Sturmbannführers Report

February 2001

Filming for ITV

              " Lights, Camera, Action ! ", words now familiar to the SBG since our involvement in "saving private ryan". Once again the SBG was called upon to provide extras for a forth coming ITV documentary on the last days of Adolf Hitler and his shadow Martin Bormann. On Monday 15th January Schar. Stoewer, Phil Rogers from Der Adler re-enactment society and myself arrived at Dagenham Civic center at 08.15. We were then taken down into the " Führer Bunker " and introduced to the cast and crew.

 The Führer was played by a very convincing Miles Bromilow ( his third time acting as the "The Fuhrer"). Martin Bormann was played by Philip Widdicombe and Eva Braun was played by Inna Windsor.

Schar. Stoewer, Phil and myself quickly got changed into our SS uniforms and waited to be called. Later that morning our big moment came and our job was to carry out the dead bodies of the Führer and Eva. Schar. Stoewer and Phil got to carry the Führer and Bormann and I carried Eva ( I got the legs ). " Eva " was worried that we might drop her going up the stairs.

 She should have worried more about her dress dropping off, the seams of which ripped a little more during each take ( approx. 5 ) but I managed to keep a straight face each time I heard the stitches " crack ". After lunch we were back in the bunker for fill in shots with Phil finding the bodies and Schar. Stoewer and I passing each other in the corridor. For the rest of day one it was more hanging around until 7am when we were told to stand down.

Day two consisted of office scenes and wishing the Führer a happy birthday after which a lunch break was called. Then it was more hanging around for the occasional fill in scene. The Dog playing the part of " Blondie " had to go into make up to have highlights put into its fur ( it was black and male to boot so clever camera angles were needed ! ). The day ended for Phil and myself at 20.30 but Schar. Stoewer stayed on for more fill in shots until 23.00 hrs !.

The rest of the week was spent filming in Kent where the two Meyer Bros. and myself were dressed in black parade officers uniforms whilst other SBG members proved to be excellent guards at the entrance to the Reich's Chancellery. The main scenes included the Führer (followed by Bormann ) saluting us and asking us our names whilst we replied and saluted back. Other scenes involved various SBG in Bormanns office.