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The Robbery of the Third Reich (2004) movie poster

Timeline

The Robbery of the Third Reich (2004) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2004 · 105 mins · Serbian
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Directed by
Zdravko Šotra
Starring
Bogdan Diklić, Dragoslav 'Dragan' Nikolić, Vojin Ćetković, Nikola Đuričko, Predrag Ejdus, Tihomir Stanić

During 1941 in Belgrade, two well-known thieves try to carry out the biggest robbery of Nazi authorities ever.

War Crime Comedy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Robbery of the Third Reich
  6. 6 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

The Robbery of the Third Reich Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Robbery of the Third Reich (2004) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Belgrade burglary and arrest

    In spring 1941, Glavonja and Kaluz pull off a series of bank robberies in Belgrade, earning a notorious reputation across Europe. Their first major venture ends in a costly failure, testing their bravado and nerves. They are arrested and confined, marking an abrupt halt to their early double life.

    When
    Spring 1941
    Where
    Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia

  2. War reshapes their fate: German prisoners

    With World War II escalating, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia is occupied by Germany and Glavonja and Kaluz become German prisoners. They navigate the new power dynamics under occupation, learning to survive through shifting loyalties. Their fortunes turn as the occupiers reimpose control over Belgrade.

    When
    1941
    Where
    Belgrade, occupied Yugoslavia

  3. Villa theft and daring escape

    The Germans seize control of Belgrade’s villas, including one inhabited by a colonel and his wife. The colonel struggles to open a hidden safe and enlists Glavonja and Kaluz to help, triggering a bold escape. They seize the opportunity to forge documents declaring them Hitler’s relatives and heroes, securing entry into elite circles.

    When
    1941
    Where
    Belgrade, Serbia

  4. New identities and the voyage to Berlin

    Armed with forged German documents, they claim to be Hitler’s relatives and great heroes of the Reich, allowing them entry into the upper echelons of German society. They travel to Berlin convinced that prestige and work await in the heart of the Reich. Their impersonation works far beyond expectations, opening doors to exclusive circles.

    When
    1941–1942
    Where
    Berlin, Germany

  5. Impersonation pays off in Berlin

    In Berlin, their elaborate ruses let them slip among officers and officials while they conduct a string of operations that appear effortless to onlookers. The illusion buys influence, time, and opportunity, feeding their appetite for power. Yet every move carries the risk of exposure and brutal punishment.

    When
    1941–1942
    Where
    Berlin, Germany

  6. The thrill and the line between cleverness and danger

    The exhilaration of success is tempered by the fragility of appearances; forged identities grant access but demand constant vigilance. The duo learns that deception can protect them or sink them, depending on the misstep. Their confidence grows, even as the danger intensifies.

    When
    1941–1942
    Where
    Berlin, Germany

  7. A renewed brush with the law

    A new run-in with the authorities forces them back into brief imprisonment, reminding them that survival depends on remaining steps ahead of the system. The confinement is short, but the fear of exposure lingers afterward. They resume their double life with heightened caution.

    When
    1942–1943
    Where
    Berlin, Germany

  8. Bond and dependence amid deception

    Across Europe, the duo’s bond deepens as they lean on each other for schemes, leverage, and survival. The shared pursuit of opportunity hardens their reliance on one another while threatening to erode personal ethics. Their partnership becomes both strength and vulnerability.

    When
    1942–1943
    Where
    Berlin and occupied territories

  9. The moral question of survival vs. deceit

    The narrative centers on a core question: how long can two men maneuver through a system designed to punish lies, even when those lies are born from necessity. The film invites contemplation of the moral ambiguities of living by cleverness under occupation. They weigh the costs of deception against the need to endure.

    When
    1943
    Where
    Across Europe

  10. Success and danger intensify

    Even as forged identities grant access to prestige, the danger of exposure increases and the balance of risk shifts. Their previously smooth exploits become more fraught, demanding sharper nerves and bolder gambles. The line between maneuvering and overreaching grows thinner.

    When
    1943
    Where
    Berlin

  11. Another imprisonment and fragile escape

    The two are briefly imprisoned again, a stark reminder that triumphs built on deceit are never permanent. They manage to gain release and resume their dangerous game, but the consequences of their ruses linger. The episode underscores the fragile nature of survival built on false identities.

    When
    1943–1944
    Where
    Berlin

  12. Reflection on survival, ethics, and fate

    The film closes with a meditation on how improvisation and cleverness shape destinies in wartime. It considers the costs of deception, the price of survival, and the moral ambiguities of living among façades. The bond between Glavonja and Kaluz endures even as the world remains dangerous and unsettled.

    When
    Late war (1943–1944)
    Where
    Wartime Belgrade and Berlin

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:51

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Timeline questions answered

The Robbery of the Third Reich Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Robbery of the Third Reich (2004): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Glavonja and Kaluz agree to help the German colonel open the safe?

Glavonja and Kaluz agreed to help because they saw it as a perfect opportunity for escape. The colonel was struggling to open a hidden safe he had discovered in the villa, and he commanded the two prisoners to assist him. Recognizing the potential for manipulation, they used the task to execute a bold escape plan, leveraging the situation to obtain German documents and freedom.

  • colonel safe
  • escape plan
  • german prisoners
  • belgrade villa
Q2

How did Glavonja and Kaluz manage to pass themselves off as Hitler's relatives?

After helping the colonel with the safe, they seized the opportunity to forge documents declaring them to be Hitler's relatives and great heroes of the German Reich. These fabricated documents granted them entry into the upper echelons of German society, allowing them to move among officers and officials with apparent legitimacy.

  • forged documents
  • hitler relatives
  • impersonation
  • german elite
  • berlin
Q3

Why were Glavonja and Kaluz able to maintain their false identities for so long in Nazi Germany?

Their success stemmed from a combination of factors: forged documents that appeared authentic, the Nazi regime's obsession with hierarchy and appearances, and the duo's audacity and nerve. In a system where questioning someone's credentials could be dangerous, few dared to verify the claims of anyone presenting themselves as connected to Hitler's inner circle.

  • deception
  • false identities
  • nazi regime
  • risk exposure
  • impersonation
Q4

How did Glavonja and Kaluz obtain their German identity documents?

They acquired the German documents during their encounter with the German colonel in Belgrade. After assisting him with the safe, they orchestrated their escape and forged documents declaring them Hitler relatives and Reich heroes. These documents were their ticket to Berlin and entry into elite German circles.

  • forged documents
  • escape
  • belgrade
  • german identity
  • colonel
Q5

Why did Glavonja and Kaluz decide to travel to Berlin after their escape?

They believed that the best work and most prestigious opportunities existed in the heart of the Reich. Berlin represented the pinnacle of power and possibility for two con artists seeking high-value targets. Their forged identities gave them access to the upper echelons, and they were convinced they could operate more successfully at the center of German power.

  • berlin
  • opportunity
  • german reich
  • power
  • travel
Q6

What happened to Glavonja and Kaluz after they were imprisoned in Berlin?

They were briefly imprisoned multiple times throughout their time in Berlin, each confinement serving as a stark reminder that their deceptions could unravel at any moment. Each time, they managed to gain release and resume their dangerous game, though the fear of exposure lingered and the consequences of their ruses continued to accumulate.

  • imprisonment
  • berlin
  • exposure
  • release
  • consequences
Q7

What made their impersonation scheme so dangerous throughout the film?

Every move brought them closer to exposure and brutal punishment. The Nazi regime was capable of swift, violent retaliation against anyone suspected of deception or disloyalty. Their forged identities granted them access and protection, but a single misstep or suspicious inquiry could unravel everything, leading to immediate execution.

  • exposure risk
  • punishment
  • forged identity
  • nazism
  • danger
Q8

What was the nature of the partnership between Glavonja and Kaluz?

Their bond was driven by shared schemes, mutual leverage, and a relentless pursuit of opportunity. Glavonja was the intelligent, self-aware mastermind who viewed himself as an architect of grand schemes, while Kaluz was simpler and driven by immediate greed. Together, they complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses, creating a partnership that became both their strength and vulnerability.

  • glavonja
  • kaluz
  • partnership
  • collaboration
  • trust
Q9

Why did the German colonel trust Glavonja and Kaluz with the safe?

The colonel was desperate to open the safe he had discovered and had no other options. As prisoners of the Germans, Glavonja and Kaluz were under his command, and he likely believed their skills as thieves and their desperate situation would make them compliant. This desperation on the colonel's part became the catalyst for their escape and subsequent impersonation scheme.

  • colonel
  • trust
  • safe
  • villa
  • desperation
Q10

What moral questions does the film raise about survival under occupation?

The film explores how long two people can maneuver through a system designed to punish lies, even when those lies are born from necessity. It examines the moral ambiguities of living by cleverness and deception when survival depends on it, raising questions about whether the costs of deception justify the need to endure under brutal occupation.

  • morality
  • survival
  • occupation
  • deception
  • ethics

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Robbery of the Third Reich, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Robbery of the Third Reich tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Wartime Heist Movies like The Robbery of the Third Reich

Audacious capers pulled off under the noses of a brutal occupying force. If you enjoyed the audacious robbery plot of The Robbery of the Third Reich, you'll like these movies featuring clever cons and high-stakes capers set under oppressive regimes. These stories blend tension with cunning, showcasing characters who use their wits to outsmart a powerful enemy in morally gray wartime settings.

  • audacious
  • suspenseful
  • cunning
  • precarious
  • risky
  • tense
  • Tone: tense, witty
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a daring plan conceived by unlikely heroes operating in a dangerous, controlled environment. The plot is driven by meticulous preparation, unexpected complications, and the precarious balance between maintaining a cover and executing the scheme under extreme pressure.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared high-concept premise: a crime narrative intricately woven into a life-or-death historical or political conflict. The mix of suspenseful stakes, clever protagonists, and a specific, high-pressure setting creates a unique and thrilling viewing experience.

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1967
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The Army of Crime

2010
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1962

Morally Ambiguous Survival Comedies like The Robbery of the Third Reich

Humor and tension blend as ordinary people make ethically questionable choices to survive. Fans of The Robbery of the Third Reich will appreciate these movies that mix comedy with tense survival stories. These films feature characters operating in morally gray areas, using deception and audacity to get by, blending witty dialogue with the anxious energy of high-stakes predicaments.

  • witty
  • anxious
  • cunning
  • morally ambiguous
  • precarious
  • audacious
  • Tone: witty, anxious, ambiguous
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey focuses on characters who are not traditional heroes, but survivors who must constantly improvise and deceive to stay afloat. The narrative explores the compromises made under pressure, where success is fleeting and the line between right and wrong is consistently blurred.

Why they belong together: They share a specific tonal blend: the serious context of survival is leavened by a sharp, often cynical, sense of humor. The emotional core is the tension between the dire circumstances and the inventive, sometimes morally questionable, ways the characters choose to cope.

American Fiction movie poster

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2023
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2009
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1992
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2007
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2006
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