SAS 181 antwortet nicht (English-language title: SAS 181 Does Not Reply) is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Carl Balhaus. It was released in 1959.

Plot

Kurt, a young apprentice in a fishing commune and a member of the Techology and Sport Association, enters a race to show his maritime skills. After he fails to win, he falls in love with a girl named Anke, but she loves the apprentice Hannes. Kurt and Hannes sail with skipper Laue on one of the collective's boats, SAS 181. Laue pretends to be Kurt's friend and encourages a conflict between the two boys. However, they both realize that he intends to reach the Danish isle of Bornholm

Bornholm

Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...

 and defect to the West. The two settle their differences and, with the help of the old fisherman Jens, return the boat home.

Cast

• Ulrich Thein
  Ulrich Thein
  Ulrich Thein was a German actor film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 44 films and television shows between 1953 and 1995...
  
   as Kurt
• Otmar Richter as Hannes
• Rita Gödikmeier as Anke
• Friedrich Wilhelm Junge as Linnet
• Erwin Geschonneck
  Erwin Geschonneck
  Erwin Geschonneck was a German actor. His biggest success occurred in the German Democratic Republic, where he was considered one of the most famous actors of the time.-Early life:...
  
   as Laue
• Wilhelm Koch-Hooge as Poppe
• Gustav Püttjer as Jens
• Erich Brauer as Laue's deck hand
• Hans Finohr as Kollmorgen
• Klaus Gendries as Eisermann
• Fritz Diez
  Fritz Diez
  Not to be confused with the West German industrialist Fritz Dietz.Fritz Diez was a German actor, producer, director and theater manager.-Early life:...
  
   as collective director
• Harry Hindemith as Danish harbor manager
• Hans-Joachim Glaser as Spuchti
• Gerd Scheibel as Knautschke
• Klaus Erforth as

Production

The film was the first in the history of East Germany to portray the pre-military youth training organization known as the Techology and Sport Association (GST). It was produced with the assistance of the association.

Reception

Heinz Kersten noted that the theme of "fleeing from the republic" - a common feature in East German films, which showed a person leaving the GDR for the West, grow disillusioned and sometimes commit suicide - was present in the plot of the SAS 181, as well. The Germa Film Lexicon cited it as having "an unimaginative plot".