Ganz: How I Lost My Beetle
The compelling life story of Jewish engineer Josef Ganz, whose designs led to the invention of Adolf Hitler’s dream: the Volkswagen Beetle, and who ultimately lost everything except his life.
Josef Ganz, the eccentric editor-in-chief of the controversial but hugely influential trade journal Motor-Kritik, amazed Germany by appearing in a revolutionary tiny car in 1932. The car, his brainchild, was part of his dream for the German people: a Volkswagen that anyone could afford. Ganz shared this dream with the brand-new Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler who was very interested by these ideas. After that, it was only a matter of time before the new government, whom Ganz initially supported fervently, would fulfil his dreams. But in Hitler’s dream there was no place for him, the Jew. In order to filch Ganz’ invention away from its creator, a history of intrigue, espionage and slander campaigns was set in motion.
In this documentary relatives, a writer and artist search for traces of Josef Ganz and try to bring his heritage alive and back on the road again.
The screening of Sunday May 12th at 12:00hrs can be combined with the Sunday's Film Breakfast.