Tank Brigade (film)
Tank Brigade (Czech: Tanková brigáda) is a 1955 Czechoslovakian film made about the World War II Eastern Front conflict between German and Czechoslovakian forces.
The film is largely a propaganda film, depicting actions of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Armoured Brigade, with Soviet forces, who both fought their way to the Czechoslovak border, and participated in the Battle of the Dukla Pass. The film depicts the struggle for Slovakia and the successful liberation of Ostrava in Northern Moravia. One scene depicts a battle for the Miloše Sýkory bridge in Ostrava city, featuring the actual bridge. Three thousand members of the Czechoslovak People's Army participated in the film.
The film is 93 minutes, in colour, and stars Otomar Krejca, Bedrich Prokos, Martin Ruzek, Julius Pantik, Jana Ditetova, Ota Sklencka, Zdenek Dite, Jiri Sovak, Rudolf Deyl ml., Jiri Vala, Miloslav Holub, Milos Nedbal, Antonin Sura.
The screenplay was written by Jaroslav Klima, directed by Ivo Toman and the production company was Československý Armádní Film.
Unusually for war films, it used a variety of authentic armoured vehicles used by both sides, including Russian T-34 and T-34/85's, as well as German Sturmgeschütz III, Panzer IV and a Schwimmwagen.