Hans Westmar. Einer von vielen. Ein deutsches Schicksal aus dem Jahre 1929
Encyclopedia
Hans Westmar. Einer von vielen. Ein deutsches Schicksal aus dem Jahre 1929 (Hans Westmar. One of many. A German Destiny from the Year 1929) was the last of an unofficial trilogy of films commissioned by the Nazis shortly after coming to power in January 1933, celebrating their Kampfzeit - a mythologized history of their period in opposition, struggling to gain power. The film is a fictionalized life of the famous Nazi martyr Horst Wessel
.
's novelistic biography, was named Horst Wessel
. Goebbels temporarily banned it, eventually allowing its release with alterations and with the main character's name changed to the fictional "Hans Westmar". One reason may have been to avoid "de-mystifying" Wessel. Part of the problem was that authentic depiction of Stormtroopers, including picking fights with Communists, did not fit the more reasonable tone the Nazis adopted while in power, and would undermined Volksgemeinschaft
; the fictionalized Westmar, unlike Wessel, does not alienate his family and preaches class reconciliation. It was, however, among the first films to depict dying for Hitler as a glorious death for Germany, resulting in his spirit inspiring his comrades. His decision to go to the streets is presented as fighting "the real battle."
in the late 1920s. When Westmar arrives in Berlin the communists, whose leaders include a stereotypical Jew, are popular, holding large parades through Berlin singing The Internationale
. When he looks into the cultural life of Weimar Berlin, he is horrified at the "internationalism" and cultural promiscuity, which includes black jazz music and Jewish nightclub singers. This scene dissolves into images of the German fighting men of World War I
and shots of the cemeteries of the German dead.
Westmar decides to help organize the local Nazi party and becomes, through the course of the plot, responsible for their electoral victories, which encourages the Communists to kill him.
Horst Wessel
Horst Ludwig Wessel was a German Nazi activist who was made a posthumous hero of the Nazi movement following his violent death in 1930...
.
Development
Originally, the film, based on Hanns Heinz EwersHanns Heinz Ewers
Hanns Heinz Ewers was a German actor, poet, philosopher, and writer of short stories and novels. While he wrote on a wide range of subjects, he is now known mainly for his works of horror, particularly his trilogy of novels about the adventures of Frank Braun, a character modeled on himself...
's novelistic biography, was named Horst Wessel
Horst Wessel
Horst Ludwig Wessel was a German Nazi activist who was made a posthumous hero of the Nazi movement following his violent death in 1930...
. Goebbels temporarily banned it, eventually allowing its release with alterations and with the main character's name changed to the fictional "Hans Westmar". One reason may have been to avoid "de-mystifying" Wessel. Part of the problem was that authentic depiction of Stormtroopers, including picking fights with Communists, did not fit the more reasonable tone the Nazis adopted while in power, and would undermined Volksgemeinschaft
Volksgemeinschaft
Volksgemeinschaft is a German expression meaning "people's community". Originally appearing during World War I as Germans rallied behind the war, it derived its popularity as a means to break down elitism and class divides...
; the fictionalized Westmar, unlike Wessel, does not alienate his family and preaches class reconciliation. It was, however, among the first films to depict dying for Hitler as a glorious death for Germany, resulting in his spirit inspiring his comrades. His decision to go to the streets is presented as fighting "the real battle."
Plot
The film concentrates on the conflict with the Communist Party in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in the late 1920s. When Westmar arrives in Berlin the communists, whose leaders include a stereotypical Jew, are popular, holding large parades through Berlin singing The Internationale
The Internationale
The Internationale is a famous socialist, communist, social-democratic and anarchist anthem.The Internationale became the anthem of international socialism, and gained particular fame under the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1944, when it was that communist state's de facto central anthem...
. When he looks into the cultural life of Weimar Berlin, he is horrified at the "internationalism" and cultural promiscuity, which includes black jazz music and Jewish nightclub singers. This scene dissolves into images of the German fighting men of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and shots of the cemeteries of the German dead.
Westmar decides to help organize the local Nazi party and becomes, through the course of the plot, responsible for their electoral victories, which encourages the Communists to kill him.
Depiction of Communism
While Communism as such is depicted as the foe, the Communists fall into three categories. While the party boss shamelessly transmits the party line from Moscow, and the Jewish small official incite violence and then flee it, and are directly responsible for the murder, one Communist is presented as an idealist fighting for the proletarian. In the last scene, on seeing a Nazi torchlight procession on the eve of the Nazi seizure of power, he is moved to give the Nazi salute; Hans Westmar's example has inspired him.See also
- List of German films 1919-1933
- List of German films 1933-1945
- Nazism and cinema