Nonna and Klara frequently spoke Russian despite Katyusha's order to speak Japanese. In the Kiss@nime broadcast of the movie, the Russian translation and transliteration can be seen on top of the video.
The siege on the St. Gloriana position on a bunker is similar to the Siege of Leningrad, owing to the fact that it was still going on when the film is starting.
When Darjeeling said an English proverb: "When the tea stalk arises, a guest shall arrive," she refers to the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive.
When the tanks are coming out from golf course and into the town, a building to the left has a sign with a word 'Western Front'; although it's cut in half, this is reference to the Western Europe theatre during WWII.
At the scene where Panzer IV, Chi-Ha, Chi-Nu, and StuG III are seen together, some sign are visible on roadside; on one of this sign is written 'Excelsior Pharmacy', which is a reference to the WWII british heavy tank Excelsior.
The song that Nonna hummed before destroying the Tiger (P) is a Russian folk song named Nedelka.
In the audience watching the exhibition match is what appears to be an Araippe, Ooarai's yuru kyara. Araippe appears multiple times in Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu!
Street signs displaying a Type VII U-Boat and an Ostwind Flakpanzer
A billboard on an overpass in Ooarai city depicts the Sunflower Sapporo sailing alongside a Type VII U-boat, the most commonly encountered U-Boat of the war.
A sign near to the overpass depicts the silhouette of a Flakpanzer IV 3.7cm 'Ostwind'which was never shown in the franchise.
The Type 3 Chi-Nu misses a gear and slows suddenly during the opening credits, referencing Anteater Team's wrong gear change in Episode 10.
The large public viewing screens showing the match are mounted on a Leopold carriage identical to the mountings for the Krupp 28cm K5(E) (also known as "Robert" and "Leopold") railway artillery gun.
This detail appeared many times in the anime in the same manner.
Viewing screen mounted on a Leopold railway carraige
The Ooarai/Chi-Ha-Tan vs. St. Gloriana/Pravda Exhibition match contains multiple references to Ooarai's first ever Sensha-dō match against St. Gloriana in Episode 4 (also partially depicted in the opening of Episode 1).
The ambush at the OY line is a direct reference to Ooarai's initial kill-zone tactic; using Anglerfish Team to lure enemy targets into a kill-zone. In the original practice match, the inexperienced Ooarai teams blew their cover by opening fire on Anglerfish Team.
Rukuriri was ambushed in a similar parking lot by Duck Team, using the same trick to attack the rear of her Matilda. While Rukuriri was prepared for the Type 89B this time, she wasn't expecting Fukuda.
Klara and Rosehip crash into the same shop that in Episode 4 was hit by a Matilda that lost control on that corner. In the previous match, the Matilda was able to extricate itself and rejoin the chase, whilst in the film, the detonation of the Crusader's external fuel tank buries the T-34/85 under the rubble.
Rosehip's surprise reappearance at the end of the match is a mirror of Turtle Team, who lost a track early in the practice match but conducted repairs and dramatically re-entered the battle —only to be quickly knocked out without making any significant contribution.
Fukuda's encounter with a stray WoT advert
As stated by Director Mizushima, the Ooarai ambush at the OY line is based on event called 'Barkmann's Corner'.
After the OY line is broken, there's a scene that features real life Eco's Supermarket', however, its name is changed to 'Luchs' referencing to either the Light Tank Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. L or the wheeled Spähpanzer Luchs.
During one of the scenes where the Type 89 is pushing Fukuda's Type 95 Ha-Go, a weird, multi-colored car can be seen at parking lot: the car is actually a Ford FT-B Polish Armoured car.
A closer look at Fukuda's encounter with an Easter Egg.
Whilst driving around the shopping complex, Fukuda hits her head on an overhanging sign. The sign advertises something called "World of SPG". This is a reference to the collaboration with Wargaming Japan and their MMO franchise World of Tanks. It is likely also foreshadowing the appearance of the Karl-Gerät 040. The poster likely depicts a late model Marder III tank destroyer (based on the heavily modified Panzer 38(t) chassis).
There is a HMMWV 'Humvee' parked in the lot where Rukuriri is ambushed, in the parking bay beside where Fukuda was waiting in ambush.
The Humvee parked behind the Type 89B
The Morals Committee Super Attack may be reference to Episode 9, where Midoriko Sono accuses the Pravda girls of breaking school regulations by deploying their IS-2.
The Ooarai beach is lined with tank traps and a sea wall. This is most likely a reference to the D-Day landings.
Katyusha and Nonna act as "bunkers", reminiscent of the bunkers overlooking Omaha Beach.
Hedgehog tank traps on Ooarai beach
The role of the KV-2 is identical to its missive in Episode 9: protecting the flag tank. In both cases, the KV-2 is shown to be far less "trusty" than Katyusha claims.
Mysteriously, the tank was shown to have been submerged in the sea before it emerged onto the beach.
Since the tank is 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in) tall, the water is most likely that deep, though the roof of the tank is never actually seen covered by the water.
Anteater Team are not with the other Sensha-dō teams in the bath after the exhibition match; they are instead shown in the games room.
One of the games in the games room is titled "World of SPG". This yet another reference to the collaboration with Wargaming Japan and their MMO franchise World of Tanks.
In the online game Anteater Team are playing, Nekonya has queued construction of an experimental model T29 Heavy Tank.
The C-5M Super Galaxy lands on an improvised runway made using the headlights of Type 95 Kurogane reconnaissance cars.
The C-5M later uses the LAPES system to deliver all the Ooarai tanks back to the Ooarai Team, the same method used in Episode 2 of the main anime to deliver Ami Chono's Type 10 to the garage.
The two Saunders operations to collect and return Ooarai's tanks, "I shall return" and "I have return", are a reference to a famous quote by General Douglas MacArthur during the two Philippines Campaigns: the first after withdrawing in 1942 and the second after landing of Leyte in 1944.
Hana, Mako and Saori worry aloud about the ability of the C-5M Super Galaxy's ability to take off with all the Ooarai tanks loaded on board. This would be lamp-shading the fact that the combined weight of Ooarai's eight Sensha-dō vehicles exceeds the lifting capacity of the real-life C-5M Super Galaxy.
The C-5M can carry up to 140.5 tons of cargo. The Ooarai tanks all together weighted about 200 tons.
When Yukari is cooking at the camping site just before Saunders returns the Ooarai tanks, she is heard humming "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". As this American Civil War song expressed people's longing for the return of their friends/relatives from the war, Yukari may humming this song expressing the desire of everybody wishing to return on the carrier.
A paperweight on Shiho Nishizumi's desk depicts a bear mauling an anti-tank gun.
The tank outside Shichiro Kodama's house is a Japanese exported Medium Mark A Whippet. It was used by the Chiba Tank School in the 1920's and 1930's for training while the domestic Japanese tanks were being developed at that time.
Upon Anzu's return to the Ooarai Team's temporary residence, when a gathering of all the tank teams is called, Mallard Team stayed in a chicken coop, eating cucumbers. This, along with their hairstyle, is a reference to Kappa, a supernatural water-being in Japan which loves eating cucumbers. This is again referenced in Das Finale: Part 1, when a pair of delinquent students call Sodoko "Kappa" as a taunt.
Japan's adult national team is depicted to make use of IS-2 heavy tanks.
Miho's claim of tanks advancing even through pyroclastic flow references several Type 74 MBTs that performed volcanic surveillance missions during the 1991 Mt. Unzen volcanic disaster.
The ship that takes the Ooarai girls to and from the site of the match with the All-Stars University Team is the Sunflower Sapporo, an 18-hour ferry that travels between Ooarai and Tomakomai, a city southeast of Sapporo.
Just before Darjeeling is shown sending out her message to rally the "Friends of Ooarai," there's a scene of the Ooarai girls making preparations they hope will help in the battle ahead. Reflecting their determination to get their school back, the background music is a possibly-guitar strumming Home! Sweet Home!. This tune still plays in the scenes of Darjeeling's message, but is mostly covered up by Darjeeling (and others) speaking.
The night before the match, Darjeeling recites a poem from Autumn Song by Paul Verlaine: "Long sobs of Autumn violins/ Wound my heart with a monotonous languor" This was a secret message sent to the French Resistance to rise up for Operation Overlord.
St. Gloriana's Turing Bombe
The machine behind Darjeeling in the same scene is the Turing Bombe, an electro-mechanical device used by the British to break the German Enigma code.
Momo Kawashima smiles when the other schools come to reinforce Ooarai.
Mako describes the coming of Saunders and Kuromorimine to aid Ooarai as being as empowering as "a tiger with wings." This references the insignia and moniker of the "First American Volunteer Group" of the Chinese Air Force during 1941-1942, nicknamed "Flying Tigers".
The Ooarai uniform is too big for Katyusha, as the sleeves hang past her hands.
In supplementary material, it is revealed that Anzio intended to bring their P40 to join the Ooarai Compound Team, but the P40 had taken prior damage in an exhibition match and could not be repaired in time.
Mika continues wearing her blue Finnish väinämöinen whilst in Ooarai uniform.
Kinuyo Nishi calls her tanks "brave steel lions", a term which was used to promote the Type 89B during WWII.
The Simms Motor Scout outside the commanders' tent
Outside the tent where the Ooarai Compound Team hold their tactics meeting there is a Simms Motor Scout, widely recognized as the first ever infantry fighting vehicle (as well as an early precursor to an armored car).
The Enigma machine on the cabinet in the corner
In the tent where the strategy meeting is held, an Enigma machine can be seen behind Kay.
During the tactics meeting, each commander proposes a different tactic representative of each school:
Darjeeling proposes the use of 'marching fire'. This references Allied trench warfare tactics in WWI.
Kay proposes the use of superior firepower and force concentration. This may be a reference to the late war tactics emphasized by the USA in the battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima.
Erika Itsumi proposes an effective and quick breakthrough. This is a reference to the Blitzkrieg and its applications to the battles such as in Poland, France, and the Soviet Union.
Kinuyo Nishi maintains her belief that a Chi-Ha-Tan-style suicide charge is the optimal strategy. This is possibly referring to the Kamikaze mentality and the late war Japanese ambush tactics that will later apply in the battle against All-Stars University.
Anchovy requests that they make plans after taking a break to eat pasta. This a reference to the fact that Italy had no tank doctrine of their own.
In the English dub, the operation is known as 'Operation Punchy Punch', rather than the 'Operation Bumpy' in the Japanese version.
Another difference is that Team Morning Glory is instead know as Team Petunia.
Pepperoni implies that Anchovy's twin tails are a wig, a suggestion which Anchovy vehemently denies. In the spin-off manga Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! it is revealed that while Anchovy's hair is real, she lets down her tails on occasions when she wants to avoid being noticed.
The hill contested by Team Sunflower in Operation Bumpy is designated as Hill 203. This is a reference to the Siege of Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War, where Japanese artillery's overwhelming superiority eventually forced the entrenched Russian defenders from a strategically important hilltop.
When Katyusha references this battle, Hippo Team considers it a jinx; this is later proven to be a valid concern when Team Sunflower is forced to retreat from the hilltop, with Katyusha the only member of Pravda able to break through.
While covering Katyusha's retreat, the KV-2 crew call their tank the "Monster," in reference to 'The Monster on the Highway', a manga based on the true tale of a single KV-2 halting an entire German Panzer division at the Battle of Raseiniai.
In the English dub, they call themselves 'The Phantom of the Crossroads,' another reference to the same historical event.
No German tank of that time can withstand a 152 mm howitzer shot.
Anchovy mistook "Karl" for Karl-Gerät with "Karl Wolff", a high ranking SS officer who, close to the end of World War II, served as Supreme Commander of all SS forces in Italy.
In the English dub, the Anzio team also make a pun on "Karl," comparing "...their Karl..." to the similar-sounding "Carro" of their own Carro Veloce CV.33.
BT-42 canyon jump
The act of the BT-42 jumping a chasm to attack the Karl-Gerät escorts is likely a reference to the record tank jump of 42 metres, which is held by another tank of the BT-series: A BT-7.
Judging by the scales and details of things in the Amusement Park, there's strong possibility that this is not an abandoned Amusement Park, but a park designed specifically for sensha-do battle.
Carpaccio makes reference to the 6th of Sun-Tzu's 36 Stratagems: 'Clamor in the East, Attack in the West.'
The task of driving a tank down stairs is cited as being difficult to accomplish. However, at one point Mako Reizei drives the Panzer IV down a stairway in reverse.
At one of Chi-Ha-Tan's ambush positions, a 0-series 'Doctor Yellow' Shinkansen maintenance train and a Toei 6000 series tramcar are visible.
In the park there is an attraction called Twilight Zone (sharing the same typography), which is a reference to the 1959 TV anthology series.
You entering the Twilight Zone
Their ambushes are similar to the Japanese soldiers during the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa, making use of camouflage and spider holes.
The butterfly constantly being observed by Saki Maruyama is a reference to the singer ChouCho (lit.Butterfly), who sang the opening and ending credits songs, "Glory Story" and "Piece of Youth" respectively.
Operation Mifune in the ferris wheel scene is a reference to Spielberg's comedy 1941, in which submarine fire destroys a ferris wheel and sends it rolling onto a pier and subsequently destroying a tank. The name of the operation references is also a reference to 1941, in which Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune famously played the role of the enemy captain.
Rabbit Team are also seen watching the film the night before the match (as they did with Kelly's Heroes in Episode 10 before the match against Kuromorimine). The same mocked up M3 Lee built from a Sherman tank appears (as Spielberg couldn't get his hands on a real M3 Lee as he wanted).
The split screen before the axle was destroyed was the M3 Lee's 37 mm and 75 mm guns, respectively.
Azusa’s phrase when running away from the rollin Ferris wheel —"Wait, why are we running away in a straight line ?"— may be a reference to Ridley Scott’s 2012 film Prometheus where two characters dumbly run away from a falling spaceship by running in straight line.
It was only in the final 2 vs. 1 battle (between the Nishizumi sisters and Alice) that the latter appeared over Miho's tank.
As the Chi-Ha-Tan students prepare to implement Plan F, Kinuyo Nishi emboldens her comrades with a compelling speech. The wording of her address —"Ooarai's fate depends upon the result of this battle: Let every man do his utmost duty"— references Admiral Togo at the Battle of Tsushima.
Operation Macaroni Zwei is a reference to the Anzio OVA. In German, 'Zwei' means 'Two', so the name of the operation equates to 'Operation Macaroni 2'.
In the scene where the Type 89B and a Chi-Ha trap a Pershing by locking its gun barrel in place, the crew members of both tanks attempt to help by pushing against the inside walls of their tanks. This is a reference to Duck Team's role in immobilising the Maus during Episode 12.
Supplementary material reveals that the harassment tactics that Duck Team taught to the Chi-Ha-Tan members were recorded in the Chi-Ha-Tan tactics book and named 'Duck Operation' in their honour.
The Tortoise is set in a mock train depot with other tanks, complete with character faces. It is evidently the GuP Universe version of Thomas the Tank Engine. The armoured train to the far left is the Schwerer Schienenpanzerspähzug.
The Tortoise was also mentioned earlier by one of Churchill tank's crew when she saw the T28 super heavy tank (with its one pair of tracks ejected).
The skirmish in the maze of hedges is likely inspired by the arcade game Tank Battalion, an early tank simulation video game.
The maze of hedges is also a reference to the Battle of Normandy, where the maze acts as Norman bocage (called hedgerows by Americans) that made progress against the German defenders very difficult. Similarly, it is the All-Stars University Team with their Americantanks who are having difficulty against Ooarai's Germanvehicles.
Leopon Team nicknames Katyusha "Geronimo" in a Western-themed area whilst being chased by Pershing tanks. This is a reference to American General John J. Pershing who fought against the Apache chief Geronimo whilst he was a 2nd Lieutenant under the command of General Nelson Miles during the Indian Wars in 1886.
The attack by the Duck Team and Chi-Ha-Tan against Alice'sCenturion is likened to Hiyodori Pass. This is a reference to the Tale of Heike, wherein at one point a battle was decided by a sudden cavalry charge down a steep slope to attack the enemy's rear.
The fact that the T28 Super Heavy Tank was defeated while crossing a bridge may be a reference to development-stage fears that the T28 would be too heavy to make use of bridges.
Of particular interest is that the T28 super heavy tank can be seen ejecting its outer pair of tracks to fit through the arched entrance building before the bridge. This was a genuine, if bizarre feature of the tank: too wide for many gates and too heavy for most bridges, the outer pair of tracks could be detached and towed behind the tank.
Rosehip's action of removing her speed limiter (governor) in her duel against the Chaffee is a reference to the real Crusader drivers in the North African Campaign of WWII, who often removed speed limiter, only to have their engines break down more often. Her Crusader is the last of its kind to be knocked out. The rest were knocked out from the Victory Exhibition Match early on the movie.
When Anchovy's CV.33 is coming down from the roller coaster track, she called to the Mallard Team, "Hei, taxi!" To which Sodoko replied with, "Hai, hai." This is ironic since in Episode 8 Sodoko chastises Mako Reizei for replying the same manner, saying that "A single 'hai' is enough!"
The Crusader making a jump over the canal at high speed is an allusion to an event in the European Theater, in the Netherlands, when a trio of Cromwells escaped an ambush by using their speed to jump across a 20ft gap. Two of the Cromwell tanks made the jump unharmed; the third, like Rosehip, crashed on landing and flipped over.
Some extra features for the Tiger (P)
The modified motor on the Tiger (P) has switches marked EPS (External Power Source), Stealth Mode, and VTOL (Vertical Take-Off/Landing).
Nakajima's line when she boosts up the motor of the Tiger(P); "Go, Supersonic Prince!" is a reference to the late Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna who was called the Supersonic Prince in Japan.
Katyusha ramming Rumi - Note the impact between the main guns
As Katyusha rams Rumi's Pershing, the gunner of the T-34/85 can be seen using her main cannon to deflect the gun barrel of the Pershing to the side, causing the Pershing's shot to miss. This is a reference to an incident during the Korean War, where a North Korean T-34/85 employed an identical maneuver against a UN Pershing to prevent them from returning fire.
The extraordinary drifting abilities of the Bermuda Trio's Pershings and the Centurion makes reference to Episode 10, where the Automobile Club members discuss the physics behind getting a tank to drift; Satoko Nakajima suggests then that it might be possible on a surface with a low coefficient of friction (such as the pavement of the theme park) and after heavy rainfall (as seen earlier in the match).
McManstein Fast Food
Escape House
Maginot House
The plaza at the center of the Theme Park contains the following military and cinematographic references:
A fast food stall named Manstein's with the M in gothic taking inspiration of McDonald's and its famous M, Erich Von Manstein, a Generalfeldmarschall who served both in Eastern and Western Front during World War II. He also planned for the decisive victory over France in 1940.
A little wooden house called Escape House is seen with a crashed plane on the roof. This is a reference to the film The Great Escape
The house itself bears a striking ressemblance to a Stalag dormitory.
During the final battle in the central plaza, Alice Shimada apparently signals a switch to High Explosive ammunition with a hand gesture sometimes associated with warding off bad luck. Ironically, the outcome of the match is then heavily influenced by the decidedly unlucky (for Alice) moment that the Boko ride, inadvertently activated by falling debris from the high explosive shots fired, walks in front of the Centurion's gun.
Alice later uses the Boko ride to approach Miho after the match, to offer her congratulations.
The students from Jatkosota High School left before the match against the All-Stars University Team was finished. They watched the rest of the match on a television set. This may be a reference to Finland leaving the Axis Powers during WWII to make a separate peace treaty with Russia.
In the Drama CD it is revealed the Mika stole food from the university team's supply, and likely wanted to make herself scarce before they found out.
At the end of the annihilation match, Yuzu Koyama also begins crying, referencing Episode 12 when she gently chided Momo Kawashima for breaking down in tears after their tournament victory.
The members of each school return to their respective school carriers via a different means of transportation:
The Chi-Ha-Tan crews ride in a train drawn by a K2 steam locomotive.
The Anzio girls load their tankette into the back of a Fiat-SPA 38R truck.
The Ooarai students make the journey on the ferry Sunflower Sapporo.
During the ending credits, Mako Reizei and Midoriko Sono spot their schoolship faster than any of the other girls. This is a reference to Episode 9 where they were both revealed to have 20/10 vision.
Aya Oono's glasses are broken when the M3 Lee is immobilized by Alice Shimada. She evidently does not have a spare pair, as in the ending credits it can be seen that she is still wearing the broken glasses.
During the ending credits, the members of the All-Stars University Team are seen visiting the Boko Museum, which has undergone restoration. Even though the university team lost the match, Chiyo still sponsored the restoration due to her maternal love for Alice.
In the ending credits, Alice transfers the Boko ride to the Boko Museum, places it on exhibit and names it 'Woitek'. The name, and the design of the ride, is a tribute to the soldier bear Wojtek, who was adopted and eventually recruited by the provisional Polish Army during WWII. Wojtek contributed to the Battle of Monte Cassino by carrying artillery shells to the frontline.
In all, Alice Shimada's Centurion got the most kills in the match: most of Ooarai's tanks (and Chi-Ha-Tan's). It is also the only post-war tank used in a Sensha-do match.
Continuity Errors[]
From the moment where Sunflower are assaulted by the Karl and the moment Ooarai's little task force saw it, at least seven shots are seen while there is only four shells on the grounds.
Shot #1 is fired at Sunflower on the hill at 1:12:48.
Shot #2 is fired at Sunflower immobilizing the two Panthers at 1:13:21.
Shot #3 is fired at Sunflower on the hill at 1:13:48.
Shot #4 is fired at Sunflower when the retreat at 1:14:09.
Shot #5 is fired at Pravda tanks at 1:14:22.
Shot #6 is fired on Klara immobilizing her at 1:15:24.
Shot #7 is fired near a tank (presumed to be Rosehip) at 1:18:24.
Only four shells on the ground at 1:19:28 and 1:19:39.
During the skirmish in the Theme Park, Leopon Team takes a hit that destroys their 5th track wheel on the left side. The missing wheel keep reappearing and disappearing during the battle.
1:33:09 - One of Leopon's left track wheels is destroyed by a Pershing.
1:36:31 - The destroyed track wheel reappears with still the trace of the impact.
1:37:38 - The destroyed track wheel is still here and the trace of the impact disappears.
1:38:59 - The destroyed track wheel is still here and the trace of the impact reappears.
1:39:03 - The destroyed track wheel disappears.
1:39:12 - The destroyed track wheel came back again.
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