1916 - 17 "Our heroes on the Somme" German film

[Doug504]

Apologies if this has been posted previously, found this film of the Somme from the German perspective. Fascinating film, I've spent a lot of time trying to position the locations of the various scenes. Film can be viewed via the following Youtube link;

Doug.

[douglynn]

Very interesting thanks

[KevinBattle]

Very interesting, but I found myself wondering why there seemed absolutely no visible response from the defenders or their artillery.

Several shots of PoW's being marched away, mostly "Tommies" but the second batch seemed to have many French.

The other surprising thing was how little damage shell fire seemed to have on the many trees in the film and how open the countryside (and little affected by bombardments).

Background music is a bit of an ear worm!

[Gibbo]

The National Portrait Gallery's 'The Great War in Portraits' exhibition included the British film Battle of the Somme and the German response Bei unseren Helden an der Somme, or at least extracts from them, on a loop.

The exhibition guide book states that the German 'film's factuality was flawed. While the first part contains documentary footage, the remaining sections include faked shots that were not filmed on locations at, together with footage pre-dating the Somme Offensive. Lacking credibility, it was not a success.'

The British film included some re-enacted scenes, but it was made at the time and was regarded as a credible account of the battle, even if, as the exhibition guide book says, 'there was a disparity between the appearance of the battle on the screen and the reality, with still worse horrors remaining concealed.' The German film was made in response to the British one.

[timsanders]

Great film.

Are the long shots of the German artillery landing on the plains credible? If so it certainly illustrates the superior position of the Germans and how overlooked the British lines were.