THE PEOPLE VERSUS FRITZ BAUER/ DER STAAT VS FRITZ BAUER
Germany, 2015, 105 minutes, Colour.
Burgart Klaussner, Ronald Zehrfeld.
Directed by Lars Kraume.
At the same time as this film was released, there was another German film, Labyrinth of Lies, going over some of the same material and featuring the character, Fritz Bauer, as central to the action. However, in this film he is quite centrestage.
Fritz Bauer may not be a familiar name to film audiences or, perhaps, German audiences. The screenplay fills in his background. He was a strong socialist in the 1930s, in the public eye, clashing with the Nazis, arrested, sentenced to a concentration camp but, to his later regret as expressed in this film, submitting to them and being released. He was also Jewish.
This film is set in the late 1950s. Bauer is one of the attorney generals in Germany, based in Frankfurt. Part of his role is to pursue Nazis who had taken up significant positions in the now prospering West Germany under the leadership of President Adenauer. He has many files, has young attorneys pursuing the suspects – and these include files on Adolf Eichmann, creator of the Final Solution, but who has disappeared since the war.
Burgart Klaussner makes an impression as Fritz Bauer, busy about his work, not being physically will, upset by the action of a number of authorities, men who had been in the Nazi party and resented him and kept him under surveillance.
One of the principal aspect of this film is his role in the abduction of Adolf Eichmann and his being taken to Israel for trial – though Bauer actually wanted him to be tried in Germany itself so that Germans would become conscious of what it happened in the 1930s and 1940s.
There are some scenes with Eichmann in Argentina, living an ordinary life, his son dating one of the local girls, her father recognising him and writing to Bauer, leading to further investigations, Bauer getting in touch with Mossad for his return to Germany but the Mossad wanting a second independent source. In the meantime, Bauer has appointed one of his junior attorneys whom he trusts to help him. It is he who has a journalist friend who is able to confirm that Eichmann is in Argentina although the German authorities suggested Bauer that he is in fact in Kuwait.
The abduction scene is very brief but effective.
There is a subplot concerning the young attorney, his defending a young homosexual man in court, Bauer (who had some pre-war convictions of homosexual acts suggesting a precedent with the lenient sentence which the judge ignores. The young woman in the court invites the attorney to visit a club – which leads to the attorney, a married man, and his potential downfall.
The film does not go on to the Eichmann trial – there are many films which illustrate the taking of Eichmann, The House on Garibaldi Street, The Man in the Glass Booth and the role of Hannah Arendt in the film of that name. Final information indicates Bauer’s role in the taking of many former Nazis to court in the early 1960s – which is also, in more detail, a subject of Labyrinth of Lies.
1. A 21st-century perspective on Germany in the 20th century? Nazis, the Holocaust, Eichmann and his role, Germany in the aftermath of the war, Adenauer, German progress in the 1950s? Ignorance of the Holocaust and concentration camp past?
2. Recreation of the period, in Frankfurt, government offices, apartments, nightclubs, the government? The visit to Israel and the Mossad? The scenes in Argentina, Eichmann, the arrest? The musical score?
3. Bauer as a historical character, his being a Socialist in the 1930s, Jewish, arrested, concentration camp, bowing to the Nazis, expressing his great regret about this? In Frankfort, attorney general, his pursuit of Nazis, of Eichmann, of those responsible in Auschwitz?
4. The opening, in the bath, seeming to drown, is chauffeur the rescue, his recovery? Is age, seeing him at work, official attitudes towards him, the former Nazis in government? The Adenauer government? Relationship with Israel, the United States? His files, files disappearing? His pursuit of the Nazis? Those plotting against him, spying on him? His going to the television program, the questions, his responses, not glorifying the past, the achievements of people in the present? The acclaim for his performance?
5. His assistant attorneys, Karl and his work, having the file on Schneider? Bauer trusting him? Karl, his role as an attorney, the homosexuality case, the advice from Bauer, the fine of five marks, the trial, those present, the judge, the jail sentence? The party at home, his relationship with his wife, sexual hesitance, wanting a child? The girl from the court, the card, his visiting the club, her songs, wariness, the sexual encounter, the audience discovering that the girl was male, in love with the imprisoned gay man, the photos, the blackmail, his explanations to Bauer? The official asking him to betray Bauer and his treason? Listening to Bauer and his regrets about bowing to the Nazis? His role concerning Eichmann, the contact with the journalist, following the files, discussions with Bauer, going to the Governor? Getting the tapes of Eichmann from the journalist? His finally sacrificing himself for Bauer?
6. Eichmann, reputation, fleeing to Argentina, his ordinary life, the interviews, his arrogance about his role in the Final Solution yet lack of responsibility, the tapes? His son, dating the young woman, their outings? Her father, recognising Eichmann, the letter to Bauer, offering the information? Bauer going to the Mossad, their wanting two sources for Eichmann’s presence in Argentina, the officials indicating that he was in Kuwait, Karl going to the journalist, getting the information, the possible scoop? Eichmann on the bus, seeing the newspaper article, the abduction? Going to Israel – and Israel not wanting to extradite him to Germany? The arms deal between Israel and the United States?
7. The hostility towards Bauer, Nazi flags in the mail, bullets? His asking the authorities for help? Their suspicions? Spying on him going to Israel? Wanting to cut him down for treason, the attempted blackmail of Karl?
8. Karl and the journalist, the contact, the information, Argentina, the tapes?
9. Mossad, the interest, the officials, the meetings with Bauer, his return, his strong stand, keeping his source confidential? The team, going to Argentina, the breakdown of the car on the road, the quick abduction of Eichmann? Phoning Bauer?
10. Bauer and Karl, going to the Governor, the explanation that Eichmann would not be extradited to Germany?
11. Bauer, thinking of resignation, his own background and homosexual relationships, the distance from his wife, his sister in Denmark, his advice to Karl – Karl’s sacrifice and his decision to stay on and work, especially for the trials against the officials in Auschwitz?
12. Audience interest in this perspective on German history?
