Wooden Crosses

Wooden Crosses Les Croix de Bois Movie Poster Country France Directed by Raymond Bernard Release Date March 17, 1932 Language French German Studio Pathé-Natan Distributor Pathé-Natan Main Cast Character Actor Adjudant Gilbert Demachy Pierre Blanchar Sulphart Gabriel Gabrio Caporal Breval Charles Vanel Soldat Fouillard Raymond Aimos Soldat Vieuble Antonin Artaud

Wooden Crosses is a 1932 French war drama directed by Raymond Bernard. In the fervor and exaltation of the beginning of the war, Demachy, still a student, answers the call to serve in the army. He meets Sulphart, Bréval, Bouffioux, and others, formerly workers, bakers, cooks, now united under the name of "soldier". In the midst of the trenches disfigured by the guns, the soldiers face the cruelty of daily life, the waiting for the mail that tears the hearts, the terror of hidden mines, the comrades who fall. While the wooden crosses bloom on the open graves, Demachy ends up losing his ideals.

An American remake was released in 1936 starring Warner Baxter and Fredric March.

The following weapons were used in the film Wooden Crosses:

Revolvers

Chamelot-Delvigne Mle. 1873

The Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873 revolver seems to be the standard sidearm for French and German officers.

Chamelot-Delvigne Mle. 1873 (blued) - 11x17.8mmR.

A German officer with his revolver during a French night raid.

Lieutenant Morache (René Montis) before the attack on the village.

Another German officer fires the revolver.

Morache in a foxhole in No Man's Land holds the revolver.

Rifles

Lebel Mle. 1886

The French Army is armd with Lebel 1886 rifles. Adjudant Gilbert Demachy (Pierre Blanchar), Soldat Fouillard (Raymond Aimos), Soldat Vieublé (Antonin Artaud), Soldat Broucke (Paul Azaïs), Soldat Hamel (René Bergeron) and Soldat Vairon (Raymond Cordy) use Lebel rifles during the battles.

Lebel Model 1886 - 8x50Rmm

Gilbert Demachy holds his Lebel as he joins his unit in 1914.

French soldiers start attacking the village with Lebels with fixed Rosaline bayonets.

Left side of two Lebels fired by French soldiers.

An overview of a rifle.

French soldiers present their arms during a parade.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

German infantrymen are seen with Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The rifle held by a retreating soldier.

German soldiers in a counterattack. Note the fixed Seitengewehr 98/05 bayonets.

Mauser Karabiner 98AZ

At least, the German sniper team in the village is armed with a Karabiner 98AZ.

Mauser Karabiner 98AZ - 7.92x57mm

The team spotted a single French soldier.

The sniper fires the carbine. The side-mounted sling-swivel can be seen.

Machine Guns

Maxim MG 08

Maxim MG08s are used by German soldiers.

Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Maxim being fired from a trench.

German soldiers in a ruin operate the machine gun.

Two Germans open fire at encircled French soldiers in the church.

Hotchkiss Mle. 1914

The Hotchkiss M1914 is the standard machine gun for the French army.

M1914 Hotchkiss Machine Gun with tripod - 8x50mmR Lebel / 7.92x57mm Mauser / 11mm Gras

French MG-team carries a Hotchkiss during urban warfare.

The Hotchkiss in action repelling a German attack.

Hand Grenades

Unknown Grenades

French soldiers use unknown grenades.

Stielhandgranate

During the attack on the church, German soldiers are seen with some stick grenades.

Other

M1917 Flare Gun

Canon de 155mm GPF

Canon de 155 Grande Puissance Filloux (GPF) - 155mm

Canon de 75 mm Mle. 1897

Canon 75mm Mle. 1897

Canon de 155 C, Mle. 1917 Schneider

Canon 155mm Mle. 1917

Trivia

Due to the very intense and realistic fight scenes for that time, scenes were often reused by many movies, countless documentations, and some video game cutscenes. There are also several allusions to this film in various media.

A few examples:

• The World Moves On, a 1934 movie directed by John Ford that contains many battle scenes.
• The Road to Glory, the already mentioned 1936 American remake.
• Seventh Heaven, the 1937 movie features footage of battle scenes.
• Medal of Honor: Underground, the first clip of the intro sequence of the 2000 video game showing charging French soldiers crossing No Man's Land.
• Valiant Hearts: The Great War, the last chapter mission titled Wooden Crosses.