Title:GERMAN NAVY EXERCISES AND U-BOAT OPERATIONS [Allocated Title]
Film Number:GWY 1224
Other titles:
Summary: Incomplete film compiled shortly after outbreak of war shows German Naval Air Arm and U-boats on exercises pre-war and records successful U-boats returning from operations in Autumn 1939.
Description: Light cruiser Nürnberg, with Heinkel He 60 on catapult, steams through sunlit sea. Officers on bridge scan sea, then sailors rush to action stations, closing portholes and traversing triple turret named Falliland. Others man flak, remove caps and don respirator masks. Officer briefs pilot of He 60 (60+695) before take off. Aerial shot of Nürnberg. He 60 and Nürnberg lay smokescreen. Two He 59s (one marked 6L+60S) fly through and above clouds.
Title states that the Luftwaffe is making lethal strikes off the English coast, as film shows a dark-painted Heinkel He 115 flying low over sea, with cockpit view. Six He 115s fly low over the sea and pass over Norwegian freighter named Karen in bold wartime marking on side. View from front gunner's position flying low over small steamer, shots hit sea, another pass from stern to bow, then ship on fire. This library sequence ends with aerial shots of wrecked ships sinking in heavy seas.
Title stating that U-boats have already once brought Britain to the edge of ruin introduces film of commander of U-boats Doenitz inspecting officers and men on deck of flotilla tied up in port, probably Kiel where yachts, summer trees and tower are visible in background. Camera pans from U-45 with net cutter (sunk on 14/10/1939) across U-41 (sunk on 5/2/1940) to others. U-37, U-38 and two others manoeuvre in the open sea. Title announcing sighting of enemy introduces alarm sequence as crew close hatch, commander peers through periscope and U-41 dives to avoid destroyer which drops depth charges. Periscope views of shore and cruiser targeted in sights represent sinking of HMS Royal Oak. U-41 and U-37 surface in separate shots. Title stating that German chivalry ensures that crews of ships sunk are willingly helped precedes film of some men in a rowing boat near a U-boat. Crew rush to man deck gun of U-38 which they load and fire. Return from operations is conveyed by shot of U-41 steaming through sunlit sea. Type VII U-boat returns to port past houses on bank of estuary. Type IX U-37 under command of Werner Hartmann and bearing pennants indicating eight sinkings during second Atlantic cruise (5/10/1939=5/11/1939 ), including the British steamers Ledbury and Tafna. Schuhart (?) stands on conning tower bearing emblem of alligator devouring an umbrella, presumably symbolising England. Hitler with Raeder inspects and talks to U-boat commanders ashore, probably on their visit to Wilhelmshaven on 17/9/1939 to congratulate men on early successes. Sailor photographer is visible taking stills. Hitler in motorcade drives along dockside past crew saluting on deck of U-boat. Film concludes with title that Greater Germany will be victorious, fading to assertion "Auch das Meer ist deutscher Lebensraum".
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Hartmann, Werner (person)
Doenitz, Karl (person)
Raeder, Erich Johann Albert (person)
Hitler, Adolf (person)
German Navy, Nurnberg (regiment/service)
German War Navy, U-37 (regiment/service)
German War Navy, U-38 (regiment/service)
German War Navy, U-41 (regiment/service)
German War Navy, U-45 (regiment/service)
Keywords: operations, German naval - homecoming: submarine (object name)
combat, German: submarine (object name)
combat, German naval - submarine (object name)
aircraft, German - seaplane: Heinkel He 115 (object name)
aircraft, German - seaplane: Heinkel He 60 (object name)
ships, German naval - submarine: U-37 (object name)
ships, German naval - submarine: U-38 (object name)
ships, German naval - submarine: U-41 (object name)
ships, German naval - submarine: U-45 (object name)
ships, German naval - cruiser: Nürnberg (object name)
ships, Norwegian civilian - cargo: Karen (object name)
Germany & Wilhelmshaven (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: None
Subtitle language: German
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 433 ft; Running time: 12 mins
