Evaluating a Nation (AFIF 18) is a short Cold War film from 1951 on how the U.S. evaluates the strength and security of a nation (in terms of susceptibility to Soviet influence), based on that country’s geography, climate, natural resources, and population. The film opens with footage of fighting during World War II, Adolf Hitler, and a shot of the United Nations builidng in New York City. Members of the U.N. General Assembly gather in one of the building’s halls. Italian citizens vote in an election (01:31). This is followed by footage of what appears to be Italian soldiers or police attacking civilians in the streets. People walk by Greece’s Athenian Acropolis. Nazi paratroopers drop into Greece. Chinese streets are crowded with people and goods. Spain’s Francisco Franco waves to supporters. The film discusses the different aspects the U.S. considers when evaluating a nation and then uses Czechoslovakia as a case study for the process. Czech men cut grain and load it onto a truck (05:44). The film shows viewers some shots of the country’s urban areas (streets and buildings). Coal miners toil in a mine (06:27). A religious procession moves through a street (06:43). Nazi forces march into Czechoslovakia (07:15). The film then shows the portrait of Professor Karl Haushofer (10:52), a German general, geographer, and politician. A crowd of Nazi sympathizers gather to hear Hitler speak (11:06). The film shows viewers quick shots of other Nazi leaders speaking, including Hess, Goering, Frank, Goebbels, Dietrich, Todt, Reinhardt, and Darre. U.S. military equipment—such as artillery guns—is shipped to countries in eastern Europe (13:25). U.S. General Omar Bradley and several other generals stand around a globe. An aerial view shows the North Pole (15:35), one of the new battlegrounds between the post-war superpowers. U.S. troops parachute out of a plane. Men ski down snowy hills. The film shows Moscow’s Red Square and a military parade featuring tanks (16:23) and soldiers; Stalin presides over the parade.
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: “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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
