Propaganda, presumably, can be defined as telling the story of a conflict from one side only. However, there is honest propaganda, and false propaganda. This film may be described as propaganda, but it seems to me fundamentally honest. The Germans are not flattered, but neither are the allies. Hitler was not described as a house painter, for instance, as is the case in other DVDs of this series, here named World in Conflict, subtitled Why We Fight.
Instead, this description of Hitler's Blitzkrieg through Europe and Scandinavia, is admirably clear, and well narrated. It follows the pattern of a military sitrep, or situation report, and explains how the Germans avoided the Maginot line with their carefully structured plan of attack on the West, after having come to a deceptive and treacherous non-aggression pact with Russia.
The blunder of Hitler's terminally megalomaniac declaration of war against the US, on 11 December 1941, four days after Pearl Harbour, came as a great strategic relief to Roosevelt, and Britain, since Germany still had either substantial support in America, or else there was US isolationist indifference to the plight of Europe. It crucially added to the front-line forces, from Britain, the British Commonwealth, and ultimately Russia, already fighting Germany, finally tipping the balance in conclusive numbers.
This film, although he is not credited on my disc, was directed by Frank Capra, which explains its professionalism. It is moving in its descriptions of the plight of the war refugees, and the massacres of innocent victims, children and civilians. It stresses the hopelessness of the unprepared small countries, deceived by Hitler's well-recorded public promises, to resist the invasions of his armies. I enjoyed the mention of the flotilla of small ships at the miraculous troop rescue at Dunkirk, and the description of the British Isles as "the rock called Britain". It was heartening to note that at least some Americans were letting other Americans know how liberty and civilisation were saved by the resilience of that rock.
Instead, this description of Hitler's Blitzkrieg through Europe and Scandinavia, is admirably clear, and well narrated. It follows the pattern of a military sitrep, or situation report, and explains how the Germans avoided the Maginot line with their carefully structured plan of attack on the West, after having come to a deceptive and treacherous non-aggression pact with Russia.
The blunder of Hitler's terminally megalomaniac declaration of war against the US, on 11 December 1941, four days after Pearl Harbour, came as a great strategic relief to Roosevelt, and Britain, since Germany still had either substantial support in America, or else there was US isolationist indifference to the plight of Europe. It crucially added to the front-line forces, from Britain, the British Commonwealth, and ultimately Russia, already fighting Germany, finally tipping the balance in conclusive numbers.
This film, although he is not credited on my disc, was directed by Frank Capra, which explains its professionalism. It is moving in its descriptions of the plight of the war refugees, and the massacres of innocent victims, children and civilians. It stresses the hopelessness of the unprepared small countries, deceived by Hitler's well-recorded public promises, to resist the invasions of his armies. I enjoyed the mention of the flotilla of small ships at the miraculous troop rescue at Dunkirk, and the description of the British Isles as "the rock called Britain". It was heartening to note that at least some Americans were letting other Americans know how liberty and civilisation were saved by the resilience of that rock.