Dawn (1933)

This is a 1933 German submarine film set during World War I. The film is directed by Gustav Ucicky and starring Rudolf Forster, Fritz Genschow, Adele Sandrock, and Camilla Spira. Released three days after Adolf Hitler became Reichskanzler, it was the first film to have its screening in the Third Reich.

In 1915, Captain Liers, commander of a submarine, is leaving his hometown, where he, his 2nd officer, and the radio operator spend their shore leave. On patrol, Liers and his crew sink an important British ship, but while returning to harbor, they’re lured into a trap by a British vessel disguised as a neutral Danish one. They sink it after it attacks them without warning, but while they prepare to rescue survivors, a British destroyer sinks the sub. On the sea bed 200 feet down, with all but the bridge flooded, the 10 surviving crew have only 8 rescue devices. Liers orders the crew to use them, but they disobey - either all escape or nobody does.