Die Deutsche Wochenschau
Encyclopedia
Die Deutsche Wochenschau (The German Weekly Newsreel) is a series of German
newsreel
s from 1940 until the end of World War II
.
After the invasion of Poland (September 1939, the outbreak of the Second World War), the Nazis consolidated four separate newsreel production efforts into one. These newsreels (Ufa-Tonwoche, Deulig-Tonwoche, Tobis-Woche, Fox-Tönende Wochenschau) were merged into a single wartime newsreel
, but kept their respective opening titles until June 1940. After that, the merger was made public by use of a single new opening title: Die Deutsche Wochenschau. This was the sole series of German newsreels 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. Die Deutsche Wochenschau was also exported to occupied territories that had been annexed to the Reich, like Austria and the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. For other occupied regions, or for neutral nations (like Sweden), another newsreel was made: Ufa's Auslandstonwoche or 'Foreign Weekly Newsreel'.
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
. Its last documentary, Traitors before the People's Court, depicted the trial of the accused in the 20 July plot, and was never shown.
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. Nevertheless the URAA also prevents films previously under the administration of the "Enemy Property Custodian" from being renewed making it an uphill if not futile battle to enforce these copyrights in the U.S.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
s from 1940 until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the invasion of Poland (September 1939, the outbreak of the Second World War), the Nazis consolidated four separate newsreel production efforts into one. These newsreels (Ufa-Tonwoche, Deulig-Tonwoche, Tobis-Woche, Fox-Tönende Wochenschau) were merged into a single wartime newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
, but kept their respective opening titles until June 1940. After that, the merger was made public by use of a single new opening title: Die Deutsche Wochenschau. This was the sole series of German newsreels until the end of World War II
End of World War II in Europe
The final battles of the European Theatre of World War II as well as the German surrender to the Western Allies and the Soviet Union took place in late April and early May 1945.-Timeline of surrenders and deaths:...
. It was a source of footage for late Nazi propaganda
Nazi propaganda
Propaganda, the coordinated attempt to influence public opinion through the use of media, was skillfully used by the NSDAP in the years leading up to and during Adolf Hitler's leadership of Germany...
films such as Der Ewige Jude and Feldzug in Polen
Feldzug in Polen
Feldzug in Polen is a 69 minute documentary/Nazi propaganda film depicting the 1939 invasion of Poland and directed by Fritz Hippler...
, as well as innumerable post-war documentaries. Despite Harry Giese
Harry Giese
Harry Giese was a German theatre and voice actor.-Career:He was the narrator for German newsreels between 1940 and 1945. He is perhaps best known as the narrator for the anti-semitic propaganda film The External Jew ....
'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
Tran and Helle
Tran and Helle were a comedy duo of the Third Reich era, played by Ludwig Schmitz and Jupp Hussels . From September 1939 the pair appeared in a number of weekly 2-3 minute short films, which usually accompanied Die Deutsche Wochenschau newsreels or feature films screened in cinema.Tran was a...
duo. Die Deutsche Wochenschau was also exported to occupied territories that had been annexed to the Reich, like Austria and the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. For other occupied regions, or for neutral nations (like Sweden), another newsreel was made: Ufa's Auslandstonwoche or 'Foreign Weekly Newsreel'.
Among the many notable scenes preserved by the newsreel are the Nazi point of view of the battle of Normandy
Battle of Normandy
The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Allied forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II. It was the largest amphibious operation in history...
, the footage of Hitler and Mussolini right after the July 20 plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
, and the last footage of Hitler awarding Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
volunteers shortly before the Battle of Berlin
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
. Its last documentary, Traitors before the People's Court, depicted the trial of the accused in the 20 July plot, and was never shown.
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. Nevertheless the URAA also prevents films previously under the administration of the "Enemy Property Custodian" from being renewed making it an uphill if not futile battle to enforce these copyrights in the U.S.
See also
- List of German films 1933–1945
- List of films in the public domain in the United States
- WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
, another regular means of military propaganda from Nazi Germany
Further reading
- Bartels, Ulrike, Die Wochenschau im Dritten Reich: Entwicklung und Funktion eines Massenmediums unter besonderer Berücksichtigung völkisch-nationaler Inhalte, Frankfurt am Main - Berlin - Bern - Bruxelles - New York - Oxford - Wien, Peter Lang, 2004
- "Nazi newsreels in German-occupied Europe, 1939-1945". Special issue of the Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, 24, 2004, 1 (Table of contents)
- Zimmermann, Peter and Hoffmann, Kay (Editors), Geschichte des dokumentarischen Films in Deutschland. Band 3: Drittes Reich (1933–1945), Stuttgart, Philipp Reclam, 2005