Um das Menschenrecht (1934)

For Human Rights

 

Directed by: Hans Zöberlein and Ludwig Schmid-Wildy

Written by: Hans Zöberlein (manuscript and screenplay)

Produced by: Hans Zöberlein (executive producer)

Cinematography: Ludwig Zahn

Release date: 1934

Running time: 121 minutes

Country: Germany

Language: German

 

Starring:

 

Hans Schlenck: Hans, comrade-in-arms

Kurt Holm: Fritz, comrade-in-arms

Ernst Martens: Max, comrade-in-arms

Beppo Brem: Girgl, comrade-in-arms

Ludwig Ten Cloot: The Captain

Hans Erich Pfleger: Paul, Freikorps comrade

Paul Schaidler: Christian, Freikorps comrade

Franz Loskarn: Höllein, Freikorps comrade

Leopold Kerscher: Martin, Freikorps comrade

Werner Scharf: Leader of the Reds

Trude Haefelin: Petratka, political agent

Katja Specht: Natascha, political agent

Ludwig Körösy: A sub-leader

Hans Pössenbacher: A Spartacist

Ludwig Schmid-Wildy: Old Krafft

Lydia Alexandra: Berta Schön, innkeeper’s daughter

Rose Kugler: Girgl’s wife

Hilde Horst: Fritz’s wife

 

Um das Menschenrecht (For Human Rights). A film from the Freikorps era (released in Austria under the title Sturmtage 1919) is a German feature film with National Socialist propaganda elements from 1934, in which the Freikorps are honoured. The film was produced by Arya Film GmbH and was released in German cinemas on 28 December 1934.

 

Plot

 

After the end of the First World War, frontline soldiers Hans, Fritz, Max and Girgl return to their Bavarian homeland. Girgl moves back to his farm, while Max and Fritz join the “Reds”. Hans, however, sees Bolshevism as a threat to Germany and joins the Freikorps. He had sought work but was rejected because he refused to join a party or a trade union. Shortly afterwards, the Munich Soviet Republic is proclaimed. The revolutionaries wage a Red Terror, which the Freikorps takes action against. Hans manages to capture Fritz and Max, but lets them go. After learning that Fritz’s family has been killed in the fighting, they flee to Girgl’s farm. He takes them in. Shortly afterwards, Girgl is arrested for aiding and abetting high treason and sentenced to six months’ probation. After his release, he unexpectedly encounters Hans and takes him in. Hans’s fellow soldiers inform him that they plan to emigrate and try to persuade him to go with them. However, Hans refuses, believing that people are needed to rebuild Germany.