The book is so well known in many countries as it's part of the standard curriculum (I had to read it when I was 16), so I think the German film makers felt it needed no particular references to the story. It's right next to Animal Farm, Brave New World, and 1984.

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wave_(2008_film)#Differenc...

Perhaps, Lord of The Flies is somewhere on that shelf, as well. Gosh I should go back and read all those again!

I thought everybody knew that the book the movie was based on was based on the story in the OP. We had to read the book in school (in Europe). I feel old now.

Indeed:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0429168/bio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_Wave_(experiment)