Cross of Iron

Hello PzGdr, I think the movie your talking about was the one made for HBO called: When Trumpets Fade. If I remember correctly, the movie did not make a very good impression on me, but I think I did tape it. I havent watched it since then. This was about the Hurtgen Forrest battles--too modernized for my tastes.

I havent seen the Winter War--yet, but its on my list.

 

Some of my favorite WWII films:
Saving Private Ryan
Cross of Iron
Das Boot
A Bridge to Far
Kelly's Heroes
Escape from Sobibor
Stalag 17
Stalingrad
(The movie about the Italians at Stalingrad of which I cant remember the name right now)
Winter War
Patton
The Longest Day
Tora Tora Tora

WWII films I hate:
Big Red One
Battle of the Bulge
Pearl Harbor
To Hell and Back Again
Any with John Wayne in the Pacific

 

My favorite movies are:

- The Winter War
THE war movie, especially in the 5 hour version, which follows the course of war more accurately than the badly severed export version.

Amazingly accurate in a historical sense (the units, where it fought, the equipment, the locations, the battleground etc.)
The REAL T-26s especially are SO cool!


- Stalingrad
GREAT movie.


- Das Boot
One of my alltime favorites. Unrivalled in the submarine war category.


- S(h)aving Private Ryan
Not so impressive as a war movie (in historical sense) but you got to love those combat scenes.

- Cross of Iron
This is probably the first war movie in which I saw the nasty side of war as a kid. Blood & guts & violence. Not fun at all.
One of the best war movies ever appeared from Hollywood. Maybe because western allies are not "in it", all Germans are not portrayed as evil nazis etc.
Also, until SPR came along, it had the best combat scenes.


- Tuntematon Sotilas (The unknown Soldier)
Old black & white movie mad in the 50s, based on a book by Väinö Linna. Fantastic movie!!!

Those are my favorites. Haven't seen Pearl Harbor yet, so can't comment on that. Enemy at the Gates wasn't so good.

Cheers,
Sami

 

C. I quite liked that movie "When Trumpets Fade" while it was small in scale I thought its portrayal of the mens feelings and motives was very realistically done. Veteran soliers getting killed for nothing late in the war in a meaningless battle. I have also read that the Hurtgen Forest was on of the worst run battles of the war on the US side that is.

 

Billy, you ar equite correct, that battle was VERY poorly led, which also led to the decline of mens moreal and discipline resulting in many S.I.Ws and desertions. Most famous of the deserters was Pvt Eddie Slovik, who was executed for his desertion as an example to others of what could happen to them.

General Norman Cota, CO of the 29th I.D. a man who came up through the ranks, a G.Is General, was severely reprimanded for his lack of leadership during that battle. His Division was called: The Bloody Bucket division, for all the blood that was spilt in that battle. I think overall, that there were 5 US Inf Divs involved in the fighting in the Hurtgen Forrest. You know what? that battle never needed to be fought in the first place. These men could have easily advanced to the Ruhr area as there was not much of a German presence there.

My humble opinion of the movie was that I really didnt care for it, which isnt to say it was a bad movie, I just didnt like it that time I saw it, but in fair play, I will watch it again, as soon as i get my new apartment and things straightened out. But will not be for sometime yet.