FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE: The Quiet Heroism of Nazi Resistance
When Picturehouse Entertainment asked me to share information about their new film "From Hilde, With Love," I was eager to learn more about this story of courage during one of history's darkest periods. The film, directed by Andreas Dresen, will be released in UK cinemas on 27 June. I haven't seen the movie yet, so this is not a personal recommendation but an introduction to a piece of WWII history that is worthy of attention.
Hans and Hilde CoppiThe Real Story Behind the Film
"From Hilde, With Love" tells the true story of Hilde and Hans Coppi, members of an anti-Nazi resistance group known as the "Red Orchestra" (Die Rote Kapelle). Set in Berlin in 1942, the film follows shy Hilde as she falls in love with Hans and finds her place within this resistance network.
The Red Orchestra wasn't a formal organisation, as the name suggests. The term was coined by the Gestapo, who referred to resistance radio operators as "pianists," their transmitters as "pianos," and their supervisors as "conductors." This disparate network consisted of over 150 Berlin Nazi opponents from various backgrounds - artists, scientists, workers, and students - united by their rejection of National Socialism.
Hilde Coppi (née Rake) was born to a working-class family in Berlin on 30 May 1909. She met Hans Coppi, seven years her junior, through Communist resistance circles. Together, they engaged in acts of defiance that might seem small but required immense courage: distributing anti-Nazi leaflets, posting resistance messages on walls, and perhaps most dangerous of all, listening to Soviet radio broadcasts.
One of their important activities was listening to Moscow Radio for messages from German prisoners of war and forwarding them to their families in Germany. This directly countered Nazi propaganda claiming that Soviet forces didn't take prisoners but killed all German soldiers who surrendered.
In September 1942, the Gestapo arrested the couple. Hans was executed on 22 December 1942. Hilde, who was pregnant at the time of her arrest, gave birth to their son Hans in prison on 27 November 1942. Despite petitions for clemency, Hitler personally refused, and Hilde was beheaded at Plötzensee Prison on 5 August 1943, after being allowed to nurse her baby for several months.
Their son, Hans Coppi Jr., survived and was raised by his paternal grandparents. He went on to become a historian dedicated to researching the Red Orchestra and preserving the memory of German resistance to the Nazi regime.
The Film Adaptation
Director Andreas Dresen, who grew up in East Germany, deliberately avoids portraying the Red Orchestra members as superheroes or making them symbols of any political ideology. Instead, he presents them as ordinary young people with a conscience, making their story more relatable and their bravery more profound.
"From Hilde, With Love" stars Liv Lisa Fries (known from "Babylon Berlin") as Hilde and Johannes Hegemann as Hans. The film alternates between scenes of their summer romance and Hilde's time in prison, creating a powerful contrast between moments of joy and the brutal reality of living under a totalitarian regime.
The film premiered in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2024 and received strong reviews. Writing in Variety, Catherine Bray praised Fries for her "subtle but layered performance." She highlighted how cinematographer Judith Kaufmann's work effectively contrasts the "sylvan charms" of the resistance group's summer hangouts with the stark prison environment. Bray concluded that although "From Hilde, with Love" is set almost eighty years ago, "the themes explored seem destined to remain eternally urgent and relevant."
Variety's review also touches on a poignant historical detail. Despite the group's efforts and risks, only one of their messages to Moscow ever made it through, and it simply said, "We wish our friends the very best." This underscores the human dimension of their resistance rather than its tactical impact.
Historical Context: The Red Orchestra
The history of the Red Orchestra was misrepresented for decades. During the Cold War, West German narratives often portrayed them as Soviet spies and traitors, while East Germany elevated them to the status of Communist heroes.
In reality, the group was more complex and diverse. While some members had Communist sympathies, others were conservative nationalists, Catholics, or simply individuals opposed to the Nazi regime. Their activities included distributing leaflets, documenting Nazi crimes, helping Jews escape, and, yes, transmitting military intelligence to the Allies.
By 1942, the Gestapo had infiltrated the network, leading to over 120 arrests. More than fifty members were executed, including the Coppis. Despite the ultimate tragic fate of many members, their courage in standing against tyranny reminds us that resistance is possible even in the most dangerous circumstances.
Does This Film Matter Today?
At a time when extremism and authoritarianism are on the rise globally, stories like Hilde and Hans Coppi's remind us of the importance of moral courage and the power of individual conscience. Their story shows that resistance does not always come in dramatic forms, but sometimes in small acts of defiance and quiet integrity.
"From Hilde, With Love" is a historical drama that explores love, resistance, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of oppression.
Sources: Historical information gathered from Wikipedia articles on Hans Coppi, Hilde Coppi, and the Red Orchestra; the German Resistance Memorial Centre website; The History Learning Site; Encyclopedia.com; and various film reviews from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Reuters.
