The scene the film's title alludes to, with prosecutor Schramm receiving roses from a teacher called Zirnbiegel, was inspired by the real life Ludwig Zind affair.
Upon coming up with the idea, director Wolfgang Staudte believed the film would be impossible to make, as it dealt directly with the still very recent Nazi era. However writer Manfred Barthel found Staudte's notes in his desk and showed them to producer Kurt Ulrich, who set out to find a production company willing to fund the film. Europa-Verleih was interested and offered a 900,000 Deutsche Mark budget (approximately 215,000 US dollars at the time). However Ulrich estimated the film needed DM 1.3 million (about $311,000), so Europa passed, having come of a string of flops. Three months later Ulrich was able to strike a deal with Neue Filmverleih in Munich for a DM 1 million budget (approximately $239,000), although Staudte had to change the script from a drama to a comedy.