Im Sonderauftrag
Encyclopedia
Im Sonderauftrag is an East German black-and-white film directed by Heinz Thiel. It was released in 1959.
, a People's Navy
minesweeper commanded by Captain Fischer encounters a foreign boat. Its skipper is a man named Arendt, who has served with Fischer in the Kriegsmarine
during the Second World War. Fischer recalls how, at 1943, his superior Captain Lieutenant Wegner planned to defect to the Danish resistance and join the communists, but was arrested and sentenced to death. Fischer realizes that Arendt, one of the few who knew of Wegner's plans, was actually a Gestapo
agent and betrayed him. Now, he understands that Arendt works for West Germany
and intends to gather intelligence in the German Democratic Republic. Fischer foils his plans and the minesweeper returns to its mission.
was fouded, until its dismantlement at 1990, only five had their plot dealing explicitly with the East German armed forces - although many pictures were set in historical military formations, like the Wehrmacht, and DEFA produced many documentaries and news bulletins about the NVA. Of the five films, the first to be made was Im Sonderauftrag. It was also the only one among them to portray the People's Navy
.
, and gained "considerable success" there. The German Film Lexicon cited Im Sonderauftrag as "thrilling and with good acting, although highly simplistic and committed to the political narrative of the Cold War
."
Plot
At 1958, somewhere in the Baltic SeaBaltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, a People's Navy
Volksmarine
Volksmarine was the official designation of the maritime forces of the German Democratic Republic . It was part of the National People's Army, established in 1956.-History:...
minesweeper commanded by Captain Fischer encounters a foreign boat. Its skipper is a man named Arendt, who has served with Fischer in the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
during the Second World War. Fischer recalls how, at 1943, his superior Captain Lieutenant Wegner planned to defect to the Danish resistance and join the communists, but was arrested and sentenced to death. Fischer realizes that Arendt, one of the few who knew of Wegner's plans, was actually a Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
agent and betrayed him. Now, he understands that Arendt works for West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and intends to gather intelligence in the German Democratic Republic. Fischer foils his plans and the minesweeper returns to its mission.
Cast
- Hans-Peter Minetti as Captain Lieutenant Fischer
- Rolf Ludwig as Arendt
- Fritz DiezFritz DiezNot to be confused with the West German industrialist Fritz Dietz.Fritz Diez was a German actor, producer, director and theater manager.-Early life:...
as Captain Lieutenant Wegner - Gerd Michael HennebergGerd Michael HennebergGerd Michael Henneberg was a German actor and theater director.-Biography:Gerd Henneberg's father, Richard, was a theater director. After the young Heeneberg took private acting classes, he made his debut on stage at the age of sixteen, in the Leipzig Theater...
as harbor commandant - Günther Grabbert as Lieutenant Hermann
- Wolfgang Hübner as Lieutenant Berger
- Wilhelm Koch-Hooge as Petersen
- Herbert Körbs, as military judge
- Horst KubeHorst Kube-Selected filmography:* Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse * A Berlin Romance * Der Fackelträger * Schlösser und Katen * Don't Forget My Little Traudel * Zwei Mütter * The Sailor's Song...
as corporal Lutz - Werner Lierck as Sergeant Kohl
- Katharina Matz as Ike
- Dieter Perlwitz as Jens Dahl
- Gustav Püttjer as Ole
- Albert Zahn as Thielicke
- Manfred Borges as Staff Sergeant Schneider
Production
Of the 500 feature films created by DEFA from 1956, the year in which the National People's ArmyNational People's Army
The National People’s Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic .The NVA was established in 1956 and disestablished in 1990. There were frequent reports of East German advisors with Communist African countries during the Cold War...
was fouded, until its dismantlement at 1990, only five had their plot dealing explicitly with the East German armed forces - although many pictures were set in historical military formations, like the Wehrmacht, and DEFA produced many documentaries and news bulletins about the NVA. Of the five films, the first to be made was Im Sonderauftrag. It was also the only one among them to portray the People's Navy
Volksmarine
Volksmarine was the official designation of the maritime forces of the German Democratic Republic . It was part of the National People's Army, established in 1956.-History:...
.
Reception
The East German Cinema and Television Review defined Im Sonderauftrag as a "weak, fable-based" film that "used the anti-fascist theme in a schematic manner." The film was received well in the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and gained "considerable success" there. The German Film Lexicon cited Im Sonderauftrag as "thrilling and with good acting, although highly simplistic and committed to the political narrative of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
."
External links
- Im Sonderauftrag on DEFA Sternstunden.