How I Won the War

How I Won the War Movie poster Country UK Directed by Richard Lester Release Date 1967 Language English German Studio Petersham Pictures Distributor United Artists Main Cast Character Actor Lt. Goodbody Michael Crawford Pte. Gripweed John Lennon Sgt. Transom Lee Montague Pte. Clapper Roy Kinnear Col. Grapple Michael Hordern Pte. Spool Ronald Lacey Juniper Jack MacGowran U.S. General Alexander Knox British General Robert Hardy

How I Won the War is a 1967 World War II satire that stars Michael Crawford, Roy Kinnear, Lee Montague and legendary Beatle John Lennon. Directed by Richard Lester (Superman III), the film focuses on a fictional British 4th Musketeer regiment from 1942-1945. Even though the regiment is fictional, the battles are in fact true, as they fight in North Africa to Remagen Bridge.

The following weapons were used in the film How I Won the War:

Handguns

Webley .455 Mk VI

A Webley .455 Mk VI revolver is seen in the hands of Lt. Goodbody (Michael Crawford) and Col. Grapple (Michael Hordern) during the North African campaign.

Webley Mk. VI - .455 Webley

Lt. Goodbody walks in head of his soldiers with a Webley .455 Mk VI in his hand.

Lt. Goodbody with revolver in his hand captures German NCO.

Col. Grapple is going to put a tank "coup de grace" from his Webley .455 Mk VI.

Smith & Wesson Victory Model

Lt. Goodbody (Michael Crawford) on European battlefield changed his sidearm for Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolver.

Smith & Wesson Victory Model - a modified and parkerized version of the .38 Special revolver, the Smith & Wesson Model 10 - the "Victory Model" is chambered in .38 S&W

Lt. Goodbody with Smith & Wesson Victory Model in his hand looking stash before the attack of a German flamethrower.

From his stash is trying by shooting destroy the flamethrower.

Submachine Guns

Sten Mk.II

The Sten Mk II is seen towards the end of the movie, only in the hands of Lt. Ernest Goodbody (Michael Crawford). It has the alternate (Canadian) stock, rather than the more common "T-style" stock.

Goodbody fires his Sten Mk.II at the Germans during the attack.

Goodbody's Sten firing.

MP40

MP40's are seen in only a few hands of German soldiers and only on European battlefields.

MP40 holds a one of German soldiers (right) on street of Arnhem.

A German soldier firing an MP40 at Goodbody.

M1928 Thompson

The M1928 Thompson is seen very briefly when a soldier on a bubblegum/cigarette card charging the beach is carrying one. The real M1928 is never shown.

The M1928 Thompson being carried across the beach.

Rifles

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*

The Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* is seen quite often, as it's in the hands of most of the characters. This is historically accurate as it was used before the No.4 Mk.I, however, by 1945, the Musketeers are still using the No.1 Mk.III. It would have been more accurate if they were given the No.4 Mk.I. It is used by Gripweed (John Lennon), Clapper (Roy Kinnear), Sgt. Transom (Lee Montague) and others. It can also be seen in various different colors. It is also seen in various stock footage of the African campaign.

When Lt. Goodbody (Michael Crawford) trained with his troop in England, carries on his backs the No. 1 Mk III* rifle.

During a conversation between Lt. Goodbody and Sgt. Transom stand the dead musketeer (is coloured) with No. 1 Mk III* rifle over his shoulder.

No. 1 Mk III* rifle, who slung over shoulder Sgt. Transom (in middle) is fitted with bayonet.

Juniper (Jack MacGowran) when sitting in the desert is leaning on the rifle, when he speaks to his comrades.

Privates Clapper (left) and Gripweed fire off their rifles at the attacking Germans.

A detail of John Lennon as Pte. Gripweed during a firefight.

Karabiner 98k

German soldiers are commonly seen with Karabiner 98k rifles.

A DAK (Afrika Korps) soldier marching into captivity throws his Karabiner 98k in a sand.

Karabiner 98k carries on his shoulder also German soldier (right) at the bridge over the Rhine.

A German soldier stabs Pte. Clapper (Roy Kinnear) with a bayonet mounted on his weapon.

One of German soldiers own a Karabiner 98k with hooded front sight.

Machine Guns

Bren Gun

The Bren Gun is seen at the beginning of the film, being fired at the Musketeers during training. It is also seen mounted on vehicles and used widely in the North African Campaign.

The Bren Gun being fired during a training exercise in England.

A vehicle Dodge M37 of Col. Grapple (Michael Hordern) is also equipped with a machine gun Bren.

The dead Musketeer (is coloured) aims an machine gun at the camp of Afrika Korps in desert.

Lt. Goodbody (Michael Crawford) with the Bren Gun in hand during fight in North Africa campaign.

On the roofs of most Ford F-60 trucks are mounted machine guns Bren.

Bren Gun is mounted also on armored car Daimler Dingo.

Sgt. Transom (Lee Montague) firing the Bren unmounted at the airplane.

Dead musketeer (coloured) along with Sgt. Transoom and Pte. Spool (Ronald Lacey) watches the impact of the "German airplane".

Browning M2HB

The Browning M2HB is seen in stock footage of the African campaign as well as one of the tanks. It is never fired.

The M2HB is mounted on a White M3 Halftrack.

On the M24 Chaffee tank turret is also seen this machine gun.

Alfa M44

German soldiers in North African desert (Afrika Korps) are armed with a Alfa M44 machinegun mocked as Italian Breda Modello 37.

Alfa M44 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Browning M1919A4

A Browning M1919A4 Machine gun is mounted on a Sherman tank crossing across the bridge. It is never fired.

Browning M1919A4 on an M31C pedestal mount - .30-06 Springfield

The M1919 mounted on the tank while the Americans move across the bridge.

The barrel of the M1919 on the tank.

Browning M1919A4 is also part of the armament M24 Chaffee tank.

MG42

The MG42 is another weapon used by German forces.

MG42 with bipod extended - 7.92mm Mauser

The muzzle of the MG42 being fired at the Musketeers.

MG42 is mounted also on a German on the tank Tiger I turret.

Hand grenades

Mk 2 hand grenade

Lt. Goodbody (Michael Crawford) during the liberation of the Arnhem used a Mk 2 hand grenade.

Mk 2 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade

Other

M8 Flare Pistol

Pte. Gripweed (John Lennon) holds a M8 Flare pistol.

M8 Flare Pistol - 37mm

Right side

Ordnance SBML 2 inch Mortar

German soldiers during final fight are seen with a Ordnance SBML 2 inch mortar.

Ordnance SBML 2 inch Mortar

The M24 Chaffee tank is equpped with 2 Inch M3 smoke mortar, mounted at the left of the main gun. This weapon is identical with the British Bomb Thrower, 2 inch, Mk I smoke mortar.

Bomb Thrower, 2 inch, Mk I (UK) / 2 inch Mortar M3 (US) - 50.8mm smoke bomb

The muzzle of 2 inch mortar is seen at the left of the main gun.

81mm Valero Modelo 1933 Mortar

DAK (Afrika Korps) soldiers used during night attack a Valero M1933 mortar.

Spanish Valero M1933 mortar - 81mm

2 cm Flak 38

German DAK (Afrika Korps) soldiers in the North Africa aimed at Musketeers also 2 cm Flak 38 AA-gun.

2 cm Flak 38 in single mounting - 20x138mm B

105 mm leFH 18 howitzer

On the North African battlefield stand a destroyed 105 mm leFH 18 howitzer.

M24 Chaffee

British paratroopers in the desert of North Africa sits at an M24 Chaffee tank.