DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 724 [Main Title]

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  • Title: DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 724 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: GWY 226
  • Other titles: DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 1944/31 [Alternative Title]
  • Summary:
  • Description: I. Reichs Transport Minister oversees reconstruction. Dr Dorpmüller, seventy-five years old and responsible for the organisation of war transport, stands wearing suit with NSDAP badge in office looking at map, then steps off train in recently bombed town before driving off in car to direct reconstruction work with civilian officials. II. Hitler Youth pre-military training camp. Youths from Germanic lands stand by sand model for instruction by Waffen SS soldier wearing Deutschland cuff-band. As test of courage boys then jump from high diving-board into lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains in distance, then watch comrades boxing. III. Dogs are trained for military service. Teams of large dogs, loyal helpers to soldiers, are harnessed to small low carts and driven across field by soldier handlers. Such carts are said to be especially useful for transporting wounded at the front. IV. German convoy comes under Russian fire in Arctic Ocean. Convoy vessels sail protected by Type M-35 minesweepers and floatplanes (five Arado 196s at anchor, aerial views from Blohm und Voss Bv 138) off rocky coastline flecked with patches of snow. Ships signal, then shells from Soviet coastal batteries land far short in sea. Naval vessels form protective smokescreen by tossing smoke canisters overboard. V. German one-man torpedo hero demonstrates his weapon. Gefreiter Gerhold, who sank British heavy cruiser, demonstrates control of Marder midget submarine, which is lowered into sea. Glass dome is fitted over Gerhold who starts navigating through calm sea. Speaking in studio and wearing Knights Cross he recalls attack on cruiser and subsequent depth-charging by destroyers. Gerhold has previously been awarded decoration by Konteradmiral Heye at ceremony outside barracks, where five of his comrades receive German Cross in Gold. Gerhold stands beside commander of Navy's Midget Weapons Unit during marchpast by men and is afterwards borne shoulder-high in triumph by his comrades. Commentary notes that one-man torpedo now offers sailors opportunity of single-handed combat hitherto restricted to airman and soldier. VI. Focke-Wulf Fw 190s shoot down USAAF bombers. Fw 190s fly low over airfield wagging wings in victory sign, part of newly instituted air assault units. Knights Cross holder Major Dahl congratulates his men after attack against US terror bombers over Central Germany, with fifty-seven victories claimed. Hauptmann Moritz's unit alone shot down thirty planes in two minutes. Vapour trails indicate passage of bombers which come under attack (camera-gun film) from forward side upwards approach and tail and side-on approaches. Port wing of B-17 blazes and is shot away and another four-engined bomber spirals earthwards as two crew members bale out and the parachute of a third fouls the tailplane. VII. German forces withstand air and ground attacks on Invasion Front. Animated map of coast from Antwerp to Brest. While heroic action of German troops reportedly continues to keep Anglo-American forces hemmed into their bridgehead, Generalfeldmarschall Rommel emerges from battle HQ of General Meindl, commanding Paratroop Corps. Sdkfz 251 halftracks wait camouflaged by side of road and soldiers drink from back canteen held by comrade. Paratroops are briefed before reconnaissance patrol, then creep forward, unwinding telephone cable for communication with artillery, which opens fire, causing explosions in heat fields. Sherman tanks stand knocked out, their armour cleanly pierced by German shells; close-up reveals bull emblem of British 11th Armoured Division. German infantry cross already harvested field and Waffen SS dig in for protection against enemy artillery fire. Reported enemy breakthrough is countered by grenadiers and paratroops, supported by StuG III and Pzkpfw IV and Vs moving down narrow lanes; men fire from hedge cover and rush across orchard. Paratroops look up as overhead enemy fighter-bombers appear, attacked by flak; Typhoons fly low over German camera position, their invasion-stripe markings and rocket pods clearly visible. Panning camera follows attacking plane until flak eventually scores success. Gunners manning 3.7cm Flak rush from position to capture pilot who has made emergency landing by fence. Fifth victory ring is painted onto Flak barrel. Battle continues with German armour mounting counterattack; Marten IIIs move forward, youthful soldier (12th SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend ?) throws spent shell cases from side of Pzkpfw V and Sherman of 11th Armoured Division burns. Barrage of Nebelwerfers fire, including triple-mounted version on sides of Sdkfz 251. Tracer fire brightens the darkness and enemy fuel dump explodes in the night.
  • Alternative Title: DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 1944/31 [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: No
  • Object_Number: GWY 226
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM-GERMAN Attribution: IWM – GWY 226
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-07-20
  • Production Country: Germany
  • Production Details: UFA (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Dorpmuller, Julius (person) Gerhold (Obergefreiter) (person) Heye, Hellmuth (person) Dahl, Walther (person) Moritz (Hauptmann) (person) Rommel, Erwin Johannes Eugen (person) Meindl, Eugen (person) Hitler Youth (regiment/service) German Navy, Midget Weapons Unit (regiment/service) German Air Force, Paratroops (regiment/service) British Army, Div, Armoured, 11 (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: reconstruction, German (object name) training, German - specialist: Hitlerjugend (object name) recreation, German military - sport: boxing (object name) animals, mammals: dog (object name) training, German - specialist: dog-handling (object name) transport, German military - animal: dog (object name) operations, German naval - sortie: convoy (object name) aircraft, German - seaplane: Arado Ar 196 (object name) aircraft, German - seaplane: Blohm und Voss Bv 138 (object name) ships, German naval - minesweeper, coastal: M-boat Type 35 (object name) weapons, German naval - chemical: smokescreen (object name) ships, German naval - submarine, midget: Marder (object name) combat, German air: anti-bomber (object name) aircraft, German - combat: Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Typhoon (object name) society, German military - sustenance: drink (object name) Germany (geography) Arctic Ocean (geography) Normandy, France (geography)
  • 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: 1624 ft; Running time: 18 mins
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  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    GWY 226

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