Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Kadetten

  • 19391939
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
32
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Kadetten (1939)
  • Drama
  • War
During the 18th century's Seven-Year War, a group of young Prussian army cadets are captured by Russian soldiers. After enduring brutal treatment, the cadets come up with a plan to escape th... Read allDuring the 18th century's Seven-Year War, a group of young Prussian army cadets are captured by Russian soldiers. After enduring brutal treatment, the cadets come up with a plan to escape their captors and make their way back to their lines.During the 18th century's Seven-Year War, a group of young Prussian army cadets are captured by Russian soldiers. After enduring brutal treatment, the cadets come up with a plan to escape their captors and make their way back to their lines.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
32
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Karl Ritter
  • Writers
    • Felix Lützkendorf
    • Karl Ritter
  • Stars
    • Mathias Wieman
    • Carsta Löck
    • Andrews Engelmann
Top credits
  • Director
    • Karl Ritter
  • Writers
    • Felix Lützkendorf
    • Karl Ritter
  • Stars
    • Mathias Wieman
    • Carsta Löck
    • Andrews Engelmann
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mathias Wieman
    Mathias Wieman
    • Rittmeister von Tzülowas Rittmeister von Tzülow
    Carsta Löck
    Carsta Löck
    • Sophie - kitchen maidas Sophie - kitchen maid
    Andrews Engelmann
    Andrews Engelmann
    • Col. Goroschewas Col. Goroschew
    Theo Shall
    Theo Shall
    • Capt. Jupowas Capt. Jupow
    Josef Keim
    • Sgt. Schönbrunnas Sgt. Schönbrunn
    Erich Walter
    • Gen. Graf Tschernitschewas Gen. Graf Tschernitschew
    Willy Kaiser-Heyl
    • Gen. von Buddenbrockas Gen. von Buddenbrock
    Wilhelm P. Krüger
    • Ingenieur-Majoras Ingenieur-Major
    Lydia Li
    • Russische Sängerinas Russische Sängerin
    Bernd Russbült
    • Kadett Borkas Kadett Bork
    Klaus Detlef Sierck
    • Kadett Hohenhausenas Kadett Hohenhausen
    Martin Brendel
    • Kadett Schackas Kadett Schack
    Jürgen Mohrbutter
    • Kadett Potronas Kadett Potron
    Rolf Ullmann-Schienle
    • Kadett Jordanas Kadett Jordan
    Hans Otto Gauglitz
    • Kadett Lampeas Kadett Lampe
    Gert Witt
    • Kadett Tiesenhausenas Kadett Tiesenhausen
    Klaus Storch
    • Kadett Radenas Kadett Raden
    Nico Turoff
    • Director
      • Karl Ritter
    • Writers
      • Felix Lützkendorf
      • Karl Ritter
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Der schwarze Freitag
    7.5
    Der schwarze Freitag
    Die Kuba-Krise 1962
    8.5
    Die Kuba-Krise 1962

    Storyline

    Edit
    During the 18th century's Seven-Year War, a group of young Prussian army cadets are captured by Russian soldiers. After enduring brutal treatment, the cadets come up with a plan to escape their captors and make their way back to their lines. —frankfob2@yahoo.com
    • seven years' war
    • military cadet
    • prisoner of war
    • russia
    • prussia
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • War
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    User reviews3

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Russians, Prussians, war galore!
    "Cadets" is a German film made during World War Two, so of course it advances the propaganda of the Reich. But this is actually a well-made and entertaining movie, in spite of its political agenda. The Nazis devoted a substantial amount of resources (often including slave labour) to well-made, elaborate movies, often in historical settings (most notably the epic "Kolberg") ... leaving me to wonder if history might have taken a different course if Germany had devoted all those resources to winning Hitler's war.

    "Cadets" takes place during the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763, a conflict which I consider the first true world war. (American history books identify this conflict as the French and Indian War, often omitting to mention that much of the fighting took place in Europe, and nearly every European nation was involved.) The Seven Years' War and World War Two had a major factor in common: in both cases, Russia changed sides during the war.

    The heroes of "Cadets" are a group of plucky Prussian boys, ages nine through twelve, who are attached to a battle regiment. (Did the Prussian army actually muster boys this young? And were those boys ever in the line of fire? I confess that I don't know. I'll describe the movie accurately, but I don't know if the movie is historically accurate.) The boys are captured by Russian troops. Of course they escape. After many adventures and hardships, they heroically rejoin their unit.

    This film being Nazi agitprop, naturally all the Prussian boys (surrogate Germans) are a bunch of little Tintins, brave and resourceful and good-looking. The Russians are coarse, filthy vulgarians with no sense of honour nor valour. Most nations have resorted to similar stereotypes in their wartime films.

    "Cadets" seems to be aimed at both adult and youth audiences in Germany and Austria. On several levels, this is an entertaining "Boys' Own"-style adventure film, about as realistic as "Emil and the Detectives". In hindsight, though, we know that the Nazi war effort was preparing boys of the Hitler Youth to go into combat, and that many boys as young as the cadets in this film were eventually in the front lines of the Wehrmacht and the Volkssturm, blindly and patriotically dying for their nation while adult Nazis were frantically rushing westward, hoping to surrender to American or British forces before the Red Army arrived. Those brave boys were decoys so that cowardly men could survive the war.

    For those who can look past its political agenda, "Cadets" is an enjoyable film with plenty of action. The period detail is, as usual for German movies before and during the Reich, impeccable. The production values are more than adequate, and the exterior locations are impressive. The boy cadets sing a rousing song, "I Like a Fight with the Enemy in the Field", and Lydia Li is attractive as a Russian singer. Fully aware of its political context, I'll rate "Cadets" 7 out of 10.
    helpful•8
    1
    • F Gwynplaine MacIntyre
    • May 7, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 2, 1941 (Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • Germany
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Cadets
    • Filming locations
      • Brandenburg, Germany
    • Production company
      • Universum Film (UFA)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Kadetten (1939)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for Kadetten (1939)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.