Weimar Pitaval: The Fall Wandt
| Episode in the Weimar Pitaval series | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The case turns |
| Country of production | GDR |
| original language | German |
| Production company |
German television broadcasting |
| length | 64 minutes |
| classification | Episode 4 |
| First broadcast | February 19, 1959 on DFF |
| Rod | |
| Director | Wolfgang Luderer |
| camera | Adam Pöpperl |
| occupation | |
| |
The Wandt case is a crime film in the TV epitaval series of the German television station by Wolfgang Luderer from 1959.
action
Heinrich Wandt was posted to the Western Front in Ghent in 1915 . There he keeps a diary of his experiences, in which he realistically writes down the dramatic conditions in the Belgian stage . The book “Etappe Gent”, published in 1920, emerged from these documents.
One of the stories described in it is that of Sergeant Dutchman. He gets home leave and since he is short on time, he runs to his train to get it. At the door of a brothel , from which several apparently drunk officers are just stepping out, he slows down, says hello, and continues to run. The salute is not honorable enough for one of the officers and he calls the sergeant back to repeat the salute. Dutchman points out that he missed his train, the officer physically attacks him and is slapped back. This case goes to court-martial and Dutch people are demoted and sentenced to death.
These and other recorded experiences are a thorn in the side of certain circles in the Weimar Republic . Since Wandt always calls the correct name in the records, it is before a district court of the high officers of insulting process done, what can not be proven however. Nonetheless, he was sentenced to six months in prison , which for certain forces does not seem to be enough, which is why they force a new trial that they received in 1923. The first hearing has to be postponed due to a lack of evidence. But now a colonel and the police superintendent who is handling the case come up with the idea of constructing evidence.
You pass a file to Max Ziehe , who is a bona fide employee of the Reichsarchiv , which he delivers to the writer Heinrich Wandt, on the grounds that it contains interesting information for his work. After reviewing the documents, Wandt ordered the deliverer to come back to him because he was unable to use the information contained therein. At that moment the doorbell rings and the criminal police conduct a search of the apartment . Here the file is found that is supposed to be the basis for a stolen goods conviction , because it should not have been in his possession. But the examining magistrate found no reason to continue indicting Wandt and overturned the warrant.
That again calls his opponents on the scene. This time, after acceptance by the Imperial Court - he himself denies it - Wandt is supposed to give the Belgian writer Dr. Wullus have handed over a certificate to whom it was printed in 1921 in a book “Flamenpolitik, Suprême espoir allemand de domination en Belgique”. Now it's about treason and the courtroom is sworn to secrecy. The point here is to pass on information that should not fall into the hands of the enemy if German troops march into Holland again . Furthermore, names are said to have been mentioned of Belgians who worked with the Germans during the war and who may be needed again in the future. Since the First World War was lost five years ago, a construction of the charge can be identified or a new attack is already being considered. Nevertheless, Heinrich Wandt was sentenced to six years in prison and 10 years of loss of honor .
production
The television film was released as the 4th episode of the Weimar Pitaval film series and was broadcast for the first time on February 19, 1959.
The book was written by Friedrich Karl Kaul , who also speaks the connecting texts, and Walter Jupé based on authentic court records. Aenne Keller was responsible for the dramaturgy .
criticism
Erwin Reiche writes in the Berliner Zeitung that the exciting complex of facts shown in this film was built into a gruesome, realistic drama and radio play in straightforward dramaturgy, with the fade-in of the terse comments from Friedrich Karl Kaul. The director Wolfgang Luderer designed a staging that was clear down to the last detail, optically and masterfully in terms of its cuts, with a cold, objective passion, so to speak. The legal-political report turned into a stirring, realistic art experience.
Web links
- Weimar Pitaval: The case Wandt in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The case turns. in the online dictionary of television in the GDR
Individual evidence
- ↑ Berliner Zeitung . February 24, 1959, p. 3.