Die Deutsche Wochenschau [The German Newsreel] (1939) UfA

German Newsreel 470, 1939-09-07

GERMAN NEWSREEL 470

(1939-09-07, UfA-Tonwoche Nr.470)

World War 2 Begins: Germany Invades Poland; Air and Sea Bombardment of Westerplatte; German Tanks and Infantry Move Deep into Poland.



Description and Partial Transcript



English:

The "UfA-Tonwoche" is a newsreel out of the Third Reich which has been produced until June 1940. Political, military, cultural and sporting events from Germany and foreign countries are shown.

---

Under the Treaty of Versailles, the German Danzig became a Free State and cut off from the motherland. Funeral of Joseph Wessel, who was murdered by Polish bands. Thousands of ethnic German flee from the Polish lands. Their courtyards are systematically destroyed and burned. Even German Reich is more and more not spared. Polish artillery attacks in the so-called 'peace' German apartment houses and farms. England, in alliance with Poland, supported these excesses to challenge the war. The German military-industrial establishment is working flat out. Meanwhile, our troops are over the German-Polish border to counter-attack. Our soldiers in advance to take rapid passage over all Polish positions. The German Air Force performs a bold attack on strategic targets, many victories. In a few days, she dominates the Polish airspace. Attack on the Westerplatte, a stronghold of the Poles. The triumphal march of German troops going forward relentlessly. With a grateful heart, the ethnic Germans liberated welcome warmly the German troops everywhere. The terrible days of the Polish terror is officially over!



German:

Die UfA-Tonwoche ist eine Wochenschau aus dem Dritten Reich, die bis Juni 1940 produziert wurde. Es werden politische, militaerische, kulturelle und

sportliche Ereignisse aus Deutschland und dem Ausland gezeigt.

---

Durch den Vertrag von Versailles wird das deutsche Danzig zum Freistaat und abgeschnitten vom Mutterland. Beisetzung des Joseph Wessel, der von polnischen Banden ermordet wurde. Zu Tausenden fluechten Volksdeutsche aus den polnischen Gebieten. Ihre Hoefe werden planmaessig zerstoert und abgebrannt. Sogar Deutsches Reichsgebiet wird mehr und mehr nicht verschont. Polnische Artillerie attackiert im so genannten 'Frieden' deutsche Wohnhaeuser und Gehoefte. England, im Bunde mit Polen, unterstuetzt diese Auswuechse, um den Krieg herauszufordern. Die deutsche Ruestungsindustrie arbeitet mit Hochdruck. Inzwischen sind unsere Truppen ueber die Deutsch-Polnische Grenze zum Gegenangriff uebergegangen. Im zuegigen Vormarsch nehmen unsere Soldaten alle polnischen Stellungen. Die deutsche Luftwaffe vollfuehrt mit kuehnem Angriff auf strategische Ziele viele Siege. In wenigen Tagen beherrscht sie den polnischen Luftraum. Angriff auf die Westerplatte, eine Zwingburg der Polen. Der Siegeszug deutscher Truppen geht unaufhaltsam vorwaerts. Mit dankerfuellten Herzen heissen die befreiten Volksdeutschen die deutschen Truppen ueberall willkommen. Die Schreckenstage des polnischen Terrors sind endgueltig vorueber!



Source: www.archive.org

Die Deutsche Wochenschau (English: The German Newsreel) is a series of German newsreels from 1940 until the end of World War II. Film frames from WW2 German newsreel showing Do-17z taking off for a bombing mission.

After the outbreak of war, the Nazis consolidated five separate newsreel production efforts into one: Die Deutsche Wochenschau was the sole series of German newsreels from 1940 until the end of World War II. It was a source of footage for late Nazi propaganda films such as Der Ewige Jude and Feldzug in Polen, as well as innumerable post-war documentaries. Despite Harry Giese's signature rat-a-tat narration that gives the proceedings a documentary-like tone, liberties were taken in retelling the facts in this Nazi propaganda tool. Comedic public service announcements were delivered by the Tran and Helle duo.

Among the many notable scenes preserved by the newsreel are the Nazi point of view of the battle of Normandy, the footage of Hitler and Mussolini right after the July 20 plot, and the last footage of Hitler awarding Hitler Youth volunteers shortly before the Battle of Berlin.

Most Wochenschau films are still copyrighted; the rights are held by Transit Film GmbH in Germany. In the U.S. the copyright on these films from 1914 until the 1940s had expired due to non-compliance with U.S. formalities; the copyright was then restored in 1996 by the URAA on those published after 1922. The Transit Film company then even filed so-called "notices of intent to enforce" (NIEs) with the U.S. Copyright Office and can now even enforce its copyrights against parties who rightfully used their films before the URAA became effective.

Source: Wikipedia