Castle Films was started in 1924 by Eugene W. Castle, the former Pacific Coast film editor at Fox Movietone News. Castle became a successful producer of industrial and advertising short subjects. Castle began compiling shorts, travelogues and newsreels for use in schools. The lure of the home movie market proved lucrative for Castle. In 1936, they became one of the first home movie companies to actually sell their product to the general public. In 1937, Castle started Castle Films News Parade, a sort of"newscas" one could view at home rather than at the theater. In 1946, Castle Films became a division of United World Films, which in turn was absorbed by Universal in 1947. In the 1970s, Castle Films became Universal 8. Public domain status confirmed by NBC Universal. Harry N. Bromberg was living in New York City in 1945. As a 16mm film hobbyist, Mr. Bromberg purchased"Victory Over German" for his movie collection. He donated it to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in October 1989.
Newsreel footage surrounding the events involving the US and Allied defeat of Germany in WWII. Intertitles read as follows: US troops battle toward Rhine in mighty final offensive! Cologne, Germany's fourth city, falls to US First Army! Americans capture vital Remagen Bridge in amazing surprise maneuver. US Engineers bridge Rhine with pontoons! Allied air might shatters vital remains of Nazi communications! British and Canadian forces cross Rhine to capture Ruhr! Vast airborne force lands to widen beachhead! New rocket weapons destroy remaining fortifications to speed progress of Allied Armies. - Katyusha rockets fired in large numbers by Soviets Thousands of Allied soldiers are freed! Generals Eisenhower and Patton look upon unbelievable Nazi atrocities! - Ohrdruf, good closeups. Hands across the Elbe...Yanks and Russians meet! The Yanks capture Nuremberg, center of Nazism! - Troops through devastated streets and ruins. Hitler, the arch criminal, in his glory! Now the Yanks and Old Glory! On all fronts the Allies sweep toward the heart of Germany! Berlin falls! Moscow rejoices! In Milan, Mussolini and his Fascist henchmen are executed by Italian partisans! - Bodies of Mussolini, his mistress, and others on the street, surrounded by crowds. May 2, 1945: Million German troops in Northern Italy capitulate to Lt. Gen. W.D. Morgan. May 4, 1945: South of Hamburg, Field Marshall Montgomery accepts unconditional surrender of enemy armies in the North. May 7, 1945; GERMANY SURRENDERS! Nazi Col. Gen Jodl signs unconditional surrender to U.S. Lt. Gen. W.B. Smith representing Allied Supreme Command! General Eisenhower, elated over hard-earned victory, accepts pens that sealed Germany's doom! Freedom-loving millions everywhere hail VICTORY OVER GERMANY! THE END This story is a compilation of footage from various sources, shot in various locations at various times throughout the war. It begins with footage of the advance of the allied armies, mainly the American forces, various shots of destruction, rubble, Berlin, buildings burning, bombed out, US military tanks rolling through streets of town. Footage of Eisenhower and Patton visiting concentration camps after liberation, corpses, atrocities, prisoners in uniform. Footage of Mussolini and his henchmen's corpses lying on the plaza in Milan, Italy, after being shot to death by Italian partisans. Russian and American soldiers meeting, sharing food and drink. Shots of Moscow, AV of New York harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Jodl, seated with several other high ranking Nazi officers and Allied officers, signing surrender. Scenes of victory parades/celebrations in Moscow and New York.
US military victory over Germany