Der Zeuge

The Witness

Germany, shortly after World War II: As a prisoner of the concentration camps in Buchenwald, Lichtenburg, Esterwegen and Flössenburg, Carl Schrade experienced the atrocities of the Nazis at first hand. Now, the former jewelry dealer is to testify as a key witness for the prosecution before a war tribunal in order to put his tormentors behind bars. In the dock are SS men, NSDAP officials and Ilse Koch, the wife of the notorious concentration camp commander Karl Koch. The list of their inhuman crimes is long, the list of excuses and justifications almost longer. There is hardly any doubt about their guilt. But where from does Carl Schrade have this extensive knowledge of camp administration procedures and how did he survive in the camps for more than ten years?

The film is based on the memoirs of the actual Carl Schrade.

Source: 56th Hof International Film Festival 2022