Shock Troop
Stoßtrupp 1917

Movie Poster

Country	Germany
Directed by	Ludwig Schmid-Wildy, Hans Zöberlein
Release Date	1934
Language	English French German

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Hans Steinbauer	Ludwig Schmid-Wildy
Girgl	Beppo Brem
Heiner	Max Zankl
Anderl	Hans Pössenbacher
Martl	Karl Hanft

Shock Troop (Stoßtrupp 1917) is a 1934 German war movie and was based on the novel Der Glaube an Deutschland by Hans Zöberlein. This movie shows the everyday life of a small Stoßtrupp squad during trench warfare in World War One and of their deprivation and the bloody, costly fights against the French and English. Despite all the hardships and grief for their fallen comrades, the protagonists never lose their courage.

The following weapons were used in the film Shock Troop:

Handguns

Unknown Pistol

During a briefing a unknown pistol is lying on the card table. According to the size it could be a Mauser Pocket Pistol.

The pistol in front of the general.

Rifles

Mauser 98AZ Carbine

Most soldiers of the squad use Mauser 98AZ Carbines. It was the primary rifle for the German Shock Troops in World War One. Some English soldiers can also seen with this rifle.

Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine - 7.92x57mm.

The leader of the squad with the rifle on the back.

An English soldier holds the rifle.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Regular German infantry is fighting with Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles. Some British soldiers use also this rifle with Post WW1 Reichswehr tangent-leaf rear sights.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Several Gewehr 1898 rifles in a bunker.

German soldier on the left with his Mauser.

Lebel 1886

The majority of French soldiers use Lebel 1886 rifles during the trench raid.

Lebel Model 1886 Rifle - 8x50Rmm

Berthier Fusil Mle 1902

A French soldier is brielfy seen with a Fusil Modèle 1902 Rifle.

Berthier Model 1902 Rifle

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III*

In the second half of the movie the squad fighting in Flanders and Cambrai against British forces. The majority of these British forces are armed with Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* rifles but some British soldiers are also armed with Mauser 98AZ Carbines.

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* - .303 British. This was the main battle rifle of British and Commonwealth forces during the First World War.

Two SMLEs on the right.

Machine Guns

Maxim MG 08

A Maxim MG08 is briefly seen in a German trench.

Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Bottom left

Maxim MG 08/15

A Shock Troop member uses a light Maxim MG08/15.

Maxim MG08/15 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

St. Étienne Mle 1907

French soldiers trying to put up a St. Étienne Mle 1907.

St. Étienne Mle 1907 - 8x50mmR Lebel

Vickers MK1

The Vickers MK1 Machine Gun is used by British forces.

Vickers Mk1 Machine Gun - .303 British

English soldiers transport the Vickers. Note on the left the Gewehr 98 with tangent-leaf rear sights.

The Vickers MK1 in a bunker.

Lewis Gun

An English soldier is very briefly seen with a Lewis Gun.

Lewis Gun - .303 British

Hand Grenades

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

German soldiers are equipped with anachronistic Model 24 Stielhandgranates. A Model 15, Model 16 or a Model 17 Stielhandgranate were accurate in this time period.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade

German soldier about to throw a grenade.

Dead German soldier with Model 24 Stielhandgranate.

F1 hand grenade

French soldiers use correct F1 hand grenades

F1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade with Mle1916 Billant fuse..

Two grenades above the entrance of the shelter.

Mills Bomb

British soldiers and the German Shock Troop use Mills Bombs. The Shock Troop build a provisional Geballte Ladung to take out a British Mark IV Tank.