Downfall

Downfall (2004)

Downfall (2004) , (the original German language/International title is Der Untergang ) is a visceral, dark and disturbing account of the last days of the Third Reich, most notably the story of Traudl Junge, the young and pretty secretary for Adolf Hitler in his last days in the bunker. The movie chronicles the varied responses of the German military and civilian populations to the invasion of Berlin as Hitler insanely believes the war can still be won. The remaining fanatical Nazis collapse into violence as they try to stave off the Red Army and are caught in a fate of their own making, while other Germans try to survive the insanity and fruitlessly try to convince Hitler that the war is over and further loss of life is pointless. Being a German in Berlin in the spring of 1945 is about as close to Hell on Earth as one can imagine...

The following guns were used in Downfall:

Pistols

Walther PP

General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling (Michael Mendl) and Oberscharführer Rochus Misch (Heinrich Schmieder) carry Walther PP pistols as their sidearm. Weilding's is seen when he turns it over before entering the bunker. Misch is seen gazing at his Walther PP pistol while manning the radio.

The lesser-known, full-length barreled Walther PP is available in 6.35mm auto (.25 ACP), 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP) Auto or 9x17mm (.380 ACP).

Oberscharführer Rochus Misch contemplates suicide with his Walther PP pistol.

Walther PPK

Adolf Hitler's (Bruno Ganz) Walther PPK is seen lying on the floor of his study after he commits suicide. General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf carries a PPK as do other officers, and Nazi diplomates such a Walther Hewel.

Early Walther PPK in 7.65x17mm Auto (.32 ACP)

After committing suicide Hitler's Walther PPK pistol is seen on the floor of his study.

Wilhelm Burgdorf uses his PPK to threaten to shoot Nazi Offical Hans Fritzsche for wanting to surrender unconditionally to the Red Army.

SS officer decides to commit suicide rather than leave with SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Mohnke during the breakout.

Nazi Party Diplomat Walther Hewel keeps his promise to Hitler and commits suicide before the Russians can capture him.

Walther Model 8

After Hitler commites suicide a Walther Model 8 pistol is seen lying on his coffee table. This is historically accuarate according to Hitler's personal valet Heinz Linge, and his adjutant Otto Gunsche who testified that upon Hitlers suicide they discovered him with two pistols. A Walther Model 8, which his Linge claimed Hitler often carried in a concealed pocket, and a Walther PP or PPK pistol. Gunsche unloaded the weapones and noted that the 7.65mm Walther Model PP or PPK, he couldnt recall the exact model, had been fired. The Walther Model 8 6.35mm had not been fired.

Hitler's Walther Model 8 pistol - 6.35mm.

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Walther P38

Most of the Wehrmacht,Waffen-SS, and Hitler Youth soldiers are seen with a Walther P38 pistol as their sidearm. Sturmbannführer Otto Günsche (Götz Otto) carries a Walther P38, also Joseph Goebbels (Ulrich Matthes)uses a P38 to commit suicide with his wife.

World War Two era P38 Pistol - 9mm

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Sturmbannführer Otto Günsche and some of the last remaining German officers prepare for the Red Army with their Walther P38 pistols.

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Hitler youth plan to commit suicide to escape Red Army.

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Joseph Goebbels stands with his Walther P38 as he and his wife prepare to commit suicide.

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Luger P08

SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Mohnke (André Hennicke) carries a Luger P08 pistol as his sidearm. He is seen with it when the last remaining German officers prepare for the Red Army.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm.

SS-Brigadeführer Mohnke,to the left, aiming his Luger P08 in preparation for the Red Army.

Submachine Guns

MP38

The MP38 Submachine gun is seen in use by Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS troops. Standartenführer Ernst-Günther Schenck's adjutant carries one as well.

MP38 Submachine gun - 9x19mm.

A German NCO with a rusted MP38 escorts Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara) and Gerda Christian (Birgit Minichmayr) (disguised as male German Soldiers) in an attempt to sneak across enemy lines.

Schenck's adjutant grabs his MP38 when going with Schenck to confront the SS troopers.

SS trooper aims his MP38 at Schenck.

Schenck's adjutant tells the SS troopers to stop.

MP40

Members of the Waffen SS are seen armed with MP40 submachine guns, most notably when preparing to cremate the Goebbels remains.

MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm

Guards armed with MP40 submachine guns at an enterance to the bunker.

Waffen-SS prepair petrol for the cremation of Goebbels remains, MP40 submachine guns slung on their backs.

SS approch Goebbels remains.

Soldier seen with MP40 after the breakout from Berlin.

PPSh-41 Submachine Gun

The PPSh-41 Submachine Gun is seen throughout the movie, but seen in massive amounts at the end. At first I figured that the Red Army would not have so many PPSh-41 submachine guns in so many hands (nearly everyone has one), but after talking to a World War Two historian on that very note, I discovered that the Red Army, upon entering Berlin, had issued nearly every soldier with PPSh-41s in anticipation of the street fighting that ensued. So this abundance of PPSh-41s is in fact, historically correct.

A PPSh-41 submachine gun.

A literal sea of PPSh-41 Submachine guns in the hands of waiting Soviet Soldiers

And the soldiers standing behind them are carrying ... you guessed it ... even more PPSh-41 Submachine guns(!!).

Rifles

Karabiner 98k

The standard battle weapon of the German Army during WW2, the Karabiner 98k (98K). It is seen most during an interior scene where weapons are being handed out (however the vast majority of weapons in the scene are StG-44 assault rifles) and at the end of the film, where surrendering German soldiers are smashing their pristine Karabiner 98k rifles against the ground prior to the arrival of the Red Army (albeit a scene which made me wince at the thought of all those beautiful guns destroyed...yeow!.)

Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm

Gaurd at Hitler's Wolf's Lair armed with Karabiner 98k rifle in 1942.

Soldiers seen armed with Karabiner 98k rifles above the Führerbunker.

A soldiers with a slung Karabiner 98k restrains a civilian trying to intervine in a lynching.

File:DownFall98k.JPG

Soldier to the right seen holding his Karabiner 98k.

Several dozen soldiers armed with Karabiner 98k after the breakout from Berlin.

Karabiner 98k rifles seen "stacked" while soldiers wait for advancing Red Army.

Sturmgewehr 44

Arguably the most Sturmgewehr 44s ever seen in one movie. The StG-44 is more seen than all other German weapons. As confirmed by a WW2 Historian, the German army held back issuing their StG-44s to elite units, but towards the end of the war, starting handing them out in large numbers, figuring that they were running out of troops to arm.

The Sturmgewehr 44 is still being manufactured in Germany. A German firearms company is re-making the StG-44 as a new gun and selling it to civilians and collectors world wide, except for America, where the BATFE has banned its' import. That same German company also makes a new version of the classic MP40 for sale as well.

Sturmgewehr 44 - 7.92 Kurz

Lots of Waffen SS line up with StG-44s and one MP-40

Waffen SS fights with StG-44 in the streets of Berlin.

SS soldiers stand gaurd at one of the bunkers enterances with their StG-44.

A soldier jumps from the sidecar to seek cover carrying his StG-44.

Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine

A lot of M38 Carbines are seen in the hands of Red Army soldiers, but not that many full sized M91/30 rifles, which is rather odd, since the Mosin Nagant M91/30 was the most common weapon in any Red Army Infantry unit. But after talking to a World War Two Historian, I learned that the M91/30 full sized rifle was rare for any of the armies pushing into Berlin. Other than Submachine guns, the M38 Carbine was issued to truck drivers and secondary members of crew served weapons. So the mix of PPSh-41s and M38s is historically correct.

Soviet Army M38 Carbine - 7.62x54R

Red Army soldiers with M38 Carbines & PPSh-41 Submachine guns.

Red Army soldiers stands with his M38 Carbine - 7.62x54R.

Red Army soldiers seen with their M38 Carbines.

‎== Tokarev SVT-40 Rifle ==

Seen in the distance, near the beginning of the film, Soviet soldiers fire semiautomatic shots from their long rifles.  Though seen quickly they are SVT-40 Rifles.  Some folks have opined that they could be the first model of the Simonov Type 45 (the SKS) which made their first appearance in the Red Army's assault on Berlin, but the muzzle flash from the rifles shows a muzzle brake pattern that indicates an SVT-40, rather than the SKS which had no muzzle brake.

Tokarev SVT-40, 7.62x54mm R

Machine Gun

MG34

German soldiers are seen laying down surpressing fire during the Red Armys assault on the city.

An MG34.

German soldiers fight off the Russians with an MG34.

Miscellaneous Weaponry

Panzerfaust

Hitler Youth and German soldiers are armed with Panzerfaust to defend Berlin against Red Army Tanks. Hitler Youth Peter Kranz (Donevan Gunia) is seen with one. The Volkssturm under Dr. Joseph Goebbels command also are seen armed with Panzerfaust.

Panzerfaust 44mm with 149mm rocket

Hitlerjugend awaits the Red Army with his Panzerfaust.

Volkssturm troops under Goerbbels command seen armed with Panzerfaust.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

As Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS soldiers in the Reichstad are prepairing for battle you can see Model 24 Stielhandgranate being passed out.

Antipersonnel fragmentation M24 hand grenade.

Soldiers seen with M24 hand grenades.

Model 39 Eihandgranate

SS-Reichsarzt Ernst-Robert Grawitz (Christian Hoening) uses 2 Model 39 Eihandgranate to commite suicide.

SS-Reichsarzt Ernst-Robert Grawitz prepairs two Model 39 Stielhandgranates.

SS-Reichsarzt Ernst-Robert Grawitz ready to set off his Model 39 Eihandgranate.