March of Millions
Encyclopedia
March of Millions is the international English title of the multi-award-winning three-hour German television film Die Flucht (The Flight). The film stars Maria Furtwängler
in the role of Lena Gräfin von Mahlenberg, the leader of a small convoy of refugees from East Prussia
(including French and Russian prisoners of war and forced labourers) fleeing the advancing Red Army
in the winter of 1944-1945, and trying to survive uprooted in Bavaria in the aftermath of World War II
. When first broadcast by ARD
in two parts, on 4 and 5 March 2007, it drew 13.5 million viewers.
The production was reported to have cost €9m and to have employed over 2,000 extras.
The film was controversial for portraying German war-time suffering during the Evacuation of East Prussia
(although a number of German atrocities were also shown or mentioned), and led to adverse comment from a foreign-policy adviser to the Polish president of the time, fearful of potential German claims to lands or property in East Prussia lost during the War.
Maria Furtwängler
Maria Furtwängler-Burda is a German physician and television actress. She is the daughter of an architect and actress Kathrin Ackermann and at once grandniece and step-granddaughter of the conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler....
in the role of Lena Gräfin von Mahlenberg, the leader of a small convoy of refugees from East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
(including French and Russian prisoners of war and forced labourers) fleeing the advancing Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in the winter of 1944-1945, and trying to survive uprooted in Bavaria in the aftermath of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When first broadcast by ARD
ARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
in two parts, on 4 and 5 March 2007, it drew 13.5 million viewers.
The production was reported to have cost €9m and to have employed over 2,000 extras.
The film was controversial for portraying German war-time suffering during the Evacuation of East Prussia
Evacuation of East Prussia
The evacuation of East Prussia refers to the evacuation of the German civilian population and military personnel in East Prussia and the Klaipėda region between 20 January, and March 1945, as part of the evacuation of German civilians towards the end of World War II...
(although a number of German atrocities were also shown or mentioned), and led to adverse comment from a foreign-policy adviser to the Polish president of the time, fearful of potential German claims to lands or property in East Prussia lost during the War.
Awards
- 2007 BambiBambi (prize)The Bambi - Deutschlands Wichtigster Medienpreis, often simply called Bambi Awards and stylized as BAMBI, are presented annually by Hubert Burda Media to recognize excellence in international media and television "with vision and creativity who affected and inspired the German public that year",...
award as "TV Event of the Year" - 2007 Bavarian TV AwardBayerischer FernsehpreisBayerischer Fernsehpreis is an award presented by the government of Bavaria, Germany since 1989.- 2010 :* Nina Gummich, Nachwuchsförderpreis * Klaus Doldinger, Bavarian Prime Minister's Prize- 2009 :...
to Holly Fink (cinematographer) - 2007 RomyRomy (TV award)The Romy TV award in honor of the actress Romy Schneider was created in 1990 by the Austrian newspaper Kurier – or rather their movie reviewer Rudolf John, who also designed the 30.5 cm gilded trophy. It recalls a scene from the movie The Swimmingpool with Alain Delon, when Romy Schneider...
award to Nico Hofmann (producer) - 2007 Deutscher FernsehpreisDeutscher FernsehpreisThe Deutscher Fernsehpreis is a German award for television programming, created in 1999 by German television channels Das Erste, ZDF, RTL and Sat.1. It was created as a equivalent to the Emmy Awards though it is not organized by an academy and is awarded annually in September or October...
to Knut Loewe and Wiebke Kratz for Best Design - 2007 Deutscher Fernsehpreis to Enjott SchneiderEnjott SchneiderEnjott Schneider is a German composer, musicologist, and music educator. As a composer he is best known for his film work, having won the Bavarian Film Award for Best Film Score in 1990, the Filmband in Gold in 1991, and the Deutscher Fernsehpreis in 2007, the latter for his work on March of...
for Best Music - 2007 Deutscher Fernsehpreis to Gabriela Maria Schmeide as Best Supporting Actress