Movie Downfall

[Steve P]

The snipits of the interview with hitlers secretary is available on dvd

Its interesting interview that lasts about a hour and was made not long

before she died.

On 'The World at War' series by the BBC Traudl Junge is interviewed as an episode as well, obviously she was younger than in the one mentioned here and it's interesting to compare the interviews!

[Jon. H]

There is another extremely small mistake in the movie to. I do not want to be picky since the movie is amazing, but look here.

From the movie, Reichsjugendführer Arthur Axmann with Hitler when he's awarding
ek's.

Axmann is wearing an Gauleiter uniform with a HJ armband in the movie. And he's wearing an M43 and not a visor.

From the movie.

hitlerawardinghitleryouth544.jpg

[Jon. H]

From the real life,
1945a.jpg

[PaulW]

A favourite movie of mine too.

A great movie, great atmosphere. I confess to having seen it 'more than once' at the cinema and also on DVD, and also owning the German version as it came out quicker than the English version (it had English subtitles so was fine)...

The film certainly had an impressive authenticity. I did hear of one slight 'controversy' however. I understand that some historians differ on Hitler's reaction to Fegelein's disappearance. In the movie he rants and foams at the mouth shouting "Fegelein, Fegelein, Fegelein!" as we the audience might both want and expect him to do. An alternative version is that his reaction was muted and that he said somrthing to the effect of "I've got bigger things to worry about than that right now" and that Gunsche and others persuaded Hitler to issue an arrest order as it would set a bad example not to. Can't remember where I read it! It wouldn't surprise me too much as without Hitler ranting enough audiences might be disappointed.....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is an interesting bunker witness account:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005...sandhumanities

From the article:-

As the German army collapsed, Hitler stayed in Berlin continuously from November 1944, eventually retreating into the bunker with his entourage. From then on, Ms Flegal saw him frequently.

"I was in the building and someone said, 'The Führer is here,'" she said. "The first time it didn't particularly affect me. He was away from Berlin for a long time before someone announced again, 'The Führer is back.' Hitler shook hands with all the people he hadn't greeted before. After that he talked to us regularly.

"His authority was extraordinary. He was always polite and charming. There was really nothing to object to."

**(No ranting - not good for a Hitler movie!!)

Also:-

The film Downfall, which she watched in her nursing home, gave an accurate portrayal of the Third Reich and its final hours, she said. "They got a few small details wrong. But generally it was correct," she said, adding: "I even recognised myself as a nursing sister."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I note that in Downfall the reference to him shouting "Flood the sewers!" (with all the civilians in etc) shown in an earlier film "The Bunker" (I think, or "The Last Ten days" perhaps) was quietly dropped as it has now emerged that this order was given after Hitler's death and there were few casualties anyway.

I don't expect to see the 'real Hitler' in a commercial movie, maybe a documentary with contemporary witnesses - but overall it was very good. In reality perhaps he was less dramatic and dare I say it not as interesting.....


Regards, Paul.

[Michael Root]

An alternative version is that his reaction was muted and that he said somrthing to the effect of "I've got bigger things to worry about than that right now" and that Gunsche and others persuaded Hitler to issue an arrest order as it would set a bad example not to. Can't remember where I read it! It wouldn't surprise me too much as without Hitler ranting enough audiences might be disappointed.....

I've heard that also.

[militaria.no]

... everything is just so well done!

With one big exception: Heinrich Himmler`s visor cap. Why not use a few extra Euros from the moviebudget to give him a more realistic looking saddle shaped visor cap!?!? A nice looking cap Himmler would actually have worn

Notice this next time you see the movie guys…

[Jon. H]

With one big exception: Heinrich Himmler`s visor cap. Why not use a few extra Euros from the moviebudget to give him a more realistic looking saddle shaped visor cap!?!? A nice looking cap Himmler would actually have worn

Notice this next time you see the movie guys…

It does appear a bit "tired"

HBHNAERiWyC_Pxgen_r_450xA.jpg

[DaveNZ]

I my opinion the best, most realistic and factually ww2 movie ever made outside of true documentaries.

I wrote to Rochus Misch some time ago and asked his opinion on the Movie.

He wrote back saying that although they had the bunker set up etc correct the acting was very over the top and it was not like that in reality.

[groucho]

guiness

personally i preferred Alec Guiness' Hitler

[Finnishlion178]

I know I seem to pick apart the movie despite the fact that I really like it. The weapons, you should had seem them carrying a mix of dutch, russian, french, belgian as well as british weapons from both world wars. I remember hearing from a German Officer who fought in berlin and he said. " My men had fourteen different types of rifles and not enough ammo for all of them." I only see a few Mp 40s, Mauser K98 ( during the battle they use both the 88s and 71s), and the Stg 44s in the movie........... You I think I will shut up.