In 1523, young Thomas Müntzer arrives with his wife Ottilie in the Thuringian village Allstedt to assume the rectorate. As a follower of Luther′s teachings, he finds in the Bible not only reasons for clerical, but also for secular reforms. But when Luther turns away from the rural population after a discord with Müntzer, it is Müntzer who becomes the peoples′ spokesman. He is forced to go to Southern Germany, where he convenes with revolting farmers. But his way leads him back to Thuringia. In 1525, he and Heinrich Pfeiffer form the centre of the Thuringian peasant uprising in Mühlhausen, but their success is diminished by the fact that peasants and craftsmen don′t seem to be able to work together. In Frankenhausen, Müntzer becomes the leader of a peasants′ army that is set to fighting the ruler′s army – and sustains a devastating loss. Müntzer is arrested and sentenced to death by decapitation for his insurgency.
Wolfgang Stumpf
as Thomas Müntzer
Margarete Taudte
as Ottilie von Gersen
Wolf Kaiser
as Schwabenhannes
Martin Flörchinger
as Heinrich Pfeiffer
Wolfgang Kaehler
as Markus Stübner
Heinz Giese
as Hans Buss
Ruth-Maria Kubitschek
as Bärbel Buss
Albert Garbe
as Bauer Barthel
Maly Delschaft
as Frau Barthel
Hans-Joachim Büttner
as Veit
Jochen Diestelmann
as Gerber Martin
Hans W. Hamacher
as Apel Wynmeister
