MovieChat Forums > Battle of the Bulge (1966) Discussion > Col Hessler/Robert Shaw

Col Hessler/Robert Shaw

posted 12 years ago by mavrick721
8 replies | jump to latest

I like what the movie did with Col Hessler character, they made him a professional not a mindless Nazi. Pretty ahead of it's time for a 60's Hollywood war movie.

[–] Col_Hessler 12 years ago

That's what I liked about this film.

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[–] petekrug17 11 years ago

Actually I remember a scene where Hessler is telling one of his underlings that winning the battle will mean the war will go on endlessly, and he seems happy about it, so that shows Hessler as a steriotypical evil/insane bad guy.

If you're interested in an older WWII film that shows the Germans in a sympathetic light, I strongly recomend "The Enemy Below".

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

... so that shows Hessler as a steriotypical evil/insane bad guy ...

Just the opposite I would have thought. The above posters are correct. The scene you talk about depicts him as a career soldier who doesn't know much else and enjoys the rush of battle. This is contrasted with the attitude of his corporal/batman who clearly wants the war to end, with or without a German victory.

Hessler is shown to be deeply disturbed by the German massacre of prisoners, whilst assuring Wolenski later, that the prisoners his troops took would be looked after properly.

Shaw definitely looked the part and gave a very convincing performance IMO.🐭

[–] fredcdobbs5 10 years ago

Hessler is shown to be deeply disturbed by the German massacre of prisoners,

Not so much, really. If you remember, his main objection to the massacre was that it would "turn a defeated rabble into avenging soldiers", or words to that effect; in other words, he wasn't angry so much that innocent prisoners were killed as that the incident would motivate defeated troops to regroup and take revenge, which would make it harder on him to accomplish his mission.

whilst assuring Wolenski later, that the prisoners his troops took would be looked after properly.

Again, it was out of self-interest. When Wolenski said that he couldn't be responsible for the actions of his men if they heard of another massacre, Hessler warned him that if they gave him any trouble "I won't hesitate to have them all shot"--in other words, he'd have a massacre of his own if he wanted to. Again, he didn't want any trouble from the prisoners because it would have delayed the accomplishing of his mission, not out of any humanitarian concern for his prisoners' welfare. The real-life German officer Shaw's character Hessler is based on was named Joachim Peiper--he was the SS tank commander who actually planned and carried out the Malmedy massacre that Wolenski was talking about.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

Not so much, really etc.

It doesn't alter the fact he was "deeply disturbed".

Again, it was out of self-interest.

Again what ever. He was playing it straight and giving a straight up response to Wolenski.

Your opinions regarding Hessler, don't really change anything at all.

Not much point either, rambling on about RL characters, when Hessler was clearly a fictional character ... simple as that!🐭

[–] atik10 9 years ago

The real-life German officer Shaw's character Hessler is based on was named Joachim Peiper--he was the SS tank commander who actually planned and carried out the Malmedy massacre

In the Malmedy trial Peiper admitted to have given his men a pep talk in which he told them "not to give nor for that matter expect mercy". Witness accounts from survivors of the massacre give a picture of a spontaneous act of violence, initiated by an NCO shooting two prisoners. Peiper himself was not present.

So clearly, it was a war crime but to say that it was planned and executed by Peiper is a bit misleading.

Be as it may, in the trial Peiper did accept the responsibility for the massacre and the stigma of it followed him for the rest of his life.. With the former SS man ultimately paying the price when his own life ended in a retaliation act, some 30 years later.

[–] chrissso 9 years ago

WELL DONE!!!!

[–] sambuca62 10 years ago

Colonel Hessler is definitely based on SS Colonel Joachim Peiper as noted by another. They are both charismatic, competent and handsome. However, Colonel Hessler is not in the fanatical SS and he is not part of the massacring of prisoners.

These are important differences as one could say Colonel Hessler simply represents the highly professional Wehrmacht officer who was not necessarily a Nazi from the ideological perspective. While there was probably many in the Wehrmacht at this time who would have preferred an organized surrender to the Allies (not the Soviets), there were also many that would not desire a surrender if there was a chance to prolong the war. Remember the goal of the Ardennes Offensive was to force a truce with the U.S and Britain so that the German army could focus fighting the Soviets. As history shows, almost all would carry out their duties to the very end of the war.

People might find it interesting the real life SS Colonel Peiper was convicted of war crimes, spent 12 years in prison and after was assissinated while living in France. He allegedly used his real name so the choice of France as a residence seems like tempting fate.