LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE [Main Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.


  • Title: LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE [Main Title]
  • Film Number: CVN 211
  • Other titles: INTO BATTLE (NUMBER 1) [Alternative Title] INTO BATTLE [Series Title]
  • Summary: A study of one of fifteen alien companies in the Pioneer Corps.
  • Description: Their history is explained by their CO and occasionally told by the men themselves: they are all volunteers, German and Austrian anti-Fascists (the company between all its members has a total prison and camp record of over 125 years) and film points out the danger to which these men expose both themselves and their families by serving. The men are shown (during the commentary) drilling, building a camp, installing coastal guns, receiving and training with weapons, and relaxing (title of film comes from a song they are shown singing); the detailed histories of individuals include distinguished civilian and even WW1 German military careers, clever means of escape (one secured exit permit for a whole bogus football team), and stories of concentration camp life: one man shows his release card from Dachau, another, a Jewish former amateur boxer, shows how punishment for a trivial offence has ruined his hands, etc. "At last they are on the right side of the barbed wire and gun."
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-12
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) Spectator (Production company) Hankinson, Michael (Production individual) Wright, Basil19071987 (Production individual) Luff, A H (Production individual) Bland, William S (Production individual) Kemplen, Ralph (Production individual) Alwyn, William (Production individual) Koestler, Arthur (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Royal Pioneer Corps (regiment/service) British Army, Austrian personnel (regiment/service) British Army, German personnel (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: law and order, German - detention: escapees (object name) operations, British military - routine (object name) propaganda, British - inspirational (object name) recreation, Allied military - casual: songs (object name) society, Austrian military - friendship (object name) society, German military - friendship (object name) GB, England (geography) propaganda (concept)
  • 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: 2 Footage: 1310 ft; Running time: 15 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Notes: Remarks: very well handled opportunity: the commentary (spoken by the CO who is often in the picture, addressing the camera) and the interviews strike a good balance of emotions, and the result is powerful propaganda.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    CVN 211

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    [MOI] FLM 1333 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1334 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1335 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1336 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1337 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1338 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1340 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1341 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1342 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1343 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1344 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1345 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1346 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1347 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1348 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1349 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1350 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1351 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1354 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1356 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1357 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1358 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1359 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1360 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1361 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1362 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1363 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1364 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1365 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1366 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1367 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1368 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1369 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1370 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1371 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1372 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE) [MOI] FLM 1373 (LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE)
Register