German activity at the Westwall and the French border

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 2003.122 | RG Number: RG-60.4283 | Film ID: 2552

Overview

Description: Title on screen: Ozaphan 12/39 Monatschau; Die Wacht am Westwall [The watch on the West wall]. The West wall was a German defense line along the western German border. Two German soldiers sit on a hilltop overlooking a river. One looks through binoculars and points into the distance. German soldiers march down into a concrete bunker (part of the West wall) with a relief of a soldier carved around the doorway. Soldiers running around a structure that appears to be camouflaged with tree limbs. A cannon, camouflaged with tree branches, rises up out of the woods. Germans fire cannons, presumably from the bunker. Title on screen: Von den Franzosen geraeumte deutche Grenzorte [The German areas from which the French have been removed]. A sign in front of a town reads "Herbitzheim" (?). Brief panning shot across destroyed houses. Title on screen: Hier hausten Marokkaner [Moroccans resided here]. Interior of a destroyed house. Title on screen: Hinterhaeltig angelegte Sprengladungen [Cunningly laid explosives]. German soldiers reconnoiter amongst ruins of houses. Explosions issue from the interiors of a couple of houses. The Germans find explosives wired to the underside of a cart. They take shelter as the cart explodes. A person, possibly a civilian, appears briefly in a doorway. Title: Franzoesische Gefangene [French prisoners]. French prisoners march through a field, smoking cigarettes; prisoners being driven off in the back of a vehicle under German guard. Title on screen: Deutsche Lautsprecher bringen __ Franzosen Musik und Aufklaerende Nachrichten [German loudspeakers bring the French music and illuminating news]. German soldiers play instruments and set up loudspeakers. A group of soldiers looks through binoculars across the border (?), where French soldiers can be seen dancing. The Germans unroll and erect a banner with a large message on it in French. The whole message is not readable, but the first word is "Pourquois." Title on screen: Luftballons bringen Druckschriften hinueber [Balloons take leaflets across]. German soldiers send several bunches of balloons, with rolled paper leaflets attached, aloft over a large tarp of some kind, probably over the border. Title on screen: Unsere Luftwaffe haelt scharfe Wacht [Our Luftwaffe observes a strict watch]. Luftwaffe members, shot from below, look through binoculars from atop some structure. A brief shot of a row of planes on the ground. A group of men with a large weapon of some kind. A German positions the barrel of a cannon, which is camouflaged with foliage. Title on screen: Geschossene franzoesische Flugzeuge [Shot-down French planes]. Germans in the woods inspect the wreckage of French planes. One of the soldiers hoses down a still-smoking plane. Title on screen: Die "Royal Oak" und "Repulse" in Scapa Flow torpediert [The Royal Oak and Repulse, which were torpedoed in the Scapa Flow]. Views of several ships, including at least one submarine. Some shots show sailors aboard, presumably British. Title on screen: Begeisterer Empfang der kuehnen U-Boot-Besatzung in Berlin [Joyful reception of the brave U boat crew in Berlin]. Crowds surround an airplane, from which naval officers disembark. Close up shots of one of the officers and one of the sailors, smiling at the camera. Scene shifts to an officer traveling in a motorcade down a Berlin street. Excited crowds salute and press against the barricades. They are held back by police. Title on screen: Staatspraesident Dr. Tiso begruesst die siegreichen slowakischen Seeresperbaende [State president Dr. Tiso greets the victorious Slovakian ??]. Jozef Tiso, president of Slovakia, reviews troops. Another man pins medals on an officer. Soldiers marching.
Film Title: Der Wacht Am Westwall [Watch on the West wall]
Duration: 00:02:59
Date: Event: December 1939
Locale: France
Germany
Berlin, Germany
Credit: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, gift of Claranne Bechtler
Contributor: Producer: UFA

Physical Details

Language: Silent
Genre/Form: Newsreels.
B&W / Color: Black & White
Image Quality: Fair
Time Code: 01:06:09:00 to 01:09:08:00
Film Format: Master
Master 2552 Film: positive - 16 mm - ozaphan - b&w
Master 2552 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - small
Master 2552 Film: positive - 16 mm - ozaphan - b&w
Master 2552 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - small
Master 2552 Film: positive - 16 mm - ozaphan - b&w
Master 2552 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - small
Master 2552 Film: positive - 16 mm - ozaphan - b&w
Master 2552 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - small
Preservation
Preservation 2552 Film: negative - 16 mm - b&w - duplicate negative
Preservation 2552 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - small
Preservation 2552 Film: negative - 16 mm - b&w - duplicate negative
Preservation 2552 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - small
Preservation 2552 Film: negative - 16 mm - b&w - duplicate negative
Preservation 2552 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - small
Preservation 2552 Film: negative - 16 mm - b&w - duplicate negative
Preservation 2552 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - small
User
User 2552 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2556 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2579 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2586 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2552 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2556 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2579 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2586 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2552 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2556 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2579 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2586 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2552 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2556 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2579 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print
User 2586 Film: positive - 16 mm - b&w - print

Rights & Restrictions

Conditions on Access: You do not require further permission from the Museum to access this archival media.
Copyright: Public Domain
Conditions on Use: To the best of the Museum's knowledge, this material is in the public domain. You do not require further permission from the Museum to reproduce or use this material.

Administrative Notes

Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Film Provenance: Claranne Bechtler, the daughter of John Christopher Bechtler, donated her father's film materials to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in May 1995 [Accession Number 1995.A.875]. Most of these items were deaccessioned in March 2000; 18 reels of film, however, were transferred to the Steven Spielberg Film and Video Archive at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and were never officially deaccessioned or removed from the Museum's premises. They were officially "donated" again by Mrs. Bechtler in June 2003 with the Accession Number 2003.122.
Note: This may be the same as Story 3640 on Film ID 2614
Film Source: Bechtler, Ms. Claranne M.
John C. Bechtler
File Number: Legacy Database File: 4573
Special Collection: Steven Spielberg Film and Video Archive

Record last modified:: 2024-02-21 08:05:56
This page:: http://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn1003748

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Also in John Christopher Bechtler Collection

John Christopher Bechtler was a U.S. soldier in Berchtesgaden in April-May 1945, serving with the Counter Intelligence Corps. He arrested and interrogated various Germans at the end of the war and collected these films. Another reel of amateur black and white film footage documenting Bechtler’s activities in Munich immediately after the war was donated in 2007 including shots of U.S. military personnel, the Counter-Intelligence Corps (CIC), and war ruins.

Polish prisoners; British Courageous air carrier; German ships

Film

German intertitles describe action. Low aerial shot of Polish prisoners marching, then a shot of the column from ground level. The camera pans across a field of prisoners and starved-looking horses, some of which are yoked to carts. Dead horses, abandoned carts and weapons strewn about on the banks of a river and in the river. A low aerial shot of rows of cannons in a field; no people in the shot. Piles of weapons and gas masks, then a brief shot of German soldiers with rifles, perhaps inspecting the weapons. Hitler reviews soldiers in Warsaw. Soldiers on foot, on horseback, and with bicycles march past Hitler. Close up of Hitler and of some of the soldiers. Airplanes picking up wounded from the front. An ambulance and an airplane on an airstrip. Soldiers remove a wounded man on a stretcher from the plane and load him into the ambulance. One of the soldiers speaks briefly to the wounded man. German soldiers repair a destroyed bridge. A wide shot of a destroyed and still-smoking bridge. Several shots of men performing different stages of repair work on the bridge. Footage shot from a plane (the wing is visible) of the aircraft carrier Courageous. The British Courageous was sunk by a U Boat on 17 September, 1939, but the footage doesn't appear to capture this event. A damaged U-boat returning to port. The U boat arrives at port, with sailors standing at attention and waving from the decks. A high-ranking naval commander pins a medal on the chest of the (presumably) captain of the U boat and perhaps other sailors. Close-ups of the smiling sailors and a shot of the flag of the Nazi navy. A German destroyer on a pirate trip on the north sea. This appears to show some kind of exercise or war game between two German ships. The scene opens with several shots of the exterior of a ship on the ocean, another ship is also present. Soldiers are shown rushing up from the hold of the ship and boarding a dinghy, in which they cross to the other ship. They board the ship and a sailor appears waving two flags, in mock victory or surrender (?). A brief shot of sailors looking over the railing, smiling. The dinghy returns to its ship and the last shot shows the wake of one ship and the other in the distance.

War in the Pacific, kamikaze attacks, USS Franklin bombed

Film

Documentary with intertitles produced for the home movie market by Castle Films Productions. War in the Pacific: kamikaze attacks, boats, US soldiers, fighting at sea and on land in Japan, USS Franklin bombed, fighting the fire, medics and chaplain attend to the wounded, columns of smoke, Statue of Liberty, Purple Heart ceremony. THE END

Hitler's butler's home movies; Oswald Mosley, BUF in London

Film

1938 color home movies of Kannenberg family in Germany. Two young girls (nieces) with Arthur Kannenberg and shiny black Mercedes flying small swastika. Intertitle: "Unser Vater an seinem 73.ten Geburtstag (Our father on his 73rd birthday) 21.6.38." Grandfather, grandmother, 3 young girls bring flowers. Family scenes, including storefront "Villa Luise." [1944 police document identifies Inger Poulsen of Elbingerode, niece of "Hausintendant Kannenberg", born 5 March 1923 in Kopenhagen, Denmark] 01:02:26 "Corporate Films Ltd. Present" "East London Blackshirt Rally" "Victoria Park 7th. June 1936" "Inspection by the Leader at Millbank Westminster" Oswald Mosley in black uniform and others in street, near Westminster. He reviews fascists on parade, then proceeds through streets standing in open car, people along side giving fascist salute. Groups of Union Jack flags. Motorcycles accompany car. 01:04:07 CS Mosley speaking. CU, wild-eyed. In uniform, armbands with lightning symbol. "The Leader Takes the Salute" March through streets, British policemen. March with Union Jacks along Millbank. Drum. Women's unit marching. Dark shirts, berets. Uniformed Fascists marching. "The Communist Meeting Prior to Our Arrival" B.U.F. (British Union of Fascists). "But When Mosley Arrives the Reds are Forgotten" "See How They Run" "Estimated Attendance 100,000" Oswald Mosley speaking, close view with microphone, hand moving with speech. Pan of crowds. Good close views of men & women in audience. Flags, police on horseback, among the crowd. 01:11:16 "We" "Want" "Mosely" Graphic of line of uniformed men. "Publications you should Read" Fascist book.

Hitler's butler's home movies; maiden voyage of KdF ship "Robert Ley"

Film

Amateur films of Hitler's major domo - "Hausintendant" Arthur Kannenberg, some events are early 1939. Landscape in Grillenburg, an estate near the town of Tharandt which was owned by Martin Mutschmann, head of the Nazi party in the State of Saxony from 1925 until May 1945. MS, statue (bronze stag) commissioned by Mutschmann around 1937 when he had the "New Hunting Lodge" or "Neues Jägerhaus" constructed. An archway engraved with Mutschmann's image at the center. Views of the New Lodge, stone bridge and lakes, and the original lodge from 1855. Kannenberg with chimney sweeps in front of shop. Landscape - Bavaria or Austria. 01:03:26 to 01:03:45 Kannenberg in civilian clothes, in front of small unit of men, with officer. Swans, pond. Civilians including Adolf Galland fish from stone bridge. Military man in BG. Close views, several men fishing, Kannenberg & friends. 3 women present. Round faced man seen with Kannenberg & fish appears in Eva Braun's photo album captioned "Fritz-Otto," strongly resembles Gauleiter of Saxony, Martin Mutschmann, "the most hated man in Dresden," according to Victor Klemperer's diary. 01:07:20 German Intertitle: "Im Flugzeug begaben wir uns nach Hamburg zum K.d.F. Schiff 'Robert Ley'" 01:07:26 INT of airplane. Intertitle: "Die Dame mit dem Herrn Hut ist Frau Freda" Poor quality. Men are in uniform. Aerial views. D-AVAU markings on airplane; part of Hitler's personal air fleet. "In Hamburg wurde die kleine Reisegesellschaft photographiert" [In Hamburg, the little travel party is photographed.] Officers & women pose for pictures, next to plane on field. 01:08:26 Name on airplane nose: General von Hoeppner. Pan along plane & people. Red swastika. 01:09:01 "Unsere Fahrt auf dem K.d.F. Schiff 'Robert Ley'" Scenes on deck, including close views of Kannenberg & wife Freda. 01:09:47 "Meine Frau, Frl. Gerda und Frl. Grete genannt "Frau Graefin"" [My wife, Miss Gerda, & Miss Grete a.k.a. Mrs.'Count''] 01:10:44 "Dada flirtet" Hitler's secretary, Gerda Daranowski, on deck with man, looking at harbor. "Hamburg" Ship accompanied by destroyers 51 & 52. Hamburg harbor. "Unser Kapitaen Bauer" [Our Captain Bauer] [Hitler's personal pilot, Hans Bauer] in uniform on deck 01:12:50 "Der Fuehrer und seine Gaeste werden ausgebootet, um die Insel Helgoland zu besuchen" [The Fuehrer & his guests change boats to visit the island of Helgoland] Smaller boat with VIPs filmed from ship. Hitler visible momentarily top of frame at 01:13:52. "Familie Reichsminister Kerrl sonnt sich" (No scenes follow) Note: Maiden voyage of KdF (Kraft durch Freude/ Strength through Joy) ship "Robert Ley" was end of March/beginning of April 1939. Hitler, Bormann, Sepp Dietrich, other Nazi leaders were on board.

Oswald Mosley, British Union of Fascists, Manchester

Film

Cobblestoned streets, Manchester, England. Double decker bus, shops, some signs. Civilian men marching. Small band, people. Some Union Jack flags. 01:08:15 color footage of Oswald Mosley and large rectangular microphone. Speech to closely gathered crowd. Pan of crowd and Manchester brick buildings in background. Red armbands visible. Scuffles, man with bleeding head, bandaged. Speech continues, police among crowd. Fainted woman is carried off. 01:10:18 b/w footage again. 01:10:35 "Fascism means war!" written large in white on wall behind crowd. Speeches continue. Mosley shot from low angle, gesticulating vociferously. 01:12:00 men in crowd give fascist salute. Some women too. Mosley and crowd appear to be signing. 01:12:45 color footage. Fascist salutes as Mosley departs. Union Jack flags and "Fascism means war!" on wall, pan of chimneys and brick buildings, crowd. 01:13:55 b/w footage of Mosley in crowd, medium shot, very cheery. More fascist salutes. Union Jacks lead procession through crowd. WS of large square and scene, slogan in background. Close shots from elevated angle of men in crowd. 01:15:30 men marching through streets, rear view, 10 abreast. Mosley chatting with folks in street, double decker buses behind.

Home movies: Hitler's major domo swimming; swans; rowboat

Film

Amateur films of "Hausintendant" Arthur (a.k.a. Willy) Kannenberg, major domo/house manager to Adolf Hitler. Lily pond, swans, rowboat, swimming (possibly a male relative of Kannenberg; similar facial structure). Teasing and feeding swans from end of rowboat. 01:04:20 Kannenberg swimming and frolicking with a blond woman, probably his wife Freda, from the rowboat. Surface dives. Both climb into boat. 01:08:55 Swans among the lily pads, filmed from rowboat. 01:11:25 The blond woman and Kannenberg in hats, in the boat. Two swans at water's edge.

Anschluss: Annexation of Austria

Film

Newsreel footage of events surrounding the German invasion of Austria. Intertitles read as follows: Austrian Chancellor Kurt Von Schuschnigg who failed to satisy Hitler's demands. Hitler's answer to Austria: INVASION! The modern Caesar triumphantly re-enters the land of his birth. Nazi troops give "Heil salute" casually, individually, to crowds as they pass in jeeps, armored vehicles. Some shop signs seen in background: Kastner, Wagons-Lits/ Cook, Mercedes. Hitler exits car to walk in street. From the balcony of the Imperial Palace he screamed, "75,000,000 people in one nation- - No force on earth can shake us!" Various shots of the Chancellor Von Schuschnigg, followed by crowd sequences, motorcades, Hitler's arrival. Several shots of crowds engaged in Nazi salute. Hitler addresses the people of Austria from the balcony of the Imperial Palace.

Goering, Galland, Luftwaffe senior officers; Goering's train (Sonderzug) at HQ, Eastern Front; Goering's photographer Eitel Lange

Film

Air-to-ground views from plane, flying over pock-marked countryside. Pilot/officer's face briefly seen in cockpit of Fiesler-Storch at 01:01:00 may be Gen. Wolfram von Richthofen. Front view of propeller spinning after landing. Flying over W. Ukraine? Thatched houses. Landing at airfield under construction; corrugated structures, semi-circular. Man swinging hammer, shirtless in sun. Views of train in woods, presumably Goering's train. 01:03:41 Shooting practice with rifles. Eitel Lange, Goering's still photographer, takes position on his stomach and shoots. Military men, jackets off. 01:04:30:10 One officer shooting rifle is short, round, older, wears sunglasses - Oberst (Group Captain)(Paul Koerner?) Friedrich 'Fritz' Goernnert shoots pistol. [Preceding sequence may be 26 July 1941. See Heinrich Hoffmann photo in FHQ Album #3, Camera Roll 5051, Frame 23 at NARA. Occasion is decoration of Luftwaffe Ace Werner Moelders] 01:05:33 - August 1942 - Three men walking to camera, along side of train. L to R: Goernnert, Gauleiter Josef Grohe, Gen. Karl Bodenschatz. 01:05:44 Adolf Galland on phone, pan to train. 01:06:00 officers by train in trees. Gen. Gunther Korten, others. Animated officer is General der Flieger Karl Bodenschatz, Goering's senior aide and chief adjutant, talking to Kastner-Kirdorf and Hans Jeschonnek. 01:06:14 Officer, Adolf Galland, Karl Bodenschatz, train just behind them. 01:06:20 In the background, the cook for the Sonderzug is at the open train window. 01:06:23:07 On the right Hans Jeschonnek, Luftwaffe Chief of Staff. 01:06:24 Josef Grohe, Gauleiter of Koeln-Aachen, in civilian suit on left, talking to Martin Bormann on right, both seen in profile, train behind. 01:06:29 On right in light uniform is Josef 'Beppo' Schmid, Luftwaffe Intelligence Chief. 01:06:37 Hans Jeschonnek, OKL Chief of Staff, facing camera, seen over Bodenschatz's shoulder. Pan left, including Galland . 01:06:44 ( ?) and Galland 01:06:49 Goering and Galland walk toward camera, along train. Goering without jacket, hitches up pants. 01:06:58 Bodenschatz, Galland, Goering, and Grohe. 01:07:08 Two men stride along train. Wavy-haired man in shirt sleeves looks to camera, possibly Kattengel. 01:07:20 Scenes from, and of train. Scenes along train, guarded, in station. Local people gathered near track, mix with German military men. Western Ukraine. May be near Vinnitsa & Hitler's HQ Wolfschanze ('Werewolf'). Thatched roofs, peasants. NSV woman and military man with local young woman in headscarf. 01:10:00 close views of thatch, women, etc. Ukrainians. 01:10:28 Back at target practice range. Various men shooting. 01:11:01 On belly with rifle: Walter Novotny? Sunny, summery. 01:11:30 01:12:00 interior of Ukrainian peasant house with Hitler portrait on wall amid ornaments, ikons, flowers. Substantial train coverage of all kinds, throughout. Moving footage, shot atop train, mounted A/A guns on grain. Train passing wreckage, other trains, soldiers on guard along track, some civilians? 01:13:50 Military man in overalls (or flying suit?) atop train with still camera, photographing. Probably Eitel Lange, personal still photographer for Hermann Goering. 01:15:32 Polish railway worker close to track. Pause in station at "Brest-Lit." (Brest-Litovsk). Pan down to sign: Bahnhofs Kommandantur. [German signs in Brest-Litovsk suggest 1941, not 1939) 01:15:36 Officers at stopped train. (Including Kattengel? at 01:15:38) Train on the move, passes two uniformed women close & smiling, some prisoners? on side of tracks. 01:16:19 Goernnert, others in uniform, near stopped train, in station. 01:16:27 German soldier, short officer & taller one in Hungarian uniforms. Station sign behind them: KASATIN I. (Major railway hub in Ukraine) Officers strolling up and down quai. Leisurely. Last shot, Oberstleutnant (Wing Commander) Karl Koller, walking with civilian in dark suit NOTES, re. dates: 1941, at time of Operation Barbarossa, invasion of Eastern Poland and Soviet Union; and 1942. Eitel Lange's book, "Der Reichsmarschall im Kriege," includes matching images and describes Grohe's visit to Ukraine as end of August 1942. Lange writes at length about Goernnert, and names "Kaltengell" as one of the others.

Filmstrip: German defenses in France

Film

Filmstrip about German defenses in France. NO VIDEO ELEMENTS AVAILABLE.

German troops in France; Hitler in Memel

Film

Title on screen: Ozaphan 1/40 Monatschau; Durchsuchen genommener franzoesischer Stellungen [Search of captured French trenches]. Armed German soldiers walk along a muddy road and among destroyed buildings. They search the banks and interior of a trench. Title on screen: Ein Fesselballoon wrid zum Aufstieg fertiggemacht [A captive balloon (? dictionary translation) is prepared for its ascent]. German soldiers run up a small hill toward a dirigible, which is docked among some trees. Two Germans are shown climbing into flight suits, while others prepare the dirigible for flight by leading it out of the clearing using the lines that tether it to the ground. Another shot of the Germans getting into their flight suits and putting on their helmets, then a shot from the ground of the dirigible high up in the air. The airship has some kind of cross symbol painted on its side. Title on screen: Meldehunde und Brieftauben [Messenger dogs and pigeons]. Germans march across a field with dogs at their sides. They perform exercises with the dogs, including crawling across the field on their stomachs. Two messenger pigeons, wearing specially constructed padded suits and inserted into small containers, are attached to the sides of saddles worn by one of the dogs. The dog runs across the field and delivers the pigeons and their messages to waiting soldiers. Title on screen: Das ruchlose Attentat am Vorabend des 9. November [The wicked assasination attempt on the evening before the 9th of November]. Men leave the doorway of a building, over which hang numbers forming the dates 1923 and 1939 (November 8/9 1923 was the date of the Beer Hall Putsch). Two carved eagles flank the doorway. The camera pans over the wreckage of a building. A brief shot of Germans clearing away rubble, then more shots of the completely destroyed structure. Title on screen: Der Fuehrer erweist seinen Getreuen die letzte Ehre [The Fuehrer shows the final honor to his loyal followers]. Hitler, accompanied by Hess and another man, attends a funeral. Shots of Nazi flag-draped coffins and of weeping widows. Crowd and close up shots of SA men. Hitler places a wreath in front of one of the coffins and salutes. He offers condolences to one of the women. Crowds salute the funeral procession as it marches slowly down the street, with a large wreath and a man carrying the dead man's medals in front of the coffin. The procession marches under the Brandenburg gate. The scene switches abruptly: Hitler, in his car, on foot, and from a window, is shown greeting excited crowds; the crowds wave from a window, on the street, and a shot from above of crowds running, presumably toward Hitler's entourage. The last shot shows planes flying over a building with Polish words on it. Title on screen: Die grosse Parade auf dem Wenzelsplatz zu Prag [The great parade on the Wenzelsplatz in Prague]. Soldiers marching, military vehicles, including tanks and cannons on carts, drive down the street. Planes fly overhead. Title on screen: Rueckkehr des Fuehrers in die Reichshauptstadt [Return of the Fuehrer to the capital of the Reich]. A shot of partially furled Nazi flags covers the screen. A crowd awaits a locomotive as it enters a station; shot of smoke/steam issuing from the smokestack of the train. Hitler disembarks. Shot of his motorcade traveling down the street at night, with crowds lining the street, and fireworks in the sky. Hitler stands at a window and looks down at the street. He motions for Goering, beside him, to come forward. A shot of the crowd waving. Title on screen: Der Fuerher in Befreiten Memelland [The Fuehrer in liberated Memel]. A man paints over the Lithuanian words on a sign in front of a train station so that only the German is visible. Memel, formerly part of East Prussia until it was ceded to Lithuania under the Versailles Treaty, was annexed back to Germany in March of 1939. Shots of Memel fascists in black uniforms, ordinary citizens greeting Hitler, and arriving German troops are interspersed with several scenes of Hitler arriving by ship. People wave to him from what appears to be a small fishing vessel, and sailors wave from the distance of another ship. Hitler disembarks from a ship and is greeted enthusiastically. He prepares to speak from a balcony on a large (perhaps government) building while crowds cheer wildly.

Goering, Messerschmitt, Galland, Milch, Luftwaffe troops; Goering & the fast train in E. Prussia

Film

Copy of a newsreel with fades between segments, scratch throughout, near center of frame, to 01:06:38. [corresponds to newsreel at Imperial War Museum dated 1943.] Goering touring factory with Luftwaffe officers & civilians, visiting workers. Goering walks with Prof. Willy Messerschmitt (dark leather coat), others. Friendly greetings, salutes as Goering drives slowly in open Mercedes. 01:00:56 Airfield, Goering arrives, out of car, reviews troops, followed by Adolf Galland (no Iron Cross), Bruno Loerzer, others. 01:01:04 Far left: Josef 'Beppo' Schmid (Iron Cross). Goering chatting with Luftwaffe officers, troops, smiling. 01:01:24 close view of Hermann Graf (Iron Cross). CU Goering. 01:01:40 MCU Galland (no Iron Cross, no medals) 01:01:52 VCU Goering. 01:01:56 CU Generalfeldmarschal Erhard Milch. Bruno Loerzer in the BG with Goering in several shots. Goering, Willy Messerschmitt walk slowly with two officers on field, men lined up in BG 01:02:30 Goering up on plane, inspecting the machine. Goering has a sandwich & chats with the locals; children give flowers. 01:03:19 Luftwaffe men behind Goering as he takes the flowers; far right may be Goering's valet Robert Kropp. Workers greet him outside & inside factory. 01:03:55 Loerzer behind Goering, with scarf over his uniform. A crush of people around Goering, many women. 01:04:01 Civilian with homburg & spectacles, left of Goering, is probably Ernst Heinkel. 01:04:35 1942, Goering visits the Hermann Goering Division in the Netherlands. Airfield scene, Goering inspecting large number of troops on open field. Pan of officers. 01:05:32 CU "Hermann Goering" on uniform sleeve. 01:05:33 Eitel Lange can be glimpsed behind Goering, photographing with Leica camera. Luftwaffe officers in close view at 01:05:51. Left, Gunther Korten, OKL Chief of Staff (killed in 20 July 1944 bomb blast during attempted assassination of Hitler); older officer on right, Gen. Friedrich Christiansen, Military Commander of the Occupied Netherlands and Goering's contact for looted art from the Netherlands, according to OSS report. 01:05:55 Goering on stomach, with glasses, shooting rifle at target. [Matches scene photographed by Eitel Lange and published in his book on Goering; location identified as Arnhem, Netherlands.] 01:06:40 Unedited train sequence, apparently professionally shot. Moving shots with steam, curves, tracks, officers inside train looking out. 01:07:44 to 01:08:04 Eitel Lange with Leica camera in train corridor, opens window and shoots photos from the train, closes window. Up and past small station with sign: Eichkamp (Ostpr.) (Schackummen) [East Prussia] Some snow on ground; wintery. 01:08:25 Goering, others near very modern train stopped in station. [Identified as the "Fliegende Hamburger," prototype high speed train between Berlin & Hamburg.] Goering in fur-lined winter coat, fur hat, using stick to climb up and down steep quays from tracks with other officers, including one OT (Organisation Todt) officer. Big cigar in Goering's mouth throughout sequence. Goering into Mercedes and away. License plate WL ### (Wehrmacht Luftwaffe) 01:11:39 "Staged" sequence of train interior, officer at desk; wavy-haired: may be Kattengel as he also appears in target practice sequence on Film ID 2548 and touring volcano on Film ID 2544). He talks on phone, is brought a message, motions for some action. Car and driver seen outside, through train window.

Goering's private train (Sonderzug) and staff; Luftwaffe officers at HQ Eastern Front; Romanian air force visitors

Film

Events seen may be 1941 to 1943, many are 1942. Brief scene of rifle practice at shooting range in Rominten, near Goering's HQ (train) with Luftwaffe men, including Eitel Lange, Goering's still photographer (see also Film ID 2551). Goering in summer uniform under trees with Romanian air force visitors including tall dark officer, & German officers, including Adolf Galland. (May be 4 October 1941 according to Goering photo album #39 at LOC) 01:00:32 - 01:00:36 glimpse of Goering's valet, Robert Kropp, walking unobtrusively behind the group, very close to the train. Goering & others walking, & next to train, talking, includes Romanian air force officers, Paul Koerner, Bernd von Brauchitsch. 01:00:48 L to R: (Unidentified), Goering, Gen.Kastner-Kirsdorf, Gen. Walter von Axthelm, (Unidentified). Camera pans left 01:00:50 - 01:00:57 Goering in conversation with many officers, seated at large round table next to train (Goering's moving HQ). Lunch under trees, round table with white cloth & flowers, passing photos. 01:01:17 Gen.von Axthelm facing camera, others seen from rear, including Goering's adjutant Jeschonnek and Gen. Galland. 01:01:28 3 officers in conversation, Josef 'Beppo' Schmid (head of Luftwaffe intelligence) almost facing camera; trees behind. 01:01:37 Camera pans to left. 01:01:45 L to R Galland, Axthelm, (Unidentified), Jeschonnek, Romanian air force officer. 01:01:49 Josef Schmid seen in several shots. Visitor & Paul Koerner greeting other officers, heil, walk to cars. 01:02:14 Cameraman filming. Views inside train. 01:02:34 Pan right out window to Goering, others outside at table. On the left, staff members and speaker (partly obscured by tree) [See Notes] 01:03:14 Goering's personal staff gathered in shirtsleeves, including Goernnert and (unconfirmed) Schwester Christa, Red Cross nurse in white, who administered Goering's drugs. According to Eitel Lange's book on Goering, they were listening to recordings of Reichstag speeches from 1932, in celebration of Goering's 10 years as Reichstag president. 01:03:20 Men at table with Goering include Jeschonnek, Galland & Schmid in white uniforms, probably Gen.Hugo Sperrle across table from camera 01:03:21- 01:03:27 Foreground, head of man photographing is probably Robert Kropp, Goering's valet. 01:03:47 CS Bernd von Brauchitsch, Goering's adjutant, seated at train window smoking. 01:03:50 Goering walking, visiting with nurses & wounded on, near train. 01:04:38 Civilian in train: Paul Pleiger. Pan to younger man, CU. Train moving slowly among trees. 01:05:-- Civilian, Paul Pleiger, industrialist, with Fritz Goernnert talking by train. (See Biog/Hist. Notes) 01:04:41 Barrier & sign: "Durchfahrt nur mit Sondergenehmigung". Small guard unit with rifles takes position. Cars arrive with Goering & officers, up & past. Goering's 2 regular special trains (Sonderzug) were called "Asien" and "Robinson."

Ships in iced-over Rhein; Sinking of English ship; "Altmark" in Norway

Film

01:00:00 Line of troops walking across chunks of snow and ice, wearing dark clothing that makes them stand out. Mountains in background. Brief shot of a large boat, which appears to be stuck in the ice. Title: "Pioniere setzen mit Schlauchbooten ueber den vereisten Rhein" [Engineers set up inflatable dinghies on the frozen Rhein]. The engineers use a foot pump to inflate a dinghy, then a wide shot of groups of men pushing the dinghies across the snow. Troops running with packs on their backs; they arrive at the edge of the Rhein and toss their supplies into the inflatable boats. They board the boats and paddle out into the river. The Rhein is clogged with big chunks of ice and snow but there is still water visible. The last shot shows two boats being carried downstream by the current. 01:00:34 Title: "Uebung deutscher Schlachtschiffe bei schwerem Eisgang" [German battleship maneuvers in difficult river ice]. Views from the forward deck of a ship as it plows through ice-covered water. Shot of the water churning with ice. Waves breaking over the bow of the ship. A naval man on deck looking out over the water with binoculars. More shots of the ship from different vantage points. Several shots of the ships' guns being fired, explosions in the water. 01:01:13 Title: "Deutscher Flieger versenken bewaffnete englische handelsdampfer" [German pilots sink armed English cargo ships] View from the cockpit of a plane flying low over the ocean as it shoots at and sinks two British ships. Various views of the damaged and sinking ships, including a shot of one of the ships as the top of its masts sink below the surface of the ocean. 01:02:00 Title: "Das Verbrechen an der "Altmark" im Joessingfjord, Februar 1940" [The crimes against the "Altmark" in the Joessing fjord, February 1940]. View of a snow-covered valley village. The "Altmark" in the harbor. A group shot of wounded sailors on deck, looking into the camera. Sailors disembark, one carried on a stretcher. Interior hospital scene with patients in bed and a nurse assisting them. Doctors examine patients. A shot of the Nazi flag being lowered to half-mast and somber men carrying a flag-draped coffin and lowering it into the ground (a banner laid across the coffin reads "Den Kongelige Norske Marine"). Funeral-goers give the Nazi salute. A close-up of a banner or tablet reading "Adolf Hitler." UFA logo. The "Altmark" was a cargo vessel that took refuge in the Jossing Fjord (near Bergen, Norway) after being pursued by British and Norwegian ships. The Altmark was carrying some 300 British seamen who had originally been taken prisoner by the German pocket battleship Graf Spee in the South Atlantic. On the 16th of February, 1940, the British destroyer HMS Cossack entered the Fjord and captured the Altmark, gaining the release of the British prisoners and killing several German seamen. The Altmark was undamaged and allowed to return to Germany. The titles repeat, one after the other. They are centered and do not run off the screen. 01:03:18

A. Fokker films: von Richthofen, Goering, WWI flying aces, Fokker

Film

Various locations and dates, probably Northern France near St Quentin and Belgium, between Autumn 1916 to September 1918. Contains activities of Jagdgeschwader 1 (the Red Baron's "Flying Circus"), comprising Jagdstaffel (Jasta) 4, 6, 10, 11, which was commanded by Manfred von Richthofen (MvR) until his death April 21, 1918 in a Fokker Dr.1. Hermann Goering became CO of Jagdgeschwader Freiherr von Richthofen No.1 on July 7, 1918. Film title at head: "RICHTHOFEN FILM aufgenommen von AHG FOKKER, 1. Teil" German military men on roof of train during World War I, stationary, moving along curved track, through countryside, shot from top of RR car towards front of train. Train stopped in station, men inside and out, on the platform. One civilian standing with uniformed men on top of train. 01:02:49 "Mobile" airfield, no landmarks on horizon. Men & biplanes. Pan of tents near trees, camouflaged with branches, covering planes. 01:03:31 Pan of planes lined up on field in a row, airmen near them, tents behind. Jasta 6 biplanes (possibly Fok. D.VIIs) with dark/white diagonal stripes on noses & wheels, warming up in a line. MCU, German pilots (mainly Jasta 4) ready to fly, standing in a group. Tall pilot in jacket with fur collar, fur lined helmet, with moustache (possibly Wilhelm Frankl? Jasta 4, Jewish, KIA April 8, 1917). Pilot shaking hands with Manfred von Richthofen (MvR). Goering in BG, face fully wrapped. WS planes and men as engines warm up. 01:04:45 Hermann Goering in cockpit, removes face wrappings and ear plugs. 01:05:22 Wolfram von Richthofen (cousin of MvR) in cockpit, looks over shoulder to camera. CU Egon Koepsch (Jasta 4) in cockpit with scar on left cheek. 01:05:35 MCU Lt. Gluzsewski in cockpit wearing goggles, another by plane. Gluzsewski without goggles speaking, gesturing. Two others briefly seen in cockpit, helmet. Partial markings on plane visible: "Leergewicht / Nutz..." Airfield as planes take off one after the other. 01:06:44 Men on ground observe activity in the air through field glasses, next to tent; communication on handset. Unreadable sign posted in midst. Man runs to ring bell, men run into view and into tent; planes wheeled out. Group of German aces pose at and on nose of plane, including Ulrich Neckel (strong resemblance to MvR), no medals seen on any of the group - plane dates sequence as after MvR's death in April 1918. 01:08:16 Soft-focus shot of Goering (1918?), other pilots walking to camera, up & past. Goering seems to be leading. Friedrich Mallinckrodt (Jasta 6) on the left of Goering. Two holding little dogs, base seen in BG. 01:08:31 Probably mid-July 1918, Anthony Fokker in civilian suit, between Goering and Bruno Loerzer. MvR's blackthorn walking stick ("Geschwaderstock") handed to Goering, when Goering became Commanding Officer of Jagdgeschwader 1 on July 7, 1918. Loerzer takes it to admire and pass back. CU, Goering and Loerzer wearing Blue Max (Pour le Merite) medals at neck. Goering with stick passes close by camera, moving off. 01:09:32 Anthony Fokker poses with Goering and Loerzer. 01:09:44 Close profile, Lt. Schubert? with another, no medals. 01:10:12 Neckel, CO of Jasta 6 (Sept. 1, 1918 to end of war) hatless, no medals, in front of plane, lights cigarette (apparently same time as scene with others on plane at 01:06) MS Anthony Fokker and two others by plane, pilot in cockpit. Fokker talking, gesturing. Far right, Friedrich Mallinckrodt. Officer in glasses, sticks out tongue. Lothar(?) von Richthofen and Malllinckrodt, holding small dog. 01:11:19 CU Fokker in suit and flying helmet, goggles on head, white collar, tie. CU looking to sky, laughing. Another civilian. 01:11:55 CU two men in car, driver and officer, probably Hauptmann Wilhelm Haehnelt, officer in charge of aviation for the German 2nd Army during the March 1918 offensive. 01:11:59 Goering in Air Force uniform walking down wooden steps from cabin surrounded by trees & branches, towards camera, MCU. 01:12:13 Bomb damaged cathedral, presumably in occupied Belgium or France. Various scenes of damage in town. Damaged equipment. MS damaged tank inspected by Fokker and two military men; (British?) tank has marking on side of light square with spade shape in middle, number 2732. Fokker appears in tank turret. Another tank [or same tank from different angle] with spade marking has large C.51 marking. More scenes of destruction. 01:14:28 Goering, Fokker, and [Erich Loewenhardt? or one of the Loerzer brothers] swimming in canal at Masnières , Fokker splashing Goering. 01:15:06 Dog scenes, with airmen (1916?). Officer with dachshund, performing tricks. 01:15:28 Pilot with white dog sitting up, possibly Oswald Boelcke (d. Sept. 1916). 01:15:56 Short CU scenes of handsome, dark-eyed man with monkey, probably Wilhelm Frankl (Jewish, d. April 8, 1917), side view. Group of officers in semicircle encouraging dogs to play, no Blue Max medals visible. 01:16:50 Scenes of temporary airbase; on farm? Semicircular corrugated huts in WS. 01:17:20 Airmen in lower FG, trellis in BG, at far right Loerzer, Goering behind him. 01:17:29 Good CUs, group of pilots includes Hans Kirschstein laughing, between Goering and Lothar von Richthofen, Konstantin Krefft with hand on head of Kirschstein (d. July 16, 1918). At left, good CU, laughing men, no medals. Man with prominent teeth (possibly Gisbert-Wilhelm Groos, Jasta 11). Several men, including Loerzer, Mallinckrodt -- the goofy fellow with big grin, shorter man in rear (possibly Lt. Schubert). 01:18:28 Loerzer, Lothar von Richthofen, Goering. 01:19:01 Lunch outdoors with older couple, includes (R to L) Lothar von Richthofen, older male civilian, Goering, unknown, female in hat, Willi Reinhard (joined Jasta 11 on July 14, 1917; d. August 3, 1918) whispering to Loerzer. 01:19:33 Biplane takes off in September 1917, maneuvers in air, lands. 01:20:52 VCU of Anthony Fokker with dog, showing his dimples. 01:21:01 Werner Voss climbs into FOK. F I. 103 /17 (prototype triplane), looks at camera as two men are on either side of plane, one hands him gloves. 01:21:41 Good close views of Voss. 01:21:57 Animated conversation between Voss and Fokker in plaid suit and cap. Voss shows Fokker his plane with a painted face on the nose (Voss was killed in this aircraft Sept. 23, 1917 at age 20). 01:22:33 MvR (no medals) and father, Albrecht von Richthofen in officer uniform, probably Sept. 1917. MvR has thin black band under chin, holding head bandage in place. Both men in open car, as others take leave of the elder Richthofen. Car drives off. 01:22:53 MvR in fur coat with two others: Karl Bodenschatz, middle, Lt. Kurt Bertram von Doering on right, shake hands, farewells. 01:23:06 Animated group of pilots from Jasta 11, no Blue Max medals visible. Group includes Konstantin Krefft, Stapenhorst, Brauneck, Meyer. Officer behind MvR to the right looks very similar to MvR - probably Niederhoff. 01:23:19 Bodenschatz walks into view, joins group, to right of MvR (no medals). von Althaus left of MvR, one step up. Carl von Schoenebeck high on left, stick over shoulder, hand near white dog. Tall thin man without hat is Scheffer. MvR's head is shaved. 01:24:44 Pan right to left: Alfred Gerstenberg, Bockelmann, MvR in FG, Mohnike holding Moritz, Groos, Meyer. 01:25:24 MvR and his dog, Moritz, and other dogs. 01:26:26 Good close pan of pilots: L to R: #1 Carl von Schoenebeck; #2 Eberhardt Stapenhorst; #3 Gisbert-Wilhelm Groos; #4 Mohnike; #5 Matthof?; #6 Alfred Gerstenberg; #7 Busch?; #8 Meyer. RFDU insignia. End

A. Fokker films: von Richthofen's "Flying Circus", WWI aces

Film

Various locations and dates, probably N. France and Belgium, between Autumn 1916 to September 1918. Contains activities of Jagdgeschwader 1 (the Red Baron's "Flying Circus"), comprising Jagdstaffel (Jasta) 4, 6, 10, 11, which was commanded by Manfred von Richthofen (MvR) until his death April 21, 1918 in a Fokker Dr.1. Hermann Goering became CO of Jagdgeschwader Freiherr von Richthofen No.1 on July 7, 1918. Film title at head: "RICHTHOFEN FILM aufgenommen von AHG FOKKER, 2. Teil" September 1917 Pilots, observers on wooden platform with dog, looking through range finders, field glasses. Town in distance, church steeple, industrial chimneys. They hurry down wooden steps. Bell mounted on wooden tower rings. Planes into action. Triplane wheeled out of wooden structure, Fok. F1 102, prototype flown by Manfred von Richthofen. 01:32:09 MvR (no medals) walks to plane, helped into his gear by Anthony Fokker and others. MvR's head is partially shaved following serious head injury July 1917. Fok. F1 102 on side of plane. Presumably late August/early Sept. 1917 when F1s were delivered to JG1 and MvR returned from convalescence. 01:33:40 Jasta 11 pilots in flying gear, closer shots, city buildings in BG (see earlier sequence on Film ID 2547 at 01:26). MvR in FG of group holding papers, pilots behind him include Eberhardt Mohnike, Karl Meyer, Eberhart Stapenhorst, Karl Schoenebeck. Pilots salute MvR, laughing, and walk off. 01:34:28 In early 1917, corrugated huts, five men exit, including Anthony Fokker and Jasta 11 pilots Karl Allmenroeder (KIA June 27, 1917), Eberhardt Mohnike? or Luebbert?, Loewenhardt?, and Hans Hintsch (KIA May 25, 1917). One pours from bottle. May also include Willi Reinhard or Georg Simon at far right. Men walk up & past camera. LS, trucks in BG. 01:35:10 Mess time; brick building in BG, men get food. Germany's top pilots gathered at aviation testing center at Adlershof, outside Berlin, mid-January 1918, permanent structures in BG. 01:35:26 CU, Lt. Otto Fritz Bernert (d. Oct. 18, 1918), a broad-faced smiling officer with glasses and Blue Max medal at neck. CUs of Bernert without cap. 01:35:55 Group of fliers, warmly dressed, lighting cigarettes and smoking. Konstantin Krefft, MvR's chief of technical staff, on left. 01:36:13 Fokker & Krefft. Group of pilots including Hans Klein with Blue Max medal (d. May 1918), Krefft, Adolf von Tutscheck, Commander of Jagdgeschwader 2 (KIA March 15, 1918), MvR, plane in BG. 01:36:33 3 men, L to R: Festler?, Hans Weiss?, von Dostler? 01:36:38 Klein, von Tutscheck, MvR. 01:36:59 Man on left may be Hans Weiss. 01:37:02 Sign on building behind: "Flugzeughalle I" 01:37:09 CU Hans Klein. Bruno Loerzer, Commander of Jagdgeschwader 3, & Klein take cigarettes, light up. Men pick up Klein in seated position. 01:38:14 Pilot (von Tutscheck) in cockpit, puts on helmet, wearing Blue Max medal. 01:38:44 Close pan of group of pilots standing. May include Gontermann, Hans Joachim Wolff? (tall), von Tutscheck (Blue Max medal prominent, white handkerchief tied to coat) & Loewenhardt; Hans Rolfes (Jasta 11). 01:39:13 Von Tutscheck & Klein, laughing, pointing to sky. 01:39:25 INT, Hans Kirschstein (KIA July 16, 1918), seated with a letter. Loewenhardt? seen briefly at left. 01:39:34 Outdoors, MC pan of officers (matches Part 1), trellis in BG. Includes Goering, Loerzer, Kirschstein, Lothar von Richthofen, probably early July 1918 when Goering became Commander of Jagdgeschwader 1. 01:39:40 Triplane and empty cockpit in late Aug/Sept 1917. MvR helped with straps in cockpit, checks machine guns in front of him, slight turn to camera, semi-profile. 01:40:08 CS men oiling propellers and starting up, revving, ready to take off. Red Baron in cockpit of his Fok F1 102 prototype triplane, waves. Ground-to-air shot of takeoff. 01:41:16 On the ground, Fokker goes to damaged plane, MvR & others also examine bullet holes. MvR has thin black band over head & under chin, holding bandage from July head injury. Fokker wears a heavy coat with fur collar. 01:41:41 Group poses for camera, including MvR, Fokker in different coat & helmet, uninjured British pilot (Lt. Algernon Bird, shot down Sept 3, 1917, MvR's 61st opponent), overexposed. Mohnike in pilot's gear, two men assisting, closing briefcase to stash in plane. Fokker in plaid suit, brief side view. Two men in plane, include MvR at rear.

Luftwaffe officers & Goering's staff tour Mt. Vesuvius & Pompeii

Film

Scenes of Mt. Vesuvius and ruins of Pompeii in Italy with uniformed Luftwaffe men. Men in civilian clothes include at least 3 Luftwaffe staff or officers closely associated with Goering (they also appear in Film IDs 2548 and 2549): Fritz Goernnert in lederhosen; wavy-haired man in knickers who may be Kattengel; dark-haired man seen in target practice scenes; and the man with dark-rimmed spectacles and photo camera (Eitel Lange, the personal stills photographer for Hermann Goering, who joined Goering's staff in the summer of 1940). 01:01:02 WS with volcano. Priest in long black frock scampering across rocks. Scenes of visit to Pompeii ruins, posing for camera. 01:08 Naked men sunning themselves, climbing, and diving from volcanic rock by sea. 01:10:22 Men as tourists, at sidewalk cafe table, in civilian suits; includes Eitel Lange, eating ice cream. Coastal scenes, some presumably of Naples. 01:19:42 Two men walking, Bernd von Brauchitsch, Goering's adjutant, on right, very briefly. Horse drawn cart. Pan up from feet to face of sleeping man in boat moving on water.

German invasion and occupation of Poland; arrest of men in Bromberg (Bydgoszcz)

Film

Titles on screen: Ozaphan 10a/39 Monatschau [monthly show]; Krieg in Polen [War in Poland]. Scenes from the invasion of Poland, including cannons firing and German soldiers, shot from a distance, moving across a field. Title on screen: Die Fliegerbilder werden sofort Ausgewerten [the aerial photographs are immediately evaluated]. Soldiers develop and analyze aerial photos at a mobile lab in the field. Familiar (newsreel) footage of Goering and Hitler with other officers. Back in the field, shots of soldiers with bombs, German airplanes taking off, and destroyed buildings on the ground. Title on screen: Die erste Verwundetenzug [The first train of wounded]. A smiling nurse hands grapes to a wounded soldier; a man on a stretcher is unloaded from a train. Title on screen: Polnische Bauern kehren aus den Waeldern zurueck [Polish farmers return from the forests]. The camera pans along wagons full of Polish refugees, Polish farmers walking their oxen. An old woman holding a baby accepts bread from a German soldier, while another soldier in the background smiles at a young child that he holds in his arms. A German soldier hands out provisions to a group of children. Title on screen: Das Mordgesindel von Bromberg wird aus seinen Schlupwinkeln geholt [The murderous mob of Bromberg is pulled from its hiding place]. Scenes of men being arrested and searched in Bromberg (Bydgoszcz). Two German soldiers march a man with upraised arms at rifle-point along a street. Soldiers surround and frisk a man in the foreground of the scene, and another in the background. A man wearing a hat is marched across a street. A close up shot of a group of men with arms upraised. Shot of German soldiers in the middle of a street, with a group of men, arms upraised, visible on the left. Over 500 Polish civilians, many of them members of the clergy and intelligentsia, were executed in the first few days of the German occupation of the town. Title on screen: Der Meuchelmoerder von Konitz [The assassin of Konitz]. A disheveled man stands in front of a doorway, looking at the camera. A closer view of the man's face. Title on screen: Das befreite Gebiet kehren die Volksdeutschen zurueck [Ethnic Germans return to the liberated area]. Profile shot of ethnic Germans, seated outside. Children sit on the ground beside a river, with their backs to the camera. A large metal bridge in front of them has collapsed into the water. Men in a full boat leave the shore. Women in a line receive and eat food from bowls. A brief shot of a man with a bandage and a badly swollen eye. Men eat from bowls. See Film ID 201, Story 280 for some duplicate footage, with narration. Title on screen: Unter den gefangenen Polen wird mancher Moerder wiedererkannt [Among the captured Poles many murderers are recognized]. German soldiers ordering imprisoned Poles, in military uniforms, into a lineup. Two men, (probably ethnic Germans), one of whom wears a bandage across his face, identify men in the lineup. A close up shot of one of the selected prisoners. Title on screen: Die polnischen Juden, oft mitschuldig an der ___hetzung der Bevoelkerung, werden jetzt nuetzlicher Arbeit zugefuhrt [The Polish Jews, often complicit in the harassment of the population, will now be put to useful work]. The camera pans across faces of three religious Jews, then across a crowd of men seated on the ground. Shots of Jews performing forced labor. Title on screen: Der Fuehrer erscheint ueberraschend wahrend des Ueber__ ueber den San [The Fuehrer appeared amazed by the ? over the San]. Medium long shot of German troops crossing a low wooden bridge over the San river. Hitler reviews troops as they march down a dirt road. Horse-drawn trucks crossing a low rise. Hitler moves through a tight crowd of soldiers. Germans are greeted by jubilant civilians, who throw flowers and wave. The Germans drive tanks and trucks and march through the crowds.

Invasion of Poland; Poland surrenders

Film

Title on screen: Ozaphan 11/39 Monatsschau; Krieg in Polen (Loosely, November monthly report on the war in Poland). View from a low-flying aircraft of smoke and destruction on the ground, including a bridge collapsed into a river. Title on screen: Brennende Haeuser kennzeichnen den (?) Rueckzugsweg der Polen [Burning houses indicate the retreat of the Poles]. Aerial shot along a line of burning structures on the ground. An explosion; soldiers walking through burning and smoking rubble. Title on screen: Hier sassen Heckenschuetzen [Here sat the snipers]. German soldiers climb over rubble toward the camera. Shots of burning and destroyed structures. Two Germans, each carry a live goose. A German soldier wearing an apron prepares a dead pig for cooking; the remains of an animal on a spit over a fire. Various shots of soldiers marching, including over muddy and debris-strewn ground. Others march by, smiling into the camera. In one shot they are handed newspapers, shots of which are then shown in close-up. The headline reads: "Enemy tank column taken between Warsaw and Siedlce." Germans inspect destroyed and derailed trains. Title on screen: Deutsche und Russen treffen in Brest-Litovsk zusammen [Germans and Russians meet in Brest-Litovsk]. German and Soviet officers review a document in Russian (a brief, close up view). The Russian officer nods, they salute and shake hands. Title on screen: Besprechung ueber die Demarkationslinie [Conference about the demarcation line]. View of an official building. Several men sit together. Title on screen: __tzter Widerstand bei Gdingen [? resistance at Gdingen]. Title on screen: Versenkter Dampfer als Hafensperre [Sunken ship as harbor blockade]. A sunken ship in a harbor. A gunship fires its guns at the shore. Smoke rises from the town. Title on screen: Der Fuehrer im befreiten Danzig [The fuehrer in liberated Danzig]. " A view of Danzig from the river. Hitler rides down a street and is greeted by jubilant crowds. Nazi banners hang in the streets behind a fountain. Wider shot of cars driving down the street, surrounded by crowds. Title on screen: Warschau kapituliert nach zweitaegiger Beschiessung [Warsaw capitulates after a two-day bombardment]. German soldiers loading and shooting cannons and mortars at Warsaw. Panning aerial shot of smoke rising from Warsaw. Title on screen: "Massarbeit" unserer Stukas ["Tailor work" of our Stukas]. Aerial scenes of destruction of the city, including train tracks and a large building, perhaps a palace or large government building. Title on screen: Der polinische Parlamentaer. A Polish general reviews and accepts the terms of the surrender of Poland to Germany, which took place in a rail car near Warsaw.

Ruins in Munich

Film

Views of Munich, probably postwar [film stock dates to 1943]. Street scenes show destroyed buildings and piles of rubble. Short clip of the Bürgerbräukeller, the site of the Beer Hall Putsch where Adolf Hitler and the Kampfbund attempted a coup d'état in 1923. 01:01:02 John Bechtler gets into an army truck (labeled 206008425.) A brief clip of a black dog in the grass. Views of a lake and the surrounding landscape. 01:01:49 (John?) exits a CIC building. The CIC, or Counter Intelligence Corps, was used after the war to locate former members of the Nazi regime and combat various forms of illegal activity. Additional shots of the landscape. A brief scene of a uniformed army man and two women. 01:02:26 John lies on an outdoor chair and reads a book. He looks up and smiles at the camera. Short clips of the landscape. 01:02:39 A man in army uniform drives a jeep through the countryside. Camera shows an older man and three young children fishing. Two small children wheel a cart down the street. Views of the landscape and the road filmed from a moving vehicle. Some pedestrians and bicyclists on the road. 01:03:30 Additional clips of destroyed buildings in Munich. (Footage appears shaky here.) A brief clip of a tram passing in front of the camera. Bicyclists, pedestrians and cars on the road. Clips of Rathaus (town hall).

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