History Film / Kolberg

Along with ''Film/TheGreatKing'', ''Kolberg'' was one of the most expensive film of the Nazi era, and one of the oddest. Joseph Goebbels ordered the production of a propaganda film celebrating the bravery of ordinary Germans fighting against invaders, as armies were entering Germany from both east and west. For this, he employed 100 train cars desperately needed for military transport to haul salt to the film set to simulate snow, and used perhaps 5,000 soldiers as extras.[[note]]At one time it was said that as many as 100,000 soldiers were used in the movie, but later research has shown that estimate to be a gross exaggeration.[[/note]]

''Kolberg'' is a 1945 film made in UsefulNotes/NaziGermany, directed by Veit Harlan.

''Kolberg'' is the most expensive film of the Nazi era, and one of the oddest. Joseph Goebbels ordered the production of a propaganda film celebrating the bravery of ordinary Germans fighting against invaders, as armies were entering Germany from both east and west. For this, he employed 100 train cars desperately needed for military transport to haul salt to the film set to simulate snow, and used perhaps 5,000 soldiers as extras.[[note]]At one time it was said that as many as 100,000 soldiers were used in the movie, but later research has shown that estimate to be a gross exaggeration.[[/note]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/51vkmbw7ytl_ac_sy580.jpg]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0633.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:These people had [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII more important things to be doing]].]]

And it was all for nothing. By the time the film was ready for release in early 1945, Nazi Germany was collapsing. Less than 2 months after its release, the real city of Kolberg was razed to the ground by Red Army, and its residents fled rather than fighting to the last man. Goebbels didn't let reality interfere with propaganda, and insisted that Kolberg was fighting on just like in his film. ''Kolberg'' was shown sporadically in a few Berlin theaters in the last couple months of the war, and is said to have been brought to the besieged German pocket of La Rochelle in France by a submarine. Nowadays, like many Nazi era propaganda films, this movie [[BannedInChina has been declared a ''Vorbehaltsfilm'' in Germany]] which may only be played for educational purposes under certain circumstances and with an introduction as to what the propaganda tried to achieve with this movie.

* {{Leitmotif}}: The tune of Maria's song [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=Su54fl8xLjs "Das Jahr ist halb vergangen]]" is her leitmtif
* PlayingAgainstType: One of the few films Kristina Söderbaum made where her character doesn't die or get raped.

It centers around the 1807 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kolberg_(1807) siege of the East Prussian town of Kolberg]] during the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Fourth_Coalition War of the Fourth Coalition]], part of UsefulNotes/TheNapoleonicWars. France has just won a crushing victory against the army of UsefulNotes/{{Prussia}} at the battle of Jena, October 14, 1806. As Napoleon and his armies march into Prussia, confusion reigns and the people are left unsure what to do. Joachim Nettelbeck, mayor of the coastal town of Kolberg, insists on fighting to the last against the French invaders. However, Nettelbeck faces a great deal of resistance. Many citizens of Kolberg have become defeatists, arguing for surrender to Napoleon after the defeat at Jena. General Loucadou, the military commander at Kolberg, jealously guards his privileges and refuses to cooperate with Nettelbeck's plans to rally the population of the town to fight the French. Nettelbeck perseveres, eventually appealing to the King of Prussia for aid.

It centers around the 1807 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kolberg_(1807) siege of the East Prussian town of Kolberg]] during the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Fourth_Coalition War of the Fourth Coalition]], part of UsefulNotes/TheNapoleonicWars. France has just won a crushing victory against the army of Prussia at the battle of Jena, October 14, 1806. As Napoleon and his armies march into Prussia, confusion reigns and the people are left unsure what to do. Joachim Nettelbeck, mayor of the coastal town of Kolberg, insists on fighting to the last against the French invaders. However, Nettelbeck faces a great deal of resistance. Many citizens of Kolberg have become defeatists, arguing for surrender to Napoleon after the defeat at Jena. General Loucadou, the military commander at Kolberg, jealously guards his privileges and refuses to cooperate with Nettelbeck's plans to rally the population of the town to fight the French. Nettelbeck perseveres, eventually appealing to the King of Prussia for aid.

''Kolberg'' is the most expensive film of the Nazi era, and one of the oddest. Joseph Goebbels ordered the production of a propaganda film celebrating the bravery of ordinary Germans fighting against invaders, as armies were entering Germany from both east and west. For this, he employed 100 train cars desperately needed for military transport to haul salt to the film set to simulate snow, and used perhaps 5,000 soldiers as extras. For many years the number was said to be in excess of 100,000 soldiers, but modern research revealed this to be a complete fiction. The movie's director, Veit Harlan, made this claim during his post-war deNazification hearings to claim his movies had actually ''helped'' the Allied war effort by diverting troops from the front lines. You'll still see the "100,000+" number quoted in some older books.

''Kolberg'' is the most expensive film of the Nazi era, and one of the oddest. Joseph Goebbels ordered the production of a propaganda film celebrating the bravery of ordinary Germans fighting against invaders, as armies were entering Germany from both east and west. For this, he employed 100 train cars desperately needed for military transport to haul salt to the film set to simulate snow, and used perhaps 5,000 soldiers as extras. For many years the number was said to be in excess of 100,000 soldiers, but modern research revealed this to be a complete fiction. The movie's director, Veit Harlan, made this claim during his post-war deNazification hearings to claim his movies had actually ''[[RefugeInAudacity helped]]'' the Allied war effort by diverting troops from the front lines. You'll still see the "100,000+" number quoted in some older books.

''Kolberg'' is the most expensive film of the Nazi era, and one of the oddest. Joseph Goebbels ordered the production of a propaganda film celebrating the bravery of ordinary Germans fighting against invaders, as armies were entering Germany from both east and west. For this, he employed 100 train cars desperately needed for military transport to haul salt to the film set to simulate snow, and used perhaps 5,000 soldiers, and Kolberg civilians, as extras. For many years the number claimed was in excess of 100,000 soldiers, but modern research revealed this to be a complete fiction. The movie's director, Veit Harlan, made this claim during his post-war deNazification hearings to claim his movies had actually ''[[RefugeInAudacity helped]]'' the Allied war effort by diverting troops from the front lines. You'll still see the "100,000+" number quoted in some older books.

''Kolberg'' is one of the oddest films of the Nazi era. Joseph Goebbels ordered the production of a propaganda film celebrating the bravery of ordinary Germans fighting against invaders, as armies were entering Germany from both east and west. While the Eastern Front was collapsing in the face of the Red Army, Goebbels arranged for the use of 100,000 desperately needed combat troops as extras for the movie, and employed 100 train cars desperately needed for military transport to haul salt to the film set to simulate snow. It was the most expensive film produced in Nazi Germany.

* CryingLittleKid: Maria rescues an adorable child who was separated from his family when their village is shelled by the vicious French.

* FramingDevice: The film opens in 1813 during the "War of Liberation" against Napoleon, as Count Gneisenau is trying to get King Frederick William to declare war on France. As Gneisau is extolling the virtues of a civilian army, the film jumps back to 1806.

And it was all for nothing. By the time the film was ready for release in early 1945, Nazi Germany was collapsing. ''Kolberg'' was shown sporadically in a few Berlin theaters in the last couple months of the war, and is said to have been brought to the besieged German pocket of La Rochelle in France by a submarine. Nowadays, like many Nazi era propaganda films, this movie [[BannedInChina has been declared a ''Vorbehaltsfilm'' in Germany]] which may only be played for educational purposes under certain circumstances and with an introduction as to what the propaganda tried to achieve with this movie.

''Kolberg'' is one of the oddest films of the Nazi era. Joseph Goebbels ordered the production of a propaganda film celebrating the bravery of ordinary Germans fighting against invaders, as armies were entering Germany from both east and west. While the Eastern Front was collapsing in the face of the Red Army, Goebbels arranged for the use of 100,000 desperately needed combat troops as extras for the movie, and employed 100 train cars desperately needed for military transport to haul salt to the film set to simulate snow. It remains the most expensive film produced in Nazi Germany.

* PlayingAgainstType: One of the few films Kristina Soderbaum made where her character doesn't die or get raped.