Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
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)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Death Is My Trade

Original title: Aus einem deutschen Leben
  • 1977
  • 2h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
519
YOUR RATING
Death Is My Trade (1977)
BiographyDrama

The disturbing biography of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Höss.The disturbing biography of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Höss.The disturbing biography of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Höss.

  • Director
    • Theodor Kotulla
  • Writers
    • Theodor Kotulla
    • Robert Merle
  • Stars
    • Götz George
    • Elisabeth Schwarz
    • Kai Taschner
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    519
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Theodor Kotulla
    • Writers
      • Theodor Kotulla
      • Robert Merle
    • Stars
      • Götz George
      • Elisabeth Schwarz
      • Kai Taschner
    • 4User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos5

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast32

    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
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews4

    7.1519
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10fnoslin

    A Film that should be shown in History class at school!

    I saw it when I went to school and was impressed. Germans should go and see it since it is a (dark) part of their History that may not be forgotten. They should show it in History class at junior school
    10searchanddestroy-1

    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!!!!

    Now I update this review by saying that, in 2023, another film was made on the subject, also involving Rudolph Hoess: ZONE OF INTEREST.

    More like this

    Der Totmacher
    7.5
    Der Totmacher
    Schtonk
    7.1
    Schtonk
    Bang Boom Bang - Ein todsicheres Ding
    7.5
    Bang Boom Bang - Ein todsicheres Ding
    Lammbock
    7.2
    Lammbock
    Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht
    6.6
    Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht
    Night to Be Gone
    6.1
    Night to Be Gone
    Uprising
    7.2
    Uprising
    The Devil's General
    7.3
    The Devil's General
    The Disenchanted
    6.1
    The Disenchanted
    Der letzte Bulle
    5.8
    Der letzte Bulle
    Goldene Zeiten
    6.3
    Goldene Zeiten
    Der letzte Bulle
    7.3
    Der letzte Bulle

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • How long is Death Is My Trade?Powered by Alexa

    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

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 25 minutes
    • 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

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.