The discharge
The discharge (alternative title: turn of fate , also: Wilhelm II. Und Bismarck or Bismarck part 2 (based on the film Bismarck from 1940)) is a German historical film from 1942. The film depicts the conflict between Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and the young German Emperor Wilhelm II , who ultimately resulted in Bismarck's dismissal.
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1888 - The German Kaiser Wilhelm I is dying. Since the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Friedrich , is ill with throat cancer, it is already clear that the succession to the throne will soon pass to the 29-year-old grandson of the emperor, Prince Wilhelm . Wilhelm and the incumbent Chancellor, Prince Bismarck , are called to their deathbed, where the old Kaiser asks them to remain loyal to each other. Already drawn by death himself, Friedrich takes part in the funeral ceremonies for Wilhelm I from the window of the palace. A short time later he too dies and Prince Wilhelm follows him to the throne as Wilhelm II. This process causes Bismarck great concern, because he fears the limited political horizons of the young ruler, who is looking for recognition, and his tendency to spontaneous, ill-considered actions.
At first, Wilhelm seems to agree that the leadership of the empire remains in the experienced hands of the prince; he assures him that he will hold on to it unconditionally. However, on the occasion of a visit to his uncle, the Russian Tsar Alexander III, it becomes apparent that he is willing to step out of Bismarck's shadow. The 75-year-old prince is meanwhile doing his health restoration in Friedrichsruh and is in charge of official business from there. The rash statements of Wilhelm on his state visits cause his displeasure.
On the occasion of a portrait session in the house of his court painter, Wilhelm came across a simple worker, a social democrat , and was confronted with his needs. He then decided to take care of the people's social problems, also to prevent a further increase in the vote for the Social Democrats. He sends Bismarck's deputy von Bötticher to the prince with his not very realistic proposals, which the prince rejects as impractical. Indignant, Wilhelm summons the Privy Council and tries again to win Bismarck and his minister over to his ideas. Bismarck, however, insists on his position and again rejects Wilhelm's proposals as dangerous to the state. However, he has to realize that his ministers are no longer united behind him. He therefore withdraws to foreign policy and leaves domestic policy to Wilhelm.
The outcome of the elections to the Reichstag confirm Bismarck's fears: the emperor's activities brought the Social Democrats a considerable gain in votes. The horrified ruler now fears that his military bill will no longer be approved by parliament and now pleads with the prince for his support. Bismarck takes advantage of the situation and has unlimited powers granted as a condition for his help. This process arouses consternation among his political opponents, because they have to recognize that their amateurish intrigues against Bismarck were unsuccessful and that the tide could now turn against them. Thanks to Bismarck's fate, the military bill has now been approved and the crack between Bismarck and Wilhelm seems to have been cemented for the time being.
Privy Councilor von Holstein , an employee of Bismarck in the Foreign Office and there the gray Eminence, is now striking out to strike against Bismarck. Von Holstein loves to act in the background and would prefer a weaker, inexperienced chancellor instead of Bismarck, so that in the end he would hold the strings of power in his hands. By means of extortion he succeeds in getting Count Eulenburg , a friend of the emperor and also of Bismarck, to blacken Bismarck with the emperor. The intrigue succeeds, the Kaiser now accuses Bismarck in an unsealed letter of embezzling allegedly important military information. He visits the prince, who is still sleeping, in his apartment early in the morning to confront him. It comes to a scandal. In a violent outburst, Bismarck accuses the Kaiser of his political ineptitude, but the latter demands that he repeal a cabinet order, according to which the ministers are forbidden to speak to the Kaiser. Bismarck refuses, and Wilhelm leaves the house with a snub. The demonstrative handshake of the two opponents in view of the crowd gathered in front of the house does not hide the fact that the break is now irreparable.
Via a messenger, the emperor once again demands the repeal of the cabinet order, otherwise Bismarck should resign. Bismarck refuses again, his resignation is inevitable. Before he submits his resignation, however, he wants to sign the upcoming, secret reinsurance treaty with Russia, a treaty that is supposed to avert the danger of a two-front war for Germany and that Bismarck sees as vital for the Reich's survival. However, von Holstein succeeded in persuading the Kaiser to change course via Eulenburg. He has the Russian envoy Shuvalov intercepted before he can contact Bismarck to inform the stunned diplomat of the new course and thus of the departure from the treaty on the German side.
The Kaiser has meanwhile accepted Bismarck's resignation, Bismarck has to pack his things and leave the Reich Chancellery. Von Holstein met him there at nighttime. Bismarck, knowing full well that he owes Holstein the failure of the contract extension and his dismissal, holds his weakness in character and expresses his deep contempt.
Remarks
In Germany, the film was released unabridged as a video cassette. The DVD version released later contains cuts in several places.
Reviews
“[...] The film biography is committed to the spirit of Nazi ideology; she only adheres superficially to historical facts and makes Bismarck von Emil Jannings, effectively embodied, a tragic hero and pioneer of the 'Führer' cult . "
See also
Web links
- The dismissal in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Complete original version in the Deutsche Filmothek
Individual evidence
- ↑ The discharge. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .