Created in 1933 by the newly-ascendant Adolf Hitler, “Deutschland Erwacht!” (Germany Awake!) is a recounting of life in Germany after WWI and up until the handover of power from Hindenburg to Hitler in 1933. As a work of propaganda, the film vividly shows the turbulent, inflationary times that followed World War I and attempts to show how Hitler’s Germany will be a powerful nation. This portion is Reel 2.
This version of the film is silent with title cards.
In addition to the film, other souvenirs were created with the “Germany Awakes!” motto including a cigarette picture book.
The film begins with a title card concerning the arson fire that consumed the home of the parliament, the Reichstag, or state house, an act which Hitler blamed on communist terrorists. The conflagration occured on Monday 27 February 1933, precisely four weeks after Adolf Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany. The ruined building is shown in the following sequence. At :50, the parliament reconvenes with Hitler presiding, at the Kroll Opera House, opposite the Reichstag building. May Day 1933 preparations are shown at 1:38, with work being conducted to construct a grandstand. 1 May 1933 was declared the “Day of National Labor” by the Nazi regime. At 4:03 the title card refers to Baldur Benedikt von Schirach speaking the night before the main event. Von Schirach was head of the Hitler Youth (later sentenced to 20 years in prison at Nuremberg). At 4:42 youth activities at Lustgarten, a park on Museum Island in central Berlin, near the site of the Berliner Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace) at which Hitler often spoke. At 5:29 minister of propaganda Joseph Goebels and Reichminister Werner von Bloomberg, who was involved in building up the German army prior to 1938. At 6:30, Goebbels addresses the Hitler Youth. At 6:48, Chancellor Hitler arrives with Reich President Von Hindenburg, who also addresses the young people. He is followed by Hitler at 8:42. End of Reel 2.
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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
