During the twelve year reign of the Third Reich in Nazi Germany, there was a
procession of mass rallies that drew crowds containing hundreds of thousands of
people. These powerful demonstrations of political will served a number of
significant purposes but, most importantly, they were staged primarily to
indoctrinate the people of Germany and to exhibit Germany’s political and
military strength to the rest of the world. These rallies were all extremely
similar and were meticulously planned, always containing a display of Germany’s
military strength with thousands of troops in attendance, as well as
demonstrations of Germany’s military vehicle capabilities accompanied by flybys
by hundreds of fighter planes. These events were truly remarkable to
behold.
The variety and reason for these rallies varied hugely,
but their grandeur was impeccably consistent. This DVD explores these
spectacular events using rare and original archive footage, starting with the
Nazi Party Rally in Nuremberg on Memorial Day. The DVD then explores other
events such as the visits from foreign nationals and the displays used to
impress and to strike fear into neighbouring countries. We also explore the
grand procession that was Hitler’s 50th Birthday, where thousands lined the
streets of Berlin to join in the celebrations.
The Nazis of
the Third Reich were the first to recognise the propaganda related possibilities
of the new “film” medium and they utilized its potential in a very structured
and professional way. From military and anti-semitic propaganda films to Hitler
Youth and Pro-Nazi posters, the Germans embraced propaganda and employed it
tirelessly. This DVD explores the varying methods and includes footage from
original propaganda films. Combined with a bonus disc with additional film
material and five photo galleries, this DVD should appeal to all military
enthusiasts.
