My Zero Hour (Meine Stunde Null)

My Zero Hour (Meine Stunde Null) Original Poster Country East Germany Directed by Joachim Hasler Release Date 1970 Language German Studio DEFA Main Cast Character Actor Kurt Hartung Manfred Krug Maj. Gornin Anatoliy Kuznetsov Sgt. Mitja Lev Prygunov Maj. Steckbeck Kurt Jung-Alsen Sr. Lt. Netrebin Gleb Strizhenov Oberleutnant Nettekoven Jochen Diestelmann Feldwebel Kramm Harry Pietzsch Gefreiter Blumhagen Alfred Müller

My Zero Hour (Meine Stunde Null) is an East German 1970 war movie directed by Joachim Hasler. In 1943 Wehrmacht Gefreiter Kurt Hartung (Manfred Krug), a former Berliner worker, is captured by Soviet soldiers. Never been a faithful Nazi, Hartung joins the National Committee for a Free Germany (NKFD), a USSR based German anti-Nazi organization.

The following weapons were used in the film My Zero Hour (Meine Stunde Null):

Revolvers

Nagant M1895 (visually modified)

Blank (Friedo Solter), a member of NKFD, who speaks with Hartung, carries a Nagant M1895 revolver. This is a visually modified prop, fitted with elongated barrel and wide grips. It appears to be the same prop, used in Die Söhne der großen Bärin 1966 Western movie.

Nagant M1895 - 7.62x38R Nagant. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s.

Blank's revolver on table. Elongated barrel is seen.

Elongated barrel and wide grip with decorations can be seen.

Another view of the revolver.

Pistols

Walther PP

Soviet intelligence officer Maj. Gornin (Anatoliy Kuznetsov) carries a Walther PP pistol in several scenes (Note: Gornin is credited as Oberleutnant but he has Soviet Major insignia, while he appears in German Oberleutnant uniform only during the operation across enemy lines). During the operation Kurt Hartung (Manfred Krug), disguised as an officer, also carries a Walther PP.

Walther PP - 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP)

Gornin (at the right) cleans his Walther PP.

He puts the pistol into holster.

Gornin with a pistol.

Hartung puts his pistol into holster.

A closeup of Gornin's holster.

Gornin cocks the pistol.

A close view of Gornin's Walther PP.

Luger P08

Soviet Sgt. Mitja (Lev Prygunov) carries a Luger P08 whe he is disguised as a German NCO. A Luger is also seen in hands of Pvt. Meyer (Karl Sturm).

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Distrusting Hartung, Mitja holds him at gunpoint.

A view of the Luger from the rear.

Mitja carries a Luger holster.

He shoots the wheel through the floor of the truck.

A good view of Mitja's pistol.

Meyer aims at Hartung's back.

Mitja holds his Luger and another one, taken from Obergefreiter Diegenhardt (Thomas Weisgerber).

Unidentified pistols

In one scene Maj. Gornin (Anatoliy Kuznetsov) carries a pistol in TT-33 holster. The grip of the pistol seems different from TT.

In another scene Gornin holds an unidentifided pistol, instead of Walther PP that he carries in previous and following scenes. The pistol bears resemblance with CZ 27 but it's only a guess.

Submachine Gun

PPSh-41

Most Soviet soldiers are armed with PPSh-41 submachine guns.

PPSh-41 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Soviet soldiers in reconnaissance.

They aims PPSh-41s at captured Hartung.

A PPSh is seen at the background.

A PPSh at the bed of wounded Rumjanzow (Valentin Grachyov).

A PPSh at the bed of wounded Matuloff (Vitaliy Komissarov).

MP40

An MP40 is seen in hands of a Soviet scout, disguised as a German soldier.

MP40 - 9x19mm

Assault Rifles

Sturmgewehr 44

Gefreiter Kurt Hartung (Manfred Krug) and Gefreiter Blumhagen (Alfred Müller) carry Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifles. These guns are out of time for 1943.

Sturmgewehr 44 - 7.92x33mm Kurz

A pair of Sturmgewehrs is seen on the wall in village house in which the German unit is housed.

Hartung (at the right) carries an StG44.

Blumhagen holds an StG44.

Hartung holds his Sturmgewehr.

A closer view of StG44.

Another good view of StG44.

Blumhagen pointlessly fires in direction of Soviet troops.

Sturmgewehrs, captured by Soviet scouts.

Rifles

Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbine

Some Soviet soldiers carry Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbines.

Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbine - 7.62x54mm R

Soldier at the left and two soldiers at the right in distance carry M38 Carbines.

Karabiner 98k

Most German soldiers are armed with Karabiner 98k rifles. This is historically correct, by contrast with numerous war movies that shows each and every Wehrmacht soldier with MP40.

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Soldiers on bicycles carry 98k rifles.

Soldiers stand in formation with 98k rifles. Both hooded and unhooded front sights can be seen.

Two soldiers on guard.

A closer view of 98k rifles.

Pvt. Wilhelmi (Edwin Marian) carries a 98k.

Another view of Wilhelmi's rifle.

Other Weapons

Unidentified Hand Grenade 1

Kurt Hartung (Manfred Krug) carries several hand grenades. One of them, with an elongated elliptical body resembles Nebelhandgranate 42 smoke grenade but it is seen too unclear for positive identification.

For comparison: Nebelhandgranate 42

Hartung draws a grenade and prepares to throw in in direction of Soviet troops.

Unidentified Hand Grenade 2

Kurt Hartung (Manfred Krug) also has two hand grenades of another model. The body of these grenades resemble Model 39 Eihandgranate but the fuse is different.

For comparison: Model 39 Eihandgranate hand grenade

Captured Hartung secretly throws away one of his grenades, not found by Soviet scouts.

Another grenade is knocked out of Hartung's hand by a Soviet scout.

Trivia

Aerial bomb

An unxeploded aerial bomb, dropped from Soviet U-2 light bomber, appears to be a Soviet FAB-50.

A soldier carries the bomb.

Artillery

Destroyed artillery piece. It looks more like WW1 patterns.

Destroyed 10.5cm leFH18 howitzer.

A barrel of Soviet 76.2mm ZiS-3 is seen at the left.

A ZiS-3 is seen at the background.

Armour

Destroyed German tank at the background. It seems to be a mockup, styled after Tiger heavy tank.

Soviet IS-3 tank (anarchonistic for August 1943).

Another Soviet heavy tank.

Footage

In one scene Hartung watches documentary footage from Soviet newsreel. Wartime photos are also seen during the opening credits.

76.2mm F-22USV (M1939) field guns are seen on wartime photo.

37mm 61-K AA autocannons are seen on wartime photo.

A Soviet sailor with flare pistol.

A DShK is mounted on G-5 class torpedo boat.

A G-5 class torpedo boat in action.

122mm A-19 heavy field gun.

An armoured car (supposedly BA-10) and infantry in attack.

Soldiers carry a Maxim.

A heavy coastal cannon.

A naval gun (likely 130mm B-13) on a Soviet Navy ship.