Labyrinth of Lies (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Radmann chooses Schulz because the case is brought to him directly by a teacher who recognized the former Auschwitz commander working as an educator in Frankfurt. While Schulz is less infamous than Eichmann or Mengele, his presence as a teacher among ordinary Germans represents the uncomfortable reality that Nazi perpetrators lived openly in postwar society. Radmann's idealism drives him to pursue any case of injustice rather than waiting for high-profile targets.

Foreshadowing: Early in the film, Radmann's mentor Fritz Bauer notes that pursuing famous war criminals will face massive obstacles, suggesting Radmann should start with smaller cases.

• charles schulz
• auschwitz
• prosecutor
• nazi criminal
• west germany

Fritz Bauer, the Prosecutor-General, serves as Radmann's mentor and provides crucial support by granting him access to U.S. occupation files containing documentation on Auschwitz personnel. Bauer uses his authority to authorize Radmann's investigation into the 8,000 individuals who worked at the camp, essentially legitimizing what would otherwise be a controversial probe into Germany's recent past.

Foreshadowing: Bauer's initial mentorship establishes the institutional tension between seeking justice and protecting former Nazis in government.

• fritz bauer
• mentor
• investigation
• auschwitz files
• prosecutor general

When Mengele returns to West Germany for a family visit, Radmann attempts to secure an arrest warrant but faces obstruction from German authorities. The government deliberately blocks the arrest because pursuing Mengele would force confrontation with powerful former Nazis still embedded in the judicial and political systems. Even when Mengele is within reach, the institutional resistance proves insurmountable.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish that many former Nazis hold positions of influence in West Germany's bureaucracy.

• josef mengele
• arrest warrant
• argentina
• west germany
• obstruction

Mossad's capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina represents a major breakthrough that validates Radmann's efforts. The successful trial and execution of Eichmann demonstrates that Nazi criminals can be held accountable, strengthening Radmann's resolve. However, Israel chooses not to pursue Mengele, leaving that avenue closed and forcing Radmann to focus on other perpetrators.

Foreshadowing: The Mossad operation shows that international cooperation can bring Nazi criminals to justice, contrasting with German domestic resistance.

• adolf eichmann
• mossad
• capture
• argentina
• trial
• execution

Radmann's relationship with Marlene collapses when both discover their families had Nazi affiliations. Radmann learns his father was a member of the Nazi party, and when he confides this to Marlene, she reveals her own family also had ties to the regime. The shared guilt and complicity creates an unbridgeable rift between them, ending their romance despite their earlier connection.

Foreshadowing: Marlene's success in the fashion industry is partly enabled by post-war networks that included former Nazis.

• marlene
• relationship
• family
• nazi party
• guilt
• rift

Radmann resigns because of overwhelming frustration with the systemic obstruction he faces. The bureaucratic system consistently protects former Nazis, and his investigations are constantly blocked. He accepts a position with a prominent industrialist, hoping to achieve justice through different means, though this choice leads to another moral crisis.

Foreshadowing: The repeated obstruction from authorities throughout the film builds toward Radmann's decision to leave.

• resignation
• prosecutor office
• industrialist
• bureaucracy
• obstruction

After joining the industrialist's company, Radmann discovers that a colleague has defended a former Nazi under investigation. This presents him with a choice between personal advancement and his ethical principles. Radmann ultimately chooses integrity and walks away from the lucrative position, reaffirming his commitment to pursuing justice despite the personal cost.

Foreshadowing: This dilemma tests whether Radmann will compromise his values for material success.

• industrialist
• moral dilemma
• former nazi
• integrity
• corruption

Radmann's visit to Auschwitz serves as a profound turning point. Rather than simply seeking legal retribution, he gains deeper understanding of the victims' stories and the personal impact of the Holocaust. This experience transforms his approach to justice from procedural pursuit to honoring individual human experiences, ultimately making him more effective when he returns to the prosecutor's office.

Foreshadowing: The film explicitly frames this visit as the moment Radmann's purpose evolves beyond courtroom victories.

• auschlwitz
• pilgrimage
• memorial
• honor victims
• transformation

The film shows that many former Nazis retained positions in West Germany's government, judiciary, and bureaucracy after the war. These individuals actively obstruct investigations into war criminals, creating a "labyrinth of lies" where justice is systematically blocked. Radmann faces resistance not from random obstacles but from an institutional network designed to protect perpetrators.

Foreshadowing: The title itself references this systematic concealment of Nazi criminals.

• systemic protection
• bureaucracy
• former nazis
• west germany
• institutional resistance

The ending shows Radmann returning to the prosecutor's office to begin the trial of Auschwitz perpetrators, representing a step toward accountability. However, the tone remains bittersweet, the trial cannot undo the crimes, many perpetrators remain free, and Radmann has lost both his career progress and his relationship. The film suggests justice is possible but incomplete and comes at tremendous personal cost.

Foreshadowing: The entire narrative builds toward this courtroom moment as the culmination of Radmann's struggle.

• trial
• auschwitz
• justice
• defendants
• bittersweet ending