This silent 16mm film footage are from the “home movies” of Eva Braun. Braun was notorious dictator Adolf Hitler’s most trusted confidant and his longtime partner. Hitler and Braun married shortly before their death by suicide. In 1945, 28 movie film reels were found and seized by the U.S. Army. These were patched together into eight reels in no chronological or thematic order. Reels are intermittent with b&w and color footage captured between 1940-44. This particular reel opens with black and white footage of Romanian Field Marshall Ion Antonescu’s trip to Romania in the fall or winter of 1941 to inspect German and Romanian troops and armaments. German General Erich von Manstein was in attendance. Ion awards troops with medals. The base is likely in either Bessarabia or Odessa. Dupe footage repeats prior to shots of Copenhagen (see dw1007 ; Germany invaded Denmark in April, 1940). The end of the film features Herta Schneider and her family. Herta was Eva Braun’s childhood friend and member of the Nazi socialite society appearing frequently throughout all 8 reels. Notable figures include Franziska Braun, Erich von Manstien, Ion Antonescu, Eva Braun as well as Herta, Erwin, Gitta and Uschi Schneider.

Landscape views open over the Romanian air field (:07) including the Junkers Ju– 52 transport plane with Ion aboard and soldiers in formation awaiting review. Romania and Germany were closely aligned during WW2. Ion established a National Legionary State complete with a fascist iron guard and allowed the Wehrmacht to occupy Romania. Erich von Manstein appears (:26). Officials salute (:28). Erich; a highly regarded German Field Marshall in the Heer, later helped to develop the myth that German military officials could not be held culpable for the atrocities of the Holocaust. Antonescu (1:04) and armed soldiers follow. Ion addresses troops (1:46). He picks at a soldier’s jacket inspecting uniforms (2:08). Troops show machine gun belts (3:06). Ion inspects the armory (3:40) and delivers honors (6:37). Erich watches (7:06). Troops march for officials (7:20). Ion pins medals to lapels (9:13). Ion and Erich shake hands (10:58). Erich bestows a gift to Ion (11:06) prior to his departure aboard the Junkers Ju-52 (11:19). The footage repeats (11:45-18:57). Color shots sweep Copenhagen highlighting it’s picturesque canals, colorful buildings and historic ships. The Royal Theater Building (18:59) and the Borsen; also known as the Old Stock Exchange (19:08) follow. The prominent dragon spire is emphasized, designed to resemble four intertwined dragon tails. The Borsen; erected in the early 1600’s, remains an important example of Dutch Renaissance style architecture. The Copenhagen harbor is viewed from land (19:25) and aboard a boat (1938) manned by the Braun family (19:50). Small boats bob in historic Nyhavn harbor (20:12). The footage is captured from the canal on Gammal Strand in Copenhagen; a prominent street and public square. Local women bend on their knees at the market (20:15) offering fresh catches of needlefish (20:20). Warships wade the harbor (20:37). Wrists extended outwards from aboard a large vessel waving the Nazi salute (21:23). Franziska Braun, Eva’s mother, shakes an unidentified man’s hand prior to slipping into a Mercedes-Benz (21:57). A view from behind the dashboard runs down country roads (22:07). Herta, Uschi and Gitta follow on the Berghof terrace (22:19). Herta frequently brought the girls to the Berghof; Hitler’s chalet near Obersalzberg in the Bavarian Alps. Uschi and Gitta play with Easter toys (24:06) and a white rabbit on the lawn (25:13). Herta rows a boat (26:56). Shots sweep the Bavarian Alps (27:12). Children play in shallow waters (27:28). Erwin walks with Gitta (28:48). Final shots show Gitta holding a red tulip from the garden with Eva’s Scotties (32:17), learning to walk towards Herta (33:41) and playing with toys on a couch (34:03).

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