This is a list of films that are or were banned in Germany.
Weimar Republic (1918–1933) DateTitleNotes1920–1945Anders als die Andern (Different from the Others)Banned due to homosexual themes. During the 1920s, it was restricted for viewing to doctors and medical researchers only. After Hitler came to power in 1933, it was banned again and mostly destroyed by the Nazis. The film was later partially reconstructed.1929The Barnyard Battle (1929)Banned initially because the cats in this Mickey Mouse cartoon wear helmets that resemble German pickelhaube. Today the ban is no longer in effect.1930–1931 and again from 1933 to 1945All Quiet on the Western Front (1929)Banned in 1930 after protests but then re-admitted in a heavily censored version in 1931 after public debate. After 1933, it was banned by the Nazi regime for its anti-militaristic themes and being "anti-German". Erich Maria Remarque's novel was also banned as well, and was among the "anti-German" books burned in bonfires. At the Capitol Theatre in West Germany in 1952, the film saw its first release in 22 years.1932–1945Kuhle WampeBanned because it depicted the government, legal system, and religion in a negative light. Eventually, the ban was lifted due to protests and the film was released in a severely edited version. Six months later, Hitler came into power, causing the movie to be banned again under the Nazi regime until the end of the war. Its director, Slatan Dudow, was arrested for being a member of the Communist Party and banned from entering the country again.
Nazi Germany (1933–1945) DateTitleNotes1933–1945All movies starring the Marx Brothers.Banned in Nazi Germany because the comedy stars were Jewish.1933–1945Battleship PotemkinBanned in Nazi Germany due to fears it could inspire Marxism.1933–1945EcstasyBanned in Nazi Germany because of the erotic content.1933–1945Mädchen in UniformBanned in Nazi Germany because of its lesbian theme.1933–1945The Mad DoctorBanned in Nazi Germany, because of the horror atmosphere in this Mickey Mouse short.1933−1945Mysterium des GeschlechtesBanned in Nazi Germany because of the erotic content.1933−1945Vier von der Infanterie (Westfront 1918, also known as Comrades of 1918)Banned in Nazi Germany for being a pacifist war drama.1934–1945M - Eine Stadt sucht einen MörderBanned in Nazi Germany.1934–1945NanaBanned in Nazi Germany because of its plot, depicting a soldier visiting a prostitute, which violated the military's sensibilities and honor code.1934–1945The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)Banned in Nazi Germany because Max Baer was Jewish.1934–1945The Testament of Dr. MabuseBanned in Nazi Germany for "presenting criminal acts so detailed and fascinating that they might tempt copy-cats". It also had an anti-authoritarian tone and certain dialogue of Mabuse was lifted directly from Mein Kampf.1936–1945The Bohemian GirlBanned in Nazi Germany, because the positive depiction of Roma people "had no place" in the Third Reich.1936–1956Modern TimesBanned in Nazi Germany for supposedly advocating Communism.1936One in a MillionBriefly banned in Nazi Germany for featuring the Ritz Brothers, who were a Jewish American comedy trio. After its star, Sonja Henje, who had recently been among the champions of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, made a phone call to Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels on his private line, the film was edited to remove scenes that featured the trio.1937–1945La Grande IllusionBanned in Nazi Germany for its anti-war message. Head of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels named its director Jean Renoir "Cinematographic Enemy Number One".1938–1950A Prussian Love StoryBanned in Nazi Germany because the plot of a love affair between the Emperor and an actress was too similar to Head of Propaganda Goebbels's own affair. Even after the war it took until 1950 before the film saw a release.1939–1945Kitty und die Weltkonferenz (Kitty and the World Conference)Banned in Nazi Germany despite an initially successful box office run. Following the outbreak of the Second World War that same year, Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels withdrew it from cinemas as he felt it presented a too favourable view of Great Britain.Reimer, Robert C. & Reimer, Carol J. The A to Z of German Cinema. Scarecrow Press, 2010, page 168.1939–1977Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)The first anti-Nazi movie made in Hollywood before the start of World War II, Adolf Hitler banned it and all Warner Bros. films from exhibition throughout the remainder of his tenure as German chancellor. He reportedly planned to execute the makers of this film upon winning the war. It was not publicly screened in Germany until 11 March 1977. 1939–1945Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonBanned in Nazi Germany because it showed democracy working well.1940–1945The Great DictatorBanned in Nazi Germany for mocking Nazism and Hitler. During World War II, it was once shown to German soldiers in 1942: In German-occupied Yugoslavia, local guerillas sneaked a copy from Greece into an army-cinema in an act of cultural sabotage. After half of the film had been shown, German officers stopped the screening and threatened to shoot the Yugoslavian projectionist. Apparently, the film was ordered by the Reich Chancellery. It was first shown in West Germany as late as 1958.1940–1945La Kermesse Heroïque (Carnival in Flanders) (1935)Banned in Nazi Germany and Belgium by Joseph Goebbels because of its pacifist themes. The director, Jacques Feyder, was later hunted down for arrest, but managed to escape to Switzerland.1943–1949Titanic (1943)Banned in Nazi Germany by Joseph Goebbels because some of the scenes could demoralize the audience, despite being made by the Nazi propaganda department itself. The Allied Control Council banned the film after the war too, because of its Nazi propaganda. After the end of the occupation, the German Motion picture rating system classified it to age 12 or older and to age 6 or older with parental guidance. It was sometimes shown on west German TV after the war and a censored, low quality VHS copy was released in 1992.1944–1945Große Freiheit Nr. 7 (Great Freedom No. 7)Banned in Nazi Germany. It had its premiere in occupied Prague in December 1944.Reimer, Robert C. & Reimer, Carol J. The A to Z of German Cinema. Scarecrow Press, 2010, page 169.
Allied-occupied Germany (1945–1949) After the end of the Second World War, the British and American Allies initially confiscated the entire film stock of the Third Reich. A total of 700 feature films and 2500 short films were confiscated and films that were classified as harmless were returned to their rightful owners.
There is no definitive list of all the films banned by the Allies, as lost films were found over time and films found to be unproblematic were released again.
In March 1951, the following 141 feature films were still considered problematic by the “Film Section Information Services Division Control Commission for Germany, (BE)”.Catalogue of Forbidden German Feature and Short Film Productions, compiled by John F. Kelson
East Germany (1949–1990) DateTitleNotes1965–1990Das Kaninchen bin ich (The Rabbit Is Me)Banned by the East-German Communist government for its criticism of everyday life in the country. While not directly referring to politics it still was perceived as dangerous criticism of the system. Due to the film's infamy all banned films in the DDR were referred to as "rabbit films". The film remained banned until Germany was unified again in 1990.1965–1990Denk bloss nicht, ich heule (Just Don't Think I'll Cry)Banned by the East-German Communist government for its criticism of the regime.1966–1990Spur der Steine (Trace of Stones)Banned by the East-German Communist government.1971–1990Die Russen kommen (The Russians Are Coming)Banned by the East-German Communist government because of its theme where a young Nazi lives in fear of the approaching Russian army.
West Germany (1949–1990) List of films rejected by the "Interministerial Committee for East-West Film Issues" In 1953, the "Interministerieller Ausschuß für Ost-West-Filmfragen" (Interministerial Committee for East-West Film Issues) was founded in West Germany. This committee examined films from the Eastern Bloc countries, especially DEFA productions from East Germany, for anti-constitutional or communist content.
Until the committee was dissolved in 1967 or 1968, around 130 films were banned from release.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/
Date Title Notes 1954–196? The Adventures of Fridolin (1948) In 1954, approval was granted only for clubs and scientific seminars.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=20 1955–196? Der Untertan (1951) The film was only released for screening in student film clubs in 1955 because of "anticonstitutional" content.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=18 1955–196? Dr. Semmelweis (1950) The release was refused in 1955.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=27 1955–196? Ernst Thälmann (1954) The release was refused in 1955.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=44 1955–1967 The Council of the Gods (1950) The release was refused in 1955.The release was granted in 1967.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=43 1956–196? Besondere Kennzeichen: keine (1956) The release was refused in 1956.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=73 1956–196? Der Teufelskreis (1956) The release was refused in 1956.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=76 1957–1958 Das tapfere Schneiderlein (1956) The release was refused in 1957.The release was granted in 1958.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=121 1957–196? Corinna Schmidt (1951) The release was refused in 1957.The release of an edited version was rejected in 1960.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=124 1957–196? Die Unbesiegbaren (1953) The release was refused in 1957.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=99 1957–196? Du und mancher Kamerad (1956) Banned because of "anticonstitutional" content.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=101 1957–196? Genesung (1956) The release was refused in 1957.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=128 1957–196? Kein Hüsung (1954) The release was refused in 1957.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=19 1957–196? Zwischenfall in Benderath (1956) The release was refused in 1957.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=105 1957–1965 Thomas Muentzer (1956) The release was refused in 1957 because of "anticonstitutional" content, an edited version was also refused.The release was granted in 1965.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=100 1958–196? Berlin, Schoenhauser Corner (1957) The release was refused in 1958.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=185 1959–1966 Sie nannten ihn Amigo (1959) The release was refused in 1959.The release was granted in 1966.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=286 1960–196? Sheriff Teddy (1957) The release was refused in 1960.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=419 1966–196? Solange Leben in mir ist (1965) The release was refused in 1966.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=687 1966–1967 Die Sonnenbrucks (1951) The release was refused in 1966.The release was granted in 1967.http://www.filmzensur-ostwest.de/defa-film.asp?id=699 And Quiet Flows the Don (1958) Banned because of "anticonstitutional" content. Part 1 was released in 1959, Parts 2 and 3 were first broadcast in television in 1968. until 1965 Higher Principle (1960) Banned until 1965 because of "anti-German" content.
List of films banned by the French Forces in Berlin