East Prussia and its Hindenburg
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | East Prussia and its Hindenburg |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1917 |
| length | about 87 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director |
Gustav Trautschold Richard Schott |
| script | Richard Schott |
| production | Franz Vogel for Eiko, Berlin |
| music | Ferdinand Hummel |
| camera | Paul Adler |
| occupation | |
| |
East Prussia and its Hindenburg is a patriotic German silent film from 1917, which gives an outline of Prussian-German history with national undertones, from the beginning of German settlement to the victory in the Battle of Tannenberg . The film was based on a literary model by Heinrich Lautensack .
action
The film is intended to provide a chronological overview of East Prussian history, from its pagan origins to the first year of the war in 1914 with its victorious battle of Tannenberg against the Russians for the Germans. In the first three acts, the early days of this region with the founding of the Teutonic order of knights are dealt with as the first cultural-historical highlight. This is followed by the time of the Brandenburg electors and the first heavy burden on East Prussia through the incursion of Napoleonic troops. At this time Queen Luise became the good soul of the battered country. In the third act, the regaining of modern Prussia is shown, which should also have its effects on the northeastern part of the country.
The last two acts focus entirely on the title of the film. It shows how the Russian armies invaded Masuria at the beginning of the First World War in August 1914 and left terrible devastation in the villages and towns as well as in the hearts of the inhabitants of East Prussia. The Russian occupiers are shown as wild and primitive Cossack hordes who are only out for destruction and barbarism. But then rescue approaches in the form of the already retired General Paul von Hindenburg , who puts an end to the atrocities of the tsarist army, which have been intensively processed on film. In the Battle of Tannenberg the Russians experience a severe defeat and are thrown out of the country again. This film ends with the liberation of East Prussia.
Production notes
East Prussia and its Hindenburg , also known as Brothers in Need , was filmed in the Eiko-Film-Atelier in Berlin-Marienfelde , passed film censorship in January 1917 and was premiered a little later in the German Opera House in Berlin. The five-stroke initially had a length of 1793 meters, but was shortened minimally during the new censorship in 1921.
The music of Prof. Ferdinand Hummel was conducted by Arnold Ebel . The film decorations were designed by the builder of the Eiko-Film-Studios Winkelmann. The cash receipts achieved were intended for aid to East Prussia .
Reviews
“You can rightly call the grandiose film“ East Prussia and its Hindenburg ”a first-rate historical document. This film, which was produced with the participation of 50,000 actors, describes ... the development and changeful fate of the Prussian Ostmark, beginning from pagan prehistoric times to the eventful days of the Russian invasion. (...) The liberation of the sighing country by the ingenious military leader, the self-sacrificing heroism of the German troops, which after heavy fighting drove the Russians out of the country with the known terrible losses: such huge images conclude the technically perfect film, which in all of its parts contain brilliant representation and wonderful scenes. "
“In every respect, this film work can be described as the most perfect thing that has ever been created in this field. The emergence, growth and prosperity of the Prussian Ostmark is shown in a series of historically accurate pictures. (...) The tyranny of the Russians on the one hand, and the heroism of the Germans cheered on by their ingenious leader on the other, are brilliantly expressed in this huge film, which is also a masterpiece in technical terms. The representation is of the highest order. "