Low-budget WWII film in GA

[CurtD]

I am going to be involved in a low-budget WWII film with Sci-Fi touches ("Castle Keep" is the closest movie I can think of) being made in north Georgia next week. It takes place at a Heer POW camp in Germany in late 1944.
The director has done an admirable job of researching uniforms and equipment and wants to make this film as accurate as possible given the limited budget.

I was cast at the last minute to play the part of a German Captain who was formerlly artillery, but due to wounds has been transferred to the POW camp as their interrogator.

The director was excited to learn that I was a German militaria collector and member of this forum and, so far we have spent more time discussing WWII and German militaria than the movie!

I want to ensure that my part (at least) is as accurate as possible so as not to bring shame and disgrace to myself or this fourm!

Unfortunately, I am not a Heer collector. Can someone post a pic of what a 1944 POW captain's uniform should look like (hopefully in color). Or just pics of a real cap, boards, insignia, etc. would be wonderful.

I have been told that I will have a flak badge, EK 1st class, Knight's Cross (I'm a badass!). I think, obviously, I should also have a wound badge. Anything else missing in this combo? Would I always be wearing the Knight's Cross?

I am assuming that he would have given up the red piping from artillery and be wearing standard yellow (or white?).

We might also need some reenactors who would like to be extras on Nov 20th(no pay, unfortunately -- but food provided). Anyone that has a working MP40 would be worshipped accordingly.

[ANDY BUTKUS]

Low-budget WWII film in GA

That sounds like fun.... Keep us updated....

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Curt, keep us posted about the film.

In answer to some of your questions:

An Artillery Captain would retain his red piped shoulder boards and litzen collar tabs. A Knights Cross would be worn at all times, even in shirtsleeve order. The other awards listed would be correct. A wound badge would certainly be a must; otherwise why would an experienced, highly decorated officer, not be serving in a frontline operational unit?

I cannot really help much with photos, other than a breast eagle & shoulder boards, but there are plenty on the forum which would show the items you are looking to see. Just do a search. A Capt in 1944 assigned to a POW Camp would still wear a tailor made M36 feldbluse.

Hope this helps?

Cheers, Ade.

[RickSqueri]

Curt, you can see some photo's of Artillery and other Officers caps on my website: http://www.hessenantique.com


Regards,
Rick

[RickSqueri]

I know a LW officer in Memphis if your looking for a camp Kommandant!

[CurtD]

Thanks for all your help guys.

Were Heer POW camp officers usually piped in yellow?

Can someone post (or point me to) a pic of a 1944 Hauptmann's collar tabs and shoulder boards?

Thanks again.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Curt, I am not sure why you are thinking yellow piped boards for POW camp staff? There was no special piping to my knowledge?

Here is a set of Captains Artillery boards.

Cheers, Ade.

[CurtD]

Hi Curt, I am not sure why you are thinking yellow piped boards for POW camp staff? There was no special piping to my knowledge?

Here is a set of Captains Artillery boards.

Cheers, Ade.

What color should the be? I don't understand how the piping color works for POW staff.

[Adrian Stevenson]

There was no special colour as far as I know.


Cheers, Ade.

[CurtD]

There was no special colour as far as I know.


Cheers, Ade.

So what would you wear if your first assignment after entering the Heer was a POW camp?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Curt, I would imagine that not many men would be called up and put straight into the Army as a POW camp guard? I think most would be over age reservists or wounded men doing light duites from various other units?

Cheers, Ade.

[DonC]

Hi Curt -

Stick with Artillery red. Also, I would perhaps suggest at least a Silver WOund Badge, if your character was to have been wounded enough to be REMF's to a Stalag... Perhaps and eye patch?


Don

[Scott H]

decorations

As far as decorations are concerned, I would go like this, Eastern Front ribbon through the button hole of the tunic. Then a ribbon bar with Iron Cross 1939, War Merit Cross w/swords and 4 Year Long Service Medal. On the tunic pocket, Iron Cross 1st Class 1939, Flak Artillery Badge and a Silver Wound Badge. If you go with a missing limb or missing eye, I would then upgrade to a Gold Wound Badge. Please stay with the red piped shoulder boards! That would be accurate and correct! Also, every WW II movie that I have seen, from "The Triain" through "The Pinast" the German Officer's alway's have white piped shoulder boards!!!!!!!!!!!! One would almost think that that was all the Germans used.