In this Army – Navy Screen Magazine newsreel, we learn about THE BATTLE OF THE UNITED STATES. In this film from 1944, we see narrator J. Edgar Hoover (00:00:37:00) discussing the importance of catching spies in the United States during World War II and the great efforts the FBI went through to stop them. J Edgar also credits the citizens with doing their part in the effort to stop spies in the United States.
Vintage footage from 1940 New York can be seen at (00:01:40:00). Footage of an American ship exploding can be seen at (00:02:25:00). Nazi rallies across the United States can be seen starting at (00:02:45:00). Amazing footage of a huge FBI data center can be seen at (00:04:20:00). An animated map of Nazi and Japanese activity in the Western Hemisphere can be seen starting at (00:06:55:00). Once again, Nazi rally footage can be seen at (00:08:00:00). At (00:08:37:00) , we see the FBI receiving information of a planned Axis attack on the Panama Canal and oil lines in Columbia. An FBI sting operation targeting enemy agents in the US can be seen at (00:09:20:00). Footage shot by the FBI from the Duquesne Case can be seen starting at (00:09:55:00). A shot of enemy agents viewing US steamship blueprints can be seen at (00:11:35:00). Amazing footage of German submarines can be seen at (00:13:10:00). The film ends with Hoover (00:14:45:00) talking about how the FBI and American’s are part of a team to stop the enemy.
The Duquesne Spy Ring was the largest espionage case in United States history that ended in convictions. A total of 33 members of a German espionage network headed by Frederick “Fritz” Joubert Duquesne were convicted after a lengthy investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The agents who formed the Duquesne Ring were placed in key jobs in the United States to get information that could be used in the event of war and to carry out acts of sabotage. One opened a restaurant and used his position to get information from his customers, while another worked on an airline so that he could report Allied ships that were crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Others worked as delivery people so they could deliver secret messages alongside mundane ones.
One German spymaster later commented the ring’s roundup delivered “the death blow” to their espionage efforts in the United States. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover called his concerted FBI swoop on Duquesne’s ring the greatest spy roundup in U.S. history.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
