As we're focusing specifically on films in this video, unfortunately, the miniseries 'Generation War' ('Unsere Mütter, Unsere Väter') won’t be included, however, that is a watch we truly recommend.
'Unsere Mütter, Unsere Väter' is bias movie showing polish Home Army resistance as criminals nad antisemites, after its release polish foreign ministry sent offical protest to german government and channel ZDF was prosecuted and sentenced for spreading false representation on the air.
@@STRACHU100 On German perspective (which is in the movie) polish home army is of course criminals. What do you expect them to do? As Wehrmacht soldiers should they join the resistance or what?
@@STRACHU100 I am not a fan of the movies but I don't agree with the Polish protests on this. It shows one resistance group and it is historically proven that most holocaust survivors reported negative interactions with the Home Army (there are thousands of reports). On the other hand there were also kind acts of compassion. The same could be said about any other army during this conflict. There were good and evil acts.
@@HothHapan offcourse, there is no black and white standard especially during war but Home Army was NOT anti-semitic, on the contrary- there was huge operation of helping to save Jews in occupied Poland, sponsored by polish "Governement-in-exile" involving forging ID's with polish names, assisting in emigration to neutral countries and even delivering weapons to jewish fighters (where do you think Jewish Ghetto insurgents got their wepons for fight?? it could ONLY come form Home Army!!) there are negative interactions (but not thousands of them) but showing polish resistance as bandits and german soldiers as unfortunate good people is obvious propaganda!! and since you admit there is no black and white during war then can you name ONE movie made by any western country that shows Home Army as a positive charcter?
Did you know that around 1000 Jews left USSR as polish soldiers with our General Anders to Iran and when they got there they simply left our ranks and fled to Palestine to fight for their country? according to any law it was a mass desertion. polish authorities never prosecuted these people. how anti-semitic is that??
I dont accept this list as top 10 german war-movies. Sophie Scholl's Final days should of course be among top 3. It is strange that they have forgot about this wonderful anti-war movie. I rank it up next to Das Boot.
Das Boot is the greatest war, and anti-war, movie ever made. Downfall is overall excellent. (See Bruno Ganz playing an angel in Wings of Desire, an art film-like, slow moving, but introspectively intense.)
Only saw this film recently and could not sleep for three days after. It was highly disturbing. The worst is that the guy was only 19 years old when he started his killing frenzy and was hanged at the age of 21.
@@einundsiebenziger5488 To think that the German military didn't even think he did such a bad thing... 160 people killed within a week with a small squad of not even a dozen... Thank god someone captured that bastard
I find Ganz too likeable for this role. My sympathy for him in many other films inevitably transfers to this crazy Hitler character which really does not work for me. I think Klaus Kinski probably would have made a more suitable Hitler. He was a really crazy fucker.
@@AnEnemy100 Hitler wasn't actually crazy, far from that. He was extremely obsessed, paranoid, enormously revengeful and stubborn but was no schizoid. In his hatred against the Jews he was far from being alone, back then. Countries like Austria, Poland and the USSR were very much anti semitic. On the contrary, Klaus Kinski always behaved as a deranged; unwittingly or not we'll never know, but a father who repeatedly _rapes_ his younger daughter is clearly deranged. Amazing how Nastassia Kinski was born such a beautiful Dear, so balanced, so capable, so sensitive and so stunningly attractive. But she loathed his Father and didn't even attend his funeral. She often said that she'd like to see his Father in jail forever. I don't like to feed gossips, but obviously something really ugly must have happened at closed doors, to her younger sister at the very least. This appears to have been definitely stablished. Besides, it was next to impossible to work with Klaus Kinski. He was totally unpredictable, violent, and occasionally even showed up armed, or drunk. _No one_ liked him.
I agree with the first place and I'm glad that the Bridge made the list. The movie is not known at all. My favorite. DAS BOOT can only be watched with a German audio recording! The magic is lost in any other language!
One movie that is not on this list: Gerneration War ("unsere Mütter, unsere Väter") This is an anti war movie-series of 3 movies about some frined who went in completely different directions in the wartime: Really a masterpiece i would say - can only recomend it!
I loved the closing credits of 'Der Hauptmann" ( The Captain) in which they drive in a military Mercedes Benz G3A dressed as 'rogue' German soldiers through a modern day city.
Actually, its story comes from an old historical fact around 1900, every child knows in Germany… the smart ones. About the so-called "Hauptmann von Köpenick" (a little town near Berlin). The poor Shoemaker, Mr. Voigt bought himself a Captain's uniform from the old Kaiser-Armee in a kind of second-hand shop. He was only a poor man and could not get a work-permission as long as he has not had a residence permit or papers. Which, he only could get when he has got work. But when he took the uniform on, everybody on the street and government representatives showed respect to him. So he went to the Köpenik town hall, got his papers right, put the mayor under arrest, and took the town treasury with him. Only to buy a kind of Hot dogs and train tickets for his 4 soldiers, to bring them back. They followed him blind only because of his uniform. Later the case came to trial, and he became not guilty because the Kaiser saw that a had proven the Germans respect uniforms, so to him too. We call that in German "Kadavergehorsam" (blind obedience) But Cadaver means not only blind, more going over his own dead body. A good movie, as same as "Der Untertan". It shows why we Germans get so often mad about Uniforms and medals. But I guess every nation has the same stories to tell.
Der Untergang is my #1 German War Film simply because Bruno Ganz plays Hitler like a actual person, not the silent angry person than 99% of actors that portray Hitler.
Nothing outstanding, IMHO. The transition of the Danish Sargeant from revengeful sadistic to caring Father of all Lads is abrupt and clumsily made. It had to be far more subtle, we shouldn't even notice it until much later.
@@duartesimoes508 that is true. But is interesting and in a way sad to see how essentially children suffer the consequences of one man or the actions of many.
Good survey, particularly for its inclusion of classic B&W movies like "Westfront 1918" and "Die Brücke". Anothere film that SHOULD be mentioned is "Die weisse Rose" (The White Rose), Michael Verhoeven's 1982 film on the German resistance group that included Sophie Scholl.
i say it every time BUT......... THE EDITING THE HISTORY FILM KNOWLEDGE SOUND TRACK NARATION PICTURE QUALITY THE CHOICES OF MOVIE TO MAKE THE LIST................................. NO CHANNEL ON TH-cam or Anywhere comes close... you want to watch a good movie what ever the topic come here.. you will thank me but thank Smashing UK........... and the WAR Movie omfg just amazing the choices!! love this channel
CROSS OF IRON「1977」 ıs such an incredible movie. When the protagonist laughs at the end I just felt his madness about war dude. STALIGRAD「1993」 Is a badass movie. Just think there's no hope, that's all... that's all about the freaking war...
Great list but I'd put Stalingrad (1993) as number one. It's the most ambitious, epic in scale. Downfall second. Das Boot number three. But to each his own.
the captain has special place even along with the stalingrad,my generation,das boot ETC it is not old classic but it is damn special in someway that i can not explain maybe how it's filmed? the tone and the atmosphere of whole film is just somethingelse and also the actor who play the lead was phenomenoal
These are some great films. I’ve heard of Das Boot, Stalingrad, and Downfall so I’m gonna watch them soon. Thx for the WW1 flick too, I’ll be sure to check these out!
While it does revolve around the Boer War, a great German war film is Ohm Krüger, which I have a copy of. Starring Emil Jannings as Paul Krüger, it's told in flashback as Krüger is close to death in 1902.
Yeah, Das Boot is a classic film & worth the No 1 spot not only here but on any anti-war film list. Keen to watch _"The Captain"_ , as its based on a true story so I'm interested to see how it turned out for that man.
Der Hauptmann(The Captain) is incredibly brilliant. It shows how easily a chased man can become a monster if he gets a high rank uniform and tastes the power. And the others who suspect that he is a swindler, but they don't expose him because when they enjoy commiting cruelties, it's a good excuse for them that "they just follow orders". I don't speak German as well but I suppose watch it in the original German with subtitles, much better.
Herold was subsquently apprehended by the British and identified as the perpetrator of the massacre at Emsland prison camp. He was hung by the British.
Beware of these films "based on a true story". In the US at least, the Law allows you to make that claim in huge letters in the beginning of the movie, as long as in the end, when no one is paying attention anymore or went away you state _Fiction._ It may seem absurd but it is allowed. _Fargo_ is a good example. The movie is a muddle based on two crimes, one occurred in the fifties and the other in the eighties and in separate States, everything mixed together and totally void of any historical value. This is very common.
The Best WW2 Series (German Side) like Band of Brothers or The Pacific is "Dusty Faces - Verstaubt sind die Gesichter".... A Masterpiece here on TH-cam for Free, Subtitels in 24 Languages! ❤❤
Loved your list, only objection I have is that I would put Stalingrad (1993) closer to the top. I would also include Stern von Afrika in the list(full German film-1957), Die Wanseekonferenz (the German version) and Decision before Dawn( American production with lots of German Actors that actually took part in WW2). All are available on TH-cam. Also mentioned in the comments is Land of Mine a German Danish co production
It is indeed fantastic. But as you mentioned, unfortuantely it's a mini-series. I'm currently planning a list on the best war mini-series for next year.
'All Quiet on the Western Front' despite being told from the German perspective, is an American-made movie, so unfortunately is ineligible for the list. Thanks for the comment!
@@chrisholland7367 The 1930 film was American, and the 1979 remake was a US-UK co-production, so unfortunately both would have been ineligible. But I do love the film!
I look forward to viewing as many of these recommended flics as possible. Thank you for these rankings as there is nothing like a captioned war movie for total immersion. Das Boot is indeed my favorite movie, period!
Top 20 Nazi Villians in Hollywood History: 20: Fegelein (The Downfall (2004) 19:Henlein (Dark of the Sun) 1968 British adventure war film 18: Willi Herold (Der Hauptmann (2017). 17: SS-Obersturmführer Günther Franken (Zwartboek aka Blackbook (2006). 16: Robert Shaw as Col. Martin Hessler (The battle of the Bulge (1965). 15: Wolf Kahler as Colonel Krieger (The Dirty Dozen: The deadly mission (1987). 14: Laurence Olivier as Christian Szell (The Marathon Man (1976).13: Erik Dorf (Holocaust series 1978) 12: Sylvester Groth: Sturmbannführer / Standartenführer Hiemer / Generation War (German: Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter (2013).11: Robert Vaughn -Major Paul Krüger (The Bridge at Remagen 1969). 10: Hardy Krüger Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Karl Ludwig (A Bridge too far (1977). 9: Col. von Haller (Wolfgang Preiss) Hannibal Brooks (1969) as Col. von Haller. 8: Anton Diffring as Col. Paul Kramer & Derren Nesbitt as Maj. von Hapen in Where Eagles Dare (1968). 7: Alex the SS soldier played by Derek de Lint ( Soldaat van Oranje 1977). 6: Kittel (Ghetto 2005). 5: Hans Christian Blec as Majoor Werner Pluskat (The Longest Day 1962). 4: James Coburn as Feldwebel Rolf Steiner (Cross of Iron 1977). 3: Moritz Bleibtreu as SS-Standartenführer Karl Heindrich (Female Agents (French: Les Femmes de l'ombre) is a 2008). 2:Thomas Kretschmann as Major Otto Ernst Remer, (Valkyrie 2008) 1: Joachim Hansen as SS Officer ( Le vieux fusil 1975).
Of course, "The Bridge" is probably relatively unknown outside Germany. In the country itself, however, every child knows it because it is simply one of the best youth films ever made on the subject of "war and seduction". Sicherlich, außerhalb Deutschlands dürfte "Die Brücke" wirklich relativ unbekannt sein. Im Land selbst aber, kennt ihn jedes Kind, weil es einfach einer der besten Jugendfilme ist, der je zum Thema "Krieg & Verführung" gemacht worden ist.
You should do a video on German series, you could include Unerer Muetter, Unserer Vaeter and Charite at War. The second one is a really interesting look at the civilian/medical side of the war.
Charity at war was excellent , i m not sure if a french village fits because i believe it was made in france , but that series 7 seasons long to me is the best television show of all time not just best war drama best tv show . it grabs you the very first minute episode the day france surrendered to the very end in the 1960s great acting and directing literally a much watch
I liked _Der Untergang_ so much that I ended up buying three DVD copies; this way I think I can rest assured of having at least one left, even after a Nuclear attack or an Apocalipse Zombie... 🧟♂️
Like the top 5, haven't watched the others further down must admit. Think Sophie Scholl should have made the list though, brilliantly acted and very moving film.
Forgot some of the best movies, maybe because they were from gdr, like „Abenteuer des Werner holt“ (Adventures of Werner holt), „Jakob der Lügner“ (Jakob, the liar), „Nackt unter Wölfen“ (naked under Wolfs) and „Ich war neunzehn“ (I was nineteen)
Good list (from the films I've seen). That Werner Herzog.... I saw Signs of Life in the 1970s - learned how to hypnotize a chicken and actually put that skill to use photographing chickens. But probably what I learned most from war films is- don't go to war. The White Ribbon is very much a pre-war movie, but shows the psyche that leads to committing acts of depravity.
Just a simple fan, but for me Napola should have been listen #5 instead of that joke of iron Cross, and Red Baron deserved at least an honorable mention
Downfall: the moment 'Hitler' walks on screen, looking every inch the man who has been running a major nation for 10 years, you know there's an Oscar coming. If you can get a copy of the interview with the actors, the lady playing Frau Goebbels is chilling
@@zhiguli8 many crude people will say " see, only a Nazi Mother would be capable of poisoning her own children!" Amazing how they miss the point. I would have done just as Magda, although I very much doubt that I would have been capable of doing it personally. It is horrible to think that young Ukrainian little kids and lovely little girls are being abducted in occupied Ukraine, separated from their Parents, taken to Ruzzia forever and being imposed Ruzzian citizenship. This is absolutely heinous, far more disgraceful than just sending Jews to a gas chamber, where at least they had a quick death. Try to imagine the unspeakable despair of these cursed Parents. Can you? At least this officially made Pootin a criminal searched by Justice. It was very much about time! Meanwhile, we still have people among us who states that we shouldn't be helping Ukraine...
the captain has special place even along with the stalingrad,my generation,das boot ETC it is not old classic but it is damn special in someway that i can not explain maybe how it's filmed? the tone and the atmosphere of whole film is just somethingelse
All Quiet on the Western Front - recent German production
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Hi!! great list!! I remember a movie... but don't remember the name.... I thing its a French & German coproduction, Two slightly wounded German soldiers arrive in a French city to replace the garrison, over the days they get to know the inhabitants and show themselves to be normal and ordinary people who just want to survive a lost and senseless war I think this fits perfectly with your list (excuse my poor english!!)
Das boot is the best movie ever. No cgi and only model. I have 6 hours verson where u can listen to director too. Actors was not allowed to have sunlight in 3 months during filiming. Set had hydrolic aid, and during deep charge attacks, set was shaking so badly so actors had to hold fast to the model of submarine. Model used in this movie is accurate to true model, its a exact replica
You certainly did your homework - your top ten list ist nearly flawless. Remove Steiner (good-ish movie, of course), and add "Hunde wollt ihr ewig leben" or the "08/15"-Trilogy. Add as honorable mentioning "Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt", "Nacht fiel über Gotenhafen", and, in a way, "Wir Wunderkinder". From my native german point of view "all quiet on the western front" (the black-and-white movie from the 1930s) would be the honorably mentioning of a foreign War Movie showing the german perspective. This movie was so incredible well dubbed into german language, that it took some time so convince me that is wasn't shot in german language.
my personal opinion as a turk; 13 minutes: very good film, i liked the captain: i know the real story about w. herold. this film is in my watch list stalingrad: also very good. a film looking through german eyes, so u can understand german soldiers feelings. Thomas Kretschmann is great actor. downfall: a classic, legendary. just watch. das boot: 1st place to best of best. holywood tried same films after this, but all fail. this movie is peak. i think best movie about WW2. if u like war movies, u shouldn't die before watch this.
One of my all time favorit is the 1959 film: Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben (Stalingrad: Dogs, do you want to live forever?) and the TV mix of documentaion and paly Operation Walküre (1971) the frist honest depiction of the attempt to blow Hitler to pieces on 20th of July 1944. Til then a lot of Germans (if not a majority) saw the soldiers trying to kill Hitler as traitors. After this TV film we got a true and honest discussion about those heros. There had been an early attempt to put the story in a film: Es geschah am 20. Juli (1955) (It happend on 20th of July), but this was to soon after the war and they made to many compromises with the zeitgeist.
A list of 10 german war movies without Sophie Scholl's final on it can't be taken seriously. I have seen many on the list and they are good, but the Sophie-movie is in my opinion a movie without any weaknesses, a deeply moving drama from start to the end , yes , I was very surprised to see this list , so for me the list is only almost top 10, with Sophie-movie high up on the list i can agree.😊
Cross of Iron wasn't a pure german production, but a coop between EMI and Rapid, thus an anglo-german coproduction. The director Peckinpah was a Hollywood director, quite some actors were American or British guys (Coburn, Mason, Warner) and the movie's original language was english. Klaus Löwitsch and Senta Berger contributed as german actors, Schell a the usual bad Nazi guy of that era is a swiss guy. The music was contributed by US composer Ernest Gold who - born in Austria - escaped the Third Reich.
Thanks for the comment, we are aware it was a co-production between Germany, Poland and France, however as the German company CCC Film headed the majority of the production, we found it to be a fitting entry. Thanks!
As we're focusing specifically on films in this video, unfortunately, the miniseries 'Generation War' ('Unsere Mütter, Unsere Väter') won’t be included, however, that is a watch we truly recommend.
'Unsere Mütter, Unsere Väter' is bias movie showing polish Home Army resistance as criminals nad antisemites, after its release polish foreign ministry sent offical protest to german government and channel ZDF was prosecuted and sentenced for spreading false representation on the air.
@@STRACHU100 On German perspective (which is in the movie) polish home army is of course criminals. What do you expect them to do? As Wehrmacht soldiers should they join the resistance or what?
@@STRACHU100 I am not a fan of the movies but I don't agree with the Polish protests on this. It shows one resistance group and it is historically proven that most holocaust survivors reported negative interactions with the Home Army (there are thousands of reports). On the other hand there were also kind acts of compassion. The same could be said about any other army during this conflict. There were good and evil acts.
@@HothHapan offcourse, there is no black and white standard especially during war but Home Army was NOT anti-semitic, on the contrary- there was huge operation of helping to save Jews in occupied Poland, sponsored by polish "Governement-in-exile" involving forging ID's with polish names, assisting in emigration to neutral countries and even delivering weapons to jewish fighters (where do you think Jewish Ghetto insurgents got their wepons for fight?? it could ONLY come form Home Army!!) there are negative interactions (but not thousands of them) but showing polish resistance as bandits and german soldiers as unfortunate good people is obvious propaganda!! and since you admit there is no black and white during war then can you name ONE movie made by any western country that shows Home Army as a positive charcter?
Did you know that around 1000 Jews left USSR as polish soldiers with our General Anders to Iran and when they got there they simply left our ranks and fled to Palestine to fight for their country? according to any law it was a mass desertion. polish authorities never prosecuted these people. how anti-semitic is that??
10 13 Minutes
9 The Captain
8 West Front 1918 (1930)
7 The Tin Drum
6 Europa Europa
5 Cross of Iron
4 Stalingrad
3 The Bridge
2 Downfall
1 Das Boot
I dont accept this list as top 10 german war-movies. Sophie Scholl's Final days should of course be among top 3. It is strange that they have forgot about this wonderful anti-war movie. I rank it up next to Das Boot.
I miss "die Abenteuer des Werner Holt" famous east german anti war movie
Das Boot is the greatest war, and anti-war, movie ever made. Downfall is overall excellent. (See Bruno Ganz playing an angel in Wings of Desire, an art film-like, slow moving, but introspectively intense.)
Однозначно это самый лучший фильм о подводниках того периода.
Das Boot only works in the long Series. All the Movie Versions are horrible.
How about stalingrad???
Bruno deserved an Oscar!!
Was ist mit Nichts Neues im Western?
The best ones:
The Downfall, Napola, Stalingrad 1993, Der Hauptmann
you should watch Das boot. watched it yesterday and my god, the movie is amazing!
The only missing title here is Das Boot
The Captain is so bizarre….and then one realises that it’s actually a true story it is both incredible and even more horrific!
One of the graeatest films!
Der Hauptmann in german.
@@Künstler_ohne_Werk Ja...ich habe es auf deutsch gesehen! So ist es noch besser! :)
Only saw this film recently and could not sleep for three days after. It was highly disturbing. The worst is that the guy was only 19 years old when he started his killing frenzy and was hanged at the age of 21.
@@einundsiebenziger5488 To think that the German military didn't even think he did such a bad thing... 160 people killed within a week with a small squad of not even a dozen... Thank god someone captured that bastard
Bruno Ganz is by far the best "Hitler" I've seen portrayed. ("Downfall")
I find Ganz too likeable for this role. My sympathy for him in many other films inevitably transfers to this crazy Hitler character which really does not work for me. I think Klaus Kinski probably would have made a more suitable Hitler. He was a really crazy fucker.
And in the movieTraudl Junge is a cutie.😍
Far more beautiful than in real life.
@@AnEnemy100 Hitler wasn't actually crazy, far from that. He was extremely obsessed, paranoid, enormously revengeful and stubborn but was no schizoid. In his hatred against the Jews he was far from being alone, back then. Countries like Austria, Poland and the USSR were very much anti semitic. On the contrary, Klaus Kinski always behaved as a deranged; unwittingly or not we'll never know, but a father who repeatedly _rapes_ his younger daughter is clearly deranged. Amazing how Nastassia Kinski was born such a beautiful Dear, so balanced, so capable, so sensitive and so stunningly attractive. But she loathed his Father and didn't even attend his funeral. She often said that she'd like to see his Father in jail forever. I don't like to feed gossips, but obviously something really ugly must have happened at closed doors, to her younger sister at the very least. This appears to have been definitely stablished.
Besides, it was next to impossible to work with Klaus Kinski. He was totally unpredictable, violent, and occasionally even showed up armed, or drunk. _No one_ liked him.
Yes, indeed a Swiss guy acts as an Austrian citizen which he himself called the biggest German.
True that. Masterpiece acting; RIP Bruno Ganz.
I agree with the first place and I'm glad that the Bridge made the list. The movie is not known at all. My favorite. DAS BOOT can only be watched with a German audio recording! The magic is lost in any other language!
One movie that is not on this list:
Gerneration War ("unsere Mütter, unsere Väter")
This is an anti war movie-series of 3 movies about some frined who went in completely different directions in the wartime:
Really a masterpiece i would say - can only recomend it!
'The Captain' is brilliant and I'd also thoroughly recommend 'Edelweiss Piraten'.
As a German cinema fan I can confirm this list to utterly well done! I wouldn't change a single thing. Congrats!
Stalingrad 1993 is my favorite. Das Boot - 2nd, another great movie (loved the soundtrack)
You can add to this list - Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben, 1959
The film shows a German look at the rather well-known events of the Battle of Stalingrad
Generation war is by far the best of all time! Band of brothers except Germans! Must watch!
Absolutely true! Greetings from Hamburg
agree i loved generation war , watched it three times so far
At least they are more realistic than the Hollywood stuff
I loved the closing credits of 'Der Hauptmann" ( The Captain) in which they drive in a military Mercedes Benz G3A dressed as 'rogue' German soldiers through a modern day city.
And arresting random people 🤣
same one of best ww2 movies and with acctual german actors for once
Does anyone know which city the closing credits were filmed in ?
@@terryjacob8169 Görlitz
Actually, its story comes from an old historical fact around 1900, every child knows in Germany… the smart ones. About the so-called "Hauptmann von Köpenick" (a little town near Berlin). The poor Shoemaker, Mr. Voigt bought himself a Captain's uniform from the old Kaiser-Armee in a kind of second-hand shop. He was only a poor man and could not get a work-permission as long as he has not had a residence permit or papers. Which, he only could get when he has got work.
But when he took the uniform on, everybody on the street and government representatives showed respect to him. So he went to the Köpenik town hall, got his papers right, put the mayor under arrest, and took the town treasury with him. Only to buy a kind of Hot dogs and train tickets for his 4 soldiers, to bring them back. They followed him blind only because of his uniform.
Later the case came to trial, and he became not guilty because the Kaiser saw that a had proven the Germans respect uniforms, so to him too. We call that in German "Kadavergehorsam" (blind obedience) But Cadaver means not only blind, more going over his own dead body.
A good movie, as same as "Der Untertan". It shows why we Germans get so often mad about Uniforms and medals. But I guess every nation has the same stories to tell.
Highly recommend!! Der haupmant( The captain)
Der Untergang is my #1 German War Film simply because Bruno Ganz plays Hitler like a actual person, not the silent angry person than 99% of actors that portray Hitler.
Lot of funny parodies using footage from this film in a modern setting.
@@davidc5191 I find them all disgraceful. Unbearable bad taste and lack of respect. But a huge lot of primals find them very funny.
I would like to add to the list "All quiet on the western front "
Downfall is my all time favourite ww2 film. Masterpiece
You should see “Land of Mine”, a Danish-German film about German pows forced to clean land mines on the Danish coast after the war.
Nothing outstanding, IMHO. The transition of the Danish Sargeant from revengeful sadistic to caring Father of all Lads is abrupt and clumsily made. It had to be far more subtle, we shouldn't even notice it until much later.
@@duartesimoes508 that is true. But is interesting and in a way sad to see how essentially children suffer the consequences of one man or the actions of many.
@@formalist6096Just think about all the children all over Europe that suffered because of one man
@@michellepeoplelikeyoumurde8373 ik bro, it’s crazy.
Das Boot has always been my favorite. I have the 6-hour version on dvd.
There is 6 hour version ? I need to find it asap.
@@Fridz1986 it was originally a mini series of 6 episodes an hour each. I have it on Blu-Ray.
@@Fridz1986 yep, the german TV version.
The Captain......is amazing! Gotta be Downfall though, for number One! Bruno, is amazing in that! RIP.
Good survey, particularly for its inclusion of classic B&W movies like "Westfront 1918" and "Die Brücke". Anothere film that SHOULD be mentioned is "Die weisse Rose" (The White Rose), Michael Verhoeven's 1982 film on the German resistance group that included Sophie Scholl.
"Sophie Scholl - The Final Days" was a good movie and the fact that is a true story makes it more interesting.
Can't understand that its not among the top 3
"The Adventures of Werner Holt" is an East German film from 1965 and I think this film should be on this list as well
Definitely one of the best. Had a big impact on our class in school
Thanks! Will watch that tonight
Exactly! I missed this movie too. One of the best movies, the book is even better.
i say it every time BUT.........
THE EDITING
THE HISTORY
FILM KNOWLEDGE
SOUND TRACK
NARATION
PICTURE QUALITY
THE CHOICES OF MOVIE TO MAKE THE LIST................................. NO CHANNEL ON TH-cam or Anywhere comes close... you want to watch a good movie what ever the topic come here.. you will thank me but thank Smashing UK........... and the WAR Movie omfg just amazing the choices!! love this channel
CROSS OF IRON「1977」 ıs such an incredible movie. When the protagonist laughs at the end I just felt his madness about war dude.
STALIGRAD「1993」 Is a badass movie. Just think there's no hope, that's all... that's all about the freaking war...
Great list but I'd put Stalingrad (1993) as number one. It's the most ambitious, epic in scale. Downfall second. Das Boot number three. But to each his own.
I agree.
Stalingrad is brutal, but Das Boot is devastating. That's what makes it number one
13 Minutes is a masterpiece, a must watch movie.
The captain was got progressively darker as the story went on so be prepared for that
This is a thoughtful list. My favorites are also Der Untergang and Das Boot.
Sadly that this video came out bevor the new german Film ' All quite on the western front'.
the captain has special place even along with the stalingrad,my generation,das boot ETC
it is not old classic but it is damn special in someway that i can not explain
maybe how it's filmed? the tone and the atmosphere of whole film is just somethingelse
and also the actor who play the lead was phenomenoal
Such an amazing film, my favourite film in ww2 first time I watched it was so special which I could do it again
These are some great films. I’ve heard of Das Boot, Stalingrad, and Downfall so I’m gonna watch them soon. Thx for the WW1 flick too, I’ll be sure to check these out!
Cross of Iron is a classic war movie.
Don't miss "Der Hauptmann" (The captain). Watch it in German with subtitles, much better.
While it does revolve around the Boer War, a great German war film is Ohm Krüger, which I have a copy of. Starring Emil Jannings as Paul Krüger, it's told in flashback as Krüger is close to death in 1902.
Of course with anti British ressentiments because it was a nazi film
You’re not going to get the tone deaf English to rate that one at all mein kamerad.
Yeah, Das Boot is a classic film & worth the No 1 spot not only here but on any anti-war film list. Keen to watch _"The Captain"_ , as its based on a true story so I'm interested to see how it turned out for that man.
Der Hauptmann(The Captain) is incredibly brilliant. It shows how easily a chased man can become a monster if he gets a high rank uniform and tastes the power. And the others who suspect that he is a swindler, but they don't expose him because when they enjoy commiting cruelties, it's a good excuse for them that "they just follow orders".
I don't speak German as well but I suppose watch it in the original German with subtitles, much better.
Herold was subsquently apprehended by the British and identified as the perpetrator of the massacre at Emsland prison camp. He was hung by the British.
Beware of these films "based on a true story". In the US at least, the Law allows you to make that claim in huge letters in the beginning of the movie, as long as in the end, when no one is paying attention anymore or went away you state _Fiction._ It may seem absurd but it is allowed.
_Fargo_ is a good example. The movie is a muddle based on two crimes, one occurred in the fifties and the other in the eighties and in separate States, everything mixed together and totally void of any historical value. This is very common.
@@gaborbakos7058 in Portugal we have a saying: "if you want to find the vilain, hand him a bludgeon". [and watch the result]
The Downfall and Das Boot rightly find their place at the top. Fantastic films they are.
The Best WW2 Series (German Side) like Band of Brothers or The Pacific is "Dusty Faces - Verstaubt sind die Gesichter".... A Masterpiece here on TH-cam for Free, Subtitels in 24 Languages! ❤❤
Loved your list, only objection I have is that I would put Stalingrad (1993) closer to the top. I would also include Stern von Afrika in the list(full German film-1957), Die Wanseekonferenz (the German version) and Decision before Dawn( American production with lots of German Actors that actually took part in WW2). All are available on TH-cam. Also mentioned in the comments is Land of Mine a German Danish co production
Generation war is also excellent, but it is a mini-serie.
Yeap. Ünsere Mütter Ünsere Vater.
It is indeed fantastic. But as you mentioned, unfortuantely it's a mini-series. I'm currently planning a list on the best war mini-series for next year.
Can give title of that mini serie?
@@muhammadhazrie5728
Generation war
Das boot, stalingrad, downfall and cross of iron are the only movies i've seen on this list and they are all excellent.
Cool list. Also “Never look away” Werk ohne autor. Is really worth watching. It’s partially WWII and also DDR history.
Great selection. No mention of "All quiet on the western front ".
Downfall I would have placed at No1
Das Boot No2
Stalingrad No3
Cross of iron No4
'All Quiet on the Western Front' despite being told from the German perspective, is an American-made movie, so unfortunately is ineligible for the list. Thanks for the comment!
@@SmashingUKProductions which version as I know there was a remake.
@@chrisholland7367 The 1930 film was American, and the 1979 remake was a US-UK co-production, so unfortunately both would have been ineligible. But I do love the film!
I loved both 1 & 2...but, I'd have them switched. I feel that Downfall was absolutely PERFECT.
Best world War movie from the German side
I look forward to viewing as many of these recommended flics as possible. Thank you for these rankings as there is nothing like a captioned war movie for total immersion. Das Boot is indeed my favorite movie, period!
Top 20 Nazi Villians in Hollywood History: 20: Fegelein (The Downfall (2004) 19:Henlein (Dark of the Sun) 1968 British adventure war film 18: Willi Herold (Der Hauptmann (2017). 17: SS-Obersturmführer Günther Franken (Zwartboek aka Blackbook (2006). 16: Robert Shaw as Col. Martin Hessler (The battle of the Bulge (1965). 15: Wolf Kahler as Colonel Krieger (The Dirty Dozen: The deadly mission (1987). 14: Laurence Olivier as Christian Szell (The Marathon Man (1976).13: Erik Dorf (Holocaust series 1978) 12: Sylvester Groth: Sturmbannführer / Standartenführer Hiemer / Generation War (German: Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter (2013).11: Robert Vaughn -Major Paul Krüger (The Bridge at Remagen 1969). 10: Hardy Krüger Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Karl Ludwig (A Bridge too far (1977). 9: Col. von Haller (Wolfgang Preiss) Hannibal Brooks (1969) as Col. von Haller. 8: Anton Diffring as Col. Paul Kramer & Derren Nesbitt as Maj. von Hapen in Where Eagles Dare (1968). 7: Alex the SS soldier played by Derek de Lint ( Soldaat van Oranje 1977). 6: Kittel (Ghetto 2005). 5: Hans Christian Blec as Majoor Werner Pluskat (The Longest Day 1962). 4: James Coburn as Feldwebel Rolf Steiner (Cross of Iron 1977). 3: Moritz Bleibtreu as SS-Standartenführer Karl Heindrich (Female Agents (French: Les Femmes de l'ombre) is a 2008). 2:Thomas Kretschmann as Major Otto Ernst Remer, (Valkyrie 2008) 1: Joachim Hansen as SS Officer ( Le vieux fusil 1975).
A fine choice, the Bridge is not much seen and very underrated.
The book is great; I saw the movie free here on YT and found it very dull indeed.
Of course, "The Bridge" is probably relatively unknown outside Germany. In the country itself, however, every child knows it because it is simply one of the best youth films ever made on the subject of "war and seduction".
Sicherlich, außerhalb Deutschlands dürfte "Die Brücke" wirklich relativ unbekannt sein. Im Land selbst aber, kennt ihn jedes Kind, weil es einfach einer der besten Jugendfilme ist, der je zum Thema "Krieg & Verführung" gemacht worden ist.
@@michaelneuwirth3414 dem stimme ich gerne…
You should do a video on German series, you could include Unerer Muetter, Unserer Vaeter and Charite at War. The second one is a really interesting look at the civilian/medical side of the war.
We are currently looking to do a video on best war series, and 'Unsere Mütter, Unsere Väter' would most definitely be among them!
@@SmashingUKProductions Dusty Faces is very impressive too.
where can i watch these series?
Charity at war was excellent , i m not sure if a french village fits because i believe it was made in france , but that series 7 seasons long to me is the best television show of all time not just best war drama best tv show . it grabs you the very first minute episode the day france surrendered to the very end in the 1960s great acting and directing literally a much watch
"Hunde wollt Ihr ewig leben?" = "Dogs do you want to live forever?" - 1959 (Stalingrad) -
08/15 1. Teil 1954, 2. Teil 1955, 08/15 in der Heimat 1955
Stalingrad, The downfall and the boat are probably not only the best German WWII movies but the best world over WWII movies!
I liked _Der Untergang_ so much that I ended up buying three DVD copies; this way I think I can rest assured of having at least one left, even after a Nuclear attack or an Apocalipse Zombie... 🧟♂️
"Stalingrad" 1993 great movie. I loved "Napola" so touching.
Der Untergang was touching as well.
Das Boot is a piece of Art.
This was great, do you think you could make one on Japanese War films?
Stalingrad und Der Untergang sind meine Favoriten, echte Meisterwerke
Wait.... No Generation War (German: Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter)?
This is such a great series.
And Napola (The Downfall) is also great
Like the top 5, haven't watched the others further down must admit. Think Sophie Scholl should have made the list though, brilliantly acted and very moving film.
'Sophie Scholl' was included in the honourable mentions, it was very close to just making it within the top 10.
It is a top 10 , no doubt. Top 3 for sure.😊
seriously all yall needa watch stalingrad 1993 its seriously a master piece and i think its free on youtube somewhere
Forgot some of the best movies, maybe because they were from gdr, like „Abenteuer des Werner holt“ (Adventures of Werner holt), „Jakob der Lügner“ (Jakob, the liar), „Nackt unter Wölfen“ (naked under Wolfs) and „Ich war neunzehn“ (I was nineteen)
Yes, all of them very impressive movies,my Favorite is Werner Holt.
Good list (from the films I've seen). That Werner Herzog.... I saw Signs of Life in the 1970s - learned how to hypnotize a chicken and actually put that skill to use photographing chickens. But probably what I learned most from war films is- don't go to war. The White Ribbon is very much a pre-war movie, but shows the psyche that leads to committing acts of depravity.
Nothing can top Das Boot. It's the first and the best.
„The Captain“ is fucking disturbing, But also s Masterpiece
This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you very much for this list!
My favorite is still 'Seven Beauties" by Lina Wertmuller.
Stalingrad is the best movie. Stalingrad is the best film I have ever seen. I say that as a German
Stalingrad, battle in hell (1956) is a awesome film too!
Very much agreed
'Generation War' is quite good. Hello from Russia.
Just a simple fan, but for me Napola should have been listen #5 instead of that joke of iron Cross, and Red Baron deserved at least an honorable mention
Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter.
Really great list, thanks for this!!
This Land of mine ' is a fantastic flick
Downfall: the moment 'Hitler' walks on screen, looking every inch the man who has been running a major nation for 10 years, you know there's an Oscar coming. If you can get a copy of the interview with the actors, the lady playing Frau Goebbels is chilling
The last scene with her children was brutal. I have children now and I’m certain I couldn’t watch it.
@@zhiguli8 many crude people will say " see, only a Nazi Mother would be capable of poisoning her own children!" Amazing how they miss the point. I would have done just as Magda, although I very much doubt that I would have been capable of doing it personally.
It is horrible to think that young Ukrainian little kids and lovely little girls are being abducted in occupied Ukraine, separated from their Parents, taken to Ruzzia forever and being imposed Ruzzian citizenship. This is absolutely heinous, far more disgraceful than just sending Jews to a gas chamber, where at least they had a quick death. Try to imagine the unspeakable despair of these cursed Parents. Can you?
At least this officially made Pootin a criminal searched by Justice. It was very much about time!
Meanwhile, we still have people among us who states that we shouldn't be helping Ukraine...
You forgott: die Abenteuer des Werner Holt. The best film I ever saw about 2. WW
Great list.
the captain has special place even along with the stalingrad,my generation,das boot ETC
it is not old classic but it is damn special in someway that i can not explain
maybe how it's filmed? the tone and the atmosphere of whole film is just somethingelse
7:05 Finaly, someone who can pronounce the tile correctly ;)
I agree. Das Boot is the best film not only German about WWII
All Quiet on the Western Front - recent German production
Hi!! great list!! I remember a movie... but don't remember the name.... I thing its a French & German coproduction, Two slightly wounded German soldiers arrive in a French city to replace the garrison, over the days they get to know the inhabitants and show themselves to be normal and ordinary people who just want to survive a lost and senseless war
I think this fits perfectly with your list (excuse my poor english!!)
How could you possibly not include Sophie Scholl in your top ten?
While I haven't seen all of them, very good list.
Europa (not Europa Europa) might be missing (or not enough war).
A great selection; personally, I'd swap the top two. However, I'd probably swap 'em back again the next time.
I notice there is no mention of any East German films. I'd take Cross of Iron off the list and add on the Adventures of Werner Holt.
The Counterfeiters is another Austrian-German excellent movie based on a true story. Another one is Balloon, highly recommend it.
Spoiler Alert: Germany loses the war.
Really🤔
Yeah,as far as the english say it was engerland that won the war!
🇩🇪 do'h! 😂😂😂
Aww, blithering nincompoops!
That line was originally said by the great Bob Newhart.
Can’t top “Das Boot” (1981) but Stalingrad (1993) and Downfall (2004) are also remarkable.
Das boot is the best movie ever. No cgi and only model. I have 6 hours verson where u can listen to director too. Actors was not allowed to have sunlight in 3 months during filiming. Set had hydrolic aid, and during deep charge attacks, set was shaking so badly so actors had to hold fast to the model of submarine. Model used in this movie is accurate to true model, its a exact replica
CROSS OF IRON - lee Marvin like leajtnant hero of Reich on ist front, with Soviet automat Spagin !!! FILM directed in SFRJ - Republika Jugoslavija !!!
Generation war was a brilliant film series that I loved no sure if it is a film or series but either way it was really good check it out!👍
Unfortunately it's a mini-series so ineligible for the list, but we completely agree, it is an incredible series!
@@SmashingUKProductions Das Boot originaly was also a mini-series.
where can i watch it?
You certainly did your homework - your top ten list ist nearly flawless. Remove Steiner (good-ish movie, of course), and add "Hunde wollt ihr ewig leben" or the "08/15"-Trilogy. Add as honorable mentioning "Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt", "Nacht fiel über Gotenhafen", and, in a way, "Wir Wunderkinder". From my native german point of view "all quiet on the western front" (the black-and-white movie from the 1930s) would be the honorably mentioning of a foreign War Movie showing the german perspective. This movie was so incredible well dubbed into german language, that it took some time so convince me that is wasn't shot in german language.
my personal opinion as a turk;
13 minutes: very good film, i liked
the captain: i know the real story about w. herold. this film is in my watch list
stalingrad: also very good. a film looking through german eyes, so u can understand german soldiers feelings. Thomas Kretschmann is great actor.
downfall: a classic, legendary. just watch.
das boot: 1st place to best of best. holywood tried same films after this, but all fail. this movie is peak. i think best movie about WW2. if u like war movies, u shouldn't die before watch this.
One of my all time favorit is the 1959 film: Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben (Stalingrad: Dogs, do you want to live forever?) and the TV mix of documentaion and paly Operation Walküre (1971) the frist honest depiction of the attempt to blow Hitler to pieces on 20th of July 1944. Til then a lot of Germans (if not a majority) saw the soldiers trying to kill Hitler as traitors. After this TV film we got a true and honest discussion about those heros. There had been an early attempt to put the story in a film: Es geschah am 20. Juli (1955) (It happend on 20th of July), but this was to soon after the war and they made to many compromises with the zeitgeist.
A list of 10 german war movies without Sophie Scholl's final on it can't be taken seriously. I have seen many on the list and they are good, but the Sophie-movie is in my opinion a movie without any weaknesses, a deeply moving drama from start to the end , yes , I was very surprised to see this list , so for me the list is only almost top 10, with Sophie-movie high up on the list i can agree.😊
Das Boot will be my fav. to forever.
i love history and i must say whoever is alike i recommend watching the captain
Cross of Iron wasn't a pure german production, but a coop between EMI and Rapid, thus an anglo-german coproduction. The director Peckinpah was a Hollywood director, quite some actors were American or British guys (Coburn, Mason, Warner) and the movie's original language was english. Klaus Löwitsch and Senta Berger contributed as german actors, Schell a the usual bad Nazi guy of that era is a swiss guy. The music was contributed by US composer Ernest Gold who - born in Austria - escaped the Third Reich.
2:49 One remark, "Europa Europa" is rather Polish-German film
Thanks for the comment, we are aware it was a co-production between Germany, Poland and France, however as the German company CCC Film headed the majority of the production, we found it to be a fitting entry. Thanks!
where the list?
Generation war was pretty good as well