Titanic as German propaganda

[Mike Shetina]

I would like to know as much as I can about the 1943 german titanic film. Thanks beforehand

 

[Mark Baber]

Take a look at the late Bill Walden's web site, http://home.earthlink.net/~wwwalden/Titanic-1943/German_1.htm, which relates the history of the film and has the English language version of the script.

MAB

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Just realized this IS the same film as TITANIC 1943, Got a postcard ,Mark, of the Cap Arcona? I understand she was used as the stand in for Titanic, and was herself sunk as she was evacuating refugees from a camp near Hamburg. Accidently bombed by allied forces, she went down in the Bay of Luebeck- nearly all died- shot by SS troops who took position on the shore near the sinking liner- WHAT a story!

 

[Thorsten Totzke]

Hi Shelley!

Yes, the Cap Arcona of the Hamburg-Southamerica Line was the ship which was use as Titanic in the Movie. I have talked with Heinz Schon (a survivor of the Wilhelm Gustloff) who was Purser Assistant on the Wilhelm Gustloff in Gotenhafen. He told me that other young Soldiers have become 5 Reichsmark for jumping into the Water by the film shooting.

Later the Cap Arcona made 2 trips with wounded and refugees. then she come to the bay of Lubeck where she lie with the Deutschland (from the Ballin-Class of the Hapag) and the little freighter Thielbeck.

All three Ships were Attacked and sunk by Allied Bombers.

On Board where some Thousand People from the KZ Neuengamme near Hamburg.

greetings

Thorsten Totzke www.LostLiners.de www.OceanLiners.de

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

This was the Deutschland that was the 4-stacked Blue Ribband holder? Had no idea- she was a favorite ship of mine- her portrait is on the Hale Trophy for Blue Ribband winners. I love all those HAPAG 4-stackers- especially the Kronprinzessin Cecile which ended up rusting away in my hometown of Baltimore. I saw her bell and a long photo of her crew Sunday in the marine museum in Fall River, Massachusetts. Sure wish I could speak German- the site above looks inticing!

 

[Mark Baber]

Got a postcard ,Mark, of the Cap Arcona?

Nope, and neither does Jeff Newman---at least, there's no card of her on Great Ships.

This was the Deutschland that was the 4-stacked Blue Ribband holder?

Nope, Thorsten is referring to the Albert Ballin-class Deutschland--- http://www.greatships.net/deutschlandx.html ---which was a later ship than the four-stacker of the same name--- http://www.greatships.net/deutschland3.html.

All of the four-stackers are featured on Great Ships, http://www.greatships.net/fourteen.html

 

[sharon rutman]

Isn't it amazing? The Nazis finally found something they couldn't pin on the Jews when they made their Titanic flick!

 

[Mary S. Lynn]

Here's an interesting article about the German "Titanic" film and its post-war banning by the Allied Occupation. I've never seen the movie, and hadn't even heard of it until I came on this Board. Still too new to even rate the article, but hope you enjoy it.

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2584/3_20/65651973/p1/article.jhtml?term=richard+Howells+Titanic+1997

 

[Dave Gittins]

The script of the German movie used to be on the late Bill Walden's site but the site is now gone. I can't find the script elsewhere. Has anybody sighted it?

 

[Mary S. Lynn]

I haven't been able to find it either, Dave. Please realize that Shelley's link to Dave Walden is over two years old, and I thank her for providing it LONG before I ever appeared! I'll keep looking, and have a couple of German friends who may be able to find something. If I do find the script, I'll post it.

 

[Mary S. Lynn]

Oops - make that Mark Baber's link. Sorry! My reading is a bit off tonight! My apologies to Mark and Shelley!

http://www.arts.nie.edu.sg/his/blackburn/Nazititanic.html

Here's an article that will explain the film and expose the propaganda, but will not provide the script. Please realize that it is a bit "patriotic".

 

[Matt DiTullio]

Just a question cause I cant seem to find the new topic button...

Was the cast and extras aware of what this film was about? I kind of figured that they were innocent civilians thrown into a propaganda scheme.

 

[Aly Jones]

What gets me is that they call out the British for negalance and for killing 1500 souls, at the same time mass murdering so many Europeans. Unbelievable.

Also, on the real titanic, she only could have British Officers, no foreign officers .

 

[Steven Christian]

What gets me is that they call out the British for negalance and for killing 1500 souls, at the same time mass murdering so many Europeans. Unbelievable.

Also, on the real titanic, she only could have British Officers, no foreign officers .

Propaganda wise it was a failure in germany. Thats why the nazi's pulled it from theaters. The peole watching it felt sorry for the victims. Not the desired effect that Goebbles wanted.