THE BATTLE OF RUSSIA [Main Title]

Metadata


  • Title: THE BATTLE OF RUSSIA [Main Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 11
  • Other titles: WHY WE FIGHT [Series Title]
  • Summary: Glowing tributes from American leaders to the courage and military achievements of the USSR preface this wide and dramatic coverage of the period 1941-1943
  • Description: Russian history (chronology, not politics) is the epic struggle of a wealthy nation and free people, a union of many races and cultures, to protect its frontiers. The Nazi-Soviet pact gave Russia "time to prepare for the coming fight", a battle between military might and the spirit of a people. Rapid advance of Germans to Moscow was halted by the Russian strategy of defensive depth, withdrawal, scorched earth, guerrillas and winter. After Archbishop Sergei's prayers against the invader, the Russians retaliate with planes, tanks and ski-troops, spectacularly filmed. As they liberate towns and villages, they discover the atrocities (piles of corpses in the snow) and cultural savagery (Tchaikovsky and Tolstoy homes sacked) of the Vandals they are pursuing. Long sequences from the siege of Leningrad and the battle of Stalingrad demonstrate the civilian and military courage and endurance which enabled Russia to survive and shatter the legend of Nazi invincibility. Poignant Tchaikovsky extracts and rousing patriotic songs enhance this compassionate film.
  • Access Conditions: IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • Production Details: War Department Special Service Division Army Service Forces (Production company) Signal Corps (with the cooperation of) (Production company) Capra, Frank (Production individual) Litvak, Anatole (Production individual) Army Air Force Orchestra (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • 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: 9 Footage: 7281 ft; Running time: 78 mins
  • Notes:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 11

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
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