Herbert Norkus, born July 1916, was killed, stabbed six times, by German Communists on 24th January 1932, Berlin, as he delivered Nazi Propaganda leaflets. His martyred death became a role-model for the Hitler Youth, and too, exploited in the Nazi propaganda war machine.
A German Navy school ship called the "Herbert Norkus" was named in his honour but the outbreak of the second world war made this impossible to finish. There, too, have been schools, streets, and squares were also named after him during the Nazi period.
The main actors Heinrich George and Berta Drews who played husband and wife Völker in the movie, were actually married until George's death in 1946. They were the parents of the popular German actor Götz George.
The 1932 novel, Hitlerjunge Quex (Hitler Youth Quex), was required reading for all members of the Hitler Youth.
Herbert Norkus was nicknamed "Quex" as "...he carried out his orders faster than quicksilver..." (Quecksilber).