Death Is My Trade
1977
145 minutes
Overview
“Death is my Trade” centers on the life of Rudolph Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz II-Birkenau for the majority of its existence. The main character's name in the film is Franz Lang. This name change was deliberate to ensure that the character is not automatically viewed as being some sort of villain or demon. Franz is an average German kid growing up during World War I. The film follows Franz as he grows up and becomes a hard, efficient, organized worker who eventually joins the National Socialist party in Germany. Impressionable young Franz takes orders as one of the utmost points of honor and duty, so when he is eventually asked by Heinrich Himmler to become commandant of the largest extermination camp built during WWII he barely hesitates to consider how heavy such a burden will be.
Top Cast
Götz George
Franz Lang als Erwachsener
Kai Taschner
Franz Lang als Jugendlicher
Elisabeth Schwarz
Else
Hans Korte
Heinrich Himmler
Kurt Hübner
Oberst von Jeseritz
Matthias Fuchs
Sturmbannführer Kellner
Sigurd Fitzek
Hauptmann Günther
Peter Franke
Schrader
Walter Czaschke
Obersturmbannführer Eichmann
Werner Schwuchow
Obersturmführer
Claus-Dieter Reents
Ordonnanz Setzler
Werner Eichhorn
Arbeiter Erich
Peter Moland
Arbeiter Henckel
Peter Petran
Karl
Brigitte Janner
Magd
Klaus Münster
Landarbeiter
Josef Quadflieg
Georg
Elisabeth Stepanek
Krankenschwester
Yaak Karsunke
Unteroffizier
Wilfried Elste
Arbeiter Siebert
Evelyn Matzura
Franz Langs Mutter
Hermann Günther
Soldat Schmitz
Dietrich Kerky
Leutnant im Freikorps
Claus Enskat
SA-Mann Freddie
Hans Schulze
US-Oberstleutnant
Claus Fuchs
Geschäftsführer