The tank (1 Viewer)

[damian]

The scene in the recent German movie The Tank where a Tiger tank is submerged in a river is fictional as depicted in the film, but it is based on a real-world capability of some German World War II tanks.

Fictional in the Film
In the 2025 film (also known as Der Tiger), the entire narrative is presented as an allegory or a journey into "hell" or the afterlife, rather than a strictly realistic war story. The events, including the specific mission and the surreal situations the crew encounters, are symbolic rather than historical.

Based on True Technology
While the specific scene and mission are cinematic devices, the ability for certain German tanks to operate underwater was a real technological advancement:

• True capability: The real German Tiger tank (specifically the early production models like the Tiger I) and the Stug III were designed with a special system to cross rivers underwater.
• The system: This involved a watertight seal for the tank's hull and a large, collapsible snorkel tube that was raised at the rear of the tank to supply air to the engine and crew while submerged.
• Operation: The preparation for this required approximately 30 minutes, and the tank would drive across the riverbed.

In summary, the ability of a German tank to technically operate underwater was real, but the specific events, mission, and dramatic portrayal in the movie The Tank are a work of fiction.

Has any one seen this German language movie ?

 

[blaster]

Ive just seen this movie. A bit draggy in between the action sequences. I did enjoy the action sequences but found the short range fighting a bit too dramatic. These were 88mm guns and bigger so I find the visually 100-200 m engagements unrealistic. The underwater and mine field sequences were also good. The tank reverberations were not sufficiently jarring for a Tiger tank, I think, not as convincing as Fury (Brad Pitt in the Sherman).

 

[Terp152]

Ive just seen this movie. A bit draggy in between the action sequences. I did enjoy the action sequences but found the short range fighting a bit too dramatic. These were 88mm guns and bigger so I find the visually 100-200 m engagements unrealistic. The underwater and mine field sequences were also good. The tank reverberations were not sufficiently jarring for a Tiger tank, I think, not as convincing as Fury (Brad Pitt in the Sherman).

Thought the tank to tank battle taken directly from Fury. Didn't care for the ending. BTW, I fast fwd thru the night time dialogue scenes.

 

[damian]

I suppose it was a spiritual move rather than a war movie. I did not know that the Tiger was supposed to be able to cross rivers submerged. So I learnt something new.