The Axe of Wandsbek (1951 film)
Encyclopedia
The Axe of Wandsbek is an 1951 East German film, directed by Falk Harnack.
. Adolf Hitler
is about to visit the city. Hamburg's executioner falls ill, and is unable to deliver the sentence of four communists who are awaiting capital punishment in jail. Fearing that this would spoil Hitler's visit, SS leader Footh offers a local bankrupt butcher, Albert Teetjen, 2000 Mark in order to carry out the verdict. The broke Teetjen agrees and follows suit. When his neighbors hear of the execution, they shun him. His wife cannot tolerate her husband's deed and puts an end to her life. Eventually, Teetjen also commits suicide.
from Arnold Zweig
's novel by the same name, which the author wrote at 1943, while in exile in the British Mandate of Palestine. Director Falk Harnack, whose own brother Arvid
was executed by the NSDAP regime and who defected from the 999th Division to the Greek Resistance during World War II, decided to film Staudte's work at 1950.
The East German political establishment and the Soviet representatives in the country disapproved of the film, which they viewed as promoting sympathy to the perpetrators of Nazi atrocities. The SED politburo denounced it, proclaiming that "it did not present the proletariat resistance as heroes, but rather, their executioners." The film was banned after less than a month, although Zweig himself, who wielded considerable influence as the President of the GDR's Academy of Arts, resisted the move. Bertolt Brecht
offered to write an alternate version, but was rejected. The Axe of Wandsbek was DEFA's first film to be banned. This happened closely after the establishment of the DEFA commission by the government to regulate the studio and provide political control. Shortly afterwards, Harnack left to West Germany, abandoning his position as DEFA's artistic director. The studio came under the control of party functionary Sepp Schwab.
The film was allowed to be screened again in 1962, in honor of Zweig's 75th birthday. The authorized version was twenty minutes shorter than the original.
Plot
1934, HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. 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...
is about to visit the city. Hamburg's executioner falls ill, and is unable to deliver the sentence of four communists who are awaiting capital punishment in jail. Fearing that this would spoil Hitler's visit, SS leader Footh offers a local bankrupt butcher, Albert Teetjen, 2000 Mark in order to carry out the verdict. The broke Teetjen agrees and follows suit. When his neighbors hear of the execution, they shun him. His wife cannot tolerate her husband's deed and puts an end to her life. Eventually, Teetjen also commits suicide.
Cast
- Erwin GeschonneckErwin GeschonneckErwin Geschonneck was a German actor. His biggest success occurred in the German Democratic Republic, where he was considered one of the most famous actors of the time.-Early life:...
: Albert Teetjen - Willy A. Kleinau: Hans Peter Footh
- Käthe Braun: Stine Teetjen
- Gefion Helmke: Dr. Käthe Neumeier
- Arthur SchröderArthur Schröder-Selected filmography:* Hubertus Castle * The Axe of Wandsbek * Canaris Master Spy * Escape from Sahara -External links:...
: Dr. Koldewey - Ursula Meißner: Annette Koldewey
- Helmuth Hinzelmann: Colonel Lintze
- Erika Dannhoff: Lene Prestow
- Fritz Wisten: Siegfried Mengers, convict
- Albert Garbe: Otto Merzenich, convict
- Hermann Stövesand: Friedrich Timme, convict
- Gert Karl Schaefer: Willi Schröter, convict
Production
The film's script was adapted by Wolfgang StaudteWolfgang Staudte
Wolfgang Staudte , born Georg Friedrich Staudte, was a German film director, script writer and actor. He was born in Saarbrücken....
from Arnold Zweig
Arnold Zweig
Arnold Zweig was a German writer and anti-war activist.He is best known for his World War I tetralogy.-Life and work:Zweig was born in Glogau, Silesia son of a Jewish saddler...
's novel by the same name, which the author wrote at 1943, while in exile in the British Mandate of Palestine. Director Falk Harnack, whose own brother Arvid
Arvid Harnack
Arvid Harnack was a German jurist, economist, and resistance fighter in Nazi Germany.- Early years :...
was executed by the NSDAP regime and who defected from the 999th Division to the Greek Resistance during World War II, decided to film Staudte's work at 1950.
Reception
The Axe of Wandsbek was viewed by 800,000 people in the first three weeks after its release, and received positive reviews.The East German political establishment and the Soviet representatives in the country disapproved of the film, which they viewed as promoting sympathy to the perpetrators of Nazi atrocities. The SED politburo denounced it, proclaiming that "it did not present the proletariat resistance as heroes, but rather, their executioners." The film was banned after less than a month, although Zweig himself, who wielded considerable influence as the President of the GDR's Academy of Arts, resisted the move. Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
offered to write an alternate version, but was rejected. The Axe of Wandsbek was DEFA's first film to be banned. This happened closely after the establishment of the DEFA commission by the government to regulate the studio and provide political control. Shortly afterwards, Harnack left to West Germany, abandoning his position as DEFA's artistic director. The studio came under the control of party functionary Sepp Schwab.
The film was allowed to be screened again in 1962, in honor of Zweig's 75th birthday. The authorized version was twenty minutes shorter than the original.
External links
- The Axe of Wandsbek on the IMDb.