The Real Story Behind Inglourious Basterds' Historical Inaccuracies

World War II historian James Holland assesses the historical accuracy of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, which was released in 2009 and stars Brad Pitt and Christopher Waltz. Waltz plays a Nazi commander whose mission is to track down Jewish people across Europe. The movie, which presents an alternate history of actual events, commences with an outstanding scene in which Waltz's character, Hanz Landa, interrogates a French farmer suspected of hiding a Jewish family. In a recent video released by Penguin Books UK, Holland analyzes the film's iconic opening scene on the farm to determine how historically accurate it is. Despite finding the film entertaining, the expert acknowledges that many aspects of the film are entirely fictional. To watch the video, check out Holland's complete comment or start the section at 12:26.

During his time as a historical advisor on Inglourious Basterds, my friend Peter Caddick-Adams was shown a large map board that the filmmakers planned to use. However, he quickly pointed out that the M25 did not exist during the Second World War. While the film is certainly exaggerated and over the top, as is often the case with Quentin Tarantino's work, it's important to note that the depiction of Germans calmly conversing with people during house searches is not accurate. In reality, they would often storm in, destroy everything, and shoot anyone they found without hesitation. There would be no time for polite conversation or smoking pipes.

The Nazis were predictably dressed in leather and resembled pantomime villains. Their squad was heavily equipped with submachine guns, fitting the stereotypical image of a Nazi. Attempting to aim a pistol at a distance of a hundred yards was deemed absurd, as pistols were only effective at close range, typically ranging from five to ten yards.

It's Good That Inglourious Basterds Isn't Historically Accurate

Unlike the Nazi mobile killing units, the West relied heavily on secret intelligence services and informers to locate Jews. In France, the majority of Jews were rounded up by the French themselves at the request of the Germans, with the exception of Vichy. Surprisingly, the first anti-Semitic laws in France during the war were issued by the Vichy government rather than the Germans. While the film was entertaining, it lacked historical accuracy, earning only a three out of 10 in that regard.

While some filmmakers have attempted to approach the Second World War with a more serious tone, Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds takes a different approach. Rather than striving for historical accuracy, Tarantino creates his own unique version of reality that is both entertaining and captivating. As Holland notes, while the film may present a highly fictionalized portrayal of the war, it remains a thrilling and engaging cinematic experience.

Tarantino's talent lies in his ability to create complex and flawed characters, and Colonel Hans Landa is a prime example of this. Though liberties were taken with Landa and his mobile killing unit, it was all in service of crafting a villain that is both detestable yet captivating. The opening French farmhouse scene, while not entirely accurate, is one of the most unforgettable moments in Tarantino's career. It slowly builds tension to the point of agony as Landa's true nature is revealed.

The farmhouse scene is also a showcase of Tarantino's signature dialogue, with Landa and farmer Perrier LaPadite engaging in a verbal game of cat and mouse. While the rest of the film may not depict real-life events accurately, it's precisely what makes Inglourious Basterds such an extraordinary and entertaining addition to Tarantino's filmography. The film even ventures into alternative history, imagining a world where the Allies succeed in assassinating Hitler. All in all, Inglourious Basterds may not be factual, but it's certainly unforgettable.

Source: Penguin Books UK/ YouTube