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7 Great Foreign Language War Films You Should See: Das Boot

Like many history buffs, I love it when films bring military history to life. Of course, I prefer they do it in a believable way and with the support of an intriguing story such as Saving Private Ryan or Platoon.

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Good war films can help supply the dramatics and realism of war to those of us who are already submersed in military history, but they also bring in a new generation of history lovers. In my case, films convinced me to read about events after viewing films like The Longest Day, A Bridge Too Far, and Stalag 17.

World War II films are perhaps the most popular and lauded of all war films and for good reason. Many non-English speaking countries have contributed significantly to the genre, but often get overlooked by even the stoutest of military history geeks.

Here are seven World War II films from various countries in no particular order that are worth your time to see if you haven’t already. I have narrowed the field to include only films with regular units; therefore, no partisan, resistance, or commando style films. Also, all these films are available with English subtitles.

1. Stalingrad (German – 1993)

2. Brest Fortress (Belorussian/Russian – 2010)

3. Unknown Soldier (Finland – 2017)

4. Days of Glory (Morocco – 2006)

5. Battle for Sevastopol (2015 – Russian)

6. Das Boot (German – 1981)

7. 1944 (Estonian – 2015)

Das Boot

(German – 1981)

Das Boot (The Boat) is considered one of the best war films ever and certainly one of the best World War II films by critics and audiences throughout the world. It is the first foreign film that I ever watched as a youth and has likely been viewed by the vast majority of War History Online readers already.

The film has an admirable level of detail and an actual U-boat commander and 1st officer served as consultants when it was made. Authenticity was paramount and it is one of Germany’s most expensive films, but still successful and profitable with a huge international audience.

Nominated for 6 Academy Awards, the film gives a first hand look at the irony of war, tragedy, camaraderie, and a detailed vision of life on a German U-boat during World War II.

The film follows the officers and crew of U-96 through life and death struggles against convoys, destroyers, and storms. There is plenty of onboard tension between old and new submariners in the film, which keeps the level of intensity going and the story flowing.