Actors who've portrayed real-life WWII officials

Hitler and the Nazi regime were responsible for the killing of an estimated 19.3 million civilians and prisoners of war. In addition, 28.7 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of military action in the European theater. Hitler committed killed himself in his Berlin bunker on April 30, 1945. Pictured in his last official photo, Hitler leaves the safety of his bunker to award decorations to members of the Hitler Youth.

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Ralph Fiennes - Amon Göth -

In the 1993 film 'Schindler's List' directed by Steven Spielberg, English actor Ralph Fiennes portrays Amon Göth, the commandant of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.

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Amon Göth (1908–1946) -

Göth was tried after the war by the Supreme National Tribunal of Poland at Kraków. Found guilty of personally ordering the imprisonment, torture, and extermination of many thousands of people, he was executed by hanging not far from the former site of the Płaszów. camp.

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Gregory Peck - Josef Mengele -

The notorious Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele is played by Gregory Peck (1916–2003) in 'The Boys from Brazil' (1978).

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Josef Mengele (1911–1979) -

Known as the "Angel of Death," Josef Mengele was responsible for performing deadly experiments on prisoners at Auschwitz, and was a member of the team of doctors who selected victims to be killed in the gas chambers. After the war, Mengele fled to South America. He drowned while swimming off the coast of Bertioga in Brazil, having never faced justice.

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Tom Cruise - Claus von Stauffenberg -

Claus von Stauffenberg is portrayed in the film 'Valkyrie' (2008) by Tom Cruise, seen here on the far left of the photograph.

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Claus von Stauffenberg (1907–1944) -

Claus von Stauffenberg was the German officer best known for his failed attempt on July 20, 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler, a plot known as Operation Valkyrie. He was executed along with others by firing squad.

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James Mason - Erwin Rommel -

In 'The Desert Fox' (1951), English actor James Mason (1909–1984) portrays Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Also in the photograph is George Macready (standing) as General Fritz Bayerlein.

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Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) -

Rommel served as field marshal in the Wehrmacht (armed forces) of Nazi Germany. His leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign established his reputation as one of the ablest tank commanders of the war, and earned him the nickname der Wüstenfuchs ("The Desert Fox"). Implicated in the assassination attempt on Hitler, Rommel was given a choice of killing himself or facing trial and execution. He took his own life.

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Ulrich Matthes - Joseph Goebbels -

German actor Ulrich Matthes makes a very plausible Joseph Goebbels in 'Downfall' (2004). Pictured is the scene where Goebbels shoots his wife Magda (Corinna Harfouch) before turning the gun on himself.

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Josef Goebbels (1897–1945) -

Reich Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany, Josef Goebbels was one of Adolf Hitler's closest and most devoted associates. After his wife Magda murdered their six children in the Berlin bunker using cyanide, they both perished as Russian forces advanced on the Reich Chancellery.

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Thomas Kretschmann - Otto Ernst Remer -

Major Otto Ernst Remer, commanding officer of the Großdeutschland guard battalion, is played by German actor Thomas Kretschmann in 'Valkyrie' (2008). Interestingly, he was the original choice to play Claus von Stauffenberg, a role eventually given to Tom Cruise.

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Otto Ernst Remer (1912–1997) -

Otto Ernst Remer played a major role in stopping the 20 July plot in 1944 against Adolf Hitler. The Wehrmacht officer arrested the plotters, including Claus von Stauffenberg. Remer survived the war and in his later years became a politician and far right activist.

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Dietrich Mattausch - Reinhard Heydrich -

Dietrich Mattausch (seated) plays SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich in 'Die Wannseekonferenz' (1984). Known in English as 'The Wannsee Conference,' the film depicts senior Nazi efforts to implement the Final Solution. Also pictured is Peter Fitz as Dr. Wilhelm Stuckart, State Secretary, Reich Ministry for the Interior.

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Reinhard Heydrich (1904–1942) -

Top Nazi and high-ranking SS official, Reinhard Heydrich chaired the January 1942 Wannsee Conference that formalized plans for the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question." His assassination in Prague later that year led to the villages of Lidice and Ležáky being razed and all men and boys over the age of 16 shot. Women and children were deported to concentration camps.

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Barbara Rütting - Hanna Reitsch -

German actress Barbara Rütting (1927– 2020) portrayed aviator and test pilot Hanna Reitsch in 'Operation Crossbow' (1965).

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Hanna Reitsch (1912–1979) -

Reitsch worked enthusiastically and extensively for the Nazis and was awarded many Nazi honors, including the Iron Cross handed personally to her by Adolf Hitler.

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Maximilian Schell - Wilhelm Bittrich -

In 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977), Austrian-born Swiss actor Maximilian Schell (1930–2014) plays Waffen-SS general Wilhelm Bittrich.

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Wilhelm Bittrich (1894–1979) -

A high-ranking Waffen-SS commander, Wilhelm Bittrich was convicted of war crimes in 1945 and sentenced to five years imprisonment.

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Wolfgang Lukschy - Alfred Jodl -

German actor Wolfgang Lukschy (1905–1983) portrays Chief of the Operations Staff Alfred Jodl in 'The Longest Day' (1962).

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Alfred Jodl (1890–1946) -

Jodl was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace; planning, initiating, and waging wars of aggression; war crimes; and crimes against humanity at the Allied-organized Nuremberg trials. Tried and convicted, he was executed by hanging.

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Bruno Ganz - Adolf Hitler -

Swiss actor Bruno Ganz (1941–2019) received international acclaim for his portrayal of Adolf Hitler in the Oscar-nominated film 'Downfall' (2004).

Getty Images/NL Beeld

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Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) -

Rising to power as chancellor of Germany in 1933 and then as Führer in 1934, Adolf Hitler initiated the Second World War in Europe by invading Poland on September 1, 1939.

Getty Images

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Taika Waititi - Adolf Hitler -

In 'Jojo Rabbit' (2019), Adolf Hitler is played in a fanciful style by New Zealand actor/director/writer Taika Waititi.

NL Beeld

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Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) -

During his dictatorship from 1933 to 1945, Hitler was closely involved in military operations throughout the war and was central to the perpetration of the Holocaust.

Getty Images

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Alec Guinness - Adolf Hitler -

English actor Alec Guinness (1914–2000) portrayed the Führer in 'Hitler: The Last Ten Days' (1973).

Getty Images

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Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) -

Getty Images

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Ralph Fiennes - Amon Göth -

NL Beeld

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Amon Göth (1908–1946) -

Public Domain

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Gregory Peck - Josef Mengele -

The notorious Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele is played by Gregory Peck (1916–2003) in 'The Boys from Brazil' (1978).

Getty Images

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Josef Mengele (1911–1979) -

Getty Images

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Tom Cruise - Claus von Stauffenberg -

Claus von Stauffenberg is portrayed in the film 'Valkyrie' (2008) by Tom Cruise, seen here on the far left of the photograph.

Getty Images

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Claus von Stauffenberg (1907–1944) -

Public Domain

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James Mason - Erwin Rommel -

In 'The Desert Fox' (1951), English actor James Mason (1909–1984) portrays Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Also in the photograph is George Macready (standing) as General Fritz Bayerlein.

Getty Images

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Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) -

Getty Images

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Ulrich Matthes - Joseph Goebbels -

NL Beeld

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Josef Goebbels (1897–1945) -

Getty Images

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Thomas Kretschmann - Otto Ernst Remer -

NL Beeld

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Otto Ernst Remer (1912–1997) -

Getty Images

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Dietrich Mattausch - Reinhard Heydrich -

Getty Images

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Reinhard Heydrich (1904–1942) -

Getty Images

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Barbara Rütting - Hanna Reitsch -

German actress Barbara Rütting (1927– 2020) portrayed aviator and test pilot Hanna Reitsch in 'Operation Crossbow' (1965).

Getty Images

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Hanna Reitsch (1912–1979) -

Reitsch worked enthusiastically and extensively for the Nazis and was awarded many Nazi honors, including the Iron Cross handed personally to her by Adolf Hitler.

Getty Images

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Maximilian Schell - Wilhelm Bittrich -

In 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977), Austrian-born Swiss actor Maximilian Schell (1930–2014) plays Waffen-SS general Wilhelm Bittrich.

Getty Images

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Wilhelm Bittrich (1894–1979) -

A high-ranking Waffen-SS commander, Wilhelm Bittrich was convicted of war crimes in 1945 and sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Getty Images

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Wolfgang Lukschy - Alfred Jodl -

German actor Wolfgang Lukschy (1905–1983) portrays Chief of the Operations Staff Alfred Jodl in 'The Longest Day' (1962).

Getty Images

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Alfred Jodl (1890–1946) -

Getty Images

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Actors who've portrayed real-life WWII officials

The Third Reich as seen in movies

29/09/20 | Paul Bernhardt

MOVIES Wwii

The Second World War has been the subject of numerous movies. Many of these productions examine the real-life roles played by members of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Germany, and those of the far more sinister Nazi Party. Their portrayal in film has garnered outstanding performances by some of cinema's greatest actors, who have managed to capture the very essence of their characters even though some of the people they portray rank among the most vile and criminal in world history, individuals that include Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels.

Click through the following gallery and be reminded of the actors who've played real-life Wehrmacht and Nazi Party officials, the films they've appeared in, and the people they've portrayed.