Hans Westmar (1933) A Tribute to Horst Wessel (English Subtitle)

To whom do the streets belong? Communists or National Socialists? It is 1929, and the fate of Germany lies in the streets of Berlin. Amidst violent demonstrations orchestrated by both extremist groups emerges a young SA hero named Hans Westmar in this heavily fictionalized biography of Horst Wessel, author of the Nazi anthem, "Die Fahne hoch" ("Raise the Banners High" or "The Horst Wessel Song").

Hans Westmar, a student who dedicates his life to National Socialism in order to win over Berlin's teeming proletariat to the patriotic Nazi cause, transforms his SA troop into the most successful unit in Berlin. Wessel had written the lyrics to the first verse of the march that became, after his death, the most beloved Nazi Party anthem. Since Horst Wessel's real-life violence was not suited for commercial consumption -- although he was not the street-brawling pimp that Communist propaganda made him -- Hanns Heinz Ewers wrote a sanitized biography and screenplay for the picture. Giuseppe Becce wrote the music score with the assistance of Hitler's friend, Ernst ("Putzi') Hanfstaengl. Franz Wenzler directed the film with great assurance and panache -- especially its crowd scenes -- and Franz Weihmayr's brilliant, roving cinematography, most effective in the elaborately staged street riots, marked the picture as a visually inspired work.