The People vs. Fritz Bauer

Bauer’s driver discovers his boss unconscious in the bathtub and promptly takes him to the hospital. As Bauer recuperates, police officers, influenced by political motives, jump to conclusions and suspect a suicide attempt. This situation brings joy to his adversaries, particularly Attorney General Kreidler and Paul Gebhardt of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), who believe they have gained the upper hand.

During his recovery, Bauer notices a crucial file has vanished from his office. Concerned about the prosecution of Nazi criminals, he summons the prosecutors but finds them lacking in progress. The young prosecutor, Karl Angermann, reminds Bauer that he had requested this file to prepare a statement, making Bauer realize he can trust Angermann. Inviting him to his home over the weekend, Bauer considers his authority to be like that in “enemy territory” as he plots to bring Adolf Eichmann from Argentina to face justice in Germany. However, recognizing the limitations of the BKA and Interpol regarding political crimes, Bauer contemplates enlisting the help of the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad.

When Bauer receives a letter confirming that Eichmann resides in Argentina under an alias, he forwards this information to the Mossad and discusses it further while in Israel. The Mossad chief, Isser Harel, has already investigated this lead but insists they must have a second piece of evidence before proceeding with Eichmann’s abduction.

While navigating these complexities, Angermann seeks Bauer’s guidance on sentencing in a homosexual trial. After Bauer references a similar case, Angermann pushes for an unexpectedly light sentence, which gets him noticed by Victoria, a friend of the defendant. However, it’s revealed that Victoria is transgender, complicating Angermann’s emotions further, especially when compromising photographs of their interactions surface, leading to blackmail from the BKA.

As Bauer investigates former Nazi Schneider, who now works in human resources at Daimler-Benz with connections to South America, he pressures Schneider for Eichmann’s code name in Argentina. This information is relayed to the Mossad, which successfully retrieves Eichmann and transports him to Israel. Nonetheless, Bauer’s request for Eichmann’s extradition is denied by the federal government under Konrad Adenauer, who fears a potential upheaval due to Eichmann’s testimony exposing the presence of former Nazis within the German government.

Meanwhile, Angermann refuses to succumb to the threats posed by the compromising photos and bravely confesses to violating § 175. Just as Bauer considers abandoning his pursuit, he immerses himself back into the investigation of Nazi crimes, setting the stage for the landmark Frankfurt Auschwitz trials.

Last Updated: November 08, 2024 at 03:13