The 1940 film "Jud Süß," directed by Veit Harlan, is a notorious work of anti-Semitic propaganda from the Nazi era. Produced under the supervision of Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, the film distorts the biography of the Jewish banker Joseph Süß Oppenheimer and portrays him as a greedy, deceitful, and dangerous character.

The film served to spread anti-Semitic stereotypes and incite hatred against Jews. Despite its propagandistic nature, it was staged as entertainment cinema and reached a large audience of an estimated 20 million viewers. After the war, the film was banned in Germany and is now classified as a “restricted film.” Since 1966, these films have been part of the collection of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau Foundation and may only be shown under specific, contextualized conditions. The Media Center and the aforementioned project partners are now offering Wiesbaden schools precisely this opportunity. All events take place at 3:30 p.m. at the Murnau Film Theater. Dates and further details are available at www.wiesbaden.de/microsite/medienzentrum/kino-macht-schule/nsfilme (opens in a new tab). 

There is always a concise introduction to Nazi film policy and Goebbels’ propaganda strategy. This is followed by a screening of the approximately 90-minute film, during which students are given optional observation tasks. The afternoon concludes with a discussion, including an opportunity for students to ask questions and share their opinions on the film. The facilitator, Michael Kleinschmidt, always conducts the discussions in an engaging, vivid, and student-friendly manner. 

“Watching and discussing the film ‘Jud Süß’ helps students recognize the patterns used by propaganda. Sharpening one’s own awareness of these patterns is a gain in democratic competence,” says Christiane von Wahlert, Executive Director of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau Foundation. 

Michael Elster, director of the Wiesbaden Media Center and a history teacher himself, is pleased that the project can be offered. This not only brings history to life but also fosters the political maturity of young people and strengthens their resilience against all kinds of manipulation tactics.