GDR’s national Identity in “National Foundation” films: "Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt" and "Ich war neunzehn"

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Genre: Anti-Fascist Film
• Genre: Anti-War Film
• Genre: Biographical Film
• Genre: Road Movie
• Genre: Western
• Conclusion and Further Work
• Appendix
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation examines two DEFA films, "Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt" and "Ich war neunzehn," to understand how they shaped the national identity of East Germany during the 1960s. By analyzing the films' use of genre, the author explores how these films contributed to popular notions of national identity in the GDR.

• National Identity in the GDR
• Genre and National Identity
• DEFA Film Production
• German History and National Socialism
• The Role of Film in Shaping Identity

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The dissertation begins with an introduction that examines the history of DEFA film production and the context surrounding the creation of these two films. It then analyzes each film's use of different genres, exploring how these genres contribute to the understanding of national identity in the GDR.

The chapter focusing on the genre "Anti-Fascist Film" explores how these films confront the legacy of National Socialism and its impact on German society. The chapter on "Anti-War Film" analyzes the films' portrayal of the Second World War and the experiences of German soldiers. "Biographical Film" focuses on how the films utilize biographical narratives to explore individual experiences and their relationship to national identity.

The chapters on "Road Movie" and "Western" examine the use of these genres to explore themes of displacement, identity, and the search for belonging in the context of post-war Germany.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This dissertation explores key concepts related to the role of film in shaping national identity, specifically focusing on DEFA film production in East Germany, the use of genre conventions, and the historical context of the post-war period in Germany. It analyzes the films "Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt" and "Ich war neunzehn" to understand how they contributed to the construction of a national identity in the GDR.