Die Wannseekonferenz

How do you eliminate millions of people? This question had dwelled in the minds of Hitler and his inner circle for a long time. By July 1941, Germany had turned into a fascist dictatorship under the "Fuhrer" Adolf Hitler; the concentration camps were full of people deemed "unwanted" and "subhuman", the war in Europe was about to escalate into the second World War, and the Holocaust had already begun. Now the NS elite looked for the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question" and delegated this task to the chief of the Reich Security Main Office, Reinhard Heydrich. A couple months later, on January 20, 1942, Heydrich invited top representatives of the cornerstone political and military branches to a meeting at a villa at the Wannsee in Berlin.

There have been a couple of movies about this most infamous conference in modern history, especially the German TV-movie from 1984 and the British-US production "Conspiracy" from 2001.

All movies face the same problem: Little is known about the actual event, one of the few historical sources is the only surviving copy of the conference protocol that was authored by Adolf Eichmann and Heydrich, both now known as the architects of the holocaust.

This means that we don't really know how the meeting took place, how the participants behaved, what they talked about apart from what's on the record. All of that has to be "invented" by means of film dramaturgy and historical knowledge about the people involved.

This latest film, as well as the previous German movie from 1984, is based on a play by Paul Mommertz, which has both received criticism and praise since its premiere. The subject of criticism has mostly been the depiction of a variety of people, especially Eichmann and Heydrich. Movies often tend to lend Nazis characters like that a demon-like aura, a natural evil of some sort that seems self-explaining. The more frightening reality is that Heydrich, Eichmann and all the other participants weren't demons but human beings, though following an inhumane, extreme ideology; believing in a "cause" that had already lead to the deaths of millions and which should lead to the death of millions more. They truly believed that what they did was right - and that they had the natural right to do it.

"Die Wannseekonferenz" excels in portraying this key event with an eerie sense of cold soberness, perfectly capturing the brutal logic of a fascist bureaucracy, where law is weaponized and everyone and everything subordinated under the doctrine of war and genocide.

No over-dramatization or -fictionalization, no unnecessary background score to paint the picture darker than it already is, and a very accurate historical portrayal of the real life personas - in my opinion the most outstanding features of this film in contrast to the other ones mentioned earlier.

The only thing that's truly missing in my opinion is some sort of historical comment other than the mention of the murder of six million jews at the end of the movie. I think, it is absolutely important to provide the audience with a context of why and when this conference took place, and more importantly of all people involved, especially the lesser known ones. It is important because the planning and execution of the holocaust spanned across all political and military branches, not just a dedicated elite - and despite the secrecy of this meeting the Nazis made sure that everyone was bound to it by complicity.

For all following generations, the holocaust constitutes a crime of unprecedented nature and scale, with terrible consequences reaching into our very present. For its planners, perpetrators and supporters, it was the fateful challenge, the biggest on the way to a racially pure, germanic European future. Imagine the horrors of a future built on the remains of millions of murdered human beings, imagine a dystopia world like that planned in what looks like a completely normal business meeting. That's what the Wannsee Conference was to Heydrich and everyone invited.

A very simple film with most of the scenes confined to a conference room, participated by dull men in uniform discussing technical details. Doesn't sound as interesting as an average Hollywood action film, and still far from a graphic accusation of evil. But the great irony is so manifest for any watcher with minimum historical knowledge.

At least three ironies should be honored. First, Heydrich (the biggest boss at the conference) speaks with such opimism and confidence, and with so much light projected at his face, one can mistake him for a hope for humanity without the help of subtitles and a German ear. He looks like a good superior willing to listen to his subordinates, a bright mind caring about the future of his nation, and a dutiful man following "good" orders.

Second, the greatest conflict in conference was between Heydrich and Dr. Stuckart (medium-high state government official and drafter of Nuremberg laws discriminating Jews): Stuckart objected sending half-Jews to concentration camps, not because he was empathetic to the "inferior race" but because it would cause chaos in administration among the "good" Aryans; and Heydrich condescendingly "conceded" to this "lenient" policy.

Third, when Kritzinger raised the question of the psychological consequence of turning "good" Aryans into bloody executioners, Heydrich ordered Eichmann to explain how Zyklon B and concentration camp is a "humane" way to get the job done without hurting the moral quality of the soldiers.

A perfect film for those interested in Nazi history, in how evil can be perpetrated in such a twisted way that it doesn't seem evil in the first place, and in the application of dark irony. I would play this film in high school and university history courses.

Today we call them white collars or white collar criminals.... At that time they were killing millions with their office decisions. They decided who can and who cannot live. Jewish acts created by Nazi Germany was a law allowing oppressors to do anything they wanted. And finally - The Final Solution. Technical approach to use Cyclone B gas in gas chambers in concentration camps. All logistics and digits discussed.

This is the third attempt to make a movie from the notes made by Eichman and the protocol itself. Actually all the notes are perfect script to make a theatrical drama. Previous version with Kenneth Brannagh was also very impressive. Yet this one was German. And German was the Final Solution.

The movie is very good filmed. Camera works from under actors so they seem to be like Gods... so powerful. Heidrich is shown charming and so much enthusiastic. Historian call him the very first technocrat. He did not give a damn about ideology. He was about power.

Eichman was presented as a very delicate person. Like some kind of herub. It is difficult to say who they had to choose from during casting but I believe they did a grate job.

I gave it 9/10. The one missing point is for uniforms. They look like brought from some second hand rental. Too big on Muller. He looks like some thug in it.... a beggar. Very poor costume selection. And medals and ornaments... All seem to be made as by accident. Only ranks seem to be precise. They gave Heidrich pilots badge since he enjoyed flying. They all wanted to be knights of valor.

Some uniforms were torn of badges. And in general too big except Heidrich. It was pity looking and actors playing most powerful people in Germany who were so particular about influence and power and they met Heidrich is this kind of clothes? Impossible. Hugo Boss designed German uniforms. All you need to choose the one that fits. But enough of my cries... And this is just single point.

Filming and editing was very professional. Scenes not longer that 2-4 seconds. Good angles. And the room was not too big. Very dynamic action for theatrical movie.

All in all a very good movie.

Interesting is what were the fates of participants. Not many people know. It is worth mentioning it because at one point Eichman fetches a big map. It shows all dependant territories. All counties Germany conquerred and dominated and was in some pact with.... It was practically whole Europe.... It was 1942 and they were winning...... It was time when Japan decalred was on USA and USA on Germany..... so Germany decided there is no point pleasing others with no atrocities.....or hiding them.....

So....the participants....

Heidrich..... died some three months ago in Prague. Killed by Czech underground trained in England. Very good movie made about it with this popular actor.... cannot remember his name.

Eichman cought and brought to Israel in 1960 and hanged in 1962. During his trail Hannah Arendt created her image of evil... A beurocracy..... people who want to please suporiors. They only sign orders.

Muller was never found. Some people believe he was killed in Berling during bombing. Some say he sruviced and was a prisoner of Americans since his knowledge was big....

Otto Hoffmann was the one sitting next to Heidrich. He was from the office responsible for settling. He died in some 1982. Worked as a saleman.

Karl Eberhard Schoengarth. Brigadefuhrer (he was sitting in a row with Heidrich people) was sentenced to death and hanged but not for atrocities agains Judes but fo killing innocent unarmed pilot.

Wilhelm Stuckart was released from prison in 1949 but was killed in car crach in 1953.

Rudolf Lange was in Waffen SS uniform - far left. He was praised by Heidrich. He commited suicide in Poznan in 1945. Man, it was just 3 years and the map changed completely....... And the map was horrible...

Gerhard Klopfer died in 1987 and was released from direct responsibility.

Also Erich Neumann was released due to lack of evidence but he died in 1951.

Josef Buehler the one who was so worried about Polish Jews in General Goveramt was handed to Poland and tried and sentenced to death and hanged in 1946.

Martin Luther got to Sachsenhausen in 1945 after the plot against Ribberntrop was incovered. He dies in 1945.

Wilhelm Kritzinger was captured by the Brits and released and died in 1947.

Alfred Meyer commited suicide in 1945.

Georg Leibbrandt died in 1982. We collaborated with Americans.

Roland Freisler famous for his cruel sentences and hanging people on piano strings...Officers who created plot against Hitler in 1944. He died in bombing in 1945.

Only two survived longer than 4-5 years......

Knowledge about it gives bigger picture....

And data itself..... They planned to kill 14.000.000 people..... Eucceeded in killing 6.000.000.

Worth watching such movies.

I was positively surprised by the high quality of the production.

I did however struggle with the portrayal of Reinhard Heydrich, who seemed too soft for a man of his caliber. I understand what the makers of this film were going for by portraying him like this, creating a disturbing contrast between his cultured appearance on the one hand and his utterly barbaric intentions on the other... showing a wolf in sheep clothing. I believe that the historical Heydrich was a man who oozed authority and arrogance, knowing that he was very much feared by fellow Nazis and enemies alike.

On the other hand I was very much impressed by the portrayal of Heinrich "Gestapo" Müller by the actor Jakob Diehl . It seemed like a spot on portrayal.

The actor probably did some in depth research on Müllers biography.

Müller seemed uncomfortable with this meeting and conveyed the general impression as though he did not want to be there. Mr. Diehl did a great job in showing the fact, that Müller was not a convinced Nazi but instead a careerist of the very worst type. The type of person who was literally willing to contribute to some of the worst crimes in history as long as this would advance his career.

Ive been searching for over many years, namely the filmatization of the wannsee conference in dealing with the huge german problem how to kill people during the 2nd world war, in vast amounts at the lowest cost and in such away that their young soldiers wont become mentally disturbed by the fact that killing another human, in peace or in war is a humongous task that only 1/10000 would be cold enough to do.

A harsh way to simplify one of the worst genocides everhappened inhuman history, the administrative and judicial vs the military discussing m, word for word, built on the transcripts from the conference, truly a bagatellish moment for the people around the table, with exterminating powers upon others.

Well chosen cast of actors that delivers the story in away that youll feel the wellness of living( their lives), and may stand as a milestone like josva blew the horn outside the citywalls of jerico, with a message to the conspiracy driven social media nourished youth of generation x and z how easy a genocide may start.

Its not an overly saturated actiomfilm you will get, rather a wardrama without a pop or a boom, but the message is explosive, made in the good old german postwar dramastyle, its not '' der untergang'' houmongoness apocalyptic style, just almost there. Its a history curricular stuff( like ''ghandi'' , ''breakfast club'' or ''der untergang'') for school boards to show their pupils, not only on the domestic market but everywhere. A recommend from the grumpy old man.