Show Information

First Show
1965
Last Show
1971
Genre
Comedy
Network
CBS
Slot Day
Friday
Slot Time
8:30 P.M.
    Hogan's Heroes, the barracks sitcom produced by Bing Crosby's company, premiered on CBS on September 17, 1965, and ran in prime time until July 4, 1971. Set in Düsseldorf in the middle of World War II, the premise is that American prisoners of war would have no desire to escape from a German prison camp if they could use their superior intelligence to aid other allies in escaping, while making their surroundings as comfortable as a luxury resort. Naturally, in order to accomplish all this, the Nazis running the camp, which included the Commandant, Colonel Klink (Werner Klemperer), and his main prison guard, Sgt. Schultz (John Banner), would have to be fairly incompetent.
    Because the depiction of these befuddled officers bears little resemblance to the way real-life Nazis behaved, Hogan's Heroes has always been surrounded in controversy. Objections have been raised since the series first aired concerning the treatment of German soldiers as lovable buffoons.
But, much of the show's popularity has always had more to do with the characterization of the American soldiers, particularly the suave, coolly intelligent Colonel Robert Hogan (Bob Crane). Hogan leads his multi-ethnic band of men on a never-ending series of comic capers, all of which have the express purpose of defeating the enemy in the most humiliating way possible. The show's humor is also largely dependent on the idiocy of Col. Klink and Sgt. Schultz who, in spite of their relentless bravado, are nothing more than putty in the hands of a soldier as clever as Hogan.

•   The camp is called "StaLag 13", but there were only eight StaLags of the Luftwaffe
•   In the episode "51: Praise the Führer and pass the ammunition" there is a sign outside a building wich says "ACHTUNG: Hoche Sprenggefahr" meaning "Attention: Explosives". But the word "HOCHE" does not exist in German. It must be "ACHTUNG: Hohe Sprenggefahr"
•   Through six seasons, Oberst Klink kept a World War I spiked helmet (German=Pickelhaube) of the German army on his desk. It was a holy item for him, in fact, in one episode, when he believes his office is on fire, the first thing he tries to save is his spiket helmet. The closing credits run over a picture of Hogan's hat sitting on the helmet. This should represent the Allies' domination over the Germans in the series.
•   In one episode there is a sign "30km Berlin". But Berlin is 360km far away
•   "Feldwebel" Schultz is no "Feldwebel" but a "Hauptfeldwebel" (he is on duty 24h)
•   The uniform of Cpl. Newkirk was introduced in the 1950's and was not worn in the second World War
•   Larry Hovis and Robert Clary were professional singers before the series. In one episode they sang together with Richard Dawson "This is the Army Mister Jones". In the episode "Praise the Führer and pass the ammunition" (one of my favorite) the Heroes sing and perform a show for Klink. Based an the show two albums were made: One featuring Bob Crane playing drums and Larry Hovis, Ivan Dixon, Robert Clary and Richard Dawson singing typical Word War II songs. It was namend "Hogan's Heroes sing the best of World War II".
•   Werner Klemperer got two Emmys for his role as Col. Klink.
•   Larry Hovis' character was intended to be a guest-starring role, but Edward Feldmann was impressed by his performance and gave him the part of one of the Heroes.
•   Frank Sinatra wore Hogan's brown flight jacket in the film 'Von Ryan's Express'. Not just the same type but exactly the same jacket.
•   On X-Mas 1965 a special of the show was broadcasted. Hogan, his heroes, Werner Klemperer, John Banner and Bing Crosby came together and sang Christmas carols. John Banner and Werner Klemperer sang 'Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht' (German version of 'Silent night, Holy Night') and Robert Clary sang French Christmas carols. The chorus sang 'We wish you the happiest' at the end of the show.
•   The pilot of Hogan's Heroes was filmed in black & white but, from the second episode onwards color was used.