When the Tigers Broke Free

Anyone have any background info on the song "when the tigers broke free"? Like when did it happen, Where did it happen, and who were the parties involved? Also why was it omitted from the album "The Wall" but in the movie?

I know that it was omitted from The Wall because there just wasn't enough room for it (like "What Shall We Do Now?"). I'm pretty sure that Roger wrote it about his father's death in the war. If you read the lyrics, this is easier to understand.

Yeah, Rog's father was killed during the battle of Anzio, by a bomb from a Stuka (as depicted in the movie), as I understand, although the song suggests his position was overran by an armored assault.

The song IS about his father's death, but Rog took artistic license, no doubt feeling that this was more dramatic.

The message of the song is obviously that his father and others died needlessly because of the stupidity and callousness of his commanding officer.

Some truth in this, the entire Anzio invasion was mishandled from start to finish (from the Allied perspective). It accomplished little and killed or wounded many thousands.

Sorry to bring up and old thread, but what does the title refer to? Does it refer to the opposing army, a significant color of a uniform colored like tigers?

P.S. If Roger's dad died from a Stuka bomb, is there any way to know if he was actually on the phone trying to get reinforcements or whatever he was doing in the movie?

I assume that "the tigers" wwould refer to the German tank of the time, the Tiger tank, one of the most powerful tanks in the war. As to the rest I have no idea.

German "Tiger" tanks, although I doubt there actually were any Panzer units with Tigers deployed at Anzio.

Simon should know.

Makes for a good story, however.

As startman wrote that "TIGERS" are a major discussion topic.As for me ,tigers as in this song are a symbol for the enemy i.e. germany/japan etc.As this song depicts the Roger Waters fifnding out and the shock he suffrerd after learning about his father's death( in the movie its a DEPICTION OF HIS OWN NARRATION AS IT MIGHT APPEAR TO HIM); but the new RERELEASED version of The Final Cut includes this song as track no 4th;which to me leaves the original lineup of TFC tracks messed-up.Perhaps this song is best "SEEN" .There are MANY MANY references to R.F.& ANZIO BeachHead in Waters' ATD.so to keep this discussion open i invite all them fans to solve this "TIGERS" and "HOW THEY BROKE FREE?"