German film history The film industry in Germany can be traced back to the late 19th century. German cinema made major technical and artistic contributions to early film, broadcasting and television technology. Babelsberg became a household synonym for the early 20 ...

, an Überläufer (literally '' defector'') is a film that was in production under the

Third Reich Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

but only completed and premiered after the end of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The vast majority of such films are

romantic comedies Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

with no reference to the political and military situation of the time.

Completed shortly before the end of the war

* '' Eyes of Love'' (dir.

Alfred Braun Alfred Braun (13 May 1888 – 3 January 1978) was a German screenwriter, actor and film director. Filmography Actor * ''Das Leid der Liebe'' (1916) * ''Der Sohn der Magd'' (1919) * '' The Gambler'' (1920) - Stöckel * ''Rosenmontag'' (1924) * ' ...

) * '' Friday the Thirteenth'' (dir.

Erich Engels Erich Engels (23 May 1889 – 25 April 1971) was a German screenwriter, film producer, producer and film director. He should not be confused with another contemporary German director Erich Engel.Bock & Bergfelder p.112 Selected filmography * ''De ...

) * ''

Ghost in the Castle ''Ghost in the Castle'' (german: Spuk im Schloß) is a 1945/1947 German comedy horror film directed by Hans H. Zerlett and starring Margot Hielscher, Fritz Odemar, and Albert Matterstock.Bock & Bergfelder p. 240 The film's sets were designed b ...

'' (dir. Hans H. Zerlett) * ''

How Do We Tell Our Children? ''How Do We Tell Our Children?'' (german: Wie sagen wir es unseren Kindern?) is a 1949 German comedy film directed by Hans Deppe and starring Leny Marenbach, Mathias Wieman and Hilde Körber. The film was made by the major German studio UFA in 19 ...

'' (dir.

Hans Deppe Hans Deppe (; 12 November 1897 – 23 September 1969) was a German actor and film director. Filmography As director As actor References External links * 1897 births 1969 deaths German male film actors German television dire ...

) * ''

In the Temple of Venus ''In the Temple of Venus'' (german: Im Tempel der Venus) is a 1948 German drama film directed by Hans H. Zerlett and starring Olga Tschechowa, Willy Birgel, and Hermann Speelmans.Beevor The film was originally produced during the final stages ...

'' (dir. Hans H. Zerlett) * ''

Insolent and in Love ''Insolent and in Love'' (german: Frech und verliebt) is a 1948 German romantic comedy film directed by Hans Schweikart and starring Johannes Heesters, Gabriele Reismüller and Charlott Daudert.Rentschler p. 106 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios ...

'' (dir.

Hans Schweikart Hans Schweikart (1 October 1895 – 1 December 1975) was a German film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 28 films between 1938 and 1968. He wrote for the film '' The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi'', which was entered into the 11 ...

) * ''

Melusine Mélusine () or Melusina is a figure of European folklore, a female spirit of fresh water in a holy well or river. She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish from the waist down (much like a lamia or a mermaid). She is also s ...

'' (dir.

Hans Steinhoff Hans Steinhoff (10 March 1882 – 20 April 1945) was a German film director, best known for the propaganda films he made in the Nazi era. Life and career Steinhoff started his career as a stage actor in the 1900s and later worked as a stag ...

), released 2014 * ''

Quax in Africa ''Quax in Africa'' (german: Quax in Afrika) is a German comedy adventure film produced from 1943–1944 and released in 1947, directed by Helmut Weiss and starring Heinz Rühmann, Hertha Feiler, and Lothar Firmans. It is a sequel to the 1941 fi ...

'' (dir.

Helmut Weiss Helmut Weiss (January 25, 1907 – January 13, 1969) was a German actor, screenwriter, and film director. He was notable for directing '' Tell the Truth'' the first film produced in what was to become the future West Germany after the Second World ...

) * ''

Under the Bridges ''Under the Bridges'' (german: Unter den Brücken) is a 1946 German drama film directed by Helmut Käutner and starring Hannelore Schroth, Carl Raddatz and Gustav Knuth. The film was shot in Berlin during the summer of 1944, but was not released u ...

'' (dir.

Helmut Käutner Helmut Käutner (25 March 1908 – 20 April 1980) was a German film director active mainly in the 1940s and 1950s. He entered the film industry at the end of the Weimar Republic and released his first films as a director in Nazi Germany. Käu ...

)

Completed after the end of the war

* ''

The Appeal to Conscience ''The Appeal to Conscience'' (german: Ruf an das Gewissen) is a 1949 German mystery film directed by Karl Anton and starring Karl Ludwig Diehl, Werner Hinz and Gustav Diessl.Davidson & Hake p. 61 It was originally shot in 1944, but remained unco ...

'' (dir.

Karl Anton Karl Anton or Karel Anton (25 October 1898 12 April 1979) was a Bohemian-born German film director, screenwriter and film producer. Biography He was born in Prague on 25 October 1898. His father Wilhelm Anton (1861–1918) was a physician. An ...

) * ''

The Court Concert ''The Court Concert'' (german: Das Hofkonzert) is a 1936 German historical romantic comedy film directed by Detlef Sierck (later known as Douglas Sirk), and starring Mártha Eggerth, Johannes Heesters, and Kurt Meisel.Hake p. 142 It was made b ...

'' (dir.

Paul Verhoeven Paul Verhoeven (; born 18 July 1938) is a Dutch director, producer and screenwriter, active in the Netherlands, France and the United States. His blending of graphic violence and sexual content with social satire is a trademark of both his dram ...

) * ''

An Everyday Story ''An Everyday Story'' (german: Eine alltägliche Geschichte) is a 1948 drama film directed by Günther Rittau and starring Gustav Fröhlich, Marianne Simson and Karl Schönböck.Bock & Bergfelder p. 193 The film was produced in 1944, towards the e ...

'' (dir.

Günther Rittau Günther Rittau (born 7 August 1893 in Königshütte (Silesia); died 6 August 1971 in Munich) was a German cinematographer and film director. After study of science in Berlin, Rittau started his career in 1919 at the documentary-film department ...

) * ''

Die Fledermaus ' (, ''The Flittermouse'' or ''The Bat'', sometimes called ''The Revenge of the Bat'') is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée, which premiered in 1874. Background The original ...

'' (dir.

Géza von Bolváry Géza von Bolváry (born Géza Gyula Mária Bolváry Zahn, german: Géza Maria von Bolváry-Zahn; 26 December 1897 – 10 August 1961) was a Hungarians, Hungarian actor, screenwriter, and film director, who worked principally in Germany and Aust ...

) * ''

A Heart Beats for You ''A Heart Beats for You'' (german: Ein Herz schlägt für dich) is a 1949 German romance film directed by Joe Stöckel and starring Rudolf Prack, Annelies Reinhold and Franz Loskarn.Bock & Bergfelder p. 374 The film was shot in 1944, and was due ...

'' (dir.

Joe Stöckel Josef "Joe" Stöckel (27 September 1894, Munich – 14 June 1959) was a Germans, German actor, screenwriter and film director. Selected filmography Actor * ''The Villa in Tiergarten Park'' (1927) * ''The Champion Shot'' (1932) * ''S.A.-Mann Brand' ...

) * '' The Man in the Saddle'' (dir.

Harry Piel Heinrich Piel (12 July 1892 – 27 March 1963), known professionally as Harry Piel, was a prolific German actor, film director, screenwriter, and film producer who was involved in over 150 films. Piel became a director in 1912, turning out such ...

), released 2000 * '' Night of the Twelve'' (dir.

) * '' Peter Voss, Thief of Millions'' (dir.

) * ''

Thank You, I'm Fine ''Thank You, I'm Fine'' (german: Danke, es geht mir gut) is a 1948 German comedy film directed by Erich Waschneck and starring Ernst von Klipstein, Karin Hardt, and Sonja Ziemann. It is also known by the title ''A Lovely Family'' (german: Eine re ...

'' (dir.

Erich Waschneck Erich John Waschneck (29 April 1887, in Grimma, Kingdom of Saxony – 22 September 1970, in Berlin) was a German cameraman, director, screenwriter, and film producer. Early life Erich was the son of Karl Hermann Waschneck, a blacksmith, and his ...

) * '' Tiefland'' (dir.

Leni Riefenstahl Helene Bertha Amalie "Leni" Riefenstahl (; 22 August 1902 – 8 September 2003) was a German film director, photographer and actress known for her role in producing Nazi propaganda. A talented swimmer and an artist, Riefenstahl also became in ...

) * ''

Ulli and Marei ''Ulli and Marei'' (German: ''Ulli und Marei'') is a 1948 Austrian drama film directed by Leopold Hainisch and starring Eduard Köck, Attila Hörbiger and Ludwig Auer.Bock & Bergfelder p.12 It was made by Wien-Film in German-occupied Austria. It i ...

'' (dir.

Leopold Hainisch Leopold Hainisch (1891–1979) was an Austrian actor and film director.Mitchell p.148 Selected filmography Actor * ''Ulli und Marei'' (1948) * ''Viennese Girls'' (1949) – Karl Haslinger * ''Cabaret'' (1954) – Leopold Holzinger * ''Walking Bac ...

) * ''

Viennese Girls ''Viennese Girls'' (German: ''Wiener Mädeln'') is a 1945 historical musical film directed by Willi Forst and starring Forst, Anton Edthofer and Judith Holzmeister. The film was made by Wien-Film, a Vienna-based company set up after Austria ...

'' (dir.

Willi Forst Willi Forst, born Wilhelm Anton Frohs (7 April 1903 – 11 August 1980) was an Austrian actor, screenwriter, film director, film producer and singer. As a debonair actor he was a darling of the German-speaking film audiences, as a director, one ...

)

Completed shortly before the end of the war

Completed after the end of the war

See also