This WW2 era propaganda film is one of seven in the “Why We Fight” series (:15) produced by Frank Capra for the War Department (:29) in an effort to explain the US’s purpose in joining the war. The film is narrated by John Huston. Explosions erupt over Pearl Harbor (2:07) on December 7th, 1941. Germans attacked Britain in 1940 (2:16). The Saint-Romain tower smolders in France (2:29). The Eiffel Tower (2:34) followed by the Arc de (2:39) Triomphe. Scenes from China as Japan invaded China in 1937 (2:46). Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia (2:54). Norway was hit on April 9th, 1940 (2:59). The Junkers Ju 34 Kurierflugzeug flies over Greece (3:28). The Soviet T-34 (3:50) moves over frozen ground. The US industry changed drastically during the war as it shifted to pumping out war materials (4:13). A quote by Henry Wallace; former Vice President is read (4:42). The George Washington statue in New York appears (5:50). Thomas Jefferson stands in the Smithsonian (5:53). Lafayette has a statue in Lafayette Square, Washington (5:55). The Liberty Bell rings in front of the Washington monument and the White House (6:45). The Axis power spread across Europe is shown (7:06). Mussolini marched on Rome (7:18). Following WW1 the Italians were faced with political unrest and unemployment (7:29). Mussolini is pictured (7:49) as the country’s insecurities enabled a dictator such as him to rise. Hitler was faced with the same opportunity as he moves through crowds of staunch supporters (8:10). The German army is pictured (8:45). Wealthy German industrialists supported Hitler (9:05). Unrest in the streets as Hitler sought to overthrow the Weimar German Republic (9:12). Emperor Hirohito and Tojo gained support in Japan (9:29). The Italian Army black shirts (10:22) and the Wehrmacht in brown (10:25). Japan’s fascist symbol was a black dragon (10:37). Germany’s swastika is noted (10:41). Hirohito rides a white horse (11:23). The triage which made up the Axis powers follows (11:30). Hitler delivers his speech Reichstag duriing the Election of 1938 (11:52). Hirohito is pictured just prior to the Manchurian Incident (12:13). The Reichstag building (12:24). The Palazzo Montecitorio was the house of government in Rome (12:31). The Diet is pictured in Tokyo (12:34). Notices went up around Germany forbidding citizens from gathering in large groups (12:51). The term Schriftleiter was known to bring the beginning of the end of the freedom of the press in Germany as the Nazi propaganda campaign took over (13:00). Joseph Goebbels was the chief propagandist (13:08). The Volksgericht was a special court set up by Nazi Germany (13:14). Labor unions were abolished (13:23) and forced labor camps were set up. The SS march through the streets (13:53). Adolf’s Mein Kempf was extremely influential in swaying public opinion (14:01). A fascist Italian army, the 13th legion is filmed in Turin, Italy (14:12). Hitler executes anti-Nazi leaders cries the Detroit Free Press (14:49). Socialist leaders were executed in Italy (15:05). Viscount Saito was assassinated by rebels in 1936 (15:20). The Nazis turned on the church (16:16). Dr. Alfred Rosenberg was one of the early members of the Nazi party (16:22). He delivers a speech in 1938 asking for the removal of the Catholic and protestant churches. The cross was to be removed from churches and replaced by the swastika (16:45). The courthouse in Bremen, Germany was another target of Nazi aggression (16:52). Protestant Youth organizations were ordered to disband (17:07). Priests and pastors were also targeted including Pastor Niemoeller (17:18). Julius Streicher (17:40) delivers a speech. The Nazi salute is performed in class (17:56). Italian students salute Mussolini (18:32). The Imperial flag waves among young Japanese soldiers (19:02). Mussolini’s army marches in front of the Victor Emmanuel Monument (19:42). The Hitler Youth march with Nazi flags (19:53). The Japanese Imperial army mobilized students between the ages of 14-17 (20:09). The film turns to the 1921 Disarmament conference (22:56). The Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed in 1929 (23:20). The US scrapped some of their warships (23:50) and shrank their military (24:04). A Pathe News film dictates the American opinion against joining the war (24:16) in 1939. FDR (25:33).

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