D III 88

D III 88 (sometimes written as DIII 88) is a 1939 German drama film directed by Herbert Maisch and Hans Bertram, the latter also having co-written the script. It stars Christian Kayßler, Otto Wernicke and Heinz Welzel. It was made as a propaganda film with the support of Luftwaffe chief Hermann Göring, and was the last of a series of Nazi aviation films to be made before the outbreak of World War II. It was one of the most commercially successful films released during the Nazi era.^[1] It was praised by Joseph Goebbels as "an irreproachable film of national destiny".^[2] The title, referring to the registration number of the Fokker Dr.I flown by one of the characters in World War I, was an attempt to re-inforce the propaganda link between the modern Luftwaffe and that of World War I.^[3] A sequel, Battle Squadron Lützow, was made in 1941.^[4]

D III 88
Directed by	Herbert Maisch Hans Bertram
Written by	Wolf Neumeister Hans Bertram
Produced by	Fred Lyssa
Starring	Christian Kayßler Otto Wernicke Heinz Welzel Hermann Braun
Cinematography	Georg Krause Heinz von Jaworsky
Edited by	Carl Otto Bartning
Music by	Robert Küssel
Production company	Tobis Film
Distributed by	Tobis Film
Release date	26 October 1939 (1939-10-26)
Country	Germany
Language	German

Synopsis

Two extraordinary young pilots engage in a competitive rivalry and also fight over the same girl. In an effort to show off both fly into a dangerous storm, damaging their planes and are suspended from duty. They are finally convinced by their commanding officer, a veteran of World War I, to use their talents in a more disciplined way for their country.

Cast

• Christian Kayßler as Oberleutnant Mithoff
• Otto Wernicke as Oberwerkmeister Bonicke
• Heinz Welzel as Obergefreiter Fritz Paulsen
• Hermann Braun as Obergefreiter Robert Eckhard
• Adolf Fischer as Gefreiter Zeissler
• Horst Birr as Monteur Hasinger
• Karl Martell as Lt. Ludwig Becker
• Fritz Eberth as Funker Lindner
• Carsta Löck as Bauernmagd Lina
• Paul Otto as General
• Paul Bildt as Stabsarzt der Flugstaffel
• Hans Bernuth as Flieger
• Ernst Dernburg as Adm. beim Manöver
• Erich Dunskus as Bauer
• Heinz Engelmann as Lt. Frank
• Ilse Fürstenberg as Bäuerin
• Malte Jäger as 1. Funker
• Ferry Reich as 2. Funker
• Josef Kamper as Bauernknecht
• Hilde Land as Kantinenwirtin
• Guenther Markert as Marineoffizier
• Hans Meyer-Hanno as Kantinenwirt
• Egon Vogel as Sanitäter
• Eduard von Winterstein as Landarzt
• Wolfgang Staudte as Marineoffizier
• Walter Gross as Funker
• Theo Brandt as Fliegeroffizier

Production

Paul Otto, a Jewish actor working under a false name, played a German general in the film and later committed suicide after his Jewish identity was revealed.^[4]