Wie konnte es geschehen? - Teil 1: "Deutschland erwache..." (1914 - 1938)

In 1945, 160 German cities lay in ruins and the loss of millions of lives, billions in material assets and countless cultural treasures was mourned throughout Europe... With the question “How could it happen?”, the film goes back to the year 1914, when the “primal catastrophe of the 20th century” took its course with the First World War.

Directed by Beate Schubert, Wie konnte es geschehen? - Teil 1: "Deutschland erwache..." (1914 - 1938) leans on a strong ensemble — Ulrich Ritter, Beate Schubert, Paul von Hindenburg — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2006.