Created in 1933 for 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 4.
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 the arrival of prominent Nazis including Joseph Goebbels (:36) at the Berlin Central Airport / Tempelhof Airport. in honor of a national holiday. The aircraft shown is a Deutsche Luft Hansa Fokker F.VII, also known as the Fokker Trimotor (marked Eifel on the side visible at :20). The man at :49 appears to be Joseph (Sepp) Dietrich, a German politician and SS commander during the Nazi era. At 1:24, Chancellor Hitler is seen with his entourage, on his way to Templehof. At 2:09, the site of the massive May Day rally at Hamburg is shown. A zeppelin, possibly the Graf Zeppelin but more likely the Hindenburg, cruises overhead as preparations are underway for a massive rally. At 3:32, a gigantic swastika looms over the site. Flights of airplanes cruise over the site. At 4:51, a bearded man in traditional lederhosen dress stares at the camera. At 5:27, aviator Ernst Udet flies over the field in his airplane D-822. At 5:57, the sun sets over the rally site. At 6:12, Hitler and Goebbels arrive on the scene. Goebbels speaks at 6:30, concerning the “victims of labor” and asking for one minute of silence in memory of fallen comrades. At 6:57, a swastika emblem with a German soldier silhouette dominates the scene. At 7:48, Hitler begins his address, laying out his initial plans for year one of his term as chancellor. A one-armed salute of obedience to Hitler is performed at 9:21. The event ends with a huge fireworks celebration at 10:00. At 10:56, a firework of Hitler’s face burns against the night sky. At 11:11, Prussian Prime Minister Herman Goring speaks to the armed forces at midnight. The End.
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 like: “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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
