Ernst Thälmann - Leader of his Class

Ernst Thälmann - Leader of his Class is a 1955 East-German movie directed by Kurt Maetzig and the sequel of Ernst Thälmann - Son of his Class. The second part covers the period from 1930 until Thälmann's assassination in 1944. It shows Thälmann's struggle for the united front of the German workers against the National Socialists, his arrest after Hitler seizes power, and the eleven years of imprisonment in which he remains steadfast until his death. An attempt by the comrades to liberate him fails and Thälmann rejects a corrupting offer of freedom by Göring. And he has to witness how his brave fellow fighter Änne Jansen is killed in a bomb attack in the women's prison across the street. Änne's husband Fiete Jansen, who was already at Thälmann's side as a friend and fighter in the first part, becomes the second supporting figure of the film. As commander of the Thälmann Battalion, he fights for the people's cause in Spain and later in the ranks of the Red Army for a quick end to the fascist war.
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=Pistols=
==Luger P08==
Luger P08 pistols are used by German police, SS guards, and some soldiers. Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) Quadde (Werner Peters) is briefly seen with a P08 during an attempt to free Thälmann
==FN Model 1922==
Fiete Jansen (Hans-Peter Minetti) is seen leading a charge with an FN Model 1922 during the Spanish Civil War.
=Submachine Guns=
==PPSh-41==
Most Soviet Soldiers are armed with PPSh-41 submachine guns, as well, Fiete Jansen.
==PPS-43==
Some PPS-43s are also seen wielded by Red Army soldiers.
=Rifles=
==Mauser Model 1889/36==
The most-seen rifle is the Belgian Mauser 1889/36 which is first used by Berlin police forces in 1930.
==Mauser Gewehr 1898M==
Two SA (Sturmabtelung) men are seen with Gewehr 98M rifles while guarding arrested communists after the Reichstag Fire Decree of February 28, 1933. Contrary to what is portrayed in the film, it was only one communist, Dutch Marinus van der Lubbe, who set fire to the Reichstag building on February 27, and not a planned action by Hitler. However, this was a welcome opportunity for Nazi propaganda to crack down on leftists.
==Karabiner 98k==
The Karabiner 98k is briefly seen in the hands of German soldiers.
==Gewehr 1888/05==
What appears to be a Gewehr 1888/05 is briefly seen held by a guard at a barracks.
==Karabiner 1888==
A liberated KZ prisoner has a Karabiner 1888 over his shoulder.
===Custom Karabiner 1888===
Another liberated KZ prisoner is briefly seen with a Kar 88 with a straight bolt handle that is also most likely used in the 1978 movie Severino.
==Mosin Nagant==
Some Red Army soldiers are also armed with Mosin Nagant Rifles.
==Lebel Mle. 1886==
Some Spanish Republican fighters can be seen with French rifles that appear to be Lebel 1886s.
=Assault Rifles=
==Sturmgewehr 44==
The Sturmgewehr 44 is the second most used rifle by German soldiers and liberated prisoners.
==MKb 42(H)==
At the end of the movie, two prison guards of the KZ Buchenwald are armed with MKb 42(H) assault rifles.
thumb|none|450px|Maschinenkarabiner 42(H) (Reproduction) - 7.92x33mm Kurz
=Machine Guns=
==MG 34==
German soldiers use MG 34s.
==MG42==
Two MG42s are transported by prisoners.
==Maxim MG 08==
One Maxim MG08 is seen among the smuggled weapons for the prisoners.
=Launchers=
==Panzerfaust==
Some Landsers are seen with Panzerfausts.
==Panzerschreck RPzB 54==
A single Panzerschreck RPzB 54, which appears to be a mock-up, is carried by one German soldier.
=Other=
==15 cm sFH 18==
Various 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18 can be seen at a weapons factory.
Category:Movie
Category:Biographical Movie
Category:Drama
Category:War
Category:German Produced/Filmed