 "Ich war neunzehn" is for the most part based on the diary director  Konrad Wolf kept throughout his time with the Red Army in 1945 and  is thus a very personal, authentic, autobiographical account of the  last days of World War 2. However, some scenes, e.g. the one in  which a blind German soldier mistakes Gregor for an fellow German,  had no basis in Wolfs journal and were included for their  cinematographic value.