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Summary: Film which uses the image of young soldiers to suggest a renascent British army.
Description: In 1939 the people of Britain lived peacefully, sheltered behind the British and French armies, the Maginot Line, which they believed an "impenetrable barrier", and the British fleet. Declaration of war. Character, "Young Bert", is created by the Daily Express. Thousands of young soldiers like "Bert" begin training. Britain's young soldiers go to France and prepare positions. Winter cold tests their endurance and discipline. Recruitment continues in Britain. Hitler's chance of victory lay in obliterating Britain's young army, and he attempts to trap the soldiers in Norway, but they elude him. In France, the British hold their lines until forced to fall back with their allies - the Germans attempt to trap them by air assault but the British escape again at Dunkirk: "a page of glory". Soldiers return still defiant and now experienced veterans. All Britain becomes an armed camp. Home Guard training. Commonwealth and refugee European soldiery. Battle of Britain - Luftwaffe, "the absolute symbol of German bullydom and boasting", is defeated. The army is on guard, organised into flying columns which can quickly intercept invasion or parachute attacks, and which will eventually take the war into Germany.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:COI 489
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1941-03
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Ealing Studios (Production company)
Cavalcanti, Alberto (Production individual)
Cavalcanti, Alberto (Production individual)
Balcon, Michael Elias (Production individual)
Dearden, Basil Clive (Production individual)
Danischewsky, M (Production individual)
Croydon, John (Production individual)
Pitt, Ray (Production individual)
Williams, EricMC (Production individual)
Crichton, Charles Ainslie1910-08-061999-09-14 (Production individual)
Frank, Michael (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army (regiment/service)
Keywords: propaganda, British - inspirational (object name)
operations, British military - preparation (object name)
operations, British military - routine (object name)
recruitment, British (object name)
society, British - history (object name)
training, British military - combat (object name)
GB, England (geography)
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: 3
Footage: 2098 ft; Running time: 23 mins