“Stalingrad” (1993), directed by German filmmaker Joseph Vilsmaier, follows the pattern of influential American Vietnam War films such as Oliver Stone’s “Platoon” and Stanley Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket.”

The film centers on a group of relatable soldiers trapped in a dire situation beyond their control. It starts in sunny Italy, where we meet Lieutenant Hans von Witzland, an aristocratic young man from a Prussian family, and Sergeant Manfred “Rollo” Rohleder, a veteran of the Africa Corps.

At first, von Witzland seems to embody Nazi ideals, exemplified by his refusal to award Rohleder a medal for a minor infraction, declaring, “Heroes aren’t late.” However, when the narrative shifts to the frozen Volga steppes, it becomes evident that von Witzland’s strict Prussian militarism contrasts with Nazi ideology. He is a traditional German conservative who opposes the mistreatment of Russian prisoners and despises the Nazis.

Corporal Fritz Reiser, portrayed by French actor Dominique Horowitz, is depicted as a pragmatic realist intent on survival. The choice of Horowitz, who has a Jewish appearance, underscores that not all soldiers under von Paulus were Nazis, similar to how American soldiers in Vietnam were ordinary men led by corrupt leaders.