The third part of Paul May′s "08/15" trilogy based on the novel by Hans Hellmut Kirst takes place shortly before the end of World War II: In the spring of 1945, the German troops are practically defeated, and the battalion of Kowalski, major general von Plönnies and Asch who had risen to the rank of lieutenant in the meantime is left to its own devices to a large extent. They hope to be able to wait for the end of the war without having to encounter any combat operations. At the same time, Asch tries to prevent high-level Nazi officers from disappearing unnoticed and from cashing in on the chaotic circumstances.
Acting
Fuchsberger's exhausted cynicism as Asch anchors the chaos
Writing
Kirst's novel adapted with bitter, bureaucratic wit
Director
Paul May
Joachim Fuchsberger
Gefreiter Asch
O.E. Hasse
Generalmajor v. Plönies
Hannes Schiel
Oberst Hauk
Gustav Knuth
Major Hinrichsen
Michael Janisch
Oberleutnant Griefer
Peter Carsten
Stabsgefreiter Kowalski
Helen Vita
Lore Schulz
Hans Christian Blech
Wachtmeister Platzek
Mario Adorf
Unteroffizier Stamm
Renate Ewert
Barbara
Edith Schultze-Westrum
Frau Brahm
Gustav Waldau
Alter Mann
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title '08/15' is German slang for 'standard issue/boring' from the WWI machine gun model—a dark joke about institutional mediocrity enabling horror.
Kirst's trilogy was controversial in 1950s West Germany for depicting Wehrmacht soldiers as flawed humans rather than clear heroes or villains.
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