“Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to
Live Forever?” is a German movie made around the time German prisoners taken on
the Eastern Front were returning home.
The few that survived captivity, that is. It is noteworthy for its realistic take on
the ultimate Wehrmacht disaster.
The movie opens with a narrator
telling us that the year is 1942 and things are about to take a turn for the
worst for the German army in the Soviet Union.
A Soviet counterattack is coming and this will be the story of some of
the survivors of that maelstrom. The
main character is Oberleutnant Wisse (Joachim Hansen). He has been assigned as liaison officer to a
Rumanian unit. You don’t see that role
in many movies! On the way to his
posting, he helps a Soviet girl named Katya (Sonja Ziemann) avoid being
deported. When he arrives at the
Rumanian camp, the officer he is replacing is in a big hurry to leave. Oh, oh.
Another officer warns him about his superior – Major Linkmann (Wolfgang
Preiss - Rommel in “The Longest
Day”). Linkmann appears to be a kool-aid
drinking Nazi. The Rumanian general
complains about the lack of everything.
The movie makes the point that the Rumanian allies were not so much
incompetent as they were ill-supported.
On Nov. 11, they know the attack
is coming. Linkmann tells Wisse that the
Hitler is using the Rumanians as cannon fodder and they will escape when the
shit hits the fan. Wisse turns action hero
by blowing up a Soviet tank before they retreat. Winter arrives. They are trapped and Gen. Von Paulus resists
advice that he needs to break out while they still can. Wisse remains optimistic while the other
officers grumble and criticize Hitler.
The rescue effort by Gen. Hoth (bizarrely subtitled “Hooth”) is
chronicled. Von Paulus remains
pig-headed. Meanwhile, Wisse is
transferred to an artillery battery.
Guess who his new commanding officer is?
Linkmann. He has morphed into
Capt. Cooney from “Attack!” In other
words, he talks the talk, but is a closet coward. He also reminds one of Capt. Stransky from
“Cross of Iron”. He stays in his bunker
most of the time while he spouts about the greatness of der Fuhrer. Until he decides he wants to take Stalin up
on that surrender offer. The movie is
not just a two man show. Wisse has his
buddies Bose, Kramer, and Konowsky. They
make a likeable quartet making the best of a very bad situation. And there is a surprise reappearance of a
damsel who returns a favor. No kiss
because it’s not that kind of movie. The movie covers the entire siege of
Stalingrad and ends with the German surrender.
This movie was a revelation for
me. It is not very well known and has
been overshadowed by the other Stalingrad movies like “Enemy at the Gates” and
“Stalingrad” (1993). I could make a case
that it is the best of the lot. Once
again, I am amazed that after five years and over 200 war movie reviews, I
still am seeing excellent movies that I have never seen before. And I am also stunned at how accessible war
movies are now. There is no way I could
be doing this even ten years ago.
Netflix has been the Holy Grail, but You Tube is also wonderful for war
movie buffs. I found this movie on You
Tube. We have come so far since my
childhood when we would wait an entire year for the next network showing of
“The Great Escape”. What an incredible
world for cinephiles!
“Stalingrad: Do You Want to Live Forever?” gives both the
macro and micro view of the most important battle of WWII. It is by far the best Stalingrad movie for
those who want to learn about the battle from the German point of view. Hell, you get actors portraying Von Paulus
and Hitler! The movie is excellent on
command decisions. The narration does an great job with the big picture. We
have a clear idea what the strategic situation is. For example, the narrator explains that
Goering’s supply air lift was a failure.
The movie has a documentary feel to it and uses archival footage
effectively although some might carp about weapons systems appearing out of
chronology. Although a German film, it
is not propagandistic. It is fair to
both sides and especially fair to the woeful Rumanians. It does not sugarcoat the mistakes the
Germans made, but it does omit the atrocities by both sides.
The big surprise is in the
production values. The cinematography is
nicely done and the archival footage is fairly seamless. An interesting touch is the fading out of the
scenes. You don’t see that very often in
a war movie. The movie does a good job
depicting the effects of the wintery weather.
The rubble is well-rendered and the sound effects of battle are
realistic. The acting is a real
strength. Preiss is his usual solid self
and adds some gravitas as the only recognizable actor for an American
audience. Did he make any non war movies? The rest of the cast is good, especially
Hansen. The characters are appealing and
the movie even manages to get a female character in. Katya bookends the movie in an unrealistic,
but entertaining way. The soldiers
behave naturally and the dialogue fits. The movie is not without clichés. Linkman is your typical odious Nazi
sycophant. Wisse is a bit too good to be
true. His arc from committed to disillusioned is a stretch, but represents a
basic theme of the German soldier in the winter of 1942.
War movie lovers need to see
this movie. And it’s so easy to do now
that we have it on You Tube. Don’t let
the subtitles scare you away. It is one
of the 100 Best War Movies ever made.
GRADE = A
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