Filming for BBC 2

Beltring, Friday Mai 7, 2000

Reproduced from " Signal  " Nr 180

Once again the services of the SBG were called upon by a film company to supply men and vehicles for a forthcoming TV documentary. The film is yet untitled but the working title is " SOE ". To make things easier for the film company and ourselves we tied the filming in with a weekend re-enactment that we were holding locally making this  yet another highly successful three day campaign for the SBG. Despite some initial minor set backs such as the low loader driver telling us at the last moment he couldn't move our Half track at 10pm the night before filming  ( Where do you get a replacement low loader at that time of night !)   things still went ahead as planned . The efficiency and experience of the SBG ensured that another low loader was located and secured and the Half track arrived on time thanks to Cliff ( Strm. Wörner) and Pete (Schar "Kleiner" Meyer) who both spent most of Thursday night and Friday morning on the phone. In particular Cliff who had to spend a lot of his own time overseeing the delivery and departure of the Half track. Our trusty " Hscha. Seigel" turned up with his Zündapp combo in tow and an estate car full to the brim with kit. Also in action was Strm. Adams Hansa Lloyd, a most welcome addition after a long absence. And for the firm time we used Gren. Rösslers excellent Mercedes truck.   Unfortunately the film company couldn't afford to use the Pz. Mk IV but under the circumstances there was no room in the woods for it to be used in any case.

Although only 10 members were required for the filming but 23 members were on the film set including our Danish member Gren. Jürgensen who had flown over for his first SBG event (and unfortunately spent half of his stay dressed as a French resistance fighter) along with two of our newer recruits Grenadiers Werner and Bocker.  After weeks of rain we were blessed with "Führer"  weather but although it was nice and sunny the mud in the woods resembled the Russian front. No problem for the Gruppes trusty Half track , but the trucks !, that was a different matter. Much time was spent dragging the small Hansa Lloyd up and down the muddy track during the day.

As ever with filming much of the day was spent sitting around until they film crew wanted us then it was "Panic stations". The film was about a English/Scottish SOE agent that was parachuted into France to train French resistance and cause havoc with German troops etc. Reputedly this character (who’s still alive) spent his entire time in France wearing his BD blouse and kilt !. And the young actor portraying him was wearing the very same kilt that was worn by him. Some SBG members were dressed as French resistance with the supporting role going to young Obergren. Köhlborn. Obergrenadier Rössler and Gren. Jürgensen were also roped in as Frenchies. This particular story line followed an attack on a convoy of "Das Reich" in France, 1944 and hopes to be broadcast on BBC 2 sometime this coming October. The film Co. was Darlow Smithson productions who are responsible for the " Military Blunders" series previously shown on Ch. 4 and presently being broadcast on the History Channel.

The filming started with a group of fully kitted up Grenadiers complete with K98's and bayonets "Sweeping" the woods. This was then followed by our convoy of the Half track, Hansa Lloyd and Merc truck driving down a very muddy track. The convoy came to a halt and the occupants of the Half track jumped out the back and joined in the search of the woods. The enemy were spotted and all Hell was let loose as the 3.Kp opened fire. Most impressive was Rttf. Ihssen manning the fully auto MG34 mounted on the rear of the half track. Firing in controlled short bursts he swept the woods from left to right finishing off with a sustained burst. The sight of the 18" tounge of flame coming from the barrel was an awesome sight.

After a few takes from various angles it was all over for the majority of us although a small group of members were kept on until dusk where some night scenes/manoeuvres were filmed. Mostly with the French resistance firing fully auto Sten guns. Once everything was wrapped up all the SBG met a little down the road at our Mereworth site where the usual SBG display of drunken piggery was held in one of the Nissan huts. 

 The filming continued the following day with various members dressed as French resistance however certain members donned Wehrmacht uniforms for some other scenes which were shot in a building resembling a town hall in a nearby village.