Dietrich Garstka, author of The Silent Classroom book of which the film is adapted, was one of the students who fled to West Germany. his book records the dramatic events of their escape, published in 2006.
Leonard Scheicher, who plays Theo, is in real life only 15 years younger than Ronald Zehrfeld, who plays his father.
As shown in the film, the students had to wear uniforms with the sign of FDJ (The Free German Youth). East German youths between ages 6 to 14 would usually join the FDJ "nominally voluntary". Those who did not join lost access to holidays, and found difficulties to be admitted to universities, and pursue chosen career.
Jonas Dassler is seen in the film wearing a ring with the sign of RFB (The Roter Frontkämpferbund) translated as "Alliance of Red Front-Fighters, a far-left paramilitary organization which was banned as extremist in 1929.