Okay...out of the fire and into the fryin' pan. I got a new Soviet WWII movie that is really great, title: "They fought for their Motherland." It was made in the 1970's, but contains no commie propaganda at all. Just an honest character study about the simple courage of the average farmer-turned-soldier in the early days of 1942. At this time the Russian army was still in retreat from the Germans, and feeling the shame of having to retreat...even the old women in the villages are calling them "Cowards". The battle scenes are very well staged, and on par with American movies as far as special effects were concerned in that era. It's one of the best war movies I've ever seen...I kid you not! It comes with a choice of English language and/or subtitles.
In case anybody is wondering I am not, have never been or will be a sympathiser to Socialism. I have a very good friend in the Ukraine named Max. He has only been able to enjoy a taste of freedom since 1989, and thoroughly appreciates it after being forced to attend "communism classes" as a schoolboy before the breakup of the USSR. For the last 2 years we have exchanged emails, books, and info about our mutual interest in WWII..that is how I have learned which movies are worthwhile His grandfather was an Artillarist in the Russian army during WWII, was captured and spent time in Mauthausen.
OKAY, so I don't get to call you a commie pinko (Hey orange is as close as I could get here)
That's interesting that you get to find out all these things from Max. How often do we get to discover things that closely and first hand?
This movie sounds really good. I will add it to the list...
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
There is one rather brutal scene that I know is based on fact, and I'm sure our American vets witnessed this too...a German tank stopping on top of a foxhole, locking the brake on one side, causing the tank to pivot in place...grinding the man underneath to shreds . I've seen this in several movies and know it was commonplace on the Eastern front for both German and Russian tankers to do......there was no love lost here!
DD
PS- In all fairness, I should mention that if the tankers did not do this, the man in the foxhole would normally attempt to place a magnetic mine (or a grenade) on the tank as soon as it passed over!. Things that appear gruesome to us are sometimes just a matter of survival on the battlefield...
Just finished watching a newly released (on DVD) film titled: "Sophie Scholl..The Final Days." It is a true story, based on the student underground organization known as The White Rose, which distributed anti-Nazi literature on the Munich Campus in 1943. I tell you, it left me with a large lump in my throat. I don't know if I would have had the courage of my convictions as these young people did...to speak out against the horrors and brutaliy of Hitler's regime and to pay the price for it. If you are like me, and have wondered why more Germans didn't speak out...this is a humbling movie to watch. I'll leave it at that.
I am looking forward to it in this week's mail. Thanks. Can't wait to view it.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
I am looking forward to it in this week's mail. Thanks. Can't wait to view it.
It went out today M ! Be sure to listen to side B after you watch the movie...it has interviews with people who were involved in various ways with the characters in the movie. Also, there are German actors in this that had roles in "Downfall." The guy that portrays that fanatic Nazi Judge is just flat scary!
Got it today Daddy. Thanks. It looks good from just glancing at the cover and the back synopsis. Can't wait. Will let you know as soon as we view it. Thanks again my friend.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
I think it will have the same impact on you as it did with me. Speaking of films...FINALLY, "Flags of Our Fathers" opened here in Ellensburg today! I was beginning to think it was going to be out on DVD before our tiny Liberty Theater got a copy! Hope to see it this weekend...
I don't think I mentioned this film yet here at VI Corps, but "The Winter War" is in my personal Top 5% of foreign language films. For anyone who may not be familiar, the Winter War was fought in 1939 when Finland successfully resisted a land-grab attempt by Stalin's Red Army. At the time, Finland's "army" was scarcely more than a group of under equipped patriots, but they had the will and determination to protect their homeland from a vastly (numerically) superior foe. A film about personal courage and sacrifice for the greater good......very realistic and high-budget battle scenes enough to satisfy any who require lots of action too!
Thanks. That made me think of the book that I have called, Seven Days in January - With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation Norwind.
The book begins with a prelude into the history of this unit prior to Norwind. It discusses the Northern Theatre of Operations in July 1941, in northern Finland and the plan codenamed, SILVERFOX, that called for an attack with three corps to interdict the Murmansk Railway in multiple locations to prevent the possibility of the Soviets building a bypass around a single German interdiction.
Talk about how green the troops were back then, etc.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Just an honest character study about the simple courage of the average farmer-turned-soldier in the early days of 1942. At this time the Russian army was still in retreat from the Germans, and feeling the shame of having to retreat...even the old women in the villages are calling them "Cowards". The battle scenes are very well staged, and on par with American movies as far as special effects were concerned in that era. It's one of the best war movies I've ever seen...I kid you not! It comes with a choice of English language and/or subtitles.
His grandfather was an Artillarist in the Russian army during WWII, was captured and spent time in Mauthausen.
Jim
Be sure to listen to side B after you watch the movie...it has interviews with people who were involved in various ways with the characters in the movie. Also, there are German actors in this that had roles in "Downfall." The guy that portrays that fanatic Nazi Judge is just flat scary!