Hogan's Heroes

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

Flipping thru channels today I saw a partial episode of Hogan's Heroes.  In one of the scenes with close-ups of camp guards I noticed they were using Krag rifles. You'd think there were enough Mausers and 1903s around at the time, but maybe the production company got a deal for these?  Interesting, nonetheless.

[Subdeacon Joe]

Some of the guards uniforms were genuine WWII German issue.  Or so I've heard.

[DocWard]

I've always found it fascinating that both Werner Klemperer and John Banner fled to the U.S. to escape National Socialism. As I recall, Banner lost a lot of family to the Holocaust.

[Bugler]

According to a friend of mine who is an avid historian and actor in WW1/WW2 movies as both a GI and German, the Third Reich actually did use Krags in that setting, chambered for the 6.5x55. I too thought it was unusual....Vinne tells me that it is true...he hasn't steered me wrong yet on such matters.

Bugler

[Bugler]

Was Bob Crane's ( Col. Hogan) murder ever solved? Seems like they thought it was his friend that hit him with a lamp or something.......

Bugler

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

NAZI-OCCUPATION "STOMPERUD" KRAG RIFLE

 

And from: https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/military-history/the-krag-jorgensen-rifle/

 

The Krag Outside the U.S.

While the American-made Krag is the most famous model, two other nations used the rifle for a much longer period of time. Denmark used the Model 1889 Krag rifle as its standard service rifle up to World War II, chambered for an 8x57mm cartridge. A number of variants were made, including a carbine and a sniper rifle; production totaled about 140,000. When Nazi Germany occupied Denmark in 1940, it took over many of the rifles, which later saw second-line use in the Wehrmacht.

 

The only other major user of the Krag was Norway, which adopted its own version of the rifle in 1894. Like the Danes, the Norwegians continued to use Krags up to World War II, when Norway was defeated and occupied by the Nazis. The Norwegian model fired a smaller 6.5x55mm round. It differed from the American Krag primarily in the absence of the magazine cutoff. The Germans ordered a number of Krags made for them along with several other Norwegian weapons, but only a few thousand were actually manufactured.

[Sedalia Dave]

38 minutes ago, Bugler said:

Was Bob Crane's ( Col. Hogan) murder ever solved? Seems like they thought it was his friend that hit him with a lamp or something.......

Bugler

 

As of March 2017 it is still unsolved.
Actor Bob Crane died a gruesome death. Anchor's book takes another look.

[Alpo]

Were "THEY" using Krags, or was just Schultz using a Krag? I've never noticed any other guard with one.

[Finagler 6853 Life]

The actor who played LeBou, the little French man was actually a Nazi war camp survivor.  Had the tattoo and all.  Or so I was told.

[Major E A Sterner #12916]

John Banner agreed to play Sgt. Schultz one the condition that he wouoldn't have to carry a German rifle, Which is why he's always shown with the Krag.

 

[J. Mark Flint #31954 LIFE]

The SS characters and many of the guards were mostly portrayed by Jewish actors- Werner Klemperer was Catholic, and agreed to do the show only if "Klink", never won in any way.

 

 

[DocWard]

51 minutes ago, J. Mark Flint #31954 LIFE said:

The SS characters and many of the guards were mostly portrayed by Jewish actors- Werner Klemperer was Catholic, and agreed to do the show only if "Klink", never won in any way.

 

 

 

His father was Jewish, converted to Catholicism then back, by what I have read. He was also evidently a talented violinist.

[Seamus McGillicuddy]

His brother was Otto Klemperer, one of the most talented classical music conductors of be 20th Century.  Did a lot of recording with several different orchestras. 

 

Seamus

[Alpo]

2 hours ago, Major E A Sterner #12916 said:

John Banner agreed to play Sgt. Schultz one the condition that he wouoldn't have to carry a German rifle, Which is why he's always shown with the Krag.

 

I've heard that before, but that's just dumb.

 

"I'll wear a German uniform, and say 'Heil Hitler', but I won't carry a German rifle, because that's just WRONG."

 

At least once he has an MP40, so carrying a German submachine gun is okay, but a rifle is bad? 

 

In 36 Hours (James Garner movie) he's a border guard between Germany ans Switzerland, and carries a Mauser.

 

 

[DocWard]

1 hour ago, Seamus McGillicuddy said:

His brother was Otto Klemperer, one of the most talented classical music conductors of be 20th Century.  Did a lot of recording with several different orchestras. 

 

Seamus

 

I believe that Otto was his father