The Kaiser′s Lackey
Diederich Hessling, a "sissy" and mother′s pet, is scared of everything and everyone. But as he grows up, he comes to realize that he has to offer his services to the powers-that-be, if he wants to wield power himself. His life motto now runs: bow to those at the top and tread on those below. In this way, he always succeeds: as a student in a duel-fighting student fraternity and as a business-man in a paper factory. He cajoles the obese district administrative president von Wulkow and wins his favors. He slanders his financial rivals and hatches a plot with the social democrats in the town council. On honeymoon with his rich wife Guste, he finally finds a chance to do his beloved Kaiser a favour. And when a memorial to the Kaiser is unveiled in the town where Diederich lives and works, he delivers the festive address. He stands behind the lectern in pouring rain, saluting "his" Kaiser. The crowd has dispersed. Everything is laid in ruins ...

Source: German films Service & Marketing GmbH