| Description |
1 online resource (1 video file, approximately 150 min.) |
| Summary |
Hamburg, Germany 1934: An executioner is needed. Teetjen (Erwin Geschonneck) makes the biggest mistake of his life. Because his butcher shop is facing bankruptcy, he agrees to execute a group of political prisoners for the Nazis. Once this becomes known, Teetjen's life falls apart. The Axe of Wandsbek was the only DEFA film made by Falk Harnack, a former anti-Nazi resistance fighter who was interested in exploring the involvement of the middle class in Nazi crimes. Despite positive reviews, the film was withdrawn shortly after its premiere; it became the first East German film ever to be banned. The film is adapted from one of the most important works by German-Jewish author Arnold Zweig; basing the story on real events, Zweig wrote the novel in exile in Palestine in 1943 |
| Notes |
Title from title frames |
| Event |
Originally produced by DEFA Film Library in 1951 |
| Subject |
Motion pictures.
|
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National socialism.
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Nazis.
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Executions and executioners -- Germany (East)
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National Socialism.
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Executions and executioners.
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Motion pictures.
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National socialism.
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Nazis.
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Germany (East)
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Germany (East)
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| Genre/Form |
Feature films.
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Feature films.
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| Form |
Streaming video
|
| Author |
Harnack, Falk, director
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Braun, Käthe, actor
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Geschonneck, Erwin, actor
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Helmke, Gefion, actor
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Kleinau, Willy A., actor
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Meissner, Ursula, actor
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Schröder, Arthur, actor
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