The film is based on the memoirs of Hamburg burglar Julius Adolf Petersen (1882-1933), who became famous as "Lord of Barmbeck". Petersen owed his status as a folk hero to the fact that he did not use any physical violence during his raids and only stole from rich people. After several times escaping, Petersen was finally sentenced to a long prison term. With no prospect of release, he took his own life in 1933.