| The Battle of the Rails (La bataille du rail)
|
|
Original Poster
|
| Country
|
 France
|
| Directed by
|
René Clément
|
| Release Date
|
1946
|
| Language
|
French
German
|
| Studio
|
Coopérative Générale du Cinéma Français
|
| Main Cast
|
| Character
|
Actor
|
| "Athos"
|
Lucien Desagneaux
|
| "Camargue"
|
Tony Laurent
|
| Station master
|
Robert Leray
|
| Lampin
|
Jean Clarieux
|
| German railwayman
|
André Miller
|
| Saint André Station master
|
Léon Pauléon
|
|
|
The Battle of the Rails (original title La bataille du rail) is a French 1946 war movie directed by René Clément. It depicts the activities of Résistance-Fer, French resistance group on railroads during the German occupation.
The following weapons were used in the film The Battle of the Rails (La bataille du rail):
Handguns
Luger P08
Luger P08 pistols are used by both German troops and French Resistance fighters.
A French railwayman holds a Luger.
The leader of Resistance group (in center) with a Luger in hand.
A German officer holds a Luger.
M1911A1
What appears to be an M1911A1 pistol is seen in hands of a Resistance fighter in one scene.
World War II Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP
The man at the right holds a supposed M1911A1.
Unique Model 17
A Kriegsmodell version of Unique Model 17 pistol is carried by the commander of Resistance unit. A standard Model 17 is seen tucked at the belt of a French Resistance fighter. A German officer holds a similar pistol in one scene.
Unique Kriegsmodell, a version of Unique Model 17, manufactured in 1941-44 under German control
The Resistance commander holds the pistol. The shape of the grip matches Unique Kriegsmodell.
The commander fires his pistol.
Unique Model 17 - 7.65x17mm
A Resistance fighter carries a Unique pistol.
A German officer with supposed Unique pistol.
Submachine Guns
Sten Mk II
Some French Resistance fighters use Sten Mk II submachine guns.
A man in center holds a Sten Mk II. Note the T-shaped buttstock.
Two fighters with Sten SMGs.
A
maquisard holds a Sten.
MP40
Some German soldiers and French Resistance fighters carry MP40 SMGs.
A soldier with MP40 guards French railwaymen, mobilized on German service.
A German soldier fires his MP40 during the attack on the armoured train.
A French fighter fires an MP40.
The commander of the Resistance unit holds an MP40.
French Resistance fighters, armed with MP40 and
Lebel Mle 1886 rifle, escort German POWs in the final scene.
PPSh-41
In one scene two German soldiers carry PPSh-41 SMGs. Both guns lack magazines, so it's impossible to determine if these are original PPSh-41s or the German conversion MP41 in 9mm caliber.
PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
MP41(r), German conversion of captured PPSh-41 - 9x19mm
Two soldiers on flatcar hold PPSh-41s while the third one is armed with a
Lebel Mle 1886 rifle. The magazine wells are empty.
Rifles
Mauser Vz.24
Most German soldiers are armed with short Mauser rifles with straight bolt handles, tangent-leaf rear sights and both hooded and unhooded front sights. These rifles appear to be Czech Vz.24, widely used by Wehrmacht under the designation Gewehr 24(t). Some French Resistance fighters also use these rifles.
Czech vz. 24 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
German soldiers with Mauser rifles on railroad station.
German soldiers arrest a French railway worker, suspected in sabotage.
Another view of a Mauser rifle in the same scene.
A German soldier fires his rifle.
A German soldier in the armoured train reloads his Mauser.
Retreating German soldiers carry their rifles.
A German soldier with a Mauser rifle on sling guards the train.
Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine
Some German soldiers are armed with Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbines.
Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A German soldier with a Mauser 98AZ on sling patrols railway workshops.
A retreating soldier carries a Mauser 98ASZ carbine in the final scene.
Berthier Mle 1916 Carbine
Berthier Mle 1916 carbines are often seen in hands of French Resistance fighters. Some German soldiers also carry Berthier carbines.
Berthier Model 1916 Carabine - 8x50mm R
A
maquisard at the left holds a Berthier carbine.
A man with Berthier carbine is seen at the right.
A
maquisard with Berthier carbine in ambush.
A German soldier fires a Berthier from the top of the tank turret.
A Resistance fighter patrols the road.
Lebel Mle 1886
Lebel Mle 1886 rifles are also used by French Resistance fighters. Some German soldiers also carry Lebels.
Lebel Model 1886 Rifle - 8x50Rmm
A man at the left holds a Lebel rifle.
A Lebel is seen at the left.
A German soldier on the armoured train holds a Lebel rifle.
One of the soldiers on flatcar is armed with a Lebel rifle.
French Resistance fighters, armed with
MP40 and Lebel rifle, escort German POWs in the final scene.
Machine Guns
MG34
Resistance fighters use an MG34 during the attack on the German armoured train. MG34s are also mounted on the armoured train.
MG34 with front and rear sights folded down - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Maquisards with an MG34 in ambush.
Loading. The belt is filled with live ammunition.
Two MG34 are mounted in the armoured carriage.
Buttstocks of two MG34s and machine gun belts are seen inside the armoured train.
A German soldier fires an MG34 from the top of the turret.
MG08
An MG08 is mounted on a flatcar of the German armoured train.
Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser
MG08 is mounted on a flatcar.
Chatellerault M1924/29
Chatellerault M1924/29 machine guns are mounted on the German armoured train. French Resistance fighters also use Chatellerault machine guns.
Chatellerault M1924/29 - 7.5x54mm
A German soldier fires a Chatellerault machine gun from the armoured train carriage.
An empty Chatellerault is seen.
A
maquisard holds a Chatellerault machine gun at the background.
A German soldier fires a Chatellerault machine gun during the night attack of British planes.
Reibel Machine Gun
A Reibel Machine Gun is mounted on Renault R39 tank coaxial with 37-mm SA 38 gun.
Reibel machine gun - 7.5x54mm
A Reibel machine gun is mounted in a large amour protection next to the barrel of 37mm gun.
Another view of the armour cover for machine gun.
Flakvierling 38
A Flakvierling 38 quad AA gun is mounted on the German armoured train.
Flakvierling 38 - 20x138mm B
A Flakvierling 38 is seen at the left.
Flakvierling 38 in action.
3.7cm FlaK 36/37
3.7cm FlaK AA guns are mounted on German trains and armoured trains.
A Flak 36/37 is mounted on a flatcar.
A Flak 36/37 fires from the armoured car.
Two 3.7cm Flaks and 105mm howitzer.
Other Weapons
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
Model 24 Stielhandgranate hand grenades are used by Resistance fighters.
Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" stick grenade with fragmentation sleeve
Maquisards carry grenades.
A
maquisard readies to throw a grenade.
M9 Bazooka
Resistance fighters use an M9 Bazooka during the attack on a German armoured train.
A
maquisard examines his bazooka prior to battle.
He fires the bazooka. The face of the shooter is protected by a wrap and welding goggles.
The assistant reloads bazooka.
A bazooka rocket flies over heads of German soldiers. Judging by how the men quickly lower their heads and retract shoulders, a rocket was really fired during the filming.
Magnetized Charge "Clam" Mk III
French railwaymen use British Magnetized Charge "Clam" Mk III mines for sabotage on the railways.
Magnetized Charge "Clam" Mk III
Railwaymen train to use Clam mines.
A railwayman inserts a fuze in Clam mine...
... and attached it to a locomotive.
Trivia
Armoured Train
A genuine German Panzerzug No32 armoured train was used for filming. It is armed with two 105mm howitzers, two 3.7cm Flak 37 AA guns, a 2cm Flakvierling 38, and numerous machine guns. Also a Renault R39 (version of Renault R35 with a SA 38 L/34 gun) light tank and a Marder I SPG are mounted on flatcars in both ends of the train.
Renault R39 tank is mounted on flatcar.
Two 3.7cm Flaks and 105mm howitzer.
A Flakvierling 38 and 105mm howitzer.
The armoured train in action.
A close view of 105mm howitzer.
Tanks
A Pz.IV Ausf. H on a railroad flatcar.
Renault R39 tank is mounted on flatcar.
R39 is moving down from the flatcar.
R39 leads the German counterattack on
maquisards.
Ammunition
According to the French Wikipedia, live ammunition was used in the battle scenes as it was easier to find in 1946 than blank ammunition.
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