Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Death Is My Trade

Original title: Aus einem deutschen Leben
  • 19771977
  • 2h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
328
YOUR RATING
Death Is My Trade (1977)
  • Biography
  • Drama
The disturbing biography of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Höss.The disturbing biography of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Höss.The disturbing biography of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Höss.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
328
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Theodor Kotulla
  • Writers
    • Theodor Kotulla
    • Robert Merle(novel "Der Tod ist mein Beruf")
  • Stars
    • Götz George
    • Elisabeth Schwarz
    • Kai Taschner
Top credits
  • Director
    • Theodor Kotulla
  • Writers
    • Theodor Kotulla
    • Robert Merle(novel "Der Tod ist mein Beruf")
  • Stars
    • Götz George
    • Elisabeth Schwarz
    • Kai Taschner
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Photos6

    Death Is My Trade (1977)
    Death Is My Trade (1977)
    Death Is My Trade (1977)
    Death Is My Trade (1977)
    Death Is My Trade (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Götz George
    Götz George
    • Franz Lang
    Elisabeth Schwarz
    • Else Lang
    Kai Taschner
    • Franz Lang als Junge
    Hans Korte
    Hans Korte
    • Heinrich Himmler
    Walter Czaschke
    • Adolf Eichmann
    Kurt Hübner
    • Oberst von Jeseritz
    Siegurd Fitzek
    • Hauptmann Günther
    Matthias Fuchs
    Matthias Fuchs
    • Sturmbannführer Kellner
    Claus-Dieter Reents
    • Obersturmführer Setzler
    Peter Franke
    Peter Franke
    • Schrader
    Wilfried Elste
    • Siebert
    Peter Moland
    • Henckel
    Hermann Günther
    • Soldat Schmitz
    Peter Petran
    • Karl
    Werner Eichhorn
    • Erich
    Anke Tegtmeyer
    • Oberschwester
    Werner Schwuchow
    • Obersturmführer
    Hans Schulze
    • US-Oberstleutnant
    • Director
      • Theodor Kotulla
    • Writers
      • Theodor Kotulla
      • Robert Merle(novel "Der Tod ist mein Beruf")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Only the Animals
    7.0
    Only the Animals
    Family Portrait
    7.1
    Family Portrait
    La faille
    6.5
    La faille
    Der Totmacher
    7.5
    Der Totmacher
    Utopia
    7.6
    Utopia
    Black Gravel
    7.3
    Black Gravel
    Der Untertan
    7.3
    Der Untertan
    The Devil's General
    7.3
    The Devil's General
    The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak
    5.2
    The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak
    The Tell-Tale Heart
    6.8
    The Tell-Tale Heart
    Swann in Love
    6.5
    Swann in Love
    Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
    6.7
    Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in Century of Cinema: Die Nacht der Regisseure (1995)

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Unmissable for anyone interested in this period.
    Such a shame that this masterpiece is not better released, at least in DVD all over the world. This is another point of view concerning the Holocaust. Forget any other material. I just found out that the Robert Merle's book was adapted for the big screen - or even small one. What a wonderful surprise for me. So interesting and distrubing to put yourself into Rudolph Hoess - do not confound with the Hitler's sidekick who flought to Britain in 1941 - Rudolph Hoess' head, the big executive of Auschwitz extermination camp who monitored it as a regular factory, with production goals, performances, to achieve, preserve or enhance,, the same with the work rate, pace, to increase. A man who was also a good family man, getting home every evening, as any normal worker or manager. This.contrast is the most disturbing for anyone. Anyone. There was no real hate in his behavior, only the taste of the.job well done. This film shows his story in a very accurate way. And WHO better than Germans can do this? Who? Russians, Americans, British?

    LET ME LAUGH!!!!
    helpful•1
    1
    • searchanddestroy-1
    • Apr 27, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 18, 1977 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • West Germany
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Aus einem deutschen Leben
    • Filming locations
      • Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Poland
    • Production companies
      • Iduna Film Produktiongesellschaft
      • Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Death Is My Trade (1977)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Death Is My Trade (1977) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in July
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.