A common mistake made by viewers of Saving Private Ryan is assuming that the same German who was captured and released by Captain Miller's squad, "Steamboat Willie," is the same German that kills Private Mellish during the battle in Ramelle near the end of the film. Mellish is not killed by Steamboat Willie, but instead by a Waffen-SS soldier. Because all of the Germans in the film have shaved heads (an historically inaccurate portrayal), it is not difficult to get these two characters mixed up. Below is a table that compares various physical, uniform and equipment characteristics between Steamboat Willie and Mellish's killer.
All of the above information clearly shows that Steamboat Willie is not the same soldier that kills Private Mellish. In spite of their similar appearances due to their shaven heads, the proof is in the detail and in the behavior of the characters. |
"Steamboat Willie"
Waffen-SS soldier
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