The Axe of Wandsbek (1951 film)

The Axe of Wandsbek was viewed by 800,000 people in the first three weeks after its release,^[3] and received positive reviews.^[2]

The East German political establishment and the Soviet representatives in the country disapproved of the film, which they viewed as promoting sympathy for the perpetrators of Nazi atrocities. The SED politburo denounced it, proclaiming that "it did not present the proletariat resistance as heroes, but rather, their executioners."^[4] The film was banned after less than a month, although Zweig himself, who wielded considerable influence as the President of the GDR's Academy of Arts, resisted the move.^[5] Bertolt Brecht offered to write an alternate version, but was rejected.^[6] The Axe of Wandsbek was DEFA's first film to be banned.^[4] This happened soon after the government established the DEFA commission to regulate the studio and provide political control.^[6] Shortly afterwards, Harnack left for West Germany, abandoning his position as DEFA's artistic director. The studio came under the control of party functionary Sepp Schwab.^[7]

In 1962, the film was allowed to be screened again, in honor of Zweig's 75th birthday. The authorized version was twenty minutes shorter than the original.^[8]

• The Axe of Wandsbek at IMDb