Movies and Films
This is the forum for Movie and Film discussions. Again, our topic is naval warfare in WWII for the most part.
Re: Journalist on Board
Posted by:
Meg Rosenfeld
()
Date: August 05, 2003 12:27PM
<HTML>Good Morning Barry,
In the case of Buchheim, he was at least nominally a member of the Kriegsmarine, had gone through basic training (as an artillerist, of all things) and had already gone out on patrols with various surface vessels before his famous double patrol on U96. However, as you point out, this experience didn't preclude the possibility of cracking up in the very special circumstances of being attacked while under the surface! I don't know whether such a practical idea as testing someone for claustrophia (for instance) ever occurred to either the Kriegsmarine or the Ministry of Propaganda. Buchheim did have problems with claustrophia and seasickness, and frankly admits, in the book, to being scared half to death during the more grueling parts of the patrols. Apparently he was able to keep his personal miseries from inconveniencing or endangering anyone else, and he did manage to help sometimes when all that was needed was a strong pair of hands.
Leutnant Werner is deliberately portrayed as being very "green" in order to make his character, and his reactions to the events in the story, immediately accessible to the viewer; also, if he is ignorant, that makes it logical for the officers and crew to explain things to him (and thereby to the film's audience.) Buchheim was a bit more seasoned--and very unhappy with the portrayal of "his" character.
I don't think your posting is daft at all. What I would like to know is whether any other member(s) of the propaganda team ever went out on a U-Boot.
Regards,
Meg</HTML>
In the case of Buchheim, he was at least nominally a member of the Kriegsmarine, had gone through basic training (as an artillerist, of all things) and had already gone out on patrols with various surface vessels before his famous double patrol on U96. However, as you point out, this experience didn't preclude the possibility of cracking up in the very special circumstances of being attacked while under the surface! I don't know whether such a practical idea as testing someone for claustrophia (for instance) ever occurred to either the Kriegsmarine or the Ministry of Propaganda. Buchheim did have problems with claustrophia and seasickness, and frankly admits, in the book, to being scared half to death during the more grueling parts of the patrols. Apparently he was able to keep his personal miseries from inconveniencing or endangering anyone else, and he did manage to help sometimes when all that was needed was a strong pair of hands.
Leutnant Werner is deliberately portrayed as being very "green" in order to make his character, and his reactions to the events in the story, immediately accessible to the viewer; also, if he is ignorant, that makes it logical for the officers and crew to explain things to him (and thereby to the film's audience.) Buchheim was a bit more seasoned--and very unhappy with the portrayal of "his" character.
I don't think your posting is daft at all. What I would like to know is whether any other member(s) of the propaganda team ever went out on a U-Boot.
Regards,
Meg</HTML>
