (Captain) Armin von Glasenapp (Karel Augusta).

Kavalleriepistole Modell 1798, System Augustin - 18mm

Armin von Glasenapp holds the Augustin pistol.

He turns aside which offers another view of the pistol.

Unknown Pistol 1

Frederick the Great (Herwart Grosse) owns an unknown flintlock pistol.

Käsebier puts the just stolen pistol on the table.

Frederick the Great threatens Käsebier with his pistol.

Unknown Pistol 2

Another unknown flintlock pistol is used by Frederick the Great (Herwart Grosse), General von Schultze (Axel Triebel), and Christian Andreas Käsebier (Manfred Krug). Unlike all of the other weapons, it is the only firearm that is seen fired. The same pistol is better seen in the 1967 movie Chingachgook, the Great Snake (Chingachgook, die große Schlange).

"To the enemy!"
Frederick the Great fires the pistol to get his army to attack the opened gate.

General von Schultze aims at Käsebier.

"I can shoot too... I wouldn't have thought that at all."
Käsebier looks at the pistol which he just used.

Muskets

Charleville Mle. 1777

Austrian and Prussian soldiers are mainly armed with French Charleville Muskets.

Charleville Mousquet Modèle 1777 - .69 caliber

Prussian soldiers stand in formation outside of the city of Prague.

Austrian soldiers march through the streets. The Charleville to the right appears to be an a Mle. 1777 Dragoon variant. Recognizable by the two-barreled band.

Czerný, Nový, and other Austrian soldiers hold their Charleville muskets.

Kreucher (Günter Junghans) and Fleucher (Günter Rüger) with their Charlevilles.

A full view of Kreucher's slung musket.

The muzzle are seen. Note the notches at the front barrel bands; they differ from the Prussian Potzdam M/1809 musket.

The flintlock mechanism is visible; the Prussian variant had a protective shield on the steel ignition pan.

Potzdam Model 1740/73

Some Austrian soldiers including Czerný (Lubomír Kostelka) and Nový (Miloš Nesvadba) carry authentic Prussian Potzdam muskets, although not the historically correct 1740 model, but the revised 1773 model. A few Prussian soldiers wield them, as well. This musket could also be a stand-in for the Austrian ordinäre Flinte M. 1722 which looks identical; since both of them are designed according to the British Brown Bess Flintlock Musket.

Infanteriegewehr M/1740/73 - .75 caliber

Czerný and Nový with their slung Potzdam muskets which have fixed Tüllenbajonett M 1740 bayonets. In one scene, the muskets appear to be equipped with the bayonets for the Dreyse Model 1841.

The duo is interrupted by Karl von Lothringen (Josef Kemr) when they capture Käsebier.

Another view of the scene.

A closer view of the Potzdam carried by Nový which offers a view of the flintlock mechanism.

Another view of Czerný's musket. Note the hook on the trigger; a feature of early Potzdam muskets.

The position of the front sight is another feature; it is directly above the front barrel band.

Czerný holds his musket after losing sight of Käsebier which offers a view of the buttstock which is the updated one of the 1740/73 model.

A Prussian soldier stands outside the formation with his Potzdam musket before being pricked to the place where he is supposed to stand.

Karabiner 1888

During mass scenes, Prussian soldiers are seen with anachronistic Karabiner 1888s with attached spike bayonets.

Karabiner 1888 - 7.92x57mm (8x57mm I Patrone 88)

Three Karabiners are seen to the left, one in center, and two to the right. Note the straight bolt handle; the same configuration is seen in the 1978 movie Severino.

Gewehr 1888/05

Prussian soldiers also wield the Gewehr 1888/05.

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

A Gewehr 88/05 is seen right behind Fleucher.

The soldier in center shoulders the Gew. 88/05.

The same soldier behind Fleucher is seen again from another angle.

The soldier far to the right carries the Gewehr as the Prussian army withdraws.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Some full-length Mauser rifles, which appear to be the Gewehr 98, are briefly seen in the movie.

Karabiner 98b - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The soldier in the foreground to the left has the Mauser rifle. The side-mounted sling swivel is most likely a modified variant of the standard Gew. 98 which has it mounted under the barrel. This rifle is better seen in the 1951 movie The Kaiser's Lackey.

Mocked Up Muskets

Prussian soldiers can also be seen with musket mockups.

The musket second from right is a mock up.

Other

Cannon

The Prussian Army is equipped with cannons.

Canon de 12 Gribeauval; for comparison

"Feuer!"

A close-up of the muzzle while "firing"; obviously, the shots are imitated with pyrotechnic; a sign of this is that the cannons have no recoil.

General von Schultze (Axel Triebel) directs the firing of the cannons.

Another type of cannon is seen.