D III 88

1939 film by Herbert Maisch and Hans Bertram

  • Herbert Maisch
  • Hans Bertram
Written by
  • Wolf Neumeister
  • Hans Bertram
Produced byFred LyssaStarring
Cinematography
  • Georg Krause
  • Heinz von Jaworsky
Edited byCarl Otto BartningMusic byRobert Küssel
Production
company
Tobis Film
Distributed byTobis Film
Release date
  • 26 October 1939 (1939-10-26)
CountryGermanyLanguageGerman

D III 88 (sometimes written as DIII 88) is a 1939 German drama film directed by Herbert Maisch and Hans Bertram, the latter also co-writing the script. It stars Christian Kayßler, Otto Wernicke and Heinz Welzel. It was made as a propaganda film with the support of Luftwaffe chief Hermann Göring, and was the last of a series of Nazi aviation films to be made before the outbreak of World War II. It was one of the most commercially successful films released during the Nazi era.[1] It was praised by Joseph Goebbels as "an irreproachable film of national destiny".[2] The title, referring to the serial number of the Albatros D.III flown by one of the characters in the World War I, was an attempt to re-inforce the propaganda link between the modern Luftwaffe and that of World War I.[3] A sequel, Battle Squadron Lützow, was made in 1941.[4]

Synopsis

Two extraordinary young pilots engage in a competitive rivalry and also fight over the same girl. In an effort to show off both fly into a dangerous storm, damaging their planes and are suspended from duty. They are finally convinced by their commanding officer, a veteran of World War I, to use their talents in a more disciplined way for their country.

Cast

Production

Paul Otto, a Jewish actor working under a false name, played a German general in the film and later committed suicide after his Jewish identity was revealed.[4]

References

  1. ^ Paris p. 94
  2. ^ Paris p. 95
  3. ^ Paris p. 95
  4. ^ a b Waldman 2008, p. 235.

Works cited

  • Waldman, Harry (2008). Nazi Films In America, 1933-1942. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786438617.

Bibliography

  • Paris, Michael (1995). From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-4074-0.
  • D III 88 at IMDb


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