Other titles:THE ATLANTIC COMMUNITY - INTRODUCING GERMANY [Alternative Title]
NATO DOCUMENTARIES [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: ‘Introducing Germany’ provides a brief documentary profile of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). It is an American funded documentary, made as part of ‘The Atlantic Community’ series. The documentaries primary aim is to educate other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) about West German culture, politics, the post-war economic recovery and the political divide between East and West.
Description: Beginning on the small North Sea fishing island of Heligoland, the documentary portrays West Germany as a revitalised nation, which despite being divided from the East, has maintained its culture and traditions. Moving to the larger industrial ports of Hamburg and Bremen, Germany is also shown to be re-emerging as an economic powerhouse in post-war Europe.
Munich exemplifies thriving regional culture. The historic city of Bonn highlights how regional governance is fundamental to the federal system.
The Berlin wall, the symbol of a divided city, is used to contrast the Soviet East with the rapid regeneration of the West. The Berliner Funkturm allows the public to peer into the East, from where “500 to 1,000 refugees” cross from East to West each day, implying that democracy and NATO are prevailing.
The heavily industrialised area around the Ruhr highlights how better incentives and training have helped to create a culture of commitment between workers and their employers, based around traditional work values such as strong apprenticeship schemes. The region is able to produce “more than half the coal” and “forty per cent of the steel” produced by European Coal and Steel Community.
On a West German air base, a multi-national training program shows NATO pilots working together in a strategically important area of European airspace, under the command of SACLANT.
The enormous progress that was made in rebuilding Germany’s badly damaged towns and cities points to a successful programme of planning and engineering, that helped to boost the economy and create opportunity. These modern developments are seen in the context of surviving architectural heritage, including buildings such as the Bamberg Cathedral.
Education, encouraged by the introduction of new schools, universities and technical collages, is shown to have allowed a younger generation of Germans to think progressively. This, it is implied, has helped culture to re-emerge from the rubble, as symbolised by new theatres and places of entertainment constructed along “ultra-modern lines”.
Alternative Title:THE ATLANTIC COMMUNITY - INTRODUCING GERMANY [Alternative Title]
NATO DOCUMENTARIES [Allocated Series Title]
