Cross of Iron -- Beginning

Exellent! 14/88

As I remember, this movie was about the fighting around Anapa, in the Kuban bridegehead. Great that P picked that part of the WWII front' But if I go by memory I think it was some misunderstanding (or did I misunderstand?) in this movie. The Iron Cross, 1st class, that M Schell wanted so badly, was NOT that incredible hard to get. Wasn't it mixed up in the movie with the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreutz)? The RK was hard to get not mentioning Eichenlaub, Schwerter and Brilliantinen.

thank you for the interesting information.

No, I think it's correct. Notice that when Stransky said he transfered to the Eastern front to get the Iron Cross, Colonel Brandt simply says "you can have one of mine" which indicates the medals lack of value. Also note that Stransky isn't a particularly competant soldier/officer so for him to get an Iron Cross is comparatively like Steiner getting the Knights Cross.

OK, many years since I saw the movie. Maybe I download it and watch it all over again. The great (and original thing) is that Sam Peckinpah, an American director, chosed to depict (1) war on eastern front. (2) Around the town of Anapa which was IIRC, part of the Kuban bridgehead, in northern Caucasus close to the Kertch strait - Crimea other side of the strait. This Kuban bridgehead, named after the region/Kuban river, was German forces still being there until August '43 for a jump off...

continue...position and renew offensive in Caucasus if war had gone Hitler's way. Hardly any books written about those battles there and significany of the fighting. What I have read about it, is parts of other WWII eastern front books or German privates memories. So it's IMO almost incredible good taste of an American director having the originality chosing that theathre of war. And great fighting scenes and all the tiredness, cynism and just fighting for the comrades and stay alive. Tnx!

11 millions of men fought in wehrmacht during 1939-1945. Only 300 000 iron cross 1st class were given. 3.000.000 second class and only 7500 for the ritterkreuz. So the 1st class iron cross was hard to get.

Great tune. Sad that a great nation were led in to a war by hateful madmen.

To have picked "Haenschen klein . . " as the opening melody illustrates yet another aspect of Sam Peckinpah's genius. "Aber Mutter weinet sehr, hat ja jetzt kein Haenschen mehr" indeed!

excellent movie, 14/88