Maria Schweidler, die Bernsteinhexe

The Baltic Sea island of Usedom during the Thirty Years' War: When 15-year-old Maria Schweidler searches for amber on the beach to support her impoverished father, she catches the attention of the official Appelmann. He had been rejected by Maria earlier and is now seeking revenge. To this end, he accuses her of witchcraft and initiates a trial against her, where the young woman faces the threat of death by burning at the stake. The Usedom pastor Wilhelm Meinhold published his successful book in 1843, based on an alleged chronicle from the 17th century, but only later did he acknowledge its sole authorship.