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.

6 / 27 Fotos

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.

7 / 27 Fotos

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.

8 / 27 Fotos

Gregory Peck - Josef Mengele -

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

9 / 27 Fotos

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.

10 / 27 Fotos

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.

11 / 27 Fotos

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.

12 / 27 Fotos

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.

13 / 27 Fotos

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.

14 / 27 Fotos

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.

15 / 27 Fotos

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.

16 / 27 Fotos

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.

17 / 27 Fotos

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.

18 / 27 Fotos

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.

19 / 27 Fotos

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.

20 / 27 Fotos

Barbara Rütting - Hanna Reitsch -

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

21 / 27 Fotos

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.

22 / 27 Fotos

Maximilian Schell - Wilhelm Bittrich -

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

23 / 27 Fotos

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.

24 / 27 Fotos

Wolfgang Lukschy - Alfred Jodl -

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

25 / 27 Fotos

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.

26 / 27 Fotos

Getty Images

0 / 27 Fotos

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/BrunoPress

1 / 27 Fotos

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

2 / 27 Fotos

Taika Waititi - Adolf Hitler -

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

BrunoPress

3 / 27 Fotos

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

4 / 27 Fotos

Alec Guinness - Adolf Hitler -

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

Getty Images

5 / 27 Fotos

Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) -

Getty Images

6 / 27 Fotos

Ralph Fiennes - Amon Göth -

BrunoPress

7 / 27 Fotos

Amon Göth (1908–1946) -

Public Domain

8 / 27 Fotos

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

9 / 27 Fotos

Josef Mengele (1911–1979) -

Getty Images

10 / 27 Fotos

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

11 / 27 Fotos

Claus von Stauffenberg (1907–1944) -

Public Domain

12 / 27 Fotos

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

13 / 27 Fotos

Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) -

Getty Images

14 / 27 Fotos

Ulrich Matthes - Joseph Goebbels -

BrunoPress

15 / 27 Fotos

Josef Goebbels (1897–1945) -

Getty Images

16 / 27 Fotos

Thomas Kretschmann - Otto Ernst Remer -

BrunoPress

17 / 27 Fotos

Otto Ernst Remer (1912–1997) -

Getty Images

18 / 27 Fotos

Dietrich Mattausch - Reinhard Heydrich -

Getty Images

19 / 27 Fotos

Reinhard Heydrich (1904–1942) -

Getty Images

20 / 27 Fotos

Barbara Rütting - Hanna Reitsch -

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

Getty Images

21 / 27 Fotos

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

22 / 27 Fotos

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

23 / 27 Fotos

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

24 / 27 Fotos

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

25 / 27 Fotos

Alfred Jodl (1890–1946) -

Getty Images

26 / 27 Fotos

Actors who've portrayed real-life WWII officials

The Third Reich as seen in movies

01/10/24 | StarsInsider

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.