Neither Heroes nor Traitors: Babylon Berlin and the Experiment of the Weimar Republic
Submission Type
Event
Faculty Advisor
Jamie Zelechowski
Expected Graduation Date
2019
Location
Room E104, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-13-2019 11:00 AM
End Date
4-13-2019 12:00 PM
Disciplines
Education
Abstract
In my essay, I investigate the lives of World War I veterans Bruno Wolter and Gereon Rath, in Babylon Berlin (2017–). One suffers from shell shock, while the other views the war with a sense of pride that stems from nationalism for the German Empire. My argument is that Gereon and Bruno must keep their opinions towards the war secret to navigate through the Weimar Republic unsuspected. Although Gereon and Bruno represent a barrier between order and disorder as policemen (Richardson 262), the men nevertheless also represent that which the leaders of the Weimar Republic would prefer to remain hidden. I first analyze Gereon and Bruno’s respective war experiences through a historical lens and describe which groups of German veterans they represent. I then investigate three episodes from the show to emphasize the political groups with which these men are also connected, and why they therefore wish to remain anonymous in the Großstadt.
Neither Heroes nor Traitors: Babylon Berlin and the Experiment of the Weimar Republic
Room E104, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
In my essay, I investigate the lives of World War I veterans Bruno Wolter and Gereon Rath, in Babylon Berlin (2017–). One suffers from shell shock, while the other views the war with a sense of pride that stems from nationalism for the German Empire. My argument is that Gereon and Bruno must keep their opinions towards the war secret to navigate through the Weimar Republic unsuspected. Although Gereon and Bruno represent a barrier between order and disorder as policemen (Richardson 262), the men nevertheless also represent that which the leaders of the Weimar Republic would prefer to remain hidden. I first analyze Gereon and Bruno’s respective war experiences through a historical lens and describe which groups of German veterans they represent. I then investigate three episodes from the show to emphasize the political groups with which these men are also connected, and why they therefore wish to remain anonymous in the Großstadt.