Ein Mann will nach Deutschland (1934)

South America, 1914, at the beginning of the First World War. Three engineers—the German Hagen, the Briton Corner, and the Frenchman Duval—work for the Venezuelan Ortiguez company. When they hear that war has broken out in Europe, the three men, now enemies, take their leave to return home and serve in the war. Hagen’s burly, tough friend Brack, a foreman at the company, also wants to go back to Germany with him. But before they can set off, Brack gets into a street brawl after hearing Germany blamed for the outbreak of hostilities. When Hagen tries to get his friend out of trouble, he takes a knife wound meant for Brack. Seriously injured, the German engineer is taken to the estate of Señora Ortiguez, the company’s owner. She nurses the stranger back to health with great devotion, and during this time the two begin to fall in love. Though the Venezuelan does not want him to leave, Hagen—who has never served in the military—feels drawn home to Germany: his country is calling. Once recovered, Hagen and Brack try to return to Germany aboard a ship sailing under a neutral flag. But an English patrol boat unlawfully seizes the ship and promptly takes the two enemies of Britain into custody. Hagen and Brack are interned in Jamaica. Life behind barbed wire is safe, but also harsh and deprived. The staunch patriots are determined to get home to Germany, and so they make a successful escape to Cuba. Manuela Ortiguez hears of Hagen’s daring exploit aboard her yacht and immediately sails to Cuba. Reunited, the two spend a few carefree days together. Nevertheless, even the offer of a job as her chief engineer cannot dissuade him from his firm resolve to return home. Hagen slips away from her without saying goodbye, and he and Brack board a Danish ship bound for Plymouth. Manuela learns of his mad plan, however, and follows him all the way to Plymouth in her yacht. Her final attempt to stop Hagen from returning to Germany fails once and for all. Dejected, the Venezuelan returns to her yacht. Manuela’s confidant, Pedra, cannot bear to see her friend so downhearted, and tips off the English port police about Hagen. As luck would have it, Manuela’s former engineer, Corner, is now the port commander of Plymouth. She asks him to help their mutual friend Hagen, but Corner, not unlike Hagen, puts love of country and patriotic duty above everything else. Manuela gradually begins to understand Hagen’s attitude, takes him aboard her yacht, and tries to reach German waters while being pursued by English warships. As her ship passes the German advance guard on the open sea, she has the German flag hoisted in solidarity with the man she loves.