12 Paces Without a Head

12 Paces Without a Head
German Theatrical Poster
Directed bySven Taddicken [de]
Written byMatthias Pacht
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDaniela Knapp
Edited by
Music by
Production
companies
Wüste Film
Warner Bros.
Magnolia Filmproduktion
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
  • 11 July 2009 (2009-07-11) (Munich Film Festival)
  • 10 December 2009 (2009-12-10) (Germany)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryGermany
LanguageGerman

12 Paces Without a Head (German: Zwölf Meter ohne Kopf) is a 2009 film directed by Sven Taddicken. Set in the North Sea in 1401, the film centers on the German folk hero Klaus Störtebeker, who was a pirate at the time. The title comes from a legend which asserts that when he was captured by the Hanseatic League, he struck a deal with his captors that every one of his men whom he could walk past after being decapitated, would be let go. Störtebeker's body allegedly managed to make twelve paces before collapsing.