How I Unleashed World War II (1970). DVD cover.
How I Unleashed World War II (original: Jak rozpetalem druga wojne swiatowa) is a 1970 Polish war comedy by Tadeusz Chmielewski on based of the popular novel Przygody kanoniera Dolasa (english: The Adventures of Gunner Dolas) by Kazimierz Sławinski. Starring Marian Kociniak as Pvt. Franek Dolas. The story is divided into three parts. In first part is hero captured by Germans, but he manages to escape from prison camp (Stalag). While trying to go back to Poland to join the battle against the occupiers, he unwillingly travels across Europe. In part two, he is forced into service in the French Foreign Legion in the Middle East. He manages to escape their service and wanted to join the British forces, but unwittingly fell into their captivity. Later he even manages to incorporate into the Italian army. The story concludes, in part three, with Franek returning to Poland, where he meets a partisans and falls in love with radio operator Teresa (Joanna Jedryka). Film, in a very funny way, shows European nations (Germans, Italians, French, British) as seen by an average Pole. Originally black and white, it was digitally colorized in 2000 by the Hollywood company Dynacs Digital Studios, as requested by the Studio Filmowe "Oko" and TV Polsat.
The following weapons are featured in the film How I Unleashed World War II:
Pistols and revolvers
Walther P38 pistol
Walther P38 pistol (manufactured at the Mauser Factory) - World War II dated - 9x19mm
The commander of the German military patrol holds in the hand a
Walther P38 pistol.
SS officer fires from his pistol on fleeing Pvt. Franek Dolas.
Beretta Model 1934
Beretta Model 1934 - .380 ACP. On the slide are reported the year of production (in this case 1941) and in roman numerals the year fascist
SACM Model 1935A
SACM Model 1935A - 7.65 x 22mm Longue
Teresa (Joanna Jedryka) drew on Pvt. Franek Dolas a pistol hidden in a basket with a transmitter.
It was a type of pre-war French
SACM Model 1935A military pistol. The specimen in this picture is not working, so it was in the scene where she shoots replaced by anachronistic
Polish M48 Pistol.
Polish M48 (Tokarev TT-33) Pistol
Polish M48 Tokarev - 7.62x25mm. Produced at the Radom factory in Poland between 1952 and 1956.
Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873
Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873 revolver - 11 x 17mmR
Enfield No. 2 Mk I*
Enfield No. 2 Mk I* - .38 S&W
Nagant M1895 Revolver
Nagant M1895 Pistol - 7.62x38N cartridge (aka 7.62 Nagant ammo).
Submachine guns
MP40
MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm
German soldiers are armed with
MP40 submachine guns.
Partisan´s commander Józek Kryska (
Wirgiliusz Gryn) disguised as a German soldier.
Pvt. Franek Dolas (Marian Kociniak) opened fire on German by unexpected trigger capture of the limb.
Sten Mk II
Polish resistance fighter with a Sten gun fires in German soldiers.
Beretta Model 38/42
Beretta Model 38/42 - 9x19mm.
An Italian soldier give his submachine gun voluntarily to Pvt. Franek Dolas (Marian Kociniak).
Beretta Model 38A
Beretta Model 38A - 9x19mm
Soldier of the French Foreign Legion with a
Beretta M38 submachine gun on his back.
MAS-38
MAS-38 Submachine gun - 7.65mm.
Lanchester Mk. I
Lanchester Mk. I - 9x19mm
PPSh-41
Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Polish partisan (left) armed with
PPSh-41 submachine guns with drum magazines.
Rifles
Polish WZ29 rifle
Polský WZ29 Mauser - 8x57mm
Pvt. Franek Dolas slept with a rifle under his head in a train and woke up in Germany.
Carcano M91 Rifle
Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbine with folded bayonet - 6.5mm.
Karabiner 98k
Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Lee-Enfield No.4 rifle
Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I - .303 British. This was the main battle rifle of British and Commonwealth forces during World War II.
Berthier Rifle
In the film, most of the French Foreign Legionnaires armed Berthier Rifles. But failed do captured high-quality shot, where it is able to identify.
Berthier Model 1907-15 Rifle
Berthier Model 1907-16 Rifle
Machine guns
Bren Gun
Pvt. Franek Dolas (Marian Kociniak) worry attack on the
Bren Gun, carried by a legionnaire.
Browning 1919A4
Browning 1919A4, fitted with bolt latch - .30-06
Breda Modello 37
Breda Modello 37 - 8x59mm RB Breda
Italian soldier with a
Breda Modello 37 machine gun was captured by Pvt. Franek Dolas.
Degtyaryov DP Series Machine Gun
Degtyarev DP-28 machine gun, 7.62x54mm R
Maxim MG08
Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser
German soldiers in the guards post with a
Maxim MG08 machine gun.
Other
F-1 Hand Grenade
F-1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
PzB-39 and Panzerfaust
PzB-39 Anti-tank rifle - 7.92×94 mm (Patrone 318)
Panzerfaust - 44mm with 149mm warhead
8 cm Paw 600 (8H63)
Panzerwurfkanone PWK 8 H 63
The bridge over the river defended the 8 cm Paw 600 German anti-tank cannon.