Truth & Treason is based on the true story of Helmuth Hübener, a German teenager who defied the Nazi regime during the height of its political power and was executed for it. The movie depicts how Hübener’s faith (he was a Latter-day Saint) encouraged him in this courageous endeavor. The film depicts some blood-spilling violence and antisemitic behaviors.
“Do what is right; let the consequence follow.”
Teenager Helmuth Hübener often sings these words at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1941’s Hamburg, Germany. They’ll soon become extremely relevant.
As Germany wages war across Europe, Helmuth’s brother gives him a shortwave radio, capable of receiving illegal broadcasts, such as from the BBC. As Helmuth listens, he hears what the Allies think of Germany’s Führer. Their words begin to challenge Helmuth’s beliefs about Nazi Germany, and it becomes evident why government officials didn’t want him to hear them.
The bishop of the Mormon church in Hamburg, Zander, afraid that his congregation could be seen as troublemakers for their faith, posts a sign up on the front door:
Jews forbidden to enter.
The sign prevents Helmuth’s ethnically Jewish friend and fellow Latter-day Saint, Salomon, from attending services. The move seems at odds with the other teachings Helmuth has grown up with, such as “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Then the Nazis take Salomon away.
None of it seems right.
“Do what is right,” Helmuth remembers.
Helmuth grabs a typewriter. He turns on the Allied broadcast. He begins to type their anti-Nazi messages on leaflets, distributing them around Hamburg: Down with Hitler.
“Let the consequence follow.”
Truth & Treason is based on the life of the real Helmuth Hübener, who indeed stood up to Nazi Germany. The movie tells us that Helmuth is partially encouraged by a Mormon hymn, the refrain of which goes “Do what is right; let the consequence follow.” Despite his own fear and the hypocrisy of his bishop, Helmuth is moved to pursue and promote truth and fight against evil. He remains steadfast in decrying the actions of Hitler and the Nazi party.
His courage inspires his friends, Karl and Rudi, to join the cause as well. Though they’re afraid, both ultimately work with Helmuth to spread the anti-Nazi leaflets around Hamburg, fully aware of the potential consequences of their actions.
At one point, Helmuth is offered the chance to pawn the blame for the leaflets onto another person. Instead, Helmuth chooses to take the blame upon himself, sparing the man’s life.
Helmuth, Karl and Rudi are all devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known Mormon church, and their faith motivates them to take action against Hitler.
Zander justifies Salomon’s exclusion from services by referencing the Latter-day Saint’s 12th Article of Faith, which reads, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rules and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.”
“Would not this include our Führer and the current laws of the [Third] Reich?” Zander asks the congregation. “Each of us must ask ourselves which of God’s laws we’ll follow.” (Though not depicted in the film, Zander would also excommunicate Helmuth for his opposition to Hitler following Helmuth’s arrest.)
Helmuth, meanwhile, quotes Jesus: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” One of his friends likewise reminds Helmuth that they’ve spent their whole lives learning of the “peaceable things of the Kingdom.” So, they “can’t allow a lifetime of what we’ve learned inside these doors to be lost because of what was outside them this morning.”
Members of Helmuth’s church sing the Mormon hymn, “Do What Is Right.” Helmuth speaks to the congregation about peace and Jesus, calling Jesus a revolutionary: Though He was full of kindness, love and grace, Jesus also spoke the truth—truth which caused the Romans, Pharisees and Sadducees to reject Him. “May we be filled with grace and truth,” Helmuth says. “When the moment comes for us to stand up, may we stand. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Helmuth and his friends distribute the Eucharist while in church. Helmuth prays a couple of times. Someone tells Helmuth that God will use him to further the work of “His Reich.”
When someone receives the death sentence, he tells the judge that “your time will come. The judge will be judged, and truth will prevail.” He also says that his “Father in Heaven knows I have done nothing wrong, and He will be the proper Judge in this matter.”
Helmuth goes on a date with a teenage girl, and the two kiss a couple of times.
We hear a reference to a college professor who had been sleeping with a student’s girlfriend.
A variety of people get beaten and tortured; blood often drips down victim’ faces. An interrogator uses a knife blade to pry away a man’s fingernails. The Nazis threaten their prisoners’ families and friends. A teenage boy is beaten because he is one-quarter Jewish. Another teenager is sentenced to death.
Bombs ravage a city, and some people are buried under rubble; we see a man and young girl die as a result. The film references the millions who died in the Holocaust. We see a guillotine blade as it begins to fall.
A few people get punched in the face and bleed from their noses. People are beaten with batons. Others engage in fistfights.
Helmuth’s stepfather slams him into a wall and punches him.
We heard one use of the British crudity “bloody.”
A man and woman drink wine. People smoke cigarettes.
Jewish people are forbidden from entering a Mormon church.
At 17 years old, the real Helmuth Hübener was the youngest German to be executed for treason by the Third Reich’s infamous People’s Court. His crime? Telling the truth about the evils committed by Hitler and the Nazi regime.
The teen was largely influenced to speak against Hitler by his Mormon faith—a notable point in the film. And while we, as Christians, have fundamental disagreements with the beliefs of Latter-day Saints, the movie nevertheless points to a truth that Christians should likewise hold to: Our faith should motivate us to call out evil, even if it brings persecution.
Moviegoers should note that, given the historical and geographical location of the film, there’s a focus on such persecution at the hands of Nazis. We see a bit of onscreen torture and antisemitic violence, which results in large amounts of blood. Otherwise, the content remains relatively mild.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He’s also an avid cook. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
