I read a fan-written final show script years ago that posited the theory Klink and Schultz were actually in on it the whole time and had each been playing the idiot, and assisting when/where they could without breaking cover.
Hogan: “Just remember the inspector general always has an extra ticket for the Stalingrad Express.” Klink: 😨 “Just a moment Hogan. What needs to be done?” Kills me every time! 😂
This scene is sort of ridiculous. Imagine this happening in the real life. There would be both long term consequences and short term death from shot wounds.
I seem to remember the earlier seasons were more realistic, which is probably why I prefer them. I liked the tension. Then again, the show was never very serious.
It’s a satire which can be held as accurate and true for Germans serving the Reich. The famous Stalag 17 jailbreak, made into a movie, was possible because prisoners were able to time the guards. They moved about the camp, heading for the escape tunnel at timed intervals when guards disappeared as they turn corners. Unfortunately an air raid, blew the timetable and lit the camp. Otherwise, they would have made a perfect escape. Another case of German incompetence is tied to Adolf Hitler’s death. He was suppose to be burned to a crisp after his death. But Third Reich twits only acquired the exact amount of gasoline. For two weeks, it had not rained so when Hitler’s corpse was drown in gasoline, most of it was absorbed by the ground. Hitler could not be burned properly. He was recognizable & identifiable by teeth work mostly. So Hitler’s plan to be a feared ghost, a man who possibly escaped, evaporated. Nazis’ belief in their own infallibility, in lack of error, belief in their perfection, ensured this little trick did not happen. Hitler was easily identified. Same is true when it comes to Resistance and partisan sabotage, one could always predict where and what they were doing. Lack of flexibility made them entirely predictable and, in some cases, easily defeatable. Hogan’s Heroes has a certain reality. Even episodes where they imitated Adolf ring true. It makes sense, they never check. They’re Nazis and believe they’re perfect.
