This film, narrated in German, shows a brief tour of Germany in the mid 1950’s. It was presented by the Int’l Film Bureau (:09) and narrated by Meno Spann (:22) from the German Department NW University. The US Embassy building (:39), known as the Diechmannsaue Castle opens the film. US President Eisenhower visits the country in August of 1959 (:48) as German’s welcome his arrival (:57). Police on motorcycles escort the American president through town (1:20). The troupe arrives at the Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn which had served as the primary residency of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1950 to 1994 (1:43). Here he meets with government officials including the German President of the time, Theodor Heuss (1:51). Areas in the Rhineland; a strip of land which borders France, Belgium and the Netherlands, are looked at (2:05). Steamer boats and large cargo vessels move through the Rhine River (2:26). Some notorious castles are viewed along the waters including the Rheinstein Castle (2:34) and the Pfalzgrafenstien Castle (2:38). Expanses of farmland and vineyards are visited (2:49). The film then takes viewers to one of the oldest wine fests in Germany, located in Winningen (3:35). A swan float moves down the downtown area of the city (4:01) with paraders atop dressed as bottles of alcohol. A play is enacted for tourists and locals alike (4:18). Large wine barrels are rolled over the streets (5:01). One of the pedestrians holds a sign noting a brewer called Durkheimer Weinguter (5:13). The German orchestra performs for civilians (5:22). Locals are seen dancing in festive attire (5:35) and test tasting the spirits (6:02). The industrial area of the Rhineland is looked at next (6:09) as molten metals spew from furnaces (7:03). In the agricultural area of the country, oxen move through hay fields (7:09). This hay is later harvest and set into carts for use (7:38). Quaint German farmhouses sit with elegant flower gardens in their front yards (7:56). Children of the area attend the ‘little red schoolhouse’ (8:40). Artisan works are shown including the hand painting of a vase (10:04) and plates (10:35) in the area’s commercial area. Festivities include colorfully dressed civilians (11:03) and one man playing an accordion (11:58). An automobile factory is visited (13:03). The film begins to wrap up with shots of completed automobiles moving down a large conveyor belt (13:48). The end. (13:48).

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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