In 13 days
"Not in God's Name"
Persecuted Clergy and Religious Figures in National Socialism
The documentary "Not in God's Name" by filmmaker Adolf Winkler shows the persecution of priests and religious figures in National Socialism, as well as the fate of the last chief rabbi of the city of Trier. When the pastors Johannes Schulz and Josef Zillicken were sitting on the terrace of the Waldfrieden inn near Maria Laach on the afternoon of May 27, 1940, they had no idea that they would soon make a decision that would dramatically change their lives. For suddenly, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, one of the most powerful men of the Third Reich, entered the inn with his entourage. While the other guests jumped up and greeted Göring with the Nazi salute, Zillicken and Schulz remained seated in a demonstrative manner – a silent but clear act of resistance that did not go unnoticed. This scene, re-enacted by actors, marks the beginning of the approximately 100-minute documentary "Not in God's Name: Persecuted Clergy and Religious Figures in National Socialism" by filmmaker Adolf Winkler from Bitburg. Over 80 people attended the premiere on Friday, March 14, at the Schwalbach Town Hall.
Historical film footage and black-and-white photos alternate in the documentary with re-enacted scenes at the original locations and expert interviews. In this way, Winkler traces the biographies of about a dozen persecuted clergy and religious figures in the area of the Diocese of Trier – including nuns, Protestant pastors, and the last chief rabbi of Trier, Dr. Adolf Altmann. The film places their testimonies of faith within a nuanced portrayal of historical events: from Hitler's rise to power, the Reich Concordat between the Third Reich and the Holy See, the Reich Pogrom Night, and the course of the war. Interview partners include Bishops Dr. Felix Genn and Dr. Stephan Ackermann, historians, representatives of religious orders, and relatives of the persecuted.
The Filmmaker Adolf Winkler
With passion and expertise, Adolf Winkler, who resides in Bitburg, has been working for over 30 years to bring the beauty of nature, contemporary history, and science to people through moving images. Over the years, many film and TV contributions have been created to raise awareness about nature and the environment, useful information in the field of medicine, documentaries about historical events and eras, as well as high-quality promotional content for businesses and service providers.
The filmmaker Adolf Winkler, originally from Bitburg, was already considered a well-known author of books and television more than 20 years ago. As early as 1992, he co-authored books on nature and animal protection with Christian Grzimek, and to that point, 80 contributions titled "Tips for Animals" had been broadcast on RTL Plus. Since then, a lot has changed. Through his AWI film production, many film and TV contributions have been produced over the years concerning environmental education as well as scientific topics related to medicine and promotion for businesses. However, the impressive documentaries that specifically address the problems of the Eifel region – often even the area of his residence in Bitburg – are particularly significant to me.
Admission is free