DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 688 [Main Title]

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  • Title: DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 688 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: GWY 190
  • Other titles: DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 1943/47 [Alternative Title]
  • Summary:
  • Description: I. Speer addresses Hitler Youth at Berlin munitions works. Minister for Armaments and War Production, wearing Organisation Todt armband and standing beneath intertwined symbols of OT and Hitlerjugend on backcloth above twin gun barrels, calls on his audience of HJ and Bund deutscher Mädel members to continue their contribution to the war effort and highlights the significance of technical training. Reichsjugendführer Axmann sits beside podium. II. Axmann addresses Hitlerjugend in Kroll Opera House. At ceremony in Berlin to mark opening of first Reichsberufswettkampf (youth training and employment scheme) Reichsjugendführer tells assembled audience of Nazi officials, Hitlerjugend and Bund deutscher Mädel that the purpose of National Socialism's education of young people is to prepare them for the vital struggle of their race. Six million young people are reportedly already making a valuable contribution to the victory of the German people. III. Fourth anniversary of return of Wartheland to German rule. Himmler attends parade in Posen (Poznan) which celebrates the Day of Freedom marking the creation (26 October 1939) of the Reichsgau Wartheland (under Gauleiter and Reichsstatthalter Greiser). Reichsführer der SS, accompanied by Gauleiter Greiser, inspects guard of honour drawn up in main street. Junior members of Hitlerjugend (Pimpfe band) and Bund deutscher Mädel (Jungmädel) stand out prominently. Himmler then takes salute, flanked by Greiser, Korvettenkapitän Lüth, Luftwaffe and Army Generals, at parade past by various units including Reichsarbeitsdienst men shouldering spades. Spectators include nursing sister or nun seated next to wounded soldier. IV. Korvettenkapitän Lüth returns in triumph to home town. Commander of U-181, recently awarded highest decoration for bravery (Knight's Cross with Swords and Diamonds), receives enthusiastic welcome from citizens of Neustadt in Holstein as he arrives in the small town in an open-top car. Town square, where sign over goldsmith Eduard Thurau's shop is clearly visible, is crowded with men, women and children, who present bouquets to the local hero. Naval officer cameraman films scene with Arriflex camera as Lüth inspects local unit drawn up on parade, then crosses threshold of his home with his wife and two young daughters before going to an upstairs window to acknowledge the crowd's applause. V. Tank repairs on Southern Sector of Eastern Front. Inside a large workshop Pzkpfw IVs are lifted and dismantled for repair by skilled workers in Organisation Todt uniform, some of whom have received the Knights Cross to the War Service Cross. Outside Sdkfz 9 halftrack tows Pzkpfw IV to repair area where turret is lifted off by crane. Slightly damaged tank has elephant emblem. Bergepanther Sdkfz 179 armoured recovery vehicle (partial front view) lifts turret back on to tank before final welding and fixing of tracks and armoured skirts. Tank commander thanks repair team and sets off for front in his repaired tank, after number 744 has been stencilled on turret. VI. Albania forms first government after independence. Members of the Albanian National Assembly arrive at the former Royal Palace in Tirana to choose the first government since the grant of independence to Albania by Germany. Members of the new government are seen indoors (Rexhep Mitrovica as Minister President). VII. German planes and Cossack cavalry repress Yugoslav Resistance. Heinkel He 111 flies over Bosnian mountains to destroy communist bandits hiding in the area and releases bombs over village, causing ground explosions. (End of Reel 1). Bandits reveal position in long low building on edge of village by returning machine gun fire, as German plane bombs and strafes village; village occupied by bandits blazes by night after being set alight (aerial view). Elsewhere, on the banks of the River Sava, Germans fire machine gun across river against bandits on the far side. Brigade of mounted Cossacks (fighting for the Germans), engaged in repressing the bandits, pass by before dismounting and storming village. Bandits hiding in village, described as trash (Gesindel) and criminals, are rounded up and reportedly disarmed; only weapon visible is a knuckleduster which soldier finds in the pocket of unshaven and bemused civilian. Close-up of moustachioed Cossack wearing astrakhan fur cap with German Army emblem points to physiognomic contrast. Population of village are marched off, as Cossacks ride away. VIII. Kesselring inspects defenders of Corsica and Sardinia. Animated map of Italy. Generalfeldmarschall inspects soldiers who in Corsica and Sardinia fought against superior numbers before evacuating islands. IX. Mussolini holds first meeting of Fascist Republican cabinet. Members of new cabinet are seen indoors arriving for meeting round table, presided over by Mussolini and with Minister of War Marshal Graziani specially picked out and signing document. Graziani later visits Rommel's headquarters for talks and is seen arriving outside building, sitting down in doors with the Generalfeldmarschall and then shaking his hand on departure, "strengthening the determination of the two Marshals". X. Rommel inspects defences in Northern Italy. Generalfeldmarschall sees Italian labourers building anti-tank wall in Upper Italy and inspects coastal guns and railway gun, part of Germany's ever greater defensive strength in the area. Camera shows Rommel's face outlined against the background of the sea. XI. Germans prepare defences in Southern Italy. Barbed wire is stretched across country and trees are demolished with explosives in order to clear field of fire to hold up US and British attacks. German artillery opens fire and an enemy tank burns. XII. Germans fight defensive battle near Krivoi Rog. Animated map from Vitebsk to Zaporozhe. Bitter defensive fighting in Dnieper River area (high angle view over Dnieper, and artillery periscope) is reportedly being waged by German forces. Men shave and eat in a tank ditch during brief lull, but keep watch continually. Bridge is detonated after crossing by German forces, then wireless operator goes forward. Warning of enemy attack is given over megaphone and mortars and artillery open fire against left bank of Dnieper, causing explosions beside destroyed bridge. Near Krivoi Rog assault troop is briefed before operation to push back Russians; Pzkpfw IVs lead attack and overhead Henschel Hs 129s destroy enemy armour and trucks (camera gun film); StuG III with swastika flag stretched over rear of hull for aerial identification and other armour moves forward. Enemy is reportedly thrown back, leaving behind destroyed tank, 7.62mm Flak, dead and prisoners. Enemy's heavy losses north of Krivoi Rog are illustrated by Russian fuel dump blazing in night after German hit. XIII. German bombers attack Gomel area. Heinkel He 111s fly towards Russian rear area targets in Gomel area and pass above Stuka Geschwader visible as small flying specks below. Pilots fly calmly through white puffs of enemy flak before bombs cause explosions on ground below. Troop accommodation on edge of Gomel, and railway yards in town itself, are then bombed but Soviet attempt to cover area with smokescreen fails to prevent He 111s releasing bombs against pontoon bridge.
  • Alternative Title: DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 1943/47 [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: GWY 190
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM-GERMAN Attribution: IWM – GWY 190
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1943-11-10
  • Production Country: Germany
  • Production Details: UFA (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Speer, Albert (person) Axmann, Artur (person) Himmler, Heinrich Luitpold (person) Greiser, Arthur (person) Lüth, Wolfgang August Eugen (person) Lüth, Wolfgang August Eugen (person) Lüth, Wolfgang August Eugen (Frau) (person) Mitrovica, Rexhep (person) Kesselring, Albert (person) Mussolini, Benito Amilcare Andrea (person) Graziani, Rodolfo (person) Rommel, Erwin Johannes Eugen (person) Hitler-jugend (regiment/service) Bund deutscher Madel (regiment/service) OrganisationTodt (regiment/service) Reichsarbeitsdienst (regiment/service) German Army, Cossacks (regiment/service) Yugoslav Partisans (regiment/service) OrganisationTodt (regiment/service) German Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: industry, German - munitions (object name) society, German civilian - education: Reichsberufswettkampf (object name) ceremonies, German - event-related: Germanisation (object name) equipment, German naval - camera: Arriflex (object name) celebrations, German - event-related: U-boat commander (object name) journalism and record, German - cameraman (object name) politics, Italian - institutional (object name) delegations, Italian international - military (object name) operations, German military - salvage: tank (object name) armour, German - funnies: Sdkfz 179 Bergepanther (object name) armour, German - tank: Pzkpfw IV (object name) politics, Albanian - institutional (object name) administration, German - occupation: Yugoslavia (object name) combat, German air: anti-partisan (object name) ceremonies, German - display: inspection of soldiers (object name) defences, Italian - emplacement (object name) defences, German - emplacement (object name) aircraft, German - combat: Henschel Hs 129 (object name) defences, Russian - emplacement: smokescreen (object name) Poznań, Greater Poland, Poland (geography) Greater Poland (Wielkopolska), Poland (geography) Germany & Berlin, Berlin (geography) Germany & Berlin, Berlin <Krolloper> (geography) Germany & Neustadt in Holstein (geography) Russia & <Eastern Front, Southern sector> (geography) Albania & Tirana <Royal Palace> (geography) Yugoslavia & Sava (River) (geography) Yugoslavia & Bosnia (geography) Italy & Sardinia (geography) Corsica, France (geography) Italy (geography) Italy & <Northern Italy> (geography) Italy & <Southern Italy> (geography) Russia & Dnieper (River) (geography) Russia & Krivoi Rog (geography) Russia & Gomel area (geography) youth (concept)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: German Title language: German Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 1470 ft; Running time: 16 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    GWY 190

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