Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class

Overview

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.

Cast

Günther Simon

Ernst Thälmann

Hans-Peter Minetti

Fiete Jansen

Karla Runkehl

Änne Jansen

Michel Piccoli

Maurice Rouger

Werner Peters

Quadde

Fred Delmare

Soldat

Paul R. Henker

N/A

Hans Wehrl

Karl Brenk

N/A

Gerd Wehr

N/A

Walter Martin

Theo Shall