As a hardcore fan who has sunk countless hours into Call of Duty Zombies since Nacht der Untoten first debuted, I‘m thrilled to share an in-depth look at the meaning behind these iconic German map names. Whether you‘ve been blasting zombies since World at War or are just getting into Black Ops Cold War‘s Zombies mode, this guide will decode exactly what "der toten" and other ominous German phrases mean.
A Brief History of Group 935 – The Twisted Scientists Behind the Zombie Outbreak
Before we can dive into the meanings of the map names, we need to understand where the zombies came from in the first place. They originated from twisted experiments by Group 935, a secretive science division led by Ludwig Maxis during World War II. Their mission? To develop superweapons that could ensure Germany‘s victory through means both technological and supernatural.
Group 935 had no moral qualms about human experimentation and established facilities across Europe to pursue their research into deadly new Wonder Weapons. Prominent members included:
- Dr. Edward Richtofen – Sociopathic Group 935 scientist and leader of zombie experiments
- Dr. Ludvig Maxis – Brilliant Group 935 founder and director
- Tank Dempsey – American WWII soldier experimented on by Richtofen
- Nikolai Belinski – Russian Red Army soldier, also experimented on
Richtofen was especially obsessed with exploiting Element 115 to create a new generation of weapons. As you‘ll soon learn, this would have apocalyptic consequences well beyond Group 935‘s control.
Der Anfang – The Ominous Origins of Nacht der Untoten
The Zombies story truly begins with Nacht der Untoten (Night of the Undead), the very first Zombies map introduced in Call of Duty: World at War. As the name implies in German, this map was set at night and introduced the core concept of surviving endless waves of zombie enemies.
Gameplay was contained to a single bombed-out military bunker, with players able to barricade windows and fight off the undead hordes. The eerie setting was accented by flickering lights, debris, and occult Nazi symbols hinting at larger forces at work.
Nacht der Untoten established Zombies as an atmospheric, addictive alternative to traditional competitive multiplayer. And it was only the beginning…
Expanding the Nightmare in Black Ops – Kino der Toten Sets the Bar
Zombies evolved substantially in 2010 with Call of Duty: Black Ops, introducing the legendary map Kino der Toten (Cinema of the Dead). This abandoned Nazi theater was far larger and more complex than Nacht, with new traps, hidden rooms, and the first appearance of supernatural enemies like the Hellhounds and Nova 6 Crawlers.
Kino der Toten also introduced the concept of musical Easter Eggs and memorable side characters. Who could forget chilling to "115" or hearing Treyarch sound designer Kevin Sherwood as the hidden radio DJ?
With custom Power-Ups, new weapons like the Thundergun, and innovative storytelling, Kino der Toten made Zombies truly three-dimensional. It still remains many fans‘ favorite map over a decade later thanks to its perfect balance of fun and challenge.
Expanding the Story in later Black Ops Maps
From there, later Black Ops maps expanded the Zombies universe with more complex Easter Eggs and deeper storytelling. The cast grew with fan favorites like Nikolai and Takeo as Richtofen enacted his grand schemes. Locations diversified from wartime Germany into new locales:
- Call of the Dead – Shipwrecked cruise liner frozen near lighthouse
- Shangri-La – Lost jungle temple filled with deadly traps
- Moon – Fully-equipped scientific facility…on the moon!
Richtofen also pursued his quest for ultimate power, with the maps offering buildup for his eventual defeat of Maxis to gain control of the Aether‘s energy and zombie hordes. Everything built towards Richtofen‘s plan culminating in the Great War against Maxis‘ forces.
A New Generation Rises in Black Ops 3
By 2015‘s Black Ops 3, the original Zombies cast had been transported through time into a distant future version of the 1940s. Here they battledGroup 935 experiments gone wrong in complex multi-area maps with gobblegums, weapon kits, and all-new enemies created from Richtofen‘s manipulation of the Aether.
Some of my favorite maps from this generation include:
- Der Eisendrache – Majestic medieval Austrian castle with rocket pad
- Gorod Krovi – Beautifully-realized war-torn Stalingrad setting
- Revelations – Climactic final map spanning key areas from previous Zombies lore
Together they brought an epic conclusion to the Aether storyline while also expanding gameplay features like side quests and buildable Wonder Weapons.
The Dark Aether Saga Begins in Black Ops Cold War
2020‘s Black Ops Cold War kicked off a bold new Zombies saga focused on the ominous Dark Aether dimension. New operators like Samantha Maxis, Ravenov, and Weaver take center stage here battling the undead and monstrous Demonic Announcer across the globe.
Maps like Die Maschine and Firebase Z innovate with dynamic objectives, limited-time events, objective-based gameplay builds on traditional Zombies foundations while bringing the dimension-hopping action to vivid new locales.
With the Dark Aether story still unfolding, I can‘t wait to see where Treyarch takes Zombies next!
Why "Der Toten"? Decoding Call of Duty‘s Ominous German Map Names
Now that we‘ve covered some key Zombies history, let‘s get back to deciphering exactly what these German map names mean and why Treyarch chose such ominous German words:
- Der – German equivalent of "the"
- Toten – Dead
- Untoten – Undead
- Mauer – Wall
- Nacht – Night
Stitched together, these words form appropriately creepy phrases:
Nacht der Untoten – Night of the Undead
Kino der Toten – Cinema of the Dead
Mauer der Toten – Wall of the Dead
Why German? Since the maps stem from World War II-era Group 935 experiments, the language fits the time period and location. German vocabulary also includes harsh, guttural words well-suited to Zombies‘ unsettling atmosphere.
Phrases like "der Toten" instantly tell you this is a dark, dangerous setting. They kickstart the horror ambiance before you even start slaying zombies!
Zombies – An Underrated & Iconic Call of Duty Mode
Looking back, it‘s incredible how Treyarch transformed a last-minute bonus mode in World at War into one of Call of Duty‘s most iconic pillars across 13+ years of games.
I still regularly play both new and classic Zombies maps thanks to their endless replayability and wealth of Easter Eggs still being discovered. The engaging storylines, diverse cast of operators, and addictive co-op gameplay keep me coming back.
So next time you leap into a match and hear the announcer declare "Fetch me their souls!", remember Richtofen, Group 935, and the occult origins that started it all back in Nacht der Untoten. The ominous German map names are a perfect fit for the nightmare unleashed by their twisted experiments and quest for power.
Now pack-a-punch your weapons, stock up on Juggernog, and see how many rounds you can survive against the undead! I‘ll be right there slaying zombies alongside you.
