Summary: The problem of the displaced persons - former migrant labourers - in Germany at the end of the war.
Description: Film opens with (reconstructed) scenes of Fremdarbeiter under German guard moving along roads, in workshops etc as commentary tells how Germany "drained Europe of its manpower", talking also of the hardships of the workers, and of the disruption of Germany's war effort by sabotage and bombing. Allied advance brings liberation: 18 million people "suddenly set free". Workers fraternise with Allied soldiers, throng the roads; scenes also of looting, vandalism etc. "War had brought chaos to the cities, and now the freed slaves spread it through the countryside". To halt the "blind, aimless movement" displaced persons (DPs) are collected into camps (self-administered, under Allied officers) - camp scenes: registration, medical care (contrasted to Belsen footage), food and clothing issued, child care, information (Russian officers give news briefings) and entertainment (Poles with camp radio; orchestra, dancing etc). Finally, the return - lorries and trains leave camps, reunion scenes at stations. One and a half million DPs remain in camps, however, unable or afraid to go back (film of Jews in camp room with Palestine posters, reading Hebrew newspaper). "The war is over, but for them there is still no peace. The United Nations must see that they find it."
Production Details: Crown Film Unit (Production company)
Allied Control Commission of Germany (Production company)
Army Film Unit (Production company)
Wright, Basil19071987 (Production individual)
Trench, Terry1917-01-22 (Production individual)
Lutyens, Elisabeth1906-07-091983-04-14'LUTYENS, (Agnes) Elisabeth (Mrs Edward Clark)', Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U166564, accessed 23 June 2011]
(Production individual)
Calder-Marshall, Arthur19081992 (Production individual)
Cameron, Ken (Production individual)
Guyler, Deryck (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1023 ft; Running time: 11 mins
