Flüchtlinge
Encyclopedia
Flüchtlinge is a 1933 German
film depicting Volga German
refugees persecuted by the Bolsheviks on the Sino
-Russia
n border in Manchuria
in 1928.
The film was directed by Gustav Ucicky
and starred Hans Albers
, Käthe von Nagy
and Eugen Klopfer. The screenplay was written by Gerhard Menzel
and was based on his own novel of the same title.
It was the first movie to win the state prize, and Goebbels praised it as among those films that, while they did not explicitly cite National Socialist principles, nevertheless embodied its spirit, a new film reflecting the ideal of their national revolution.
The refugees are rescued by a heroic German leader
much like the Führer
; the symbolism is obviously intended to emulate Adolf Hitler
, although being blond and athletic, represented the physical ideal much more clearly. He is disgusted by "November Germany" (the Weimar Republic), and devotes himself to the ideal of "true Germany". He off-handed disposes of some refugees as worthless, and demands complete obedience from all others. The death of a boy deeply devoted to him moves him, as dying for a cause is something he would wish for himself, in keeping with Nazi glorification of heroic death.
Their Communist persecutors are portrayed simply as brutal murderers, typical of works prior to the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (and again after its breach). The film was shown for some time after the pact, owing to bureaucratic oversight, complicating the efforts of Nazi propaganda.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
film depicting Volga German
Volga German
The Volga Germans were ethnic Germans living along the River Volga in the region of southern European Russia around Saratov and to the south. Recruited as immigrants to Russia in the 18th century, they were allowed to maintain German culture, language, traditions and churches: Lutherans, Reformed,...
refugees persecuted by the Bolsheviks on the Sino
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
-Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n border in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
in 1928.
The film was directed by Gustav Ucicky
Gustav Ucicky
Gustav Ucicky was an acclaimed Austrian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer. He was one of the more successful and acclaimed directors in Austria and Germany from the 1930s through to the early 1960s...
and starred Hans Albers
Hans Albers
Hans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :...
, Käthe von Nagy
Käthe von Nagy
Käthe von Nagy , as Ekaterina Nagy von Cziser; † 20 December 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA) was an Hungarian actress.-Life History and Films:...
and Eugen Klopfer. The screenplay was written by Gerhard Menzel
Gerhard Menzel
Gerhard Menzel was a German screenwriter. He wrote for 38 films between 1933 and 1965.He was born in Waldenburg, Germany and died in Comano, Switzerland.-Selected filmography:* Morgenrot...
and was based on his own novel of the same title.
It was the first movie to win the state prize, and Goebbels praised it as among those films that, while they did not explicitly cite National Socialist principles, nevertheless embodied its spirit, a new film reflecting the ideal of their national revolution.
The refugees are rescued by a heroic German leader
Führerprinzip
The Führerprinzip , German for "leader principle", prescribes the fundamental basis of political authority in the governmental structures of the Third Reich...
much like the Führer
Führer
Führer , alternatively spelled Fuehrer in both English and German when the umlaut is not available, is a German title meaning leader or guide now most associated with Adolf Hitler, who modelled it on Benito Mussolini's title il Duce, as well as with Georg von Schönerer, whose followers also...
; the symbolism is obviously intended to emulate Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, although being blond and athletic, represented the physical ideal much more clearly. He is disgusted by "November Germany" (the Weimar Republic), and devotes himself to the ideal of "true Germany". He off-handed disposes of some refugees as worthless, and demands complete obedience from all others. The death of a boy deeply devoted to him moves him, as dying for a cause is something he would wish for himself, in keeping with Nazi glorification of heroic death.
Their Communist persecutors are portrayed simply as brutal murderers, typical of works prior to the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (and again after its breach). The film was shown for some time after the pact, owing to bureaucratic oversight, complicating the efforts of Nazi propaganda.
Cast
- Hans AlbersHans AlbersHans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :...
- Arneth - Käthe von NagyKäthe von NagyKäthe von Nagy , as Ekaterina Nagy von Cziser; † 20 December 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA) was an Hungarian actress.-Life History and Films:...
- Kristja Laudy - Eugen Klöpfer - Bernhard Laudy
- Andrews Engelmann - The Commissar
- Fritz Genschow - Hermann, refugee-engineer
- Karl Rainer - Peter, teenage refugee
- Franziska Kinz - Pregnant woman
- Ida WüstIda WüstIda Wüst was a German stage and film actress, whose career was most prominent in the 1920s and 1930s with Universum Film AG .-Life and career:...
- Frau Megele - Veit HarlanVeit HarlanVeit Harlan was a German film director and actor.-Life and career:Harlan was born in Berlin. After studying under Max Reinhardt, he first appeared on the stage in 1915 and, after World War I, worked in the Berlin stage. In 1922 he married Jewish actress and cabaret singer Dora Gerson; the couple...
- Mannlinger - Karl Meixner - Pappel
- Hans Adalbert Schlettow - Siberian
- Friedrich GnaßFriedrich GnaßFriedrich Gnaß was a German film actor. He appeared in 53 films between 1929 and 1958.-Selected filmography:* M * Rasputin, Dämon der Frauen * The Star of Valencia...
- Hussar - Hans Hermann Schaufuss - Zweig
- Josef Dahmen - Man with red hair
- Carsta Löck - Frau Hellerle