
Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class
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.
Top Billed Cast

Günther Simon
Ernst Thälmann

Hans-Peter Minetti
Fiete Jansen

Karla Runkehl
Änne Jansen

Michel Piccoli
Maurice Rouger

Werner Peters
Quadde
Featured Crew

Kurt Maetzig
Director

Kurt Maetzig
Writer
Karl Plintzner
Cinematography

Horst E. Brandt
Cinematography
Wilhelm Neef
Music
Willi Bredel
Writer
Lena Neumann
Editor
Michael Tschesno-Hell
Writer