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The Longest Day
The Longest Day is the 1962 World War II film based on the non fiction novel of the same name written by Cornelius Ryan that chronicles the Allied invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The 3-hour epic was overseen by 4 directors (Ken Annakin, Bernhard Wicki, Gerd Oswald, and Darryl F. Zanuck) and featured an international cast of 42 prominent actors including Kenneth More, Richard Todd, Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Red Buttons, Leo Genn, Peter Lawford, John Wayne, Irina Demick, Paul Anka, Eddie Albert, Steve Forrest, Jeffrey Hunter, Sal Mineo, Edmond O'Brien, George Segal, Rod Steiger, Robert Wagner and Stuart Whitman. The film would also feature early roles for a future James Bond (Sean Connery) as well as two future Bond villains (Gert Fröbe) and (Curd Jürgens). The Longest Day held the record for the most expensive black and white picture made until the release of Schindler's List in 1993.
The following weapons were used in the film The Longest Day:
Handguns
Luger P08
The Luger P08 Pistol is seen in the hands of a French Resistance fighter, Jean (Maurice Poli), as well as a German Hauptmann (Captain) (Hans Söhnker).
Webley Mk. VI
A Webley Mk VI revolver is seen in the hands of RAF Flying Officer David Campbell (Richard Burton) near the end of the film.
Colt M1911A1
The M1911A1 is briefly seen in the holsters of numerous US Army officers in the film, including Brig. Gen. Norman Cota (Robert Mitchum), Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin H. Vandervoort (John Wayne) and Col. Thompson (Eddie Albert).
Submachine Guns
M1 Thompson
The M1 Thompson is notably used by Airborne troops including Pvt. Arthur 'Dutch' Schultz (Richard Beymer), Pvt. Martini (Sal Mineo), and Pvt. John Steele (Red Buttons).
M1A1 Thompson
The M1A1 Thompson is also seen carried by US Army forces, notably US Army Rangers who are seen in the assault of Pointe-du-Hoc at Normandy.
M3 "Grease Gun"
The M3 "Grease Gun" is briefly seen in the hands of a member of the Canadian Scottish Brigade that lands on Sword Beach.
Sten Mk. II
The Sten Mk II is seen carried by British Airborne troops, Free French Commandos, and Allied troops during the landings.
Sten Mk. III
In some scenes, the Sten Mk II of the French paratroopers became the Sten Mk III.
Sten Mk. V
Another French paratrooper is seen with a Sten Mk V.
MP40
MP40s are carried by German forces throughout the film.
Rifles
M1 Garand
M1 Garands are seen carried by Airborne troops as well as Allied forces during the D-Day landings.
M1 Carbine
The M1 Carbine is carried by Airborne troops, French Resistance, and Allied forces during the landings. All the models seen are seen with the inaccurate bayonet lug and none are the paratrooper versions.
Steyr Mannlicher-Schönauer
Brigadier Lord Lovat (Peter Lawford) carries a Steyr Mannlicher-Schoenauer Carbine while leading his men onto Sword Beach. However, according to Bill Millet, the piper whom Lovat famously ordered to pipe the men ashore in defiance of regulations, Lord Lovat carried an M1 Garand on D-Day, not a Mannlicher or his famous "old Winchester lever gun" he reputedly carried ashore at Dieppe.
Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I
Seen in the hands of British soldiers and Commandos.
Karabiner 98k
Most of the German soldiers are equipped with Karabiner 98ks. In one scene, an Airborne trooper mistakes the sound of the Karabiner's bolt action for the sound of the "Cricket" clicker.
Mauser Puška vz. 24
Some German soldiers can be seen with VZ-24 Czech Mauser rifles, notably during the opening scene, where a soldier stabs several times with his bayonet in a hay wagon. Due to a continuity error, the Kar98k of Unteroffizier "Kaffeekanne" (Sergeant "coffee pot") (Gert Fröbe) turns into a Czech Mauser.
Mauser Gewehr 1898
The Mauser Gewehr 1898 is also carried by various German soldiers.
Machine Guns
Chatellerault M1924/29
A captured Chatellerault M1924/29 machine gun is wielded by a German Soldier. This is historically accurate as a lot of captured French, Czech, Dutch (etc) weapons were issued to second-line troops such as the garrison forces in France at the time.
Bren Mk. I
The Bren Mark I is seen used by Allied forces, notably Private Flanagan (Sean Connery) during the Allied landing on Sword Beach.
M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle
The M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle, or "B.A.R." is used by Allied forces during the D-Day landings, notably by US Army Rangers during the assault on Pointe-du-Hoc.
MG42
The MG42 Light Machine Gun is the most frequently seen machine gun used by the German Army in the film.
Browning M2
Cmdr. Kieffer (Christian Marquand) is seen standing next to a Browning M2 .50cal Heavy Barrel mounted on Free French M4 Sherman Tank.
Browning M2 Quad Mount
When the Airborne troops begin parachuting into Normandy, a German defensive position is seen using what appears to be Browning M2s in a Quad Mount in place of the Quad 2 cm Flak 38.
Maxim MG08
German forces are seen using the Maxim MG08 while battling British Airborne and Free French forces.
Heavy Weapons
M20B1 "Super Bazooka"
An anachronistic M20B1 "Super Bazooka" is seen carried by a US Army soldier during the landing on Omaha Beach.
PIAT
Free French Forces are seen firing a PIAT at a German position.
Oerlikon 20mm Cannon
An Oerlikon 20mm Cannon is seen used by German forces on top of the casino of Ouistreham.
Grenade & Explosives
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
Model 24 Stielhandgranates are used by German forces while defending Pointe-du-Hoc.
Mk II Hand Grenade
The Mk II Hand Grenade is used by US Army Rangers in the assault at Pointe du Hoc.
Mills Bomb
British troops can be seen using Mills Bombs.
Bangalore Torpedoes
US Army engineers led by Sgt (then Lt.) John H. Fuller (Jeffrey Hunter) are seen using Bangalore torpedoes to blow an opening in the German defenses on Omaha Beach.
Other
7.5 cm Pak 40
German soldiers defend the casino of Ouistreham with a 7.5 cm Pak 40.
A 15 cm TbtsK C/36 is seen stationied at Calais.
Bofors 40mm
Bofors 40mm AA guns are seen in German defensive positions.
M1 Mortar
Several M1 Mortars standing in for the Granatwerfer 34 Mortar are used by German soldiers defending Omaha Beach.
