Based on the life of horse-rider Carl-Friedrich Freiherr von Langen, who won the Olympic games in 1928. Until his death in 1934 he was a Nazi supporter. He was a member of the SA in 1930 and after is death he was used for Nazi propaganda as an image of a German hero. Propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels called this movie a film of "national meaning" and added it to the list of 18 national movies.
In the movie von Brenken's horse Harro was sold after the war to a Jewish character for gambling matters. In real life von Langen's horse Hanko was sold in 1914 to another Cavalry Captain, who sold him back in 1919/1920 when von Langen felt better again.