Report on Shell shock cinema" in Weimar Germany

Introduction of Shell shock cinema" in Weimar Germany

Throughout the history, the art and media has been used as an important source to reflect the historical aspects in term of; cultural & social norms and values that provides in-depth understanding of the about the society. In the modern time, still, the media and art are used to study the cultural aspects of a society, the social values, social issues and social norms. Therefore, media and art are considered as an effective source to get information about the historical events, cultural aspects and to learn about the people, their living style and the issues and challenges they had to face.

Subsequently, this research is focused on the discussion of the cultural and social values through the lenses of the media in the early twentieth century. The Weimar Germany that had been home for the movies and other kind of entertainment for the people of Weimar in the period of early twentieth century is being discussed here to study the post-war WWI impacts on the society. The Weimar cinema has made great contribution in the history of art by presenting the social and cultural aspect of the people of old time. Following this, the focused subject of the research is “Shell Shock Cinema” that gave the reflection of the classic German Cinema at the time of Weimar Republic. The Weimar republic period (1918-1933) has experienced many political, cultural, and economic changes that were presented through the films. Moreover, this research is also aimed to discuss that how Cinema presented the post-war problems by focusing on the impact of the warfare on the mental health of the soldiers.

The term “shell shock” was used by the Kaes as he described it as the suffering of the soldiers in terms of nervous break-down, physical and mental damage that they received from the war (Wallo). Therefore, the term shell shock is used to as a metaphor for the “Mental sickness”. Therefore, core research work revolves around the psychological shocks of the war that can be felt through the art and media.  Whether a war results are in the favor of a nation or it is against the nation in both situation the war creates drastic effects on the people and their lives. Similarly, in the First World War millions of people lost their lives and nation faced huge economic loss. However, according to the historians and researchers the most drastic effect of the WWI was appeared in terms of psychological damaged as millions of soldiers faced post-war mental sickness that also made it difficult for the physiatrist to handle the situation. The massive destruction brought by the war was not ended with the war-stop but it remained continue in the form of mental sickness of the soldiers. Similarly, cinemas that represent the cultural and social values, norms, issues and challenges are the majorly effected by the War shocks as every art piece in the form of film, or any other art piece was haunted by the horror of war.

Shell shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of the War

The impact of warfare is drastically worst effective on the mental health of the soldiers. It was an intense situation in the early quarter of 20^th century for psychiatrists of the military to deal with mental conditions of the soldiers by reducing the impact of warfare. The role of military psychiatric in treating the people affected by the intense situation of war was important as they had to face challenging situations that was never seen earlier to the war-event.  The WWI appeared with unforgettable horrors as it is claimed that according to the record the lives lost counted as more than 16 million but in reality they number of causalities was much larger. The deaths count was a different story but the more horrific side of WWI was the after-effects of the war in which the mental health of the soldiers was among the most disturbing issues faced by the psychiatrist after the war.  The drastic effects of the war damaged the nervous system as soldiers became weak and infirm. This situation was raised due to strain and stress of war.

A large number of cases were observed by the war psychiatrists in which they found that a majority of the soldiers remained under constant effects of stress and depression. The war psychiatrists started to treat the military personal by using various techniques that did not work effectively at the initial stages. Different countries adopted different kind of treatment techniques to cure their mentally sick soldiers. The history of shell-shocked man was considered as the history of trauma and its related protest.

History of Shell-Shock

The history of a shell-shocked person is more extensive in Britain related to historical, cultural and political aspects. Although, the impact of wartime was also critical for Germany the topic was not famous in Germany as it is in other parts of the Europe. According to Paul, the war psychiatry history of German was observed for a long time by the prism that is not directly linked with the country. Therefore, to understand the war psychiatry there is a need to have focus on the purpose of this specific condition that had raised in the 20^th century rather than keep focusing on the political, cultural and economic debates related to warfare and war psychiatric. the reason is that it is the social responsibility that was essential for the second riche and described the treatment of soldiers that were suffering from the neurological disorder due to high stress in the war were treated in a similar way as treated the injured people of an organization.

The Jason Crouthamel has highlighted the effects of post-war where tension and high level of stress were increasing the number of neurotics patients as well their treatment was the current issue at that time. The French shell shock described that to develop a great understanding of WWI trauma became the crucial subject at that time to find the best solution of treatment for the mentally sick soldiers. The history depicts that the negative impact of the war was observed in the military, doctors, and civilians but the shell-shocked term is typically associated with the victim soldiers because they received the direct impact of the WWI due to their experience of fighting in the war-field. After the WWI a large number of historians have shed light on the psychological wound in result of the war-trauma. The trench of this warfare was characterized as the western side was industrial, unique and intensive as well. Therefore, the result of this traumatic condition was seen only on the western side and not observed in different sectors as severity in the western front (Brian Murphy).

Shell Shock Cinema is written by Anton Keas and author shows the German wars trauma in Weimar culture. Author Anton Keas is a German Professor and he is associated with film & media. Author Anton Keas is working as professor in University of California, Berkeley. In 1939, he became famous on publishing of number of fascinating books and the stories of his books were also used in film making. Cinema industry had a contradictory relationship with its war heroes and history. The role of German cinema is not up to satisfaction level as according to national history of Germany. It had noted that the impacts of migration on Germany identity were prominent with many other subjects (Jerry Lembcke). 

 Author Anton Kaes Professor of German “Film & Media in University of California, Berkeley in 1939, published a book on first world war. The book was written on legacy of “First World War”. Book on First World War was in “Weimar Cinema: Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War”. Book was published in 2009 by “Princeton University Press”. The most important work in this book is related to know the reasons of war. The complex network that had covering the war elicited. Anton Kaes highlighted the role of “Psychiatric” in First World War and reveals the unfolded point associated with war. He put attention on memorial and racial arguments that have strong hold in waging war.  He also discussed the role of mythic and allegorical concepts in waging First World War. Anton Kaes shed light on the War Trauma and its affects on the German society. Book makes arguments on First World War and the role of Germany in it and it covers the relationship between war and media (Francesco Pitassio).

Anton Kaes book is more interesting and immensely illustrating the feature of media or cinema on war. Therefore, author Anton Kaes had chosen four films for exploring the “post traumatic cinema”. For this purpose, author Anton Kaes had chosen the following films like given as,

1.      Robert Wiene’s “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”,

2.      F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu,

3.      Fritz Lang’s Nibelungen

4.      Metropolis

 The above four classic films were used to reflect the traumatic shocks of the war. Films used as source to reflects the traumatic shock of First World Wars on Germans. It helps in investigating the impacts of failure or insufficiency of mimetic on Germans and also represents the symbolization of German society. The documentary film covers the aspects or scenes right after the First World War. The most important and significant feature is that author did not focus on how postwar cinema presented it. Author not focuses on how cinema itself featured war (Brian Murphy).

Anton Kaes one major and prominent observation and analysis is that German cinema covers or put attention on focusing popular army and also focused on navy movies. Most of cinema films are usually pictured on the fighting bravery by but the films that were made during the Weimar Republic era (1918-33) covered the suffering of the soldiers during the war and after the war. Similarly, Anton Kaes shed light on the war trauma in terms of suffering of the soldier during and after the WWI. Normally, the war heroes had prominent features of fighting and struggle. Navy movies show the fighting life and struggling in war condition. It covers the mission of navy army and their strength on winning war. Most movies cover the romantic hero with girls and then a war lord as one-man army. Anton Kaes did not touch all these aspects and focused a unique aspect of war in his work He focused on that how “media or cinema” especially German displaced films of war into domestic, mythic and even in its imaginary setting. Weimar’s movie culture was highly influenced by the War. Anton Kaes unrevealed the post war traumatic aspects. The analysis had covering a wide ranging aspects and especially the analysis after war. He worked on showing the post war traumatic effects on society rather than showing the trench warfare or military combat. In that period, films functioned as mechanisms of translation and restaging. Most of movies have their favorite story “military aggression and defeat”. Movies show crime and horror aspects and highlights the adverse conditions of society.  It was investigating that Weimar Cinema had become a collection of vague feeling of betrayals. It had also become the representation of sacrifice and also shows wounded pride into melodrama (Barbara Hales).

Anton Kaes investigated the post war traumatic effects on German media, film and on society. Most films show the myth and had science fiction. Movies had psychological impacts on media, film and society. Most movies show and present “fear of invasion and injury” that have impacts on society. Movies show the number of historical events repeating again and again. Movies had replayed sense of paranoia and panic during the war in society and military. Military movements and their fighting styles always presented with high quality and standards. Shell Cinema Shock represents that how film followed “spatial trajectory” of army personals. Most movies represent the living of army in trenches to sanitarium as living rooms and shows strict or difficult environment (Karl Christian Führer).

It was more shocking and panic for German society to concealed military defeat. Movies of the Weimar period showed that how traumatic experience especially in war and on front line shell shocking. Military defeat repressed ways how it had effects on media, cinema and society. Author Anton Kaes underscore the intellectual disagreements or conflict in war, cinema, media, battlefront and home front. Kaes used the notation of traumatic or trauma after post war in German society, media and cinema. It covers the shell-shock situation more broadly and it covers the locations. Kaes investigated the post war trauma but he observed that the mood of Weimar culture leftovers more broad-spectrum. Author Anton Kaes has drawn the attention of cinema, film and media attention. Author Kaes observed that ‘alternative history” draw attention in post war trauma and it did not lead German society for National Socialism (Richard Bodek & Anton Kaes).

Anton Kaes investigated that intriguing thought was dropped by the German people. It is a cinematographic method. Kaes employed Shell Shock Cinema as pulls in, pans and pullback method Kaes used it for exploring the cultural complexities in German culture and society right after First World War. Anton Kaes explore or investigate in Shell Shock Cinema those technical complexities of film and its attachment with national history. Anton Kaes interpreted the discussion of “psychiatric” and its illumination on shell shock. Anton Kaes had covered various issues or terms as, victimization, misunderstood patient, disrupt, deception and paranoia. The study explored the intrusion of ghosts and spirits as after post war trauma (Jan-Christopher Horak).

The investigation revealed the death of thousand’s but still represent the efforts for winning war. For highlighting the effects or aspects of First World War and it traumatic impacts of post war in cinema put attention projecting lights. Moreover, focused on shadowy lighting and other camera angles have effects. According to Anton Kaes, the whole process must be divided into its stages for hypnosis. Author represents the astute observer for “claustrophobic” and stage setting for post traumatic effects on German society. Author analyze that shock effects have great contribution for emerging the new innovative and advance film language. According to Anton Kaes analyzes intellectual history of First World War and ghosts. It covers the untimely death and also represents the generational history.

It was investigated by Anton Kaes that trauma effect on psychology of soldiers and it had great effects on cognitive approach. Sigmund Freud’s psychology had great influence on author mind and it approaches toward idea. Shell Shock revealed the war trauma and modern psychiatry approach. Author reveals the psychology on traumatic stress and disorder of war. It has long lasting impacts or effects on the entire person especially in First World War. Anton Kaes used method for analysis of post war traumatic effects described by using associative analysis. It helps in delivering the amazing and interesting results. The author Anton Kaes had talked about unconscious and about the hidden meaning of the film. These weaken the cases presented in public for traumatic curing of German society.

Anton Kaes used “Shell Shock” and it covers the psychiatric affliction with the association of “hysteria”. Author also investigated that German main company that was producing films have clash with government or it had bad relationship with government that time. The film production company had strong ties and the argument is that it was the basic reason for loosing character of government official in films with misleading history. Government of Germany strong tie with company suppressed the war feeling and film represent it as “crime and guilty”. One major considerable part of national film industry was that sensational films produced right after First World War that represents the treacherous experience of battle (Barbara Hales).

Analysis of the hands of the Orlac of Shell shock cinema" in Weimar Germany

The hands of the Oral is Austrian horror movie pictured in 1924 by the directors named as Robert Wiene, Conrad Veidt and Alexandra Sorina. Its main plot is derived from the book Les Mains D’Orlac. This film has been redirected three times as different names and by the different directs as Mad love (1935) by the Karl Freund, as the hands of Orlac (1960) by a French organization and as Hands of a Stranger (1962) by an American company.   Also, in 1990 its body parts are used in Renard's story (König).

The hands of the Orlac relationship with War Trauma and Hypnosis

First World War is considered as the technology first war ever worst in history as the result of the destruction from this war about 10 million people died and the much of the people and the soldiers were injured badly. Subsequently, many peoples were lost their sight, became deaf and paralyzed. From the result of the war, many of the people were mentally and socially affected in a very drastic way. All of the victims of the world war were not be able to perform effectively and also were hypnotized by mad doctors (Hales).

The reflection of the First World War is drawn in the hands of the Orlac by putting these aspects with the family of the Orlac. The character of his wife derived the theme of the soldier’s wives that’s were waiting for their husbands at home, and they all loved each other as the Orlac and his wife loved both. Next as the income source of Orlac was the piano playing, for the families of the soldiers was the salaries of the soldiers. Due to the war, both of the life and the income of the soldiers destroyed and they turned into poor lifestyles. As in the film, the act of the surgeon was very madness and he played a very dangerous act of transplanting the hands of the Orlac. Same as the role of the doctors in the first world war was like the surgeons they hypnotize many of the peoples and throw a bad impact upon the society. As the concern of the play of the father, likewise, the role of the helping countries was much disappointed towards the affected countries. All the countries refused to denote help to the affected countries (Hales).

As the death of the father was done by the other person, but the murder succeeds to realize the Orlac that your hands were not in your control so they committed the murder, the opposition of the government played the same role of the murder by agreed with them upon the undone activities. Next to the doctor’s hypnosis the many soldiers and treated them in accordance with their behaviour and provide good and effective consequences to return towards their daily routine. This was the positive point of the physiologists and the neurologists. As the Orlac was returned to its daily routine the same as the many of the soldiers were able to return to their life after long treatments and the precautions.

The condition of the Orlac was very dangerous as he saw the whole accident of the collision of the truck with a train standing beside the truck on the truck. He was injured by hitting the barrel of the oil with him. Likewise, the soldiers fighting at the first lines were eye-witnessed of the technological attacks and that of the destructions prevailed as the results of the weapons and the troops of the enemies. The treatment method adopted in both cases was the hypnosis and was effective and critiqued by the many medical experts (Wallo).

The symptoms of traumatic mental disorder were observed after the war that was held in 1914 through the Cinema. It was considered that strong nerve was the essential part of the successful war and the nations always achieved with a victory that has the strong nerve to absorb the stress and strain during the war. According to the doctors of Germany, war experienced the cathartic front that develops the strength and de-generates the modern men into a person that has strong nerves and faces every dangerous situation with braveness. Moreover, the doctors of French also described that war is the process that revitalizes the personality of an individual and the medicine of French as well. The psychiatric of German was considered the war as a tonic that was also considered as in Britain where doctors additionally described the features of the character of an individual (Jan-Christopher Horak). 

War psychiatry is not separated from civilian psychiatry and during the training of soldiers and their military psychiatry concepts, civilian psychiatry was not considered and then in the late 19^th century a lot of traumas had been observed after the medical investigation. Another traumatic condition is known as Shell-shock, in which new skills are required to identify this issue but it was similar to mental traumatic. However, in this condition, the soldiers were hysterical because of the cultural assumptions before the war that had to affect them badly. Before world war1, the industrial world was considered as the reason for anxiety for a long time. Therefore, the workers and passengers were also suffered from accidents and then faced unusual symptoms after an accident that was a headache. According to the American neurologist, patients with mental and physical disturbances are suffered from depression, headache, neuralgia, and impotence. He explained in detail that neurasthenia is the cause of nerve damage due to the high level of stress by urban life. There was not a treatment for them because no remedy was identified at that time but the rest. Since, world war 1, the rest cure was modified and new methods were adapted to treat this disorder to the officers of the British at the time of war. The role of psychiatric was the same at the time of war and peace to identify the problem and treat the patient that was mentally disturbed and seek more knowledge through the clinical observation (Francesco Pitassio).

Due to the essential role of psychiatrists, they started to have professional and political aims, while the doctors were excited to perform that opportunities that will be beneficial for their profession. The thoughts of German doctors were that war is a great experiment as it increased their knowledge and information regarding mental disorders. Similarly, French doctors had considered the war as a laboratory where experiments were done to improve their expertise (Jan-Christopher Horak).

During the war; there was no limitation especially near the zones of fighting. At the initial stages of the war, an individual was not treated by the specialist of mental health. However, doctors have complained that there was difficulty while collecting statistical data and monitor the case with concentration while tackling the patients. Moreover, the war psychiatric was suffered a lot during the severe war conditions and the anxieties of pre-war (Brian Murphy).

According to Wilhelmina, the traumatic events were considered as the pathogenic that would lead toward the post-war problems. However, some medical experts described that pension-related neurosis was diagnosed among the feckless people, instead of diagnosing the hysteria; they labelled as the susceptible and low will power individuals. Therefore, the conflict was sustained till the 1916 war and the Oppenheim severely blow out (Jan-Christopher Horak).

The psychiatrist of the elite class and other neurologists were not agreed with the diagnostic terms of Oppenheim but on the other hand, the layman and non-specialists were agreed that the war was the reason for mental and nervous illness. This issue was under debate and the psychiatrists of the military were believed that war neurotics were just fraud and maligners as they wanted to achieve the pension and their symptoms were encouraged due to this reward of pension. All the psychiatrists were aligned with the military and elites that were old.

In the early years at Weimar, different conflicts were raised with the social-democratic along with successful to achieve the pension of the affected military. Hence, the wart psychiatrist was suffered a lot because of became the target of the families of veterans and veterans.

The effect of post-war, Shell-shocked men was suffering from a high level of anxieties. However, it was considered that the neurotic at the wartime was just rumours and it was fake and malingering was not eliminated and increased with the passage of time. As a result, it was difficult to analyse the mental state of man at the wartime and before wartime. Therefore, the welfare state was started for the affected veterans that were physically damaged and it was also ensured the healthcare of those people. Hence, in 1920, the social democratic was analysed that war neurosis was developed after the stress of war. Moreover, the welfare system was developed from the officers that used the money of the ministry of labour. In this regard, all the system was conducted on the advice of psychiatrists. The majority of psychiatrists were narrowly minded blamed that in 1918 when Germany defeated because of a degenerative and weak nerve of the military as they lost their nerves at the time of war. As a result, in 1920, the pension was cut down because of this worst situation (Brian Murphy).

The effect of this situation was not good as SPD was unable to protect those that were damaged physically during the war because of inadequate welfare. However, the communist of German was unable to believe that the state of bourgeois take some initiatives for the soldiers and also aggressive for the conservative psychiatrists that were developed negativity and difficulties for the physically damaged military. The state hired that psychiatrist that was similar to those doctors that are working as a business not for humanity. This psychiatrist was like to attach with the elite class and them also against the neurotic of the wartime (Jerry Lembcke).

It is also claimed that the history of shell shock was a contradictory history of war neurotic men. On the other hand, the military has also prevailed that the idea of war neurosis was just a myth not a real problem. In this regard, medicines were preferred more likely as compared to therapeutic aspects. Different symptoms were raised during this condition as loss of memory and confidence. Moreover, it was also considered that the shell-shocked men were not only affected by the war but also some other issues like weak nerves and lack of absorbing the pressure. Furthermore, during and after the war, the family of patients was demanded to provide pension and other financial support for their treatment. Subsequently, the history of shell-shock was also the history of trauma along with psychiatry. The role of the psychiatrist is also important and significant as they treated the patients to improve from these mental disorders and nervous illnesses (Jerry Lembcke).

In his case, the symptoms were hysterical deafness and loss of speech, conditions which were treated with a single dose of ether. Doctors told him in writing that it would restore his speech and hearing. He initially struggled but after a few whiffs he whispered "mother". He "then repeated it louder and louder until he shouted with a voice that would have filled the Albert Hall." Once his voice and his hearing returned the associated conditions – depression, headaches, and insomnia – disappeared too (Barbara Hales).

According to the doctor, the patient would recover his deafness and the speech with the passage of time and regular therapy. At the initial stage, the patient just murmured, then whisper and in the last, he speaks with the normal tone. The recovery of the patient was ensured with proper treatment and therapy (Barbara Hales).

Conclusion of Shell shock cinema" in Weimar Germany

The art and media industry is the reflection of the social and cultural aspects of a nation and the art-pieces in the form of films, paintings, music of the specific period tells the story of the people living in a specific time. Subsequently, in this research the Cinema of the Weimar Germany tells the story of the people after the First World War and reflects that how the art and media were haunted by terror and horror of the war. The First World War impacts on the mental health of the soldiers can be compared to the movie named “hands of the Orlac” because the movie symbolized the character similar to the war-victims that remained under critical mental health even after receiving medical treatment. The treatment procedure adopted by was the hypnosis and the physical therapy of the victims of the war. In the whole period of the war, the role of the medical officers, soldiers and the local people were very sympathetic, they played their role for the recovery of the victims of shell shock and help them to come back to their normal mental state. As a result of the war, the medicines were found very disciplinary as compared to the therapeutic; due to this the treatment procedure adopted was the hypnosis of the soldiers. The political issues provoked by the war were found very prevailing in Europe but all issues made the shell shock politically interpret. Shell shock treatment is determined as the constantly entwined with discipline. During the war and after the war the shell-shocked victims were demanding the treatment and proper medications to return towards their daily routine work.  Shell shock is the history of the trauma and psychiatry as well as the history of the patient protest against the medications and the treatment. The medical officers did not succeed in attained the required results of their treatment of war-victims because the soldiers were in great shock as it was hard for them to come out the war trauma.

The history of the “Shell Shock Cinema” give a lesson that war can never be a solution of the human problems as whenever a war starts it brings nothing but destruction, miseries and horrific memories to the man-kind and it left never ending effects on the history of human. The Story named “Hands of the Oral” gives a lesson that you can change the system but you can never washout the horror of wars. Therefore, the war should never be considered as an option to resolve issues but the issues must be resolved through debates and tables talk in war it does not matter who wins but humanity always loss its dignity. To make our cinemas more entertaining and free from the horrors of the war, there is need to give respect to the dignity of human in real life by avoiding wars.

 Works Cited of Shell shock cinema" in Weimar Germany

Barbara Hales. "Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War." German Studies Review 35.1 (2012): 183-184.

Brian Murphy. "Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War." Afterimage 39.1-2 (2011): 91.

Francesco Pitassio. "Shell shock cinema: A discussion with Anton Kaes." NECSUS. European Journal of Media Studies 3.2 (2014): 177-188.

Hales, Barbara. "Incurable Madness: War Trauma,Hypnosis, and Robert Wiene’s Orlacs Hände." In Seminar: A Journal of Germanic Studies 47.5 (2011): 578-590.

Jan-Christopher Horak. "Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War/Weimar Cinema: An Essential Guide to Classic Films of the Era." Film Quarterly 64.4 (2011): 76.

Jerry Lembcke. "Shell Shock” in the American Imagination: World War I's Most Enduring Legacy." Peace & Change 41.1 (2016): 78-86.

Karl Christian Führer. "Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War." (2011): 365-366.

König, Thomas. "Personal identity in the movie." Orlac’s Hände. (2016): 1.

Richard Bodek & Anton Kaes. "Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War." Central European History 45.1 (2012): 152.

Wallo, Michael. "Shell Shock Cinema: Weimar Culture and the Wounds of War. By Anton Kaes." The European Legacy (2012): 568-569