Dating to WWII, this U.S. Army Air Forces official film was used to train intelligence officers. It depicts techniques of interrogation that can be used to withdraw pertinent information from enemy POWs, in this case enemy airmen. It was made by the 1st Motion Picture Unit Army Air Forces (:16). Each captured airman shown represents a mine of information, but of course that information must be coerced (:35). International law states that POW’s only have to divulge name, rank and serial number, but though through techniques of interrogation shown here, more information could be obtained (1:07). The film shows the inside of an AAF AIO Intelligence School (1:37). An interrogator must have tact, good memory, wide range of military knowledge and fluency in one or more enemy languages (2:03). The primary purpose for examination of captured material, documents and personnel was to collect and relay information to high command (2:26). Students learn of German, Italian and Japanese history and the distinctive cultures and dialects of the people as well as social conditions, politics and religious practices (2:53). A model is shown of the Saivion Marchetti SM 79 which was an Italian bomber and reconnaissance aircraft (3:27). It was vital to know everything possible about enemy aircrafts. Prisoners must be immediately separated after capture into groups of officers and non-officers as well as non-commissioned officers and privates (7:49). They were also to be isolated as individuals until interrogation (4:00). Part of the softening up process was to withhold any food, beverages or cigarettes until later in the procedure (4:06). The national traits of a Japanese soldier during WW2 are studied. For a Japanese soldier, capture was more disgraceful than to be killed in action (4:37). A German soldier uniform is shown with details pointed to like the swastika and eagle which was the emblem of the Luftwaffe (5:02), the silver braids and short wreath with three wings which dictate that the wearer is a captain (5:06) as well as the silver eagle and gold wreath which meant the wearer was a pilot’s observer (5:09). Notes were to only be taken after the interrogation (5:43) and as privacy was necessary, interpreters were to be a last resort (5:58). A demonstration follows with students conducting practice interrogations with one another (6:23). Examples in the field begin with Captain Schwartz receiving a call of three captured enemy airmen (8:07). He has their personal belongings sent up ahead of them (8:19). A span of the material shows a citation for bravery signed by Field Marshall Herman Goering (8:43), a ticket stub from a hotel in Munich (8:59). All of the belongings are kept separately. In the first interrogation the AIO uses his knowledge of Munich theatre to connect with the prisoner and wins his trust by informing him they will tell his family of his safety (12:55). He learns that the KG76 had moved from Russia, that he had flown a Heinkel 177 and that their new base was likely in Rouen (13:24). The next prisoner proves to be too difficult and the AIO sends him back into isolation (14:41). The third prisoner lies saying the new base is in Trondheim and the AIO catches him, as the AIO had extensive knowledge about the Junkers 88 and knew it’s airspeed would not enable them to have arrived from Trondheim in time. He is able to confirm that the new base is Rouen (19:20). Another interrogator, with an Italian POW, uses the prisoners’ captured belongings — which include a letter from his Uncle living in the US — to extract information from him, by threatening to turn his uncle over to the FBI (21:42). A Japanese pilot is interrogated in New Guinea (23:20) and here the psychology of the soldier is used against him as the AIO is aware capture is disgraceful. The film then shows a few examples of indirect interrogation which is useful when direct methods prove unsuccessful (26:30). Examples include an AIO plant in a hospital ward with a German pilot (26:33), and Italian officer tricked to believe he is in quarantined among other prisoners although one is an AIO plant acting as a disgruntled Nazi POW (27:36), and a dinner party with an AIO plant and officers who boast about their endeavors in the war (27:52). The film wraps up with a montage of the narratives as well as with the notion that POW’s were human and had human flaws which could be piqued in order to extract information about enemy capabilities and missions (28:32).

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