I know Schulz is supposed to be a bad guy, but I couldn't help but like him. He had a nice sense of humour, he wasn't mean or arrogant to the POWs, and he kind of came off as simply a nice man loyal to a rotten cause.
Did anybody else kind of feel some affection for the guy?
He was probably one of the thousands of germans who didn't agree with Hitler doctorine, but really didn't have any choice but to be drafted and hope that they lived through the ordeal.
shareSchultz is probably a guy who was drafted like everyone else. He's more or less just doing his job. He's not cruel to the prisoners, either, even though he's a middle man in the spy game and certainly can't be trusted.
I've heard that it was not that uncommon for American POWs to keep in touch with some of their jailers after the war. Not everyone in Germany was a Nazi, and with Schultz, his line "One Mein Furher is enough!" reveals some of this sentiment.
I agree that Schulz is generally a good guy, but let's not lose sight of some of the darker aspects of him. Particularly I'm thinking about his first appearance when he in a light attitude talks about "dose nice boys. Such nice boys." He's clearly proud that he succeeded in botching the escape plan and killing the prisoners. While this might be attributed to pride in a job well done, it seems to me to be unneccessarily joyful. So while I do feel some affection for him, I don't think he's as clean as he seems.
shareAlso of course if you remember that wretched Hogans Heros tv show
(I'm not proud of the fact I used to love that show when I was a kid)
They used Schulz as a character in that show but made him a lot dumber
"I know nosching" They did a rather funny parody in Mad Magazine
about that show back in the sixties showing how life in a P.O.W. camp was not all that funny a subject.
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I agree. He is not the "nice guy" he pretends to be--he assures the boys he is their "friend," and always jokes around with them--but the whole time he is conniving with Price to thwart any escape attempt they make. On the other hand, he is a Nazi, and he was probably like the millions of other Nazis at that time--just doing his job. I'm sure they were all somewhat brainwashed bt Hitler's propaganda. He's just an enlisted German soldier. Where would he be if he had not taken on the chore of finding out their every move? A small hint is given when the barracks all decide to dress up like Hitler and salute him. His response is, "One Führer is enough." Sure he's no "Schindler," but surely, one can understand his position.
shareWrethced? Hogans Heroes was/is a great show. Me thinks someone lost their funny bone.
shareI thought Hogan's Heroes was funny too....until I became 12 or so, and then I finally saw "Stalag 17". Of course, I also liked "My Mother, The Car", later revealed to be a CIA project to research just how stupid a TV could be, & be accepted.
shareIf "My Mother, The Car", was a CIA project to research just how stupid a TV could be, then people weren't as dumb as the CIA thought because it failed miserably. Perhaps the experiment proved the CIA isn't that smart.
shareMy Mother the Car wasn't accepted, as it only lasted one season. Hogan's Heroes was a good show. It was on in the afternoon after school when I was in Jr. high and I rarely missed it. Therefore, I'm well versed in all things trivial when it comes to HH. lol
This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.
To be fair, this movie was based on a play written by actual POWs. I believe the POW camps were comfortable given the circumstances. I don't envy the brave men who were held in them, but compared to the Japanese POWs or everyone in concentration camps? Nazis were about an ideology, and probably liked the Americans more than they liked the Jews or Russians.
Regardless, I feel like there were enough German soldiers forced into a position... very few people enjoy torturing others, and it would seem natural to try and make friends with the prisoners. I mean, you're given a cushy job where nobody's shooting at you and all you do is guard prisoners. I'd do as much to make the prisoners happy as possible. The more escapes/revolts, the harder and more dangerous your job is. Guard at a POW camp is probably a pretty easy job.
I'd even go as far as assume that Schulz was based on a real person.
"Weirdness was all he cared about. Weirdness and sex and plenty to drink."
I tend to agree with you. He was drafted and forced into the service. Sure he had some prisoners shot but remember he was from Germany and was a German soldier and act to do his duty to his country whether it was in the right or not.
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I wouldn't call Sgt. Schulz a nice guy. I think he's just an average guy who's trying to do his job but I think he deserves credit for always being pleasant to the prisoners. He's never rude or overbearing. He tries to laugh off some of the prisoners jokes at his expense (whereas other guards might have taken offense and reacted).
He's a German NCO but that doesn't mean he's a Nazi, and it seems that he doesn't like Hitler all that much. But he has to do his job (otherwise he could have been shot himself) and doing his job includes working against the prisoners (along with Price and the commandant).
And I thought his remarks "such nice boys" was him showing genuine regret that the "nice boys" were also his enemies and, as such, they had to be shot while trying to escape.
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Oh really? Did you know "Hitler was a painter! He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon! Two coats!" "You know, not many people know this, but the Fuhrer was a terrific dancer."
shareDer Fuhrer vas sveet! Der Fuhrer vas kind! Der Fuhrer vas good! Oh, he loved me! Often, often he vould say to me: "Franz - ow!"
Don't be stupid, be a smarty! Come and join the Nazi Party!
He was simply a soldier -- a working grunt.
He probably didn't care about the politics that separated the Germans from the Americans...he was simply doing the job he was getting paid to do.
No and I thought he was plenty nasty. You know the expression you catch more flies with honey. That is pretty much how I would describe this character. He acted friendly to the prisoners but he was scheming behind their back.
shareHe's a regular soldier caught up in a bad situation. Not really any different than the American soldiers.
"Whenever Mrs. Kissell breaks wind, we beat the dog."
I'd say that if they did 'Hogan's Heroes as a dramedy than a full-out comedy then the bumbling Schultz would have been portrayed more like THIS Schultz.
Not entirely nice, but just doing his duty and trying to be civil.
Couldn´t disagree more with most of the guys that have posted here; Schulz was pretty much an SOB. He is obviously in a joint strategy with von Scherbach, where they assume the "good cop/bad cop" roles. Schulz fakes friendliness with the POWs to gain their confidence, and,as we can see, to communicate with Price without arising suspicion.
Having said the previous, it is true as well that he is likable at the same time, because of his wit and usual good spirits. What makes him an all the more interesting character.
Couldn´t disagree more with most of the guys that have posted here; Schulz was pretty much an SOB. He is obviously in a joint strategy with von Scherbach, where they assume the "good cop/bad cop" roles.