The Adventures of Werner Holt

Based on Dieter Noll’s novel, this political DEFA drama tells of a two of 17 year-olds, Werner Holt and Gilbert Wolzow, who are pulled out of school and conscripted into Hitler's army. Gilbert is a fanatical soldier, while Werner begins to realize the senselessness of the war at the front and leaves his friend. But when the SS hangs Gilbert, Werner turns his gun on his own army. The film frankness about the toll war takes on youth generated much public resonance at its time.