Synopsis:
Hamburg, Germany, 1934: An executioner is needed. Teetjen (Erwin Geschonneck) makes the biggest mistake of his life. Because his butcher shop is facing bankruptcy, he agrees to become the Nazis’ executioner for a group of political prisoners. Once this becomes known, Teetjen’s life falls apart.
The Axe of Wandsbek was the only DEFA film made by Falk Harnack, a former anti-Nazi resistancefighter, who was interested in exploring the involvement of the middle class in Nazi crimes. Shortly after its premiere, and despite positive reviews, the film was withdrawn; it was the first East German film ever to be banned. The film is adapted from one of the most important works by German Jewish author Arnold Zweig; basing the story on a real event, Zweig wrote the novel in 1943, in exile in Palestine.

Press Comments:
2010 The New York Jewish Film Festival

A rediscovered treasure from post-war German cinema. - Anne Nelson, author of Red Orchestra

A psychologically nuanced film. - Der Tagesspiegel

Credits are top grade! -Variety

The psychologically nuanced film version of Arnold Zweig's novel was the only Babelsberg film directed by Falk Harnack, who at the time, mainly worked as a stage director, and who during the Nazi regime, was in active opposition to the state. The excellent Erwin Geschonneck plays the part of Teetjen the butcher... - Heinz Kersten in the Berlin Tagesspiegel of 14.04.1974)

You may also be interested in:
Council of the Gods	Five Cartridges	Gleiwitz Case, The