Die erste Polka (1979)

The film is set in Gleiwitz on August 31 and September 1, 1939. The Piontek family is preparing for the wedding celebration of their daughter Irma. While their mother, Valeska, organizes the festivities, their father, Leo, lies ill in bed. The family from Berlin is also visiting. Fifteen-year-old Josef Piontek boasts to his cousin Andreas about his girlfriend, Ulla, without realizing that Ulla has already fallen in love with Andreas. He does dance his first polka with Ulla at the wedding, but then has to accept that Andreas has a better chance with her. Ulla and Andreas slip away from the wedding and, during the night, witness the staged attack on the Gleiwitz radio station, which Hitler used as a pretext for invading Poland—triggering the Second World War. That night, Josef’s father, Leo, dies at home, and Josef watches as Sergeant Metzmacher tries to rape Ulla on her way home. Josef beats the drunk soldier to death and leaves his family. He flees to Berlin. Adolf Hitler delivers his radio address: “From 5:45 onward, we are returning fire!”