All language subtitles for Der plotzliche Reichtum der armen Leute von Kombach.eng

THE SUDDEN WEALTH OF THE
POOR PEOPLE OF KOMBACH

In the year 1822

a few poor peasants and workers
from the village of Kombach

decided to make
an end to their misery

and get rich, by a raid
on the carriage

transporting the
tax money of Hesse.

According to the
contemporary records

of court secretary
Carl Franz,

the plot to
raid the tax money

should have originated
as follows:

In the fall of 1821,
Jacob Geiz

was cutting grass for
postmaster Strapp.

I told you to cut it short.

It's a lawn,
not a meadow.

I'll break my blade
if I cut lower.

That's what I pay you for.

A new blade?

I can get someone else.

I'll do it.

Cut it low to make it
a good lawn.

The peddler David Briel
from Dexbach

spoke the following
words to him:

Jacob, I know a way

to help the both of us

if we can get some trusty
people together.

Each month the carriage
with tax money

goes from Biedenkopf
to Giesen.

We'll attack it together,

take the money,
and if all goes well

we're rich for the rest
of our lives.

We'll attack it on
Hessian grounds

so the prince will have
to pay our duke.

Even if a new tax
is levied,

it will only be a few
kreuzer to pay,

which won't hurt us.

Jacob's father
and brother Heinrich

joined them at once.

They were joined by
Johannes Soldan and

the day-laborers
Ludwig Acker and Jost Wege.

In the night after
Christmas day,

they went to Krosdorf forest

and after a six hours' walk

through bushy hills,

and terrible hollow roads,

they reached Subach,
which they had chosen

as the place for their deed.

Where is it?

Where is it?

The snow made it go wrong.

What will you have, David?

I'd like some soup.

The one that shouldn't
steal, won't steal.

The one who has nothing,
rightly has nothing.

You're just frightened.

You were like ghosts
from the outset.

The snow has covered
the tracks.

It snowed the whole night.

Nobody could have
followed you.

We'll have to wait.

The money
goes twice a month.

It won't snow forever.

Wait... Johanna is right.

Be quiet.

What happens if you
get caught?

You're a soldier,
that will be worse.

Just make sure
nobody gets killed.

If someone
gets killed like that,

he'll come back as a ghost.

You wouldn't dare anyway.

Serfage was abolished only
in 1820 in Hesse,

but instead of
bringing freedom

it just put a heavier burden
on the small farmers

who couldn't live on their
small piece of land.

Kept ignorant
throughout the centuries,

they were unable to see
the cause of their misery.

Only emigration to
the New World,

poaching or treasure hunting

were seen as a
way out of poverty.

They're coming!

Hide yourselves!

You idiots!

I was waiting
for your signal.

That's what you
were up there for.

Stupid idiot.

There were two soldiers
and four horses.

Stupid idiot.

Let's get to work.

I thought the old one
would tell us.

The draft was called
for the year 1819.

The conscripts of this year

from Biedenkopf, Wolfsgruben,
Kombach, Eckelshausen,

Frohnhausen, Buchenau,
Wilsbach, Friedensdorf, Lohra,

and other villages concerned

are called up to be

prepared for military service

and should be at the
Gladenbach school

for the drawing of lots
and examination

on the 18th of June.

Why are you
looking like that?

I promised to marry a girl
from Offenbach

but I need some more money

to be able
to do as I promised

and to be a happy man.

Maybe I know something.

I'm just like you.

I've got a child,
two months old,

and there's an
easy way out for us.

It just depends on you.

Count on me.

What should I do?

You act as escort
for the tax money?

You should sabotage
the soldier's gun

so that we don't get hurt.

And if you are the escort,

let yourself be caught
without resistance.

You want to take the money?

You'll get your share.

I wish it were already done.

We already tried last week,

but there were
two soldiers with guns.

Yes, I was there.

There was a whole
lot of money.

The special tax for
the wedding of our princess.

Next time we'll take it.

You can count on me.

Now the time has come

We're going off to America

The horses are ready

We're leaving for a
strange country.

Coffee grows on every bush

which everyone can have for free

Corn grows there really lush

An ear can weigh a pound or three.

Potatoes are like honey

Two bushels to every plant

Evergreen is that country

Where even in winter
the roses stand.

When we get the money
I'll buy a silk coat.

I'll go to town,
to the great hotels,

to be served
like the rich are.

A plate for the soup,

a plate for the meat,

one for the vegetables,

and one for the potatoes.

A glass for the red wine,

another for the white wine,

a glass for water,

and a tiny one
for the brandy.

And all the people
will see me and say:

There sits a wealthy man.

They'll be friendly
and bow for me.

After Heinrich got help
from the soldier,

there was nothing left
to stop them.

You bastard!

What is it?

No money this time.

The chest is empty.

One tenth of the Hessian
population emigrated

in the 19th century.

Whole villages were drained.

A letter from a
baker's apprentice:

Without hope, clothes
or even daily bread,

I stand, with my wife
and children crying,

and I see no future
for us in Europe.

We'll have to
go on living in sin.

I shouldn't have come
to Offenbach.

So I'd never have
seen you.

Now we have the child,
and live in sin.

But God won't hold it
against the child

that "amen" wasn't said
before we made it.

Right, Johannes?

Do you want to kill him?

You shouldn't speak out his
name before baptism.

Are you mad?

Stop it, you'll
make me another!

America is the land
of milk and honey.

The cows are grazing on
evergreen meadows.

You find honey
in hollow trees.

You can have as many
cattle as you want.

You don't have to
get food for them,

only in the winter.

And the land is so good,

you don't need any fertilizer.

You can grow
anything every year

after just plowing it up,

that's enough.

And it's not like in Germany

where they take away
what little you've got

in taxes and whatnot.

Here the farmer
is his own master.

We eat more meat
than you eat bread,

and drink coffee and wine
like you drink water.

Milwaukee, 1821.

On the Saturday
before Easter,

they met in Subach
after a long walk

to act out their plan at last.

The recruits!

Jost Wege!

The draft prevented Jost
Wege from getting

any more involved
in this criminal act.

But the others
couldn't do anything

because of
the many soldiers

and had to go back
empty-handed.

There they go.

There they go.

How many times must we try,
before we succeed?

How many more times
must we try?

You're old Lindner's
youngest.

Jost Wege's going
to marry you.

And you're Ludwig Acker.

You worked with Heinrich
in Biedenkopf.

The one who got a child.

Yes, Heinrich.

I saw you together.

The May rain will grant
you a wish.

I know one that will grant
me everything else.

Hear, there goes the cart.

The fifth time,

they lost the carriage
in the mist

and decided to drop
the matter entirely.

I'm going back to Offenbach
to be a soldier.

- I'll come along.
- So will I.

You'll stay here.

It's no use.

It should have
been done long ago.

So that's the end.

Praised be God,
who saves us from sin.

Sow your field,
stay with your plow.

That's the way to
serve the world.

The rich man
and the poor man

You will serve alike.

So please stay
with your fields,

For many a fair lady

Thanks her beauty
to your work

And many a king
is crowned

By the products of the fields.

God, who rules
everything on earth,

and steers everyone
according to his plans,

God who makes
the sinners shudder,

please pardon them,
who fear you.

Please answer
our fervent prayers,

hold back your
thunder and fire,

the harsh north wind
and the rains,

let the storm turn into your
praise and glory...

You'll look after the horses.

Five times God held
us back from sin.

You must see he
doesn't want us to.

Go if you want, I won't.

Then you've been
our son-in-law.

Do you think
they'd help us?

Every day its cares.

You're mad.

How will you
pay the harvest?

It's only due in the fall.

And how will you
pay it then?

With pious words?

A farmer who borrows is lost.

You borrow six,
the fields give three.

The interest will be
more than the loan.

You'll give the house,
the cattle...

...and at last we'll be
thrown out.

That's how you get to
be a day-laborer.

- Isn't that right?
- Quite so.

I wish I had been drafted.

And I could do it on my own.

But when I die,
you will inherit.

- What?
- Your debts?

Be quiet, Johanna.

Jacob, Heinrich and I
will leave at night

and we'll take the road
outside the village.

We'll go past Gladenbach.

Ludwig Acker will go
with David and Soldan

by way of Buchenau
and Fischbach.

If we go on all night
without stopping

we'll be there by noon.

This will protect
you against wounds.

Put it under your shirt.

Look out, the gun!

Fran�ois, watch the driver!

Get him down.

Have mercy
on a poor man.

Let me go.

I'm poor like you.

Fran�ois, get rid
of the driver.

If you cry out, you're dead.

Don't move,
if you want to live.

Let the bride come out.

What do you want?

Here is Heinrich Geiz,
my brother.

He comes to take his bride.

- This one?
- No.

Accept your condition,
by Christian Furchtegott Gellert.

You complain about
the way you live

And try to improve
your lot, in vain.

Complain, but remember
while you do,

see if what you want
is what you need.

Not rank nor money
will give you happiness.

Only virtue and contentment
will give you rest.

Enjoy what God gave,
and do not covet more.

Each class has its
peace and burdens.

God wisely disposes
of his blessings.

Not like we want,
but as he thinks best.

Silk stockings from Paris!

That kind of work
clings to you.

No one wants to hire you

because you're
the geese-herd.

And if they take you,
you get paid less.

They say it's enough
for the geese-herd.

It's not that bad.
I heard many stories

of geese-girls
marrying kings.

Could I be the prince?

No, that is Jost.

How beautiful is the world.

So they built a house,

put in chairs and tables,

and a kitchen
with a fireplace

where you can find

coffee, milk and sugar

and beautiful plates,

and that's all of it for us!

It's just like a fairy tale.

Just you beware.

Think of the golden ass!

It means everything to us.

Meanwhile the news
had reached Giesen

where judge Danz was
put in charge

of this case.

The knowledge of
the grounds, the masks,

the changing of
the voices,

and the absence
of bloodshed point out

that it wasn't the work
of stray soldiers

or other rabble

but of peasants
living nearby.

Considering the poverty
of our peasants

and especially the poor
harvest this year,

further considering
the extra levy

for the wedding of
our beloved princess,

we must
reach the conclusion

that spending money
is suspicious.

All buyers who pay
with bare cash

must be able to give
accounts of their earnings.

The farmers won't
be able to avoid

spending or changing
part of the money

they unlawfully acquired.

Their poverty
won't allow them

to keep the
treasury hidden.

You can drink brandy.
I'm so poor,

I can't even go to find work.

For the capture of
the robbers,

a reward of 300
guilders was offered.

300 guilders, that would
keep me until my death.

Josef and Heinrich Hembus
of Friedensdorf declare:

That Sunday we had
been fishing in the Lahn,

when we met 5 strange men
early in the morning.

When they saw we meant
no harm they said

that we should
go home at once

and forget that
we had seen anyone.

Fishing in the Lahn is
a princely privilege.

But as you didn't hesitate
to help justice,

we will raise no
charges against you.

You lose all rights
on the reward.

Many clues came in,
true and false.

Most of them came from
the village of Kombach,

about 30 km from
the scene of the crime.

The court decided
to send judge Danz

to investigate those
rumors on the spot.

Although many people
had been spending

more than usual, he didn't
want to make arrests yet.

The great poverty of the suspects

pointed to an illegal
source for their money.

Day laborer Bertram of
Wolfsgruben, a poor man,

is said to have lent 60 thalers,
Acker from Kombach, 50 guilders.

Testimony of Hans Fischer
of Butzbach, day laborer.

Hans-Jacob Geiz of Kombach
is said to have bought

a cart for 10 guilders.

There's an old crone outside
who dares not come in,

but has some important news.

Let her come in.

He copulated.

What does she say?

He married.

Heinrich, old Geiz's son.

Just after the robbery.

And they had a feast
like rich people.

Maybe his father paid for it?

That one never had anything.

But that's no proof.

With him the bible fell
on the floor.

The woman means an old way
to get to the truth.

When some crime
has been committed,

the following proceedings
always lead to the culprit.

You put a key
in the middle of a bible,

you fasten it so you can
hold it between two fingers,

and you speak out the
names of your suspects.

When the right name comes,
the bible falls down.

Next one.

What about the reward,
your honor, 300 guilders?

Everyone wants
to be happy.

They think they will
be happy if they're rich,

they think money and
happiness are related

as the root to the plant.

How grossly do they err,

how little do they know
of the nature of man,

and yet they
see it every day.

The Scriptures say
that all things

serve one who loves
God, and it's true.

Money is money,
but the hearts

which it marries
are so different

that from those
different marriages

different lives originate,

bringing happiness or sorrow.

Only the heart can tell

if one will be happy
with money or not.

A powder horn,

two powder horns,

one pistol,

a bullet casting

with lead,

a silver watch.

Whose are these weapons?

Mine and my son's,
your honor.

I got the rifle from
my father.

Jacob bought the pistols
in Marburg, long ago.

It was used for the robbery.

The yellow rings were
described by soldier Haman.

This kind always
has yellow rings.

There are lots of them
in Kombach.

Why do you need all this?

There are many thieves
around here.

Whose watch is it?

Jacob's, your honor.

Where did he get it?

He won it with shooting,
your honor.

Where was he on Sunday
before Pentecost?

At home, as far as I know,
your honor.

This answer cannot
be accepted,

as a man has testified under oath

that he didn't find him
at home that day.

A man from Allendorf,
whom I owe money,

had asked for me that Sunday,

but since I had no money
I asked my wife

to say I was off to Wallau,
your honor.

Where was Jacob on
that day, and the others?

He was in the fields,
I don't know, your honor.

Can he prove he was
at home on Sunday?

- No...
- Take him away.

Hans-Jacob Geiz,

it is said you owe
baron von Breidenbach

400 guilders from the time
of your serfage?

Yes, your honor.

Where was he on Sunday
before Pentecost?

I can't remember,
your honor.

Does he own a watch?

Yes, your honor,
the one on the table.

Where did he get
a silver watch?

I won it with shooting,
in Kombach.

Can he prove that?

Yes, with Ludwig Acker
of Kombach.

He gave it as a prize.

How long is that ago?

I think three years,
your honor.

The watch has only been
seen since Pentecost.

The watch was lost, your honor.

Get me Ludwig Acker.

Ludwig Acker of Kombach?

Yes, your honor.

Did you give a
watch as a prize?

Yes, your honor,
in 1816 or 1817.

What was it like?

A silver English watch,
your honor.

With the key up front
or at the back?

I think up front,
your honor.

Acker says his watch had
the key up front.

This one has the key
at the back.

I won a watch in Kombach,
my father one in Engelbach.

One of those was sold,
I don't know which.

Then this must be the one
from Engelbach.

These objects will be
confiscated.

Hans-Jacob Geiz, his son
Jacob Geiz and Johannes Soldan

are arrested on these
presumptions and sent

to the Giesen jail for
further investigations.

Hide the bird,
there's the farmer.

What are you doing there?

Come along,
you're under arrest.

Don't believe him,
he wants my wife.

Hands off, old goat!

Poacher!

A fox took the duck,
it was already done for.

I haven't shot it.

The farmer lies,
he wants my wife.

It is not for poaching.

I have orders from Giesen.

I have nothing
to do with them.

It is for the robbery.

Let him go or I shoot.

After a few peasants
had been arrested,

Ludwig Acker decided
to leave the country.

I'm going down south.

I won't be back soon,
maybe never.

Want to come along?

How, without money?

I'll take care of it.

No, let me go.

Hide it and don't tell anyone.

Why did you run?

I'm not guilty, your honor.

In May 1820 and in March
1821 Heinrich Geiz

asked the military
commander of Offenbach

for permission to marry
Sophie Haupt

but it was refused because
he couldn't pay

the sum of 200 guilders
necessary.

In the summer of 1822
this was overcome

and the wedding took
place in Muhlheim.

Where did you
get the money?

I never had the money.

It wasn't necessary to pay
the 200 guilders.

It was sufficient that

I could prove I owned
security worth 600 guilders.

What does it consist of?

An estimation of my part
of my father's land

issued by the mayor
of Kombach.

Which is?

Which is a house
worth 100 guilders,

a field
worth 150 guilders,

a cow worth 30,

a wagon worth 30 guilders,

an iron plow worth 20 guilders,

and other tools
worth 30 guilders.

Which makes 350. Go on.

My father gives me
a dowry of 100 guilders.

He gives me 40 in cash.

350 plus 40 is 390.

My wife brings in 80.

470.

A cousin left me 150 guilders.

620. That's 20 too much.

The court has taxed your
father's land for 270.

The house is old,
the land near the woods,

and rather poor quality.

The wagon and tools
are old, also the cow.

How can you offer this as
a security of 350 guilders?

But the land is worth more.

How can your father pay
you money he owes?

I don't know.

This cousin of yours could
hardly leave 150 guilders.

All your wife possessions
aren't worth 80 guilders.

It's true, your honor,
I own nothing.

Can you explain how
you could marry?

No, your honor.

The accused denies
proven fact.

I can't let it go like that.

I'll punish him with 24
hours' confinement.

I'm a rich man on a journey,

bring me food and drink,
only the best.

I'm a nobleman on a journey,

bring me food and drink,
only the best.

I'm a rich nobleman
on a journey,

bring me food and drink,
only the best.

I'm a rich man on a journey,

bring me food and drink,
only the best.

We only have soup
and bread, my lord.

Soup and bread, all right.

And wine?

Only gin.

Yesterday, October 4, 1822,

the long sought for Ludwig
Acker came to Giesen

and gave himself
up to the law.

Has he some fortune,
what does he live on?

I have no fortune,
and live from my work.

Has he got money?

Five guilders I earned
at the harvest, your honor.

Didn't he lend Johannes
Hartmann any money?

No, your honor.

He testified you
lent him some money.

I don't understand.

Didn't he entrust 50 guilders
to the geese-herd?

No, your honor.

They both said so.
Do you deny the truth?

No, your honor.

Then tell us where you
got that much money.

I earned it with my work.

Your behavior shows
something's wrong.

Relieve yourself by
confessing everything.

I want to sleep on it.

You're stammering,
why hide your guilt?

An innocent man may seem
more embarrassed

than a guilty one.

The one knows
what he has done

and the other that he can't
prove his innocence.

Why did you give
yourself up?

You were looking for me,
your honor.

Have you anything to say?

I'll wait until tomorrow.

I'll do whatever I must do.

Too many dogs are
the hare's death.

What do you mean?

I'm afraid of people.

Why do you fear people?

I hid money in my
brother's garden.

What kind of money?

I robbed the tax money.

Together with Hans-Jacob
Geiz, his sons Heinrich and Jacob,

David Briel of Dexbach
and Johannes Soldan.

We tried six times
before we succeeded.

We first tried on
Christmas night 1821.

But as it had snowed,

we feared the tracks
would betray us.

We let it be until spring,
but it went wrong

because there were
two soldiers.

The third time
we didn't rob it

because there wasn't
any money.

The fourth time we lost
each other in the mist,

the fifth we couldn't
do anything

because of
the many recruits,

and at the sixth
or seventh attempt,

I don't remember,
your honor, it succeeded.

That's how thread after
thread, the hiding veil

woven by the criminals
was unraveled,

as the scribe
contentedly writes.

The framework of a
painstaking investigation.

In this labyrinth the judge
looks for a foothold.

Thus goes on
the master's work

to be crowned by
the naked truth.

There is repenting that is
not repenting,

that is excessive repenting.

That one doesn't trust in
God's mercy

and sins against
the Holy Spirit.

Cain showed such repenting,
when he cried:

My crime is so great,
it deserves no pardon.

And Judas,
when he hanged himself.

They set limits to God's
unending mercy

and sinned more by this
than at first.

Judas hurt the Lord more
by his suicide

than by his betrayal,

says the holy Hieronymus.

Such repenting leads
straight to hell.

So you show some
true repenting

that the Lord may
come to you!

Say: We regret to have
transgressed the laws

imposed on us by
the Holy Bible.

Say: We admit our deeds
were abominations

and we put our lives in
our judge's hands

to atone for our crimes
by our docility

and to stop living
like rebels.

Say after me:

I, poor sinner,

confess all my crimes,
in deed or word,

whereby I deserved
Thy punishment.

I sincerely repent
and regret

and I beg for Thy
unending mercy

in the name of
Thy son Jesus Christ,

forgive me, poor sinner,
my sins and crimes,

and give me Thy strength.

If you sincerely want to better
your life, say yes.

Yes.

Do you sincerely repent?

No.

Luther says a Christian
submits to authority,

pays taxes, helps and
does everything

that is good and helpful
for the State.

No!

- Say yes.
- No.

Will you say yes?

Are you my Christian son?

Acknowledge your
faults, like I did.

Say yes.

To do wrong is bad enough,

but not admitting it is worse.

He always was stubborn.

There should be order.

If criminals don't repent,
no one will be able to sleep.

See the badness
of our crime.

Say yes, or you'll go to hell.

No.

One must submit to
one's superiors.

You'll go to hell.

You'll bleed more in hell.

Let him be.
He will submit.

He has no other choice.

It's because he
was a soldier.

But I repented first,
of my free will.

I was first!

- Of my own will.
- I was first!

You must submit to justice.

You must repent
for what you did.

If you repent, our Grand-
Duke will forgive you.

That's how they break me.

I'll tell them.

The ducal court of Giesen

condemned them to death
by the sword,

payment of the costs

and refunding
the stolen money.

All are guilty
in the same degree.

The Court of Appeals of Darmstadt
confirmed the verdict

and sent it for approval
to the Grand-Duke.

His Royal Highness,
Grand-Duke of Hesse,

our most just lord and ruler,

let justice follow its course

and confirmed the sentence.

In three days' time you will
die by the sword.

Prepare yourselves

and repent to
God and man alike.

The money made me free.

The farmers couldn't
use the money

beause they
only knew their land.

When they touch the
land, they know

if it's good for
potatoes or corn.

But when they
touch money,

they don't know
how to handle it.

They can't show it,

because a poor man
with money is suspect.

And the farmer can't
go to another place

because his land
won't follow him,

and he fears what
he doesn't know.

But I am free.

I have no home
or land to hold me.

I can go where I want to.

The New World
is waiting for me.

New York,
Philadelphia, Boston,

Chicago, Los Angeles,
San Francisco,

Mississippi,
New Orleans, Florida,

Buffalo, Arizona, Ohio,

Texas, Arkansas...

Ludwig Acker?

Jacob Geiz?

Heinrich Geiz?

Hans-Jacob Geiz?

The records end with:

Ludwig Acker was the first
to mount the scaffold,

undressed and sat
down straight,

strengthened by religion,
awaiting the deadly blow.

His head fell
at the first stroke.

Then came Jacob Geiz.

He embraced
his father, crying,

in a heart-rending farewell.

One stroke put an
end to his life.

On the scaffold Heinrich
Geiz took his kerchief

and said: Like my life
will be torn,

so must you be torn.

Then he sat down
and died like a man.

Hans-Jacob Geiz was next.

He just kept staring,
without a word.

Shuddering, he sat down
where his sons had fallen,

already more
dead than alive.

One stroke separated
head and body.

What was mountain in you
They have ground down

And your valley
They filled in

Over you leads
An easy path.

Now the time has come

We're going off to America

The horses are ready

We're leaving for a strange country

Potatoes are like honey

Two bushels to every plant

Evergreen is that country

Where even in winter
the roses stand.