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The Lost Battalion (2001)
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The Lost Battalion is a 2001 World War I television film that originally aired in the US on the A&E Network and a remake of the 1919 movie adaption of the same name. The film chronicles the plight of an American World War I battalion that is trapped behind German lines in the Argonne Forest of France in October of 1918.
Note: There are two famous instances of 'Lost Battalions' and people tend to get them confused. One is the World War I event portrayed in this movie, and the second is the World War II event, when 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, 36th I.D. (Texas) became trapped behind German lines in France. In the World War II incident, the Japanese-American 442 Regimental combat team fought through to save them and this battle became particularly famous due to the massive losses incurred by the "Nisei". (442 RCT) I Company went in with 185 men only eight walked out. K Company began with 186 men and ended up with 17 men. As for the Lost Battalion, 230 men were rescued. The 442nd were all named 'honorary' Texans by the Texas state legislature for their actions.
- In the World War One Incident, United States 77th Division (with 554 men) were surrounded by German forces. Of the total force, 197 were KIA, 150 were either MIA or POWs, and only 194 were rescued.
The following weapons were used in the film The Lost Battalion:
Handguns
Colt M1911
The Colt M1911 is the main handgun carried by US officers in the film. The hammer spur is small enough to indicate that they got the weapons right for the period by using a Colt M1911 rather than a 1911A1. Used by Captain George McMurtry (Phil McKee) and Captain Nelson Holderman (Adam James).
Colt MK IV Series 80
Major Charles Whittlesey (Rick Schroder) appears to be armed with a Colt MK IV Series 80 in place of the more appropriate M1911. This is obviously an anachronism.
Colt M1917
The M1917 Revolver is seen used by US officers including Lt. Leak (Jay Rodan).
Luger P08
The Luger P08 can be seen used by one of the German soldiers firing on the messenger bird. A Luger P08 is also carried by a German officer as he shakes hands with a released US prisoner.
Rifles
Enfield M1917
M1917 Enfields are used by the US troops. It is evident from the bolt handle which projects back and then down rather than out and down that it is a M1917 rather than a M1903. It's correct to see them carrying M1917s as M1903s were short in numbers so the M1917 was manufactured and massively produced in World War I. (Real-life U.S. Soldiers in World War I were armed with either M1917 Enfield or Springfield M1903)
Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I
Several soldiers use Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk Is, and while it would be possible for an American to use a No. 1 Mk III, the use of the WWII-era No. 4 is an error for use in this period film.
Mauser Puška vz. 98/22
Used by the German troops. These have long hand guards and flat tangent sights, suggesting they're Vz. 98/22 Czech Mauser rifles rather than actual German Gewehr 98s. This is a better substitute than the more commonly used Turkish model.
Mauser Gewehr 1898
The German sniper appears to be armed with a genuine Mauser Gewehr 1898. It seems to be equipped with a Carl Zeiss Jena Zielacht x8 scope of WWII-era.
Machine Guns
Hotchkiss Mle. 1914
M1914 Hotchkiss Machine Guns are seen used by US machine gunners Pvt. Nat Henchman (Anthony Azizi) and Pvt. Lowell R. Hollingshead (George Calil).
Maxim MG 08
The Germans are seen in machine gun nests armed with the Maxim MG08.
Chauchat
The Chauchat is first seen when Pvt. Cepeglia (Daniel Caltagirone) and Pvt. Jacob Rosen (Michael Goldstrom) show it to the new arrivals in the trenches, declaring it to be 'a piece of garbage' (a sentiment felt by those unfortunate enough to use it in combat). During the battle, Pvt. Abraham Krotoshinsky (Arthur Kremer) carries the Chauchat. The US carried it because of a shortage in LMGs.
Other
Flammenwerfer M.16
German troops are also seen using scaled-down Flammenwerfer M.16 mock-ups of the first-ever version of the flamethrower.
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
German troops throw Model 24 Stielhandgranate grenades. They are fitted with belt clamps, to resemble the corresponding Model 17 Stielhandgranate.