Communist Europe (AFIF 107) is a 1961 short film from the U.S. Department of Defense that gives viewers a look at the Communist satellite countries of eastern Europe. The film looks at the relationship of Communism with the countries’ cultures, economics, politics, and religious identities. The film opens with footage of a Communist parade: women and men march down a street, tanks roll by the gathered crowds, and jets fly overhead. The film then cuts to an American man, who narrates the film and addresses the audience about the new makeup of Europe following WWII. The film shows footage of the mountainous regions of eastern Europe (01:54), before recapping the recent history of a few of the countries. Nazi troops and tanks invade Czechoslovakia. Nazi planes bomb Poland. Polish leaders appear to meet with Soviet officials (02:43). There is a Soviet military parade (03:13). Yugoslavia President Josip Tito speaks at a meeting (likely with members of his cabinet). Men in Yugoslavia build either a train bridge or a dyke (04:14). The film shows people of eastern Europe (04:35) playing music, dancing, harvesting produce, making crafts, and participating in Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic church services. Footage shows several of the region’s persecuted religious figures (05:35), including Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty of Hungary, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski of Poland, and Archbishop Aloysius Stepinac of Yugoslavia. The film then cuts to scenes of the region’s agriculture (collectivized farming): people harvest grains, heard cattle, and pick grapes. This is followed by footage of eastern Europe’s heavy industries (07:58): steel production, oil refineries, and glass production. Communist students learn inside a classroom (09:10). At a large stadium, men practice gymnastics (09:24). The film then shows Communist military parades, followed by footage of street warfare from uprisings against Communist rule in East Germany and Hungary (10:55). Men burn communist books in a city street. People gather around either a memorial or burial place of people killed—presumably in the uprisings. The film then shows viewers the city streets and buildings of Yugoslavia (12:00). Viewers are then taken to Poland (12:23): Polish President August Zaleski addresses a large crowd outside; someone speaks at a session of what appears to be Poland’s lower house, the Sejm. Yugoslavia’s Tito addresses a body of people—possibly Parliament (13:25). Hungary’s Ambassador to the United Nations speaks at a U.N. meeting (14:41). The film shows the Polish Navy (15:45)—ships at sea and sailors standing at attention on the deck of a ship. Yugoslavia receives economic aid from the U.S. (17:04). The film concludes with footage of streets in Yugoslavia, and people farming and harvesting in rural areas of the region.

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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com