Verdun: Descent Into Hell
Verdun - aux portes de l' enfer
Die Hölle von Verdun

Movie Poster

Country	France Germany
Directed by	Stefan Brauburger Oliver Halmburger
Release Date	August 30, 2006
Language	French German
Studio	ZDF Productions
Distributor	ARTE

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Karl Rosner	Markus Baumeister
Charles Delvert	Johannes Oliver Hamm
Anatole Castex	Peter Stock
Eugène Raynal	Edward Kalisz
Henri Philippe Pétain	Marian Kolon
Dr. Moses Strauss	Jaroslaw Kostrzewa

Verdun: Descent Into Hell is a 2006 French-German-produced Documentary about the Battle of Verdun in 1916 and was broadcast for the 90th anniversary of the battle. The docudrama focuses on the everyday life of simple soldiers and officers during the battle. A small town with only 22,000 inhabitants. And yet Verdun became a symbol of France's resilience in World War I in 1916. In the battle, which lasted 300 days, an estimated 350,000 men died. Ninety years later, the film depicts some of the fates of German and French soldiers in re-enacted scenes. The film was based on letters and diaries they had once written.

Most of the black and white scenes are taken from the 1930 The Somme and 1931 Douaumont movies.

The following weapons were used in the film Verdun: Descent into Hell:

Handguns

Mauser C96

German Leutnant (Lieutenant) Werner Müller (uncredited) uses a Mauser C96 pistol.

Mauser C96 - 7.63x25mm Mauser

Lieutenant Müller before going over the top holds his Mauser.

He releases the slide which offers a view of a 7.63x25mm Mauser round.

MAS Mle. 1892

Charles Delvert (Johannes Oliver Hamm) wields an Mle 1892 Revolver.

Revolver d'ordonnance modèle 1892 - 8x27mmSR

He holds revolver while shouting to his men.

He looks at his dead comrade.

Luger P08

A Luger P08 is carried by Karl von Andrian (uncredited) in No Man's Land.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

He advances to a French MG position.

Another view while forcing French soldiers to surrender.

Rifles

Mauser Gewehr 1898

The Gewehr 98 is mainly used by German soldiers. Some French soldiers were also seen with this rifle.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

German soldiers inside Fort Vaux hold their Mausers.

A French soldier with a G98 over his back.

German soldiers fix their bayonets. Note the anachronistic Buntfarbenanstrich camouflage on the fifth helmet that was introduced in early 1918.

German soldiers salute the defenders of Fort de Vaux with their rifles.

Zastava M48 Mauser

Some German soldiers use anachronistic M48 Yugoslavian Mausers standing in for Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbines.

Zastava Puška M.48 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A soldier chambers his Mauser. Note the sound effects are taken from Call of Duty 2 for the Karabiner 98k.

A view of the bolt handle.

Karabiner 98k

Some anachronistic Karabiner 98ks are also used by German soldiers. A German sniper is also seen with a scoped rifle.

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

German soldiers fire their Karabiners inside Fort Vaux.

Karabiner 98k with Zeiss ZF42 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A view throuh the scope.

The sniper aims his rifle.

A close up on the trigger...

...and the scope.

Lebel 1886 M93

The Lebel 1886 is the standard rifle for the French. Anatole Castex (Peter Stock) is seen with this rifle.

Lebel Fusil Modèle 1886 - 8x50mmR Lebel

A soldier of Charles Delvert's squad runs with his Lebel.

Another French soldier with the Lebel.

Anatole aims his rifle.

Berthier Mle. 1916 Carabine

The Berthier Model 1916 Carabine is also used by French soldiers including Charles Delvert.

Berthier Carabine modèle 1916 - 8x50mmR

A French soldier aims his rifle.

Charles Delvert fires his Berthier taken from his comrade.

Machine Guns

Maxim MG 08

Maxim MG08s are used by French and German soldiers.

Maxim MG 08 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

German soldiers transport the Maxim.

French soldier fires the Maxim.

Degtyaryov DS-39

The anachronistic Degtyaryov DS-39 is used by French soldiers standing in for the Hotchkiss M1914. The sound effects of the DS-39 are also taken from Call of Duty 2 for the Bren Mk II.