See departmental files for English language transcript of film narration. See Stories 2413-2417, Film ID 67 and Stories 3007-3008, Film ID 2388 and Story 4326, Film ID 2794 and Film ID 2749-2758 for additional reels of this film. See Stories 2412, 2413, and 4300 for duplicate footage of this reel. Rights: While this film is a production of the US government and is therefore in the public domain, it contains German newsreel footage, the rights to which are held by the German state archive (Bundesarchiv) through their agent, Transit Film. Researchers should exercise caution when using newsreel clips from this film, and consider clearing the rights with Transit, especially if broadcast in Europe.
Postwar devastation; opening of Nuremberg Trial; early Nazi party history, events, leaders
This is a documentary about the war crimes trial administered by the International Military Court of Justice in Nuremberg against the main Nazi war criminals from November 14, 1945 to October 1, 1946. The film documents footage of the trial from the prosecutor's opening to the verdict. The dramaturgy includes a chronological account of the founding of the National Socialist state, the unleashing of the world war, and the Nazi crimes against humanity and is accompanied with historical footage. This material is occasionally only used for illustration and does not necessarily portray the facts being commented upon. The film is also called"Nuremberg"
Part 1 of ENGLISH language version [corresponds to NARA Reels 1 & 2]"Europe 194" Panorama of war devastation: buildings and cities laid to waste, rubble, mother climbing out of trap door shelter with naked baby in arms, people in hunger and despair emerge from shelters, children running down steps, clambering for food, poverty, homeless people, begging for food, weeping woman."Nuremberg 21 November 194" EXT and INT Nuremberg Palace of Justice. CU, document announcing trial and listing the accused. Seating of International Military Tribunal. Chief US prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson presents the opening statement and Count 1 of the indictment (a conspiracy to commit war crimes and crimes against peace and humanity). Mostly rear views of Jackson speaking:"triumph of justice over vengeance...four mighty nations...meeting greatest menace of our times" Various shots of courtroom, judges, prosecutor, stenographer, defendants. MSs, CUs, defendants' faces. Pan, prisoners' dock. Germans walk past open graves with flowers, sort through rubble. Children desperately seek food in buckets, woman eats from garbage, mob scenes, women shouts viciously in crowd (voiceover of Jackson speaking in court). Jackson continues with the reading of Count 1 at Nuremberg trial. HS, in court, prisoners' dock. CU,"Mein Kampf" text superimposed. In Munich, burgeoning Nazi party, following the lead of Adolf Hitler, instigate street riots with the aim of gaining the highest degree of control over the Germans by any means. HAS, mobs/crowds running through wide street, chaos. Nazis marching with flag, elite members posing on stairway, more marching. Goebbels at desk, on telephone, in leather coat shouting. Nazis parading, Germans heiling. Hitler. Nazis on horseback rushing down street. Newspaper headlines. Torchlight parade at night. Bookburning. Hans G., former official of the Berlin police administration, testifies concerning his investigation of the Reichstag fire. CUs, Goering in dock. Remains of Reichstag fire, MLS, firefighters with hose. German delegates leave the League of Nations, and Germany embarks on a policy to strengthen its military. German armaments, industry. Gen. Werner Edward Fritz von Blomberg announces universal military conscription. CU, legal document. Military training, goosestepping. Spring 1936: German troops entering Rhineland, tanks/horses crossing bridge. Goosestepping troops parade through Nuremberg (voice of Hitler in BG). November 1937: Secret meeting with Nazi elite concerning the German question and the annexation of Austria. CU, minutes of meeting. In court, Jackson speaking,"...this meeting set the stage for Nazi expansion" Berchtesgaden meeting with Hitler, Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg, foreign minister of Austria Guido Schmidt, and other Nazi elite (some on trial). In court, Schmidt testifies concerning Hitler's decision to annex Austria (translated into English). Nazis, Hitler Youth marching.