Iron Gustav (TV series)

Iron Gustav is a German television series that aired in 1979. The series is based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Hans Fallada, originally published in 1938 as Wolf unter Wölfen (Wolf Among Wolves). The series depicts the hyperinflationary period of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, focusing on the struggles of a middle-class family, the Growes, to survive amidst the economic and social turmoil. It explores themes of poverty, desperation, moral decay, and the allure of radical political ideologies during this turbulent era in German history. The "Iron Gustav" of the title is a nickname for the male protagonist, Eduard Groe, who is a former WWI soldier struggling to adapt to civilian life and maintain his family's stability in the face of overwhelming financial hardship. The series offers a critical perspective on the societal consequences of economic collapse and the rise of extremism.