Brothers Lars Brandt (I)' and Peter Brandt, who play the same role - the younger and older Joachim Mahlke, respectively - are the sons of German politician Willy Brandt.
The scene where Wolfgang Neuss drives a car along the waterfront with two wheels in the water had to be shot over and over again, because the ocean's spray was not high enough for the director's taste and he wanted the car to be driven deeper into the water. This went on and on until Neuss finally lost control over the car and drove it into the water. With the car half under and water up to his chest, Neuss then exclaimed "Is this deep enough?".