Kampf um die Freiheit: Fünf Anläufe zur Demokratie is a documentary film which premiered on German television (ZDF) in 2023. It is an episode of the long-running series called Terra X History.
This film is about German history (before and after the unification of 1871) with special focus on the struggle for freedom and democracy.
Here is some basic information about this film:
** Writers and directors: Peter Hartl, Mario Sporn, and Stefan Brauburger
** Host and presenter: Mirko Drotschmann
** Language: German
** Subtitles: German
** Run time: 88 minutes
As suggested by the subtitle, this film covers five chapters of German history.
Each chapter covers a pivotal moment in time when many Germans struggled for freedom and democracy.
In some cases, they struggled for more freedom and more democracy. Here are the headlines of the five chapters:
Chapter 1 = 1848-1849
Chapter 2 = 1918-1919
Chapter 3 = 1948-1949
Chapter 4 = June 1953
Chapter 5 = 1989-1990
In each chapter, host and presenter Mirko Drotschmann visits some locations which are relevant for the story.
The filmmakers know the basic facts of German history. But they need something to illustrate these facts. They want to use archive footage and old photographs. But in some cases, there is no archive footage; and there are no old photographs.
What can they do?
In such cases, they use a clever trick: they use drawings. Short cartoons are used to illustrate the account.
Mirko Drotschmann wants to interview eyewitnesses to these pivotal moments. But in some cases, eyewitnesses are no longer alive.
In such cases, the filmmakers will use a report which was written by an eyewitness at the time or later. This report is read by an actor who speaks for the eyewitness.
In some cases, Mirko Drotschmann interviews a historical expert who can offer additional information.
Here is some information about eyewitnesses, historical experts, and locations for each of the five chapters:
Chapter 1 = 1848-1949
Eyewitness: Carl Schurz (1829-1906)
Eyewitness: Bettina von Armin (1785-1859)
Eyewitness: Mathilde Franziska Anneke (1817-1884)
Historical expert: Irmgard Stamm
Location: Schloss Rastatt
Location: Paulskirche
in Frankfurt am Main
Chapter 2 = 1918-1919
Eyewitness: Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945)
Historical expert: Dr Christian Faludi
Location: Brandenburger Tor in Berlin
Location: The National Theatre in Weimar
Chapter 3 = 1948-1949
Eyewitness: Edzard Reuter (born 1928)
He is the son of Ernst Reuter (1889-1953)
A brief clip from the historical drama Sternstunde ihres Lebens (2014) - this drama is a biopic about Elisabeth Selbert (1896-1986)
Location: Berlin
Location: Bonn
Chapter 4 = June 1953
Eyewitness in Berlin: Gunther Dilling (born 1934)
Eyewitness in Halle: Herbert Priew (born 1930)
Important historical evidence: Still photos from a film recorded in Halle by Albert Ammer (1916-1991)
Location: Berlin
Location: Halle
Chapter 5 = 1989-1990
Eyewitness in Leipzig: Katrin Hattenhauer (born 1968)
Eyewitness in Halle: Franziska Hayner (born 1961)
Location: Leipzig
Location: Halle
Location: Berlin
In some cases, the struggle for freedom and democracy fails. This is what happens in chapter 1 (1848-1849) and in chapter 4 (June 1953).
In some cases, the struggle for freedom and democracy is successful, but the results do not last long. This is what happens in chapter 2 (1918-1919).
In some cases, the struggle for freedom and democracy is successful, but the results are limited. This is what happens in chapter 4 (1948-1949).
In one case, the struggle for freedom and democracy is successful, and the results have lasted for more than 30 years. This is what happens in chapter 5 (1989-1990).
What do reviewers say about this film?
This question is not easy to answer.
The film is listed on IMDb, but there is no rating.
There are no user reviews.
The film is not available on Amazon.
There are no ratings.
There are no customer reviews.
The topic is important. The story deserves to be told. And in this film, it is done very well.
Host and presenter Mirko Drotschmann does a great job. He presents the relevant locations. He interviews eyewitnesses and historical experts.
Archive footage and old photographs are used whenever they are available.
This film is, in my opinion, an interesting document about an important topic.
I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).
PS. This film is available on the ZDF website until June 2028. Please note: there is a short version of this film which runs for only 35 minutes. The short version has no subtitles!
REFERENCES
# 1. Books
Refugees of Revolution:
The German Forty-Eighters in America
By Carl Witke
(1952)
Germans and the Revolutions of 1848-1849
By Justine Davis Randers-Pehrson
(1999 = hardcover)
(2001 = paperback)
The Revolutions in Europe:
From Reform to Reaction
Edited by R. J. W. Evans and Hartmood Pogge von Strandmann
(2000 = hardcover)
(2002 = paperback)
The 1848 Revolutions in German-Speaking Europe
By H. J. Hahn
(2001)
Rastatt zum Kennenlernen:
Eine Reise- und Stadtführer
By Irmgard Stamm
(2007)
1919 in Weimar:
Die Stadt und die Republik
By Christian Faludi
(2019)
Revolutionary Spring: Europe Aflame and the Fight for a New World, 1848-1849
By Christopher Clark
(2023)
# 2. Film and video
Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie
(2007)
Wir Sind das Volk
(2008)
Jenseits der Mauer
(2009)
Es ist nicht vorbei
(2011)
Bornholmer Strasse
(2014)
Sternstunde ihres Lebens
(2014)
Die Klasse: Berlin 1961
(2015)
Wendezeit
(2019)
Preis der Freiheit
(2020)
*****
The painting Germania (1848)
This painting is a symbol of
the German revolution
(1848-1849)
*****
A session in the German parliament held in
St. Paul's Church in Frankfurt am Main in 1848.
The painting Germania is on the wall
above the speaker's platform
*****
Carl Schurz (1829-1906) was at first
a German revolutionary and later
an American politician.
When the revolution of 1848 failed,
he emigrated to the United States
where he became a politician.
He was one of the so-called German Forty-Eighters
who emigrated in order to avoid arrest and punishment
for their role in the German revolution of 1848.
In his new home, he was quite successful.
He was a member of the US Senate 1869-1875
and later a member of the US government:
He was secretary of the Interior 1877-1881.
*****
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