Ernst Thälmann – Son of the Working Class

Ernst Thälmann – Son of the Working Class

1954 · 124 min · ★ 5.7 · History, Drama

This film is the first of a two-part historical and biographical portrait of the communist politician and anti-fascist Ernst Thälmann. In early November 1918, Ernst Thälmann is an unwilling soldier serving on the western front. As the revolutionary movement at home is threatened by the betrayal of the Social Democrats and fissures in the working class, Thälmann calls on his fellow soldiers to put down their weapons and unite with the workers in the communist struggle at home. Thälmann’s qualms about which side he is fighting on continue, but when the local police attempt to prevent a shipment of provisions and supplies from reaching the people in Petrograd, he intervenes and the ship is unloaded. With this moment of clarity, Thälmann continues to follow his political convictions and joins the workers at the Hamburg uprising in October 1923.

Directed by Kurt Maetzig · Written by Willi Bredel

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Cast

Günther Simon Ernst Thälmann
Hans-Peter Minetti Fiete Jansen
Erich Franz Arthur Vierbreiter
Erika Dunkelmann Martha Vierbreiter
Johannes Arpe Höhn
Raimund Schelcher Krischan Daik
Karla Runkehl Änne Harms
Gerhard Bienert Otto Kramer
Robert Trösch Kuddel Riemöller
Wolf Kaiser Major Zinker
Werner Peters Hauptmann Quadde
Martin Flörchinger Karl Liebknecht

Make it a double feature

3h 46m together

Ernst Thälmann – Son of the Working Class

Story of a Young Couple

Both from Kurt Maetzig.

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Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class

Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class · 1955

Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class

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This film is the second of a two-part historical and biographical portrait of the communist politician and anti-fascist Ernst Thälmann. Autumn, 1918: Somewhere on Germany’s western front, Ernst Thälmann, age twenty-four, is calling on his fellow soldiers to put down their guns and join him in the communist struggle at home. When Hamburg’s Police Commissioner blocks a much-needed food shipment to the workers of Petrograd, Ernst battles to see it allowed through. Until his murder on August 18, 1944, Ernst remained true to his political convictions in the face of many setbacks.

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This film is the second of a two-part historical and biographical portrait of the communist politician and anti-fascist Ernst Thälmann. Autumn, 1918: Somewhere on Germany’s western front, Ernst Thälmann, age twenty-four, is calling on his fellow soldiers to put down their guns and join him in the communist struggle at home. When Hamburg’s Police Commissioner blocks a much-needed food shipment to the workers of Petrograd, Ernst battles to see it allowed through. Until his murder on August 18, 1944, Ernst remained true to his political convictions in the face of many setbacks.

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