Hangmen, women and soldiers
Encyclopedia
Hangmen, Women and Soldiers (dt.: Henker, Frauen und Soldaten) is a propaganda film made by the German filmmaker Johannes Meyer in 1935. It was produced with the Bavaria film company in Munich
. The screenplay was written by Max W. Kimmich
and Jacob Geis after the novel "A fellow named Prack" written by Fritz Reck-Malleczewen.
, is taken prisoner by British troops in Asia Minor
in 1918. However, he seizes the chance to escape to his homeland East Prussia
with a ready-for-take-off British plane. At home, he gets involved in the post-war turmoil because meanwhile the war is over.
In a bar, Michael comes across a captain Eckau who is recruiting former regular soldiers to fight in a Freikorps
against Russia despite the German surrender. Michael joins the troops and, at the same time, meets lovely Vera Iwanowna. She considers him to be his cousin, Russian general Alexej Alexandrowitsch von Prack, with whom she is in love, because the two men are as like as two peas. Alexej, who cannot stand his cousin Michael since their childhood, commands the Russian troops standing against the Freikorps.
While driving into the warzone, Michael re-meets Vera who is not only Alexej's lover, but also a Russian spy
. Meanwhile she has learned that he is Alexejs German cousin, but nevertheless spends a night with him before returning to the Russian headquarters.
When Alexej learns that Vera has met his hated cousin who is commander of the enemy's troops, he swears him death and sets a trap for the Freikorps by luring them into a swamp
. In this situation he demands Michael to meet him personally, and the two men fight against each other. Alexej dies through the fight, Michael gets severely wounded.
Because the latter does not wear his uniform jacket, the Russians consider him to be the general and take him to their headquarters. Although Vera recognizes him immediately, Michael is able to act as the general and to discover important military secrets. He also gives the Russians orders that in fact improve the situation of the Freikorps.
Meanwhile Vera is wavering between love and patriotism
. Finally she reveals everything to the Russian commissar
because her patriotism is stronger than her love to Michael. The latter is, however, able to escape and to return to his soldiers before being arrested.
Now that they know the deployment plans of the Russians, the Freikorps attacks them from the back. Michael is killed during the fights, Vera dies when the Freikorps fires at the Russian headquarters.
Moreover, Goebbels himself was also taken by it (which did not always mean the same than pleasing the critics). On December 11, 1935, he wrote in his diary "an exciting and adorable film with (Hans) Albers."
After the war, it was banned by the Allies.
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. The screenplay was written by Max W. Kimmich
Max W. Kimmich
Max Wilhelm Kimmich was a German film director and screenwriter during the first half of the 20th century...
and Jacob Geis after the novel "A fellow named Prack" written by Fritz Reck-Malleczewen.
Summary
Cavalry captain Michael von Prack, a keen pilot from World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, is taken prisoner by British troops in Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
in 1918. However, he seizes the chance to escape to his homeland East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
with a ready-for-take-off British plane. At home, he gets involved in the post-war turmoil because meanwhile the war is over.
In a bar, Michael comes across a captain Eckau who is recruiting former regular soldiers to fight in a Freikorps
Freikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
against Russia despite the German surrender. Michael joins the troops and, at the same time, meets lovely Vera Iwanowna. She considers him to be his cousin, Russian general Alexej Alexandrowitsch von Prack, with whom she is in love, because the two men are as like as two peas. Alexej, who cannot stand his cousin Michael since their childhood, commands the Russian troops standing against the Freikorps.
While driving into the warzone, Michael re-meets Vera who is not only Alexej's lover, but also a Russian spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
. Meanwhile she has learned that he is Alexejs German cousin, but nevertheless spends a night with him before returning to the Russian headquarters.
When Alexej learns that Vera has met his hated cousin who is commander of the enemy's troops, he swears him death and sets a trap for the Freikorps by luring them into a swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
. In this situation he demands Michael to meet him personally, and the two men fight against each other. Alexej dies through the fight, Michael gets severely wounded.
Because the latter does not wear his uniform jacket, the Russians consider him to be the general and take him to their headquarters. Although Vera recognizes him immediately, Michael is able to act as the general and to discover important military secrets. He also gives the Russians orders that in fact improve the situation of the Freikorps.
Meanwhile Vera is wavering between love and patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
. Finally she reveals everything to the Russian commissar
Commissar
Commissar is the English transliteration of an official title used in Russia from the time of Peter the Great.The title was used during the Provisional Government for regional heads of administration, but it is mostly associated with a number of Cheka and military functions in Bolshevik and Soviet...
because her patriotism is stronger than her love to Michael. The latter is, however, able to escape and to return to his soldiers before being arrested.
Now that they know the deployment plans of the Russians, the Freikorps attacks them from the back. Michael is killed during the fights, Vera dies when the Freikorps fires at the Russian headquarters.
Background
This film was made to defend the deployment of Freikorps in armed conflicts. It passed censorship December 11, 1935, and was first shown to the public a week later. The movie was rewarded "artificially valuable" by film checkers of the propaganda ministry. (This attribute was given to films that fulfilled special aesthetic criteria besides the actors´ performances. It meant that cinemas had to pay less entertainment tax when showing this film.)Moreover, Goebbels himself was also taken by it (which did not always mean the same than pleasing the critics). On December 11, 1935, he wrote in his diary "an exciting and adorable film with (Hans) Albers."
After the war, it was banned by the Allies.
Cast
| actor | role |
|---|---|
| Hans Albers Hans Albers Hans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :... |
Cavalry captain Michael von Prack |
| (dual role) | General Alexej Alexandrowitsch von Prack |
| Charlotte Susa | Vera Iwanowna |
| Jack Trevor | Captain MacCallum |
| Ernst Dumcke Ernst Dumcke -Selected filmography:* Panik in Chicago * The Countess of Monte-Christo * Brennendes Geheimnis * The Fugitive From Chicago * Hangmen, Women and Soldiers... |
captain Eckau |
| Aribert Wäscher | general manager Brosuleit |
| Hubert von Meyerinck | cavalry captain Lensberg |
| Annie Markart | Marianne, called Mary |
| Otto Wernicke | Pieter Timm |
| Gustav Püttjer | Tetje Eckers |
| Fritz Genschow | Buschke |
| Gerhard Bienert | Kossmann |