Stalag 17

Stalag 17 (1953)

Stalag 17 is a 1953 comedy/drama directed by Billy Wilder starring William Holden, Don Taylor, and famed director Otto Preminger. The film was an adaptation of the play of the same name by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski, which was in turn based on their own experiences as prisoners of war during World War II, although it was extensively rewritten by both Wilder and Edwin Blum. Writers Bevan and Trzcinski later unsuccessfully sued the producers of Hogan's Heroes for copyright infringement. The film was a hit with critics and audiences, with William Holden winning the Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Director and Best Supporting Actor nominations for Billy Wilder and Robert Strauss, respectively.

The following weapons were used in the film Stalag 17:

Browning M1919

German guards use Browning M1919 machine guns throughout the film. The Browning M1919 was a machine gun mainly used by US forces during the war, but its use here is not necessarily a goof, as captured weapons were often utilized to guard prison camps.

Browning M1919A4 on an M2 tripod - .30-06 Springfield

German guards open fire on escaping prisoners at the beginning of the film.

A German guard takes aim with his M1919 from the guard tower.

Karabiner 98k

German guards are armed with Karabiner 98k rifles. Sgt. Harry Shapiro (Harvey Lembeck) briefly gets his hands on one when a guards hands him his weapon during a volleyball game.

Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A German guard armed with a K98k rifle gets paint in his face from Sgt. Shapiro.

Schweinehund!

German guards stand over a body at the end of the film.

MG42

At least one of the guard towers is equipped with an MG42. Unlike the M1919, it is never fired during the film.

MG42 Machine Gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser

An MG42 in a guard tower.

A guard takes aim with his MG42. Despite being mounted in a guard tower, it is still fed from a 50-round drum.

Luger P08

Two German officers draw what appear to be Luger P08 sidearms during a ruckus. Since the ruckus involves a smudge pot, the weapons are obscured in what is actually in their hands.

Two officers flanking Oberst von Scherbach (Otto Preminger) draw their sidearms.

MP40 submachine gun

A guard fires what appears to be an MP40 submachine gun at the end of the film. The guard can be seen rapidly firing a weapon from the hip.

A guard with rapid muzzle flashes from hip level circled.

Guards in front of the door carry the SMG.