The Third Reich In Colour | Part 1: The Dictator | Free Documentary History

Berlin mid-august 1933 essay formations March camera perfect through the Brandenburg gate just like they had done the previous January in the night when Adolf Hitler seized power this footage was taken during the shooting of the film Hans vestma what is so special about these pictures is that the cameraman was using 35 millimeter color film at the time still an expensive Rarity in Germany September the 30th 1934. the Reich agriculture Festival in Gossler Farm Workers men and women from all over the Third Reich are seen waiting in front of the Imperial Palace in an essay to Mark the festival a young German girl wrote above all the Harvest Festival is our way of thanking God for his Rich blessings but it's also our way of giving thanks to the government of the Reich which through the measures it has taken has restored the farming Community to full bloom delegations from the sa and the SS were also awaiting the arrival of Adolf Hitler a few weeks earlier the dictator had deposed of his biggest adversary ernstloom now following the death of president of the Reich Paul Von Hindenburg Hitler was leader and Imperial Chancellor of the German Nation director coach vashnik a pioneer of filming in color had chosen this day to shoot one of the first cultural films using the new two-color film material as it was known the result still left something to be desired in gosla a god of Honor from the army of the Reich was present to welcome its new commander-in-chief foreign had been built for a ceremonial rally the film's director didn't have to worry about her setting for Adolf Hitler's appearance hundreds of thousands of Farm Workers had turned up to pay homage to the dictator had deployed two camera teams equipped with color film foreign was presented to the press in December 1934 one critic saw the report as an experiment that could not stand up to comparison with nature but another critic praised the outstanding color footage especially the shots of the traditional costumes [Music] Swiss journalist conradvana described the propaganda spectacle on the booker book in a factual report written in 1944 as they awaited the arrival of Hitler in as retinue people were filled with excitement and anticipation then as a convoy of course approached on the plane below thousands upon thousands of voices shouted out higher the sound hurtling down the slope like a hurricane towards the man who knew how to Halt the German nation and thrall [Music] Hitler could only make slow progress through the crowd he was flanked on both sides by country women in their pretty traditional costumes who were pushing forward to see him clutch his hand and look into his blue eyes the enthusiasm of thousands of people constantly shouting higher stirred each individual into a frenzy which increased the impact of this man's personality even more the unmistakable shortcomings of the color film process made it unlikely that vashneck's report would ever be shown in German Cinemas [Music] in summer 1937 the first 16 millimeter Color Film produced by agva appeared on the market in Germany despite its high price many amateur film enthusiasts were prepared to dig deep into their pockets to use it members of The Institute for folklore in Hala also filmed with the new material in 1938 racial researchers in friedrborg and azala documented a community festival for their archive the Germans had settled in comfortably under the swastika the overwhelming majority of the population were devoted to the fira [Music] film enthusiasts throughout the third life began using Color Film when he wasn't at work in his Bake House Hamburg Master pastry chef called leifeld was out and about shooting footage of his hometown Lee felt preferred the products manufactured in America in 1935 the Kodak company developed Color Film which it also marketed in Germany from May to September 1938 Lee Fell documented life and work in hamburg's famous Warehouse district and in its port [Music] lifeld's camera also captured the kai Spicer a warehouse building visible from afar its Tower was a landmark the success enjoyed by hamburg's Port stamped originally from international trade but Germany's gateway to the world had been hard hit by the Great Depression a large proportion of hamburg's merchant Fleet had to be decommissioned in its Stockyards workers were laid off on a huge scale [Music] but round trips to German Seaside Resorts or through the port were it seems highly popular with locals and tourists from The Landing stages and the old Albert tunnel ships headed down the river Elba [Music] also captured on the film taken by leifeld are pictures of The Wilhelm gustloff a luxurious Cruise liner which was intended to symbolize the classless nature of Nazi Society strength through Joy was not an organization for Nazi bigwigs but the party expected anyone who was allowed to sail to Norway for a week to behave appropriately through work procurement measures financed with credit and through contracts awarded by the Senate the Nazis had succeeded in reducing unemployment thanks mainly to increasing re-armament contracts from the German Navy the situation was also gradually improving in the port by 1936 hamburg's six major dockyards were again providing nearly 20 000 jobs leyvelt's film recordings are rare documents of a bygone age when 1 300 mobile electric cranes and hundreds of stevedores unloaded goods from all over the world [Music] the Hamburg pastry chef entered his 20-minute long documentation in a competition and won first prize his footage portrayed many ships which today exist only in the memories of hamburg's elderly citizens like the montessor a liner which in 1931 sailed on a regular schedule to the east coast of South America The Vessel normally carried cargo and passengers but the Monterosa was also used for pleasure cruises one of the first film enthusiasts who could afford the new 16 millimeter color material was Hitler's Chief pilot Hans Bower in Berlin on September the 27 1937 Bauer filmed the state visit of Italy's fascist leader Benito Mussolini in front of the Technical University the fura gave the duche and his Entourage a demonstration of Prussian traditions and showed his guests the results of German rearmament Hans Bauer was allowed to film The spectacle from one of the rear rows on the VIP stand after the demise of the Third Reich these unique documents of Hitler's immediate environment were regarded as lost it wasn't until 1988 that they were rediscovered in the estate of a former U.S soldier from Tennessee as head of a translation unit of the American Secret Service in Munich in 1945 Herbert sanked Goa learned where aqua color film footage taken by Hitler's pilot had been secretly buried he secured it and took it back with him to Chattanooga displaying Weaponry of all kinds the parade lasted three hours Mussolini was particularly impressed by the goose stepping so much so in fact that on his return He also had the snappy marching style introduced into the Italian Armed Forces Hitler saw the pompous parade as the expression of his enhanced sense of self-esteem we are somebody once again we have demolished the Treaty of Versailles we have the same arms as our adversaries perhaps ours are even better battle to 1937 it idiot home that home that the Third Reich demonstrated its regained strength at the world exhibition in Paris the Germans were allocated a site right next to the Eiffel Tower for their huge Pavilion [Music] the Soviet Union had built its exhibition Hall directly opposite in terms of monumentality the Communist dictatorship was certainly On a par with Germany foreign Hitler had commissioned his new favorite Albert shper with the design of the German Pavilion the two had spent many nights in Berlin and on the obazalsburg pouring over drafts and drawings on Sunday February the 27th 1938 a cine Enthusiast from Nuremberg filmed this Carnival procession a local Nazi newspaper wrote it's not always necessary to wonder whether you're in the midst of supporters or enemies instead you should set yourself above inhibitions that are better suited to the affected and not to the Germans of our magnificent era an age which whether in Earnest or iniest offers incredible Impressions and proves time and again that the Concord and solidarity of a great ethnic Community are the most wonderful gifts of the National Socialist state in 1944 Swiss businessman Renee Juve published a factual report on his experiences in the Third Reich in it he describes a conversation he had in autumn 1937. my friend was over the moon he had expected many things but not what he was now witnessing with his own eyes such happy optimistic people you've not seen everything I told him above all you're forgetting what prize the germination has had to pay the loss of personal freedom and Truth in public life by this point in time Hitler had long since decided to lead Germany into a new war and also to tighten measures against the Jewish population consequently on one of the carnival floats caricatures of Jews hung from Gallows as if this was something totally natural according to eyewitnesses the float was greeted with frenetic Applause in critlin book in 1938 a member of the SS took this color footage of his most senior boss Heinrich Himmler was visiting the town he came to twitlinburg every year to honor his great Idol King Henry the first lies buried in a cathedral and Himmler turned the church into a National Shrine the head of the SS wanted to replace Christianity with Teutonic cult worship His devotion was to the swastika his lifetime goal was to eradicate the Jewish Nation foreign 1938 Hitler's Chief pilot Hans Bower accompanied the furha on a state visit to Italy he documented his impressions of the trip in a short film which he entitled beautiful Italy six months later the sensor approved it for public showing in the Third Reich [Music] [Music] the state visit was to have been documented In Color by a professional camera team from the Nazi propaganda machine but problems with the optical filters made its footage unusable as a result Hans power was able to earn money with his amateur film [Music] after the annexation of Austria in March Hitler had expected Italian leader Benito Mussolini to give his approval for Germany to seize the sudeten land the Germans actually wanted to sign a written agreement with the Italians but their hosts were hesitant and only relented when in a public statement Hitler declared the burena border to be the eternally valid border between Germany and Italy the official host was King Vittorio emanuela III and the Monarch knew how to ease Mussolini into the background Hitler was repulsed by the obsequiousness of Court ceremony and he let the king feel it [Music] May the 5th 1938 Hitler and his Entourage were taken on an Excursion to Naples where they were given an enthusiastic reception with this small camera Hans Bauer filmed the sights of this city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius which had donned itself in truly festive Garb for its state visitors from the north foreign felt fairly irritated by the little King who knew how to take Center Stage Mussolini had no alternative but to put on a brave face [Music] to snap the royal family time and again the fura had his old friend come forward and walk alongside him [Music] on May the 8th 1938 Hitler's hosts organized a maneuver by the Italian Air Force north of Rome it was a case of stage saber rattling in the Rome Berlin axis the ducha had long since been relegated to the role of Junior partner Mussolini actually feared that Hitler might start a military conflict with Czechoslovakia later Hans Bauer remembered that the German guests were impressed by the strength of the Italian forces but Mussolini had secretly decided not to become involved in a war in Europe yeah Hitler spent virtually all of August 1938 on the Ober Salzburg on the Terrace of the berghoff he studied plans for the wehrmacht's invasion of Czechoslovakia one frequent guest was Albert bear the little time the fura allowed himself was often spent with his architect Hitler once had visions of becoming an architect himself and in spare he had found the ideal executor for his colossal plans a sharp individual shper had been part of the dictator's Inner Circle for some time the architect had also become friends with Ava Brown who took these pictures in 1938 Hitler's mistress was a keen amateur photographer consequently she too had developed a passion for color film these pictures of the dictator should actually have been destroyed after her death but in October 1945 they fell into the hands of the American Secret Service as a result what are probably the only uncensored pictures of Hitler's private life have been preserved in the national archives in Washington in his Memoirs Albert Speer would later claim that the barkov society merely engaged in small talk and killed time waiting for the Master of the House to arrive but this it seems was just an attempt to cover himself and play down his own involvement in the crimes committed by the Nazi regime in fact many political decisions were taken on the idyllic obazarsberg murders were even planned there this time peace in Europe was hanging by a thread Hitler wanted War but the major powers of Britain and France were not yet prepared to engage in hostilities so with Mussolini's help and far-reaching concessions in Munich they forced the dictator to the negotiating table edited her footage to produce film shows in color which were presented in the evenings on the berghoff when Hitler was not staying on the obazalsberg his mistress liked to make trips to bavaria's Lakes accompanied by her parents friends and relatives the athletic 26 year old was the center of attention Ava's sister Gretel also liked to film and take photographs Sophie stork a good friend who was also an artist drew the film links the Germans had no idea that Hitler had a mistress as a senior correspondent with Reuters news agency in Munich Ernest Pope had particularly good contacts in the Bavarian Capital so in his book Munich playground he engaged in speculation the Buxom Effie Brown is adult Secret mistress she was assistant to his photographer Heinrich Hoffman she cooks fine meals for him and serves him in every way you would expect from a German wife there are rumors that the fura has secretly married if he but I doubt that German propaganda stresses that no mortal woman has the quality to become Frau Hitler even though the films made by Ava Brown Chief pilot Hans Bauer and the folklorist from Hala don't always document the decisive Stations of the Third Reich they do provide eloquent testimony to the nature of the National Socialist dictatorship and it is only through color that the flower-clad swastikas at this children's festival in thuringia have such an oppressive impact May the 1st 1939 Berlin was festively decorated for Labor Day only six years had passed since the Nazis declared May the first a national holiday a move designed to bind the German working class to it through National Socialist slogans and pretentious prophecies for the future and one that had already proved successful Berlin journalist Ute Andreas Friedrich described such events in her diary [Music] tree representative dividers shop stewards leaders from the Federation of German girls and the Hitler Youth Organization in fact all the state-appointed ideological controllers of the German people ensure that only acolytes turn up to cheer on official occasions anyone who is politically unreliable anyone who has roused even the slightest suspicion of being a naysayer is to be kept away from such occasions the Yes Men know what is expected they cheer spontaneously at the right place and at the right time March of the golden standards is the title of a color film which an unknown cine Enthusiast took on this particular day he was part of a delegation from the zebel aircraft Works a Nazi model plant which the day before had been honored by Hitler himself and was allowed to provide one of the 200 flag bearers foreign adopted a Pacific tone and castigated an alleged International Clique of Jewish warmongers but in actual fact four weeks previously he had ordered his military leaders to prepare the invasion of neighboring Poland the rearmament of Nazi Germany was taking place at full speed consequently on this may the 1st it was mainly arms factories who participated in this parade of the golden standards [Music] [Music] to the sound of appropriate marching music The Golden standard of the zebel aircraft Works in Hala was rolled up this was the last May holiday to be celebrated in such Grand Joe's style in the Third Reich because the outbreak of the second world war was only a few weeks away in Berlin in the summer of 1939 there appeared to be little enthusiasm for a renewed Call to Arms memories of the Great War of 1914-1918 were too traumatic this is how an American reporter described the mood everyone is against War how can a country start a decisive war with the people so tired of War an internal note stated that faith in the future will now be put to the test more than ever before and a German journalist noted that The Observer cannot help thinking that people are deliberately indulging in unrestrained enjoyment volcano the recently completed Reich chancellery was deserted albechbear had adapted the huge building entirely to the fura's wishes but Hitler preferred to forge his plans for conquering Poland on the Ober Salzburg far away from the capital of the Reich only occasionally did he show himself to his people on July 16 1939 the whole of Munich was dedicated to National Socialist creative activity Hitler wanted the day of German art to be celebrated as a true Festival of peace the members of an amateur film club had been positioned at various points in the city to document all important events the first item on the program for the morning was delaying of a brief at the grief of architect Ludwig trost local branches of the association of German amateur filmmakers were commissioned more and more often by party offices to document major events on 16 millimeter Color Film because there was still no satisfactory process for professional Cinema Productions on this particular day the members of the Munich branch of the association had been provided with passes and armbands which allowed them access to all prime filming locations on the afternoon of July the 16th anybody who was anybody in the Third Reich took their seat in the VIP stand to Marvel at a three-hour procession of live images from two thousand years of German culture foreign [Music] Not only was Germany's future to be National Socialist so was its past in the program for this tacky Festival it said the German eagle Towers above the whole procession with it ends this manifestation of our history at the same time it gaze us into the Eternal future keenly and calmly with pride and assured of Victory announcing the greatness of our era and our willingness to act it is the herald of our doing and our plans [Music] American reporter Ernest Pope commented the Nazi procession is the admission of the furas Restless plans for Conquest [Music] foreign book Ava Brown filmed Hitler in the pose of a Resolute power politician Hitler clearly displayed his willingness for war while at the same time keeping open the possibility of a peaceful Solution by receiving diplomats from all over the world like Khalid al-huda special Envoy of the king of Saudi Arabia the wahhabis had established an absolute monarchy on the Arabian peninsula they had control of oil a commodity so keenly sought after by every major power and they were fanatical anti-semites in the end all that was agreed on this occasion was an insignificant armsteal accompanied by his accomplices reinert heydrich and Karl wolf Heinrich Himmler had also traveled to the Uber Salzburg they were planning an extermination program to which not only Poland's Intelligentsia but also its Jewish population would fall victim on August 12 1939 Eva Brown filmed on the Terrace of the berghoff Hitler was awaiting a visit from the Italian foreign minister on official occasions the Furious mistress had to withdraw into her rooms so this time too she could only secretly film a few scenes prior to the arrival of the state guest count giano wanted to win over his ally for a new International Conference but the furro was determined to defeat Poland militarily Tiana's efforts were fruitless this is how he described his meeting with Hitler he has decided to attack and he will attack a March of the Federation of German girls and the Hitler Youth in offenborg on May the 19th 1939 here too by now the second world war was not far off Paul stobber who had been documenting everyday life in his hometown ever since 1928 filmed the Nazi party's local annual conference in the Barton District in color among the town's dignitaries was publisher Franz border as early as 1933 in his popular Radio Magazine surag he had already stated that in its thoughts desires and acts the zurak has always been solidly German and patriotic Nationalist and socialist the spirit of the new age is alive in it no Jewish Capital has been invested in the Printing House nor are any of the company's contributors or employees Jewish the highlight of the event was the address by District leader Carl vombach since 1936 offenborg had been a Garrison Town accordingly local military leaders also presented themselves in parade uniforms as part of national socialist society on September the 8th 1939 A loudspeaker vehicle announced news of the Vermont successes in Poland The ofenborga tagus Blood also printed special reports from the Army Supreme command the Germans couldn't believe that their fathers husbands and Sons were sweeping through Poland so quickly every day Maps were hastily put up to show the latest conquests on this particular day September the 8th German tank units had reached the suburbs of Warsaw Hitler's first Blitzkrieg ended on October the 6th with a capitulation of Poland Johannes bleisener owned a photography shop in korbach in Hessa time and again during the second world war he filmed events in his hometown later he edited them to produce korbach in the war a film which shows rare footage of life in a small town during the Third foreign on March the 22nd 1940 the National Socialist Public Welfare organization in korbach invited people to come for pea and bacon soup on Adolf Hitler Square with food rationing in place such occasions ensured that the poorer levels of society also got to enjoy a cheap hot meal Paramount however was the Nazi leadership's intention to promote communal solidarity along the lines of socialism in practice [Music] since September the 3rd 1939 a state of War had existed between the Third Reich and Great Britain and France but the Allies had not come to Poland's aid for them it was a case of wait and see Hitler had been planning for months to launch a campaign in the West but it had been postponed time and again finally Germany's Supreme Commander decided that the offensive would begin on May the 10th 1940. [Music] infantry units were also stationed in bitterfield near Halle in early may they were moved West they were to invade the neutral countries of Belgium Luxembourg and the Netherlands while German tank units headed through the Arden towards France [Music] at the start of his campaign in the west Hitler moved to his headquarters in hordat in the Eiffel from here his chief pilot Hans Bauer flew the further to the front time and again on odendorff Airfield near oyster we see the dictator discussing the situation with Hermann gurin in less than six weeks Hitler had achieved what German armies had failed to achieve in four years in the Great War France was forced to capitulate after a long discussion with Hitler on June 6 1940 Joseph Goebbels wrote in his diary that the furan Tower is high above us all he's one of History's Geniuses what a glorious era and it will be followed by the great rest we all desire so much the fura perhaps more than any of us then we shall built the new Europe after the war we shall soon deal with the Jews foreign Hans Bauer filmed the wreckage of a French Air Force unit this is how French historian Mark block described the disaster in his book strange defeat we have just suffered a devastating defeat who was responsible the Parliamentary regime the troops the British the fifth column our generals replied in other words everybody but them no matter how one might assess the deeper reasons for this catastrophe the immediate course was the incapability of our military leaders their inability to think the war thank you on June the 2nd 1940 the leadership of the German luftwaffe was waiting at niagni's Airfield for the arrival of the fura filmed by Hans Bower the Air Force generals were in jovial and Victorious mood although their contribution to the military success had been modest wounded in battle were quickly flown in to form the backdrop to a special ceremony [Music] Adolf Hitler arrives in his Mercedes limousine while the commander-in-chief is greeting his troops 150 kilometers away in Dunkirk the last of 330 000 British and French soldiers are being evacuated across the English Channel exactly four years later they will return to free France from the German yoke [Music] wherever Hitler appears with his Entourage he is given a frenetic reception the dictator is at the Zenith of his power as chief of the German Armed Forces high command vuheim Keitel put it my fura you are the greatest commander of all time comments like that earned titled the reputation of being the first lucky in his Memoirs Chief pilot Hans Bower commented on Hitler's visits to the Troops in France Hitler's intended effect was achieved the troops and the French population were impressed by the fact that he appeared as soon as hostilities had ceased the commander-in-chief ate from field kitchens the only special requirement was for any cant meat to be removed since the fura always avoided meat naturally people back home in Germany didn't get to see such scenes even the camera teams of the weekly newsreel rarely had the chance to observe Hitler like this with the exception of Ava Brown's private films the films taken by Hans Bower are the only footage which shows the dictator from close up unedited and uncensored on June the 13th the French government declared Paris to be an open City a day later the German Army marched into the Capital One Soldier Arnold binder wrote in his diary Paris has been declared an open City we have occupied it without a fight the heart of France is in our hands on June 23 1940 Adolf Hitler visited the defeated French capital Chief pilot Hans Bauer had flown the dictator to Le Borge at 5am and was allowed to accompany him on a tour of the city once again he used 16 millimeter Color Film to document the bizarre sightseeing trip alongside Hitler on the observation platform on the Trocadero were sculptor Arno breaker and Architects Hermann gizler and Albert bear later in his Memoirs shper described the dictator's reaction wasn't Paris beautiful but Berlin must become even more beautiful in the past I often wondered whether Paris shouldn't be destroyed but when we're finished in Berlin Paris will be a mere shadow so why should we destroy it Hitler had purportedly come to Paris as an educational tourist who was very keen on culture but in reality the visit was his personal Triumph as a commander in leisan valid he spent a long time next to the tomb of Napoleon past and present dreams of world dominance foreign Francis Hall of Fame the dictator's lifelong dream had been fulfilled at least for the time being five years later the French would celebrate Victory by dancing in the streets and Berlin would lie in Ruins foreign [Music]

Channel: Free Documentary - History

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Keywords: Free Documentary, Documentaries, Full Documentary, documentary - topic, documentary (tv genre), History, History Documentaries, Free Documentary History, History Documentary, The Third Reich in Colour, Third Reich Documentary, Adolf Hitler Documentary, Nazi Germany Documentary, German History, German History Documentary, World War 2, WWII, WWII Documentary, Second World War, World War 2 Documentary, 20th Century

Id: L0b4kP-z-lY

Length: 44min 32sec (2672 seconds)

Published: Fri Aug 11 2023