German soldiers advance; Jewish forced to dig a pit

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 1991.260.1 | RG Number: RG-60.0282 | Film ID: 201

Overview

Description: The German military enters Riga, Latvia: jeeps (some full of soldiers, some pulling ammunition) drive through cobblestoned city streets. Views of destruction all around: bodies and dead horses, rubble, shattered buildings. A sense of grim, utter destruction pervades. Pan of the bombed-out facades ending at an artist sitting in the street, sketching the sight.

03:28:15 At Kužiai forest (15km from Siauliai, Lithuania) rounded-up Jews, many in suits, some bearded and in religious garb, jump off the back of an open truck, shovels in hand. They are made to dig in field/orchard, then move large rocks, under supervision of German soldier, who struts and shouts commands. Medium CU of men taking off their shirts. Strong sense of fear, intimidation. (the Jews from Siauliai are later murdered and buried in this pit on June 28, 1941)
Film Title: Deutsche Wochenschau
Duration: 00:01:08
Date: Event: June/July 1941
Censor: 1941 July 16
Locale: Soviet Union
Riga, Latvia
Siauliai, Lithuania
Credit: Accessed at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Bundesarchiv Filmarchiv

Language: German
Genre/Form: Newsreels.
B&W / Color: Black & White
Image Quality: Good
Time Code: 03:27:46:00 to 03:28:54:00
Film Format: Master
Master 201 Video: One Inch - NTSC
Master 201 Video: One Inch - NTSC
Master 201 Video: One Inch - NTSC
Master 201 Video: One Inch - NTSC
Preservation
Preservation 201 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
Preservation 201 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
Preservation 201 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
Preservation 201 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
Preservation 201 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
Preservation 201 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
Preservation 201 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
Preservation 201 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large

Conditions on Access: You do not require further permission from the Museum to access this archival media.
Copyright: Federal Republic of Germany. Bundesarchiv.
Conditions on Use: Researchers who wish to use this footage should contact the Bundesarchiv Filmarchiv at filmbenutzung@bundesarchiv.de to sign a release, or submit the online request form at: https://www.bundesarchiv.de/EN/Content/Downloads/request-for-use-av-material.pdf?__blob=publicationFile
Copyright Holder: Federal Republic of Germany. Bundesarchiv.

Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Film Provenance: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum purchased this from the Bundesarchiv in Berlin, Germany in September 1991. The footage was transferred at Bibo TV in Germany and obtained as research for the Museum's Permanent Exhibition.
Note: This footage is also available at John E. Allen, Inc. See Story 110, Film ID 145 and Story 81, Film ID 140 for duplicate footage.

One of the Jewish men killed in the Kužiai forest was Abraham Shwarts, a lawyer. He had a wife, Bluma, and two children (Yaakov and Grisha). Grisha (8 years old) was killed in the children's aktion in Siauliai ghetto. Yaakov survived the Holocaust.
Copied From: 35mm; b/w
Film Source: Bundesarchiv (Germany). Filmarchiv
File Number: Legacy Database File: 850
Source Archive Number: DW 567/30/41 R3
Special Collection: Steven Spielberg Film and Video Archive