The Battleflag

The Battleflag Die Standarte Movie Poster Country Austria West Germany Spain Directed by Ottokar Runze Release Date November 25, 1977 Language English German Hungarian Italian Polish Studio Neue Thalia-Film Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) Producciones Cinematográficas Orfeo Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) Distributor Gunther Wessel Filmverleih Main Cast Character Actor Herbert Menis Simon Ward Bottenlauben Siegfried Rauch Louise Lang Verónica Forqué Anton Viktor Staal Anschütz Gerd Böckmann Cook Klein Robert Hoffmann Colonel Wolfgang Preiss

The Battleflag is a 1977 Austrian-German-Spanish movie directed by Ottokar Runze. October, 1918: the end of the First World War is looming. The young sergeant Herbert Menis experiences his first love with the young lady-in-waiting Resa Lang and later watches as his ideals are broken into pieces: a whole regiment of Ruthenian, Polish, and Galician soldiers mutiny against their military superiors and thus rebel against the imperial family. Menis receives the regimental standard from the hand of a dying comrade, the symbol of the decaying Habsburg Empire. Tasked with the preservation of the standard, the ensign finds his task is more than just about life and death: it is about honor - both his and those of the fatherland.

The following weapons were used in the film The Battleflag:

Handguns

Colt M1911

The Colt M1911 is used by Austro-Hungarian officers including Herbert Menis (Simon Ward), standing in for correct Steyr M1912 pistols.

Colt M1911 - .45 ACP

Herbert Menis holds the pistol on the British officer.

Another view of the pistol.

Herbert threatens the engine drivers.

Another view of the scene.

Savage 1907

Count Bottenlauben (Siegfried Rauch) uses a Savage 1907 pistol as his personal firearm.

Savage 1907 - .32 ACP

He holds the pistol.

Another view.

He fires at his soldiers.

He holds the pistol on the British officer.

Unknown Revolver

The British officer (David Robb) draws an unknown revolver that appears to be a Spanish copy of a Colt or Smith & Wesson revolver.

For comparison: Trocaola Aranzabal Y Cia revolver - 8x27mm French M1892. An example of a Spanish version of an S&W revolver.

The revolver in his hand.

Rifles

Mauser Model 1893

Austro-Hungarian soldiers use 1893 Spanish Mauser rifles standing in for correct Steyr Mannlicher M1895 rifles.

Mauser Modelo 1893 - 7x57mm Mauser

Soldiers of the régiment royal Allemand aim their rifle.

The rifle over a soldier's back.

A Soldier takes aim.

The régiment fire their Mausers.

A soldier holds his Mauser on his officer.

Closer view on the barrel and muzzle.

M1895 carbine

The Carbine version of the 1893 Spanish Mauser is also used, standing in for the Steyr Repertier-Stutzen M1895 carbines. British soldiers are also seen with this carbine, standing in for the Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III*.

Carabina Modelo 1895 - 7x57mm Mauser

Cavalrymen with slung carbines.

A soldier aims his carbine.

British soldiers enter their officer's quarters.

Mauser Model 1943

Some anachronistic M43 Spanish Mausers are also seen, presumably standing in for various, more period-correct Mauser rifles.

Mosquetón Mauser Coruña modelo 1943 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The rifle seen over a soldier's back.

A soldier holds his Mauser while he is under fire.

Machine Guns

Vickers Mk. I

The régiment royal Allemand use British Vickers Mk I machine guns, standing in for the Schwarzlose Machine Gun Model 07/12.

Vickers Mark I - .303 British

A soldier mans the Vickers.

The Vickers being reload.

The soldier fires the gun.

Maxim MG 08

A Maxim MG08 is also used by the regiment.

Maxim MG 08 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Maxim carried by the soldier.

The abandoned Maxim.