Made in 1944 by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), A REPORT ON GERMAN MORALE examines the German war machine and the methods used by the Nazis to control morale, despite huge battlefield reversals. Designed for armed forces consumption only, this is an unusually interesting film not only for the use of enemy footage throughout, but also for its attitudes. As Theodore Huff pointed out, “It rather gleefully seizes on German civilian misery as a propagandist weapon to be exploited, the very tactics that were deplored in Frank Capra’s earlier “Why We Fight” series of films.” At this point, any means of shortening the war must be embraced.

The film includes a great deal of German home front footage, including preparation for air raids and repair of damage due to air raids in the opening minutes, anti-aircraft fire against Allied planes and images of downed allied planes and captured American airmen at the 3:30 mark, German gun camera footage at 4:30 and a German ace discussing his victories.

A German newsreel “The Front Show” (Dei Deutsche Wochenschau) is seen at 7:45, with German pilots scrambling into the skies, troops demolishing Russian installations on the Eastern Front and mining railroad tracks and bridges. The real situation of course on the Russian Front was awful and is seen starting at 10:56, with Goebbels lecturing the home front and managing to keep civilian opinion in check. At 12:15, German troops are seen, and described as “good, professional soldiers” who are still fighting because they remain confident.

At 13:23, Germany’s new weapons including the Me-323 transport plane are seen, a doodle bug tank at 13:30 which is equipped with an explosive device,, and V-1 Buzz Bombs seen at 14:00. A downed V-1 is seen and examined and the V-2 mentioned.

Hitler is seen at the 16:10 mark, from a German newsreel.

The elite SS is discussed at 16:30, as “trained murderers” who are taught lies about their racial superiority. Heinrich Himmler is seen at 16:53.