Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class

Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class

140 mins | Drama, History | Oct. 6, 1955

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.

Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class

140 mins | Drama, History | Oct. 6, 1955

Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class
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.
IMDb rating 6.4
Producers DEFA
Original title Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse
Directors Kurt Maetzig
Writers Willi Bredel, Michael Tschesno-Hell, Kurt Maetzig

Cast

Günther Simon

as Ernst Thälmann

Hans-Peter Minetti

as Fiete Jansen

Karla Runkehl

as Änne Jansen

Michel Piccoli

as Maurice Rouger

Werner Peters

as Quadde

Fred Delmare

as Soldat

Fritz Diez

as Hitler

Kurt Wetzel

as Göring

Will van Deeg

as Himmler