In the last years Germany has made quite a few very good war movies but there are also some older ones that have stood the test of time. I am sure I have forgotten some and left out many that are co-productions with the exception of Joyeux Noël aka Merry Christmas because it is one of my Top 10. I will very probably mention it again when I will make a post on 10 French war movies you must see before you die.
Let´s stick to Germany for the time being.
Die Brücke aka The Bridge (1959): WWII, Germany. One of the best anti-war films ever. Shows how senseless some orders are. Young people fight for a bridge although the war can´t be won anymore. It is one of the movies on my list Children in War Movies.
Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben aka Dogs, do you want to live forever – Stalingrad (1959): WWII, Russia. A German classic. A grim look at the battle in Stalingrad.
Das Boot (1981): THE U-Boot movie. Conveys brilliantly what it is like to be helpless under water. Claustrophobic feel. Superb acting. Marvellous cast. Especially noteworthy the singer Herbert Grönemeyer.
Stalingrad (1993): WWII, grim infantry combat. German POV. One of the best war movies ever, one of my Top 10 as well. The setting, the character portraits, the acting, the combat, the snow, the cold, the despair. A fabulous movie that gives an insight in one of the worst chapters of WWII. Another marvellous cast. Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong, Resident Evil, The Downfall, The Young Victoria) is in it. He is one of those German actors that are known far beyond Germany and Europe. (see my post on Stalingrad)
NaPolA aka Before the Fall (2004): WWII, Germany. Interesting look at the Hitler Youth. How they recruited their elite, how they brainwashed them. Poisonous Pedagogy. See my review for more details. This movie is also on the Children in War Movies list.
Der Untergang aka The Downfall (2004): WWII, Berlin. The final days of Hitler. Astonishing acting from the very great Bruno Ganz. A fascinating portrait. Eerie. Creepy. An outstanding movie and a must see even for those who don’t watch war movies. (see my post on The Downfall)
Joyeux Noël aka Merry Christmas (2005): WWI, France. Especially noteworthy as it is about WWI. The movie depicts the so-called “Little peace”. It is Christmas and something strange is happening. The war stands still. The enemy soldiers prefer football over fighting and get to know and like each other. Based on a true story. You get a good feel for the differences of the trenches and the characteristics of the parties involved.
Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage aka Sophie Scholl (2005): WWII, Germany. German Resistance. One of the leaders of The White Rose, Sophie Scholl´s final days. I have hardly ever seen a movie like this. After watching it I did solemnly swear to become a better person (I am not too successful yet. It is an ongoing process. A work in progress). No, honestly, this woman or girl´s guts… So much selfless idealism and courage. I was awed.
Anonyma – Eine Frau n Berlin aka Anonyma – The Downfall of Berlin (2008) : WWII, Berlin. One of the movies I reviewed recently. I included it as it tackles a lesser known and very painful subject. The mass rape of German women by the Red Army. See my post of Anonyma.
Der rote Baron aka The Red Baron (2008): WWI, Germany. The romanticized story of Baron von Richthofen the famous German fighter pilot. Beautifully filmed, good-looking cast, very intense air combat. See my post of the Red Baron.
Any movies you would add?
As I think Sophie Scholl is not known enough I added the trailer for you.
Excellent list. I am looking forward to watching them. Hope Netflix comes through for me. The only ones I had seen are Downfall and Das Boot. I watched Joyeux Noel recently on your recommendation. I have Stalingrad on DVD, but have not seen it yet and I am waiting for its turn on my Top 100 list.
There are two versions of Das Boot. One for TV that is far longer but not as gripping. Stalingrad is easily my No. 2 after Black Hawk Down. It is one of the only ones I watched a few times (I am not such a re-watcher). I am 100% sure that you will like Stalingrad and will not for one second kick it out of the 100! Anonyma is excellent too.
Black Hawk Down? Goddamn. I Guess you’re an american. If not, my fault
I’m sorry to say, you are wrong. I’m a European through and through. I’m not even a native English speaker. My native languages are German and French. I think Black Hawk Down is very critical of the American way of intervention and it is one of those movies that give you a good feel of what it would mean to be in a combat.
I have seen the Downfall…great movie with great actor. I haven’t seen the others because German movies are not easy to find.
I can imagine that they would be hard to find where you live. Too bad. They are good.
Too bad indeed. I like European and Asian movies, when it comes to special effect they are not as great as Hollywood but the story is always deeper than those in Hollywood.
Unfortunately that is often true.
I want to add I was Nineteen–an East German film, that oddly enough, seems to serve as a companion film for Woman in Berlin.
It really is excellent.
Oh great, thanks. I’m not sure I know which one it is. I will certainly look it up. It’s difficult to get movies from former East Germany.
Of all movies listed “Die Bruecke” is probably the closest to reality. I saw the boat and find these depictions of homosexuality laughable. To me these scenes seem like filler material that were added in to make Germans look pervert. “Stalingrad” is another controversy. I dated a Russian and she said this movie is just like propaganda from the West; I kind of agree because it totally glosses over the hardship of the many civilians that were forced to flee the city. Basically the Russians burned their own houses and made the area unlivable before the Germans attacked. They succeeded…. If you like German war movies also look into “Cross of Iron”. Its not a bad movie, Steiner one of the main characters is somewhat like Felix Steiner, you can find him on Wikipedia. Anyways, I am glad the war is over.
Well, yes, we can agree on that, I’m also gald the war is over. I still think Stalingrad is pretty accurate they just didn’t want to look at the civilian’s persepctive. What the Russian people had to endure is horrible. My DVD includes some documentarys. I can absolutely not remember any homosexuality in Das Boot but it’s present in Cross of Iron. Cross of Iron is an excellent movie, I reviewed it but didn’t include it as it is a co-production and not purely German although depicting the German point of view. Die Brücke is little know outside of Germany. It’s a shame as it is a very good movie.
“Cross of Iron” is a great film, and sadly underrated and underappreciated by the ‘great unwashed’. However, Sergeant Rolf Steiner, the “hero”, if he can be described as same, is nothing like Standartenfuhrer (Colonel) Felix Steiner, who was the original commander of the SS Regiment “Deutschland” in the late 1930′s and early in the war. (SS “Deutschland formed part of the SS-VT Division, which went on to become SS Division “Das Reich”, one of Germany’s premier Waffen SS Divisions, and a formidable fighting force). One Steiner is a fictional character, the other could be described as a founder of modern warefare.
I agree, it is agreat film but not a German movie, but from a German perspective.
Thanks for the info, I didn’t know that.
I personally have 3 in my personal DVD collection,
The Downfall
Stalingrad
Das Boot
they are some of my favourites too. Stalingrad is in my Top 10, das Boot, I would say in my Top 20. All three are outstanding.
I love Stalingrad too. However I have been unable to obtain it spoken in German. The version I have has outrageously been badly dubbed into an almost comic like spaghetti western English. Oh for a subtitled German version.
That is too bad. I cann’t imagine what it would sound like dubbed. I’m surprsied you couldn’t find a DVD with subtitles.
Hi DJ, I am Sanjiv from Guwhati. I am a movie fan/collector & its nice to see one Indian (or Assamese?) here. Seems these 3 movies r really great. Going to collect the HD version from net… Thx
Cross of Iron is another righteous movie, peckenpaw
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Guess what, I am an American woman and i love all the German Films of war. Naturally I like WW2 films the best (no matter who filmed them) . The point is I wish there was more of them…..
WWII movies in general or German WWII movies. In both cases there are a lot. The problem with the German ones is that they haven’t all been subtitled. I know a series you might like (if it can be found subtitled) it is called Klemperer, based on the diaries of Klemperer. I saw it on German TV and was stunned.
HI and thank you so much for this list, I guess you all that like well made war movies might also like “liberation” a soviet era war movie depicting diffrent major battles from kursk to the battle of berlin in 1970, why I write about it here is because the german side speaks german and the russian russian, It is able to find this movie with english subs. the special effects are outstanding, using real tanks, real planes etc for the scenes. I was stunned at the quality for a film from a country infamous for its lousy quality products.
The coloured shots are from the movie(s)
What this movie excels in quality it makes up for (in a bad way) for propaganda (it is a soviet movie… what’d you expect?)
Worthwhile I must say. watch it!
Thanks a lot, Sarevok. I will try to find it, it sounds very interesting. I hadn’t heard of it. It seems it is a Russian/East Germany co-production. they have doen quite a few movies together that are not always aesy to find but I’ll try. Thanks.
Hello, I’m glad that I stumbled upon your site. Thank you for the recommendations.
Among those listed, I have only seen Stalingrad, Das Boot, and Der Untergang– and I liked all three, to say the least.
I admire the last scene of Stalingrad for its poignant and chilling effect, but Das Boot and Der Untergang are peerless. Most notably because of the acting, how the characters “become”, the choice to let the story naturally unfold with tension and restraint, what the camera focuses on and excludes — and perhaps because that is precisely the point, that these two films are more character-driven than plot-driven? Humour is more effective, too, in Das Boot than in Stalingrad.
Much has been said about the gritty and claustrophobic experience of watching Das Boot. Much has been said about the tragedy of Der Untergang. And it relieves me to know that in the wrong hands, both films would have ended up as sheer melodrama.
But between Das Boot and Der Untergang, I believe that Der Untergang is more difficult to pull off: the layers upon layers of emotion– even a spectrum of it– and the stark irony of what pervades inside the bunker when all else has started crumbling down. It is a relatively new piece of cinema, I am eager to know how precious it remains after a decade or two.
Regardless, I am truly grateful for these three films. War cinema lives.
You are welcome and thanks for visiting. I like the three movies you mentioned a lot.-One is in my top 10, the other in the top 20. Das Boot and Der Untergang are very character-driven, I agree. Stalingrad is grittier. Bruno Ganz is fantastic in Der Untergang. I think he is the best Hitler I’ve seen. But Corinna Harfouch as Magda Goebbels gives a chilling performance too. I think Der Untergang will still be seen as one of the best of its kind in 10-20 years.
Sophie Scholl is alos worth watching and so are the older one Die Brücke and Hunde wollt ihr ewig leben. I need tp re-watch and review them soon.
Great, I will wait for your reviews. Oh, and I’ve seen Napola, too!
Expect me to comment on other blog posts because I plan to do more browsing in your site.
Great, I will wait for your reviews. Oh, and I’ve seen Napola, too!
Expect me to comment on other blog posts because I plan to do more browsing in your site.
That’s good to hear. I appreciate thoughtful comments and interesting discussions.
Stalingrad(unfortunately without subtitles) I believe you can navigate throughout the parts, so I am giving a link to the first one only:
http://www.youtube.com/user/STALINGRADFILM#p/u/12/4-5kO-hI3rk
Cross of Iron:
Several russian movies:
The Brest Fortress:
The Cuckoo:
Svoi(Our Own)
http://www.youtube.com/user/zina1078#p/c/171E8D4992702055/0/KPu9OGWPlNQ
The soviet movies Sarevok mentioned(no subtitles however
)
http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=AgTLjkxwZuY&feature=mv_sr
http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=-Y1qjl3X0M4&feature=mv_sr
http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=O-dbgLHIUa0&feature=mv_sr
http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=7iyuc_0hX9w&feature=mv_e_rel_b
So many good movies are never subtitled…
Die Brücke 1959
http://www.youtube.com/user/edykoland#p/u/17/1JHG2SD-9fI
Several German Training Movies
Panzergreanider Training
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toac7bGYTlY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQT0HbJt2mU
Panther Training
Men against tanks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFpIGjvNsxM
Leap into the enemy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C11fZzneb4Q&feature=related
Thanks, Borgward. I did’n t get the time yet to watch all of it but will do so. Strictly speaking they are not all German movies… Never mind.
Point taken!
Napola – no subtitles however
http://www.youtube.com/user/VideoEstVeritas#p/u/123/8WF1kYX4qqQ
Anonyma no subtitles
I had one with subtitles in my post.
http://allaboutwarmovies.com/2010/10/06/napola-elite-fur-den-fuhrer-aka-before-the-fall-2004-looking-into-the-mechanics-of-black-pedagogy/
hiya
Hi there, thanks for visting.
I was hoping somebody may be able to identify a, what I believe, was a German war movie I once watched. It’s been so long ago, I can’t recall if they were speaking English or if it was subtitled.
This movie was from the German perspective and something I found interesting was that it followed a pair of boots. As one soldier was killed, another soldier took his boots and it went on like this. Towards the end of the movie, he was sent to a school to enlist some children, but he told them the reality of war and how it was not glorious. I think he ended up getting sent back to the lines. I remember the end of the movie, but don’t want to spoil it for others that may find it interesting.
Any help in identifying this movie would be appreciated.
I’m pleased, I can help you. “All Quiet on the Western Front” that’s the movie you are looking for.
Here is my review and I mention the boots scene. It’s an amazing scene.
http://allaboutwarmovies.com/2010/11/22/all-quiet-on-the-western-front-1930-a-timeless-anti-war-movie-classic/
Thanks so much!
You are welcome.
This site is awesome, such good info and you almost always reply to the users. Just wanted to say keep up the awesome work, and thanks for all the great choices !!!
Thanks, Ryan…
Thanks, Ryan, this is very nice of you. Your comment is very welcome.
[...] 10 German war movies. It had 30’000 views so far. It’s quite surprising. [...]
This is a great site! Thanks! Question: Does anyone know a movie about an East German Orphanage with some German (Wyrwolf – Hitler Youth) living in the forest? Two Russian soldiers come to see how the orphanage is managed and they try to get the last German resistance youths into the orphanage. There is a bit of a battle. It’s a very good movie. It WAS on YouTube but I can’t find it for the life of me. Thanks in advance !
Thanks, I’m glad you like the site.
Could the movie be The Ogre? I reviewed it. It sounds similar to what you describe.
Great suggestions for films too see, I would love to see a Hollywood or a decent version made of the Lions of Carentan, or about the battle of Crete. There where some great German leaders who were not bad people.
Thanks, bettyblue. Yes, it is certainly true that they had some humane leaders too.
Both movies you mention are new to me. Thanks for suggesting them (although it seems they could do with some improvement)
I see there’s going to be a film about Monte Cassino, needless to say it will be biased heavily towards the American’s but with the amount of casualties on all sides it’s a story that needs telling.
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/08/05/227-WW2-s-battle-for-Monte-Cassino-to-be-made-into-film.html
Thanks for the link. That sounds interesting, despite the possible biased approach.
[...] Don’t hesitate to make suggestions. My Top 10 German War Movies can be found here. [...]
Two more “Westfront 1918″ 1930 and “Stosstruppe 1917″ 1934
Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll have to watch them soon as well.
Yes, G.W. Pabst directed it. The Nazis banned Westfront 1918 because they deemed it a pacifist film. Unfortunately I have never seen the entire film, only clips and the dvd versions I have seen for sale appear to be in region 1 with the only option Spanish subtitles!
HI I am looking for a german war movie, which is about 5-10 years old. It is about the escape of civilians from Königsberg and from East Prussia. Any idea?
That doesn’t ring a bell at the momen. But I’ll have a closer look later. Maybe someone else knows it?
Anyone?
Maybe this one from 2006, but it’s a documentary with some reenactments:
I really cannot remember a movie on the topic at all. Hopefully he sees this and that’s it.
IIt’s called “DIE FLUCHT” (MARCH OF MILLIONS):
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=fLIGHT+OF+MILLIONS&rh=n%3A917972%2Ck%3AfLIGHT+OF+MILLIONS&ajr=0
Thanks a lot, that’s great that you knew it.
Thanks! There’s even a French dubbed version (alas no original language with subtitles, for a 3 hours-long film I’ll have to seriously brush up my German).
I’ve seen that movie on amazon de a few times but I wasn’t sure whether it’s any good. Could be one to add to my November plans…
Hey
You are amasing! Thanks a lot I was looking for it since years…
One more question, do you know any german war movies made durign the war. Are they available somewhere? I am not nazi or something but interested in war movies of all kind.
@G : You’ll find some online, Stukas andÜber alles in der Welt on archive.org, U-Boote westwärts and Kampfgeschwader Lützow on youtube, Spähtrupp Hallgarten on veoh, etc.
They’re far from being good movies at all.
There is also an old movie, from the fifties, on the subject. I think its title is “Nacht fiel über Gotenhafen”. I don´t know if it is subtitled in english
I reviewed it a while back and thought it was very good but it’s not available in English, so I left it out. The huge majority of the readers of this blog don’t speak or understand German.
The Spanish DVD (‘Noche de Angustia’) has spanish and portuguese subtitles – still not english ones, though.
Not sure that would be of great help to most of my readers.
But it’s always good for the few who speak another language to know what’s available. Thanks.
I’m glad it has been found. I’m going to watch it very soon.
Hello,
I’M searching for a -not pretty old- War-movie (cant remember the titel)
where German Officers are “mostly” sitting around a bif table,
and congregate about: The Endlosung (I guess)!?
The “cast” was just Amazing, and the acting performance was
“Glorious”!!!
Thanx for a reply
Hy again,
Its ok…I just found the movie I was looking for!
Conspiracy Kenneth Branagh
Great, I’m glad you found it. I have still not seen it myself, I’d like to though.
Just this week a three-part series (90 min each) was shown on German TV called “Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter” (Our mothers, our fathers). It tells the story of 5 young friends who get involved in WWII and how it changes their lives and personalities and it covers the time from 1941-1945. It’s one of most expensive German TV productions ever and very well made. I was so hooked I had to watch the leaked part 2 and 3 on the web before they appeared on TV. If you speak German you’ll find them online, if not you’ll unfortunately have to wait till they make it into British or American TV which I’m sure they eventually will.
Thank you so much for telling me. This sounds very good and like something I would enjoy. German is my native language, so I’m lucky, I guess.
I hardly watch any TV, that’s why I missed it. I’m very glad you otld me
It is is still online on the ZDF website, probably not for long, but the DVDs are already out.
The first part is interesting, however in my opinion it seriously goes downhill from there, carefully avoiding all tricky questions while pretending to address them. Some good actors, though (but I confess having a crush on Miriam Stein so I’m probably biased).
I saw it’s on YouTube with subtitles. The whiole three parts. I might post on it shortly.
Too bad that the first part is better than the rest. Glad you liked the actors,
Btw Did you watch Heimat? I never did but heard it was quite good.
Yes. Heimat is a very ambitious work, artistically far superior to this one – which makes what I may otherwise regard as its flaws almost, if not entirely, secondary.
But then, these are two different films. The original Heimat dealt with several generations over sixty years whereas the scope of Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter is very narrow : four war years in the lives of five characters all born around 1920.
I knew Heimat was larger in scope, still I was wondering whether it’s worth watching. I might give this one a go first as Heimat is long and as you may have deduced from how little I post these days, I’m a bit under pressure but it will get better in June. I noticed I’ve seen Miriam Stein in the Goethe movie. I wasn’t too keen on the movie.
Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter probably fits the subject of this blog more than Heimat. It has a very ’21st century US historical TV series’ feel – think Band of Brothers or The Pacific. I’m not a fan, but a lot of people are so it undoubtedly says something about today’s viewers, if not about history.
And yes, Goethe was bad, but a crush is a crush.
I’ll see when I can watch it. I’m not surprised it has a US feel, many German movies have. And series as well, it seems.
I recently found a world war 2 movie “Judgement at Nuremberg” and was just awestruck by the quality of the dialogues and acting. I think even it does not have war scenes, it must be a worthwhile movie experience.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s one of the vers first I reviewed on this blog. It’s a stunning movie. I wish more like that existed. I also have a weakness for court room dramas.
i would have to go with
Hitler: A Film from Germany
first part here with german subtitles
Thanks a lot. I’ll have to check this out.
A monument of cinema… not sure it qualifies as a ‘war movie’, though!
It depends where you draw the line, I would say.
Sure, and as you know my own definition can be quite extensive.
I hesitated before reviewing Gance’s Napoleon which I hadn’t seen in years, for I remembered that long parts were devoted to politics. After re-watching it, it eventually seemed to me that war was central to the film itself, none the least because its subject is presented as a military strategist from the start – and because his ability to lead men into battle is pictured as the source of his legitimacy to lead France.
As far as Syberberg’s awesome work is concerned however, I don’t recall war playing such a big part. Of course, one can argue that war was central to both nazi ideology and the history of the regime, but that’s not in my opinion a path taken by the filmmaker. Which, remarkably, has other very important things to convey.
Now, while I’m writing this I realize that I often do not appreciate when none of those things is hinted at in “obvious” war movies about the era – then perhaps, Syberberg’s work is the missing “reverse-shot” in those films… which means it would make sense to review it as such !
I agree, it may not be a war movie per se but if one includes wartime movies, like I do, I think it is essential to include movies which complement other movies, for example in highlighting the background so many “typical” movies leave out.
I haven’t seen Abel Gance’s Napoléon, I don’t seem to be able to find a copy.
sorry no subtitles but you can watch it fully at the creators page with subtitles
http://www.syberberg.de/Syberberg2/Events_2003/uncut.html
That.k you so very much for these must see German movies. Tho I was born in the united states my father was born in Germany and all my aunts and uncles and grandparents fled Germany in 1946-47 due to the fear of the Russian occupation or possible takeover of Germany. My family were ALL REGULAR GERMAN ARMY. I am fascinated by German war movies just to see and try to see or know Manet even feel what they felt. I have heard countless stories about the war from a German perspective and growing up here in America seeing the American perspective too. My great uncle George told me about how he and his brother were both present near Normandy, about 1 1/2 mile inland from Utah beach during the invasion. They were German paratroopers. To hear there side is something, and to see their photo albums and silent home movies in the army is incredible. I want to find an Eva Braun movie. I believe she was an actress too. Also where can I see some of these movies? I have seen downfall, das boot, all’s quiet on Russian front. Ill check Netflix but I’m not sure if they will carry German made movies.thank you so much. Any others you can remember please let me know.
Thanks Tommy, I’m glad you like it. We tend to forget how many regular German German troops there were. Good people trapped on the wrong side.
Cross of Iron is a really great movie from a German POV. Have you seen it?
Your family has an interesting history. I could imagine that one wanted to flee when the Rusians arrived.
Also, I thought to be a great movie even tho its not a German made movie its an excellent German point of view movie about being a kid growing up during hitlers rise to power is Swing Kids if you haven’t already seen it. I also do speak fluent German also so any non English subtitles will not hinder me. I just told my grandfather about your site hear and he smiled and is going to make a short list of German war movies for you lol. Sometimes he gets very teary eyed when watching them. I don’t know if he misses staying “home” or it was the war. But he is the quick to get angry as well as all 3 of the 5 great uncles that survived the war and made it here to tell you that they ere NOT NAZIS!!! They were German regular army paratroopes or the Fallshhirmjager of the german Whermacht
I’d love to see his list. I recent years there were quite a few really good German war movies. I suppose if I did the list again I would have to add some more.
I haven’t seen Swing Kids, thanks for the suggestion.
I suppose your grandfather must miss Germany. Having to leave for whatever reason isn’t like wanting to leave and the war was intense for everyone.