Land of Mine Film Questions

[radic202]

Hey gang, I just finished watching this awesome Danish film about German "Boy Soldiers" tasked with removing more than 1.5 million mines on the west coast of Denmark.

I had basically never heard of this historical fact before.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3841424/med ... f_=tt_ov_i

My questions are:

Would using force labour (POWs in a way) be totally illegal under the Geneva Code? And if so? How did the Danes get away with it (yep they were part of the winning side) so maybe it was ignored by the Allies.

And not sure if this was fictionalized too much but there seemed to be a real hatred form the Danes towards anything German military. Now I understand that the Germans occupied their country for the entire war but I was unaware that the German were brutal or extremely vicious towards the people of Denmark hence the hatred felt towards them. To me, it just seemed to be overly emphasized.

They mention as a note at the end of the film that of the 2000 young men that were used to defuse the mines, over 1000 of them died doing this task. That is one heck of Stats and of course the war is already long over.

Anyhow, great film and those young German actors were far and beyond excellent.

And of course, thanks in advance if you have any comments.

[Rosseau]

Never heard about this, but am not shocked. But yes, the "legality" of it is quite questionable. It always grieved me how a Christian nation like Germany could be so harsh and blind to their leaders' actions.

Read a book a while back (can't come up with the name), but a pretty famous account of the Russians entering Berlin. Women basically jumped out of their windows when the Soviet soldiers kicked down the apartment doors. You can imagine the rage in their hearts, some of them fighting for five years or more.

Lost two close relatives in WW2 on German soil, but always considered Germany to be a trusted ally during the Cold War. To this day, it is communism I cannot stand and would take up arms to fight it.

[Lobster]

The winning side almost never faces war crimes.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: radic202


Hey gang, I just finished watching this awesome Danish film about German "Boy Soldiers" tasked with removing more than 1.5 million mines on the west coast of Denmark.

I had basically never heard of this historical fact before.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3841424/med ... f_=tt_ov_i

My questions are:

And not sure if this was fictionalized too much but there seemed to be a real hatred form the Danes towards anything German military. Now I understand that the Germans occupied their country for the entire war but I was unaware that the German were brutal or extremely vicious towards the people of Denmark hence the hatred felt towards them. To me, it just seemed to be overly emphasized.

They mention as a note at the end of the film that of the 2000 young men that were used to defuse the mines, over 1000 of them died doing this task. That is one heck of Stats and of course the war is already long over.

warspite1

Anti-German feeling by the Danish people would not just have been as a result of the war - the Schleswig-Holstein issue and two wars fought between Prussia and Denmark in the 19th Century meant that there was already an anti-German feeling before WWII.

As for the stat - 1,000 killed out of 2,000, really? I find that difficult to believe, but even if its half that, that is truly shocking.

[E]

ORIGINAL: radic202
And not sure if this was fictionalized too much but there seemed to be a real hatred form the Danes towards anything German military. Now I understand that the Germans occupied their country for the entire war but I was unaware that the German were brutal or extremely vicious towards the people of Denmark hence the hatred felt towards them.

Mere occupation is enough. For instance, my country has been occupied by invaders and their illegitimate offspring, for hundreds of years. Some of them attempted to be benevolent. However, even those few were not enough to stem my hatred of Politician's and their occupation of my country. "Politicians Go Home!"

[E]

.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: E

ORIGINAL: warspite1
As for the stat - 1,000 killed out of 2,000, really? I find that difficult to believe, but even if its half that, that is truly shocking.

That's a higher survival rate than serving on a U-boat during the war.

warspite1

What has the casualty rate for a service during time of war got to do with POW's clearing mines after the war?

[Orm]

I recall seeing a documentary about this a long time ago and I do not recall any figures. I made a quick search but didn't find it.

But I did find a interesting documentary and I think they do mention a figure for losses and wounded among the German prisoners but my Danish is to weak to try and translate them. I have a hard time even hearing what they say. And it is made in 1946 so some information about the actual numbers could be classified. Anyway, it is a 10 minutes long and interesting enough documentary that is well worth watching even if one doesn't understand a word of Danish.

Livsfare - Miner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqidu-8tCWM

Around the 8:30 mark I think they mention how many Germans that were lost or maimed. First half of the video is about clearing mines at sea with British aid and second half it is the German prisoners that clears the land mines.

[E]

.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: E

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: E

That's a higher survival rate than serving on a U-boat during the war.

warspite1
What has the casualty rate for a service during time of war got to do with POW's clearing mines after the war?

You seem to be shocked by the mineclearing attrition rate, as if it was the worst ever. It wasn't the worst ever, is the point. Both jobs were borne of the war (where did you think these mines came from?). The mine clearing job had a higher survival rate.

warspite1

"where did you think these mines came from?". Thanks, that added a lot to the discussion [8|].

The loss of the U-boat crews happened during the war. Using prisoners of war, after the war had finished, to clear mines in conditions that allowed for such casualties (though I simply don't believe 1,000 killed out of 2,000) is absolutely shocking. I don't care if its "the worst ever" or other such pointless comparison. That is totally irrelevant as what happens during a conflict should be different to what happens in time of peace.

[Orm]

Land of Mine Official Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kao3t0NBMU

Land of Mine (Complete with subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bq3eOeu9Ec

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Land of Mine Official Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kao3t0NBMU

Land of Mine (Complete with subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bq3eOeu9Ec

warspite1

Thank-you. It looks an interesting film.

[E]

.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: E

ORIGINAL: warspite1
...as what happens during a conflict should be different to what happens in time of peace.

I agree, but that is a common problem with war... the Off switch is too often on a delay circuit. But then again, if you* are still a Prisoner Of War, IS the war even over?


* I emphasize (the generic) "you" to show that the answer could be different if the question is personal. I'll be honest, if I were a POW, the war would NOT be over, period. (however, that is a question that will never apply to me, as I completed my military career far too long ago for even the possibility to arise)

warspite1

Agreed. What is the saying? Something like "restraint in war is an absurdity". It's sad but actually true.

What makes this so shocking is that the war was over, but you are asking the question was the war over for these POW's. I think so yes - or it should've been.

Let's say the war wasn't over, but still continuing - albeit we are in the last few months of the Reich. Somewhere - let's say the UK - decide to start the clean up of British beaches in the same way. Would the fact that the war was still on-going make the use of prisoners of war in this way be any more palatable morally or anymore acceptable legally?

[Orm]

Warspite1, are you just arguing that the stats might be wrong here? Or is it something else as well? You seem a bit shocked.

[warspite1]

No I don't believe 1,000 were killed out of 2,000 who were involved.

[radic202]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

No I don't believe 1,000 were killed out of 2,000 who were involved.

At 1:35:53 of the film (as seen by the link posted above) it says that nearly half of the 2000 "boy soldiers" were killed or injured. I should have used casualties in my original post rather than died.