Die Deutsche Wochenschau (German Weekly News) Nr. 569 - 30 July 1941

Die Deutsche Wochenschau is the title of the unified newsreel series released in the cinemas of Nazi Germany from June 1940 until the end of World War II, with the final edition issued on 22 March 1945. The co-ordinated newsreel production was set up as a vital instrument for the mass distribution of Nazi propaganda at war.

In this Die Deutsche Wochenschau video:

01:08 - Göring receives the Luftwaffe's Crete warriors and Croatian Deputy Leader, Eastern Front, Soviet Union, 1941.
The Reich Marshal receives the Luftwaffe's Crete warriors awarded the Knight's Cross, and Croatian Deputy Leader, Marshal Kvaternik at his headquarters on the Eastern Front. Göring recived a gifts from the Croatian people.

03:24 - Foreign volunteers to fight on the Eastern Front, German Reich, 1941.
The 1st Battalion of the Danish Volunteer Corps "Danmark" is deployed to Germany. Volunteers from the "Blue Division", including Spanish Civil War veterans, departs from Madrid station. Crown Prince Umberto of Italy bids farewell to further troops of the Italian unit.

04:36 - Northern sector of the Eastern Front, Soviet Union, 1941.
German destroyers advance from a Norwegian fjord into the Barents Sea. Attack on Soviet patrol boats off the Murmansk coast.

06:05 - Advance on the Finnish-Soviet border, Salla area, Soviet Union, 1941.
German and Finnish troops advance in the far north of the Finnish-Soviet border region. Fierce fighting has broken out in the Salla area. Artillery (15 cm sFH 18) supports the difficult advance of the infantry. 

07:48 - German troops advance in Bessarabia, Soviet Union, 1941.
New German units are constantly moving along the advance roads toward the former Romanian-Soviet border. Artillery take Soviet positions under fire before the assault, to avoid unnecessary losses. The Bolsheviks emerge from the forests, symphs, and swamps to surrender. The enemy positions across the Dniester are being fired upon. Scenes shows faces of Soviet POW. 

11:26 - Volunteers to "Ukrainian National Movement", Ukraine/Soviet Union, 1941.
Young people from the occupied territories of Ukraine are flocking to the registration centers of the "Ukrainian National Movement."

11:55 - Hungarian and Slovak troops advance on Eastern Front, Soviet Union, 1941.
The Hungarian troops have advanced far to the east in the course of heavy fighting. Slovak troops are advancing further into Ukraine.

12:53 - Advance in the Southern sector of the Eastern Front, Kyiv area, Soviet Union, 1941.
Waffen SS units reached the Dnieper in a bold assault and they're crossing the river on raft bags.

14:09 - Advance on Polotsk and Vitebsk, Soviet Union, 1941.
Polotsk and Vitebsk were defended particularly hard by the Soviets. A light infantry gun (7.5 cm leIG 18) support the advancing German troops. German soldiers use captured Soviet artillery howitzer (203 mm howitzer M1931 B-4). German infantry advances to assault Polotsk. Scenes show destroyed city. 

17:59 -Crossing the Daugava River, Soviet Union, 1941.
The army's engineers are immediately on the scene with their heavy equipment to build a new bridge. 

18:26 - Rest break for advancing German troops, Soviet Union, 1941.
Soldiers taking care of a horses. In a field kitchen soldiers are preparing a dumplings.

19:22 - German troops advance on Vitebsk and Smolensk, Soviet Union, 1941.
A heavy fighting taking place in this key Soviet position within the Smolensk area. Shock troops are advancing to secure a railway line. Scenes show destructive work of a Stuka air raids. 

21:37 - German troops enter the Vitebsk and advance further on Vyazma, Soviet Union, 1941.
Scenes show largely destroyed by the Soviets city of Vitebsk. German soldiers marching towards Vyazma.

25:00 - Luftwaffe operations in the area of Lake Peipus, Soviet Union, 1941.
German bombers (Heinkel He 111) on an attack mission to bomb forests around Lake Peipus.

26:21 - Destruction of the city of Dorpat/Atrocities of GPU, Soviet Union, 1941.
Most of the residential buildings are completely destroyed. Scenes show victims of the Soviet secret police (GPU).

27:09 - Waffen-SS advance northeast of Lake Peipus/Pskov area, Soviet Union, 1941.
Waffen SS units are advancing in a northeasterly direction. A light field howitzer (10.5 cm leFH 18) support the German assault east of Pskov. 

30:52 - First air raid on Moscow, Soviet Union, 1941.

Source :
https://archive.org/details/eng-sub-die-deutsche-wochenschau-nr.-569-hd-july-30-1941-battle-of-vitebsk-lake-peipus-air-war
https://digitaler-lesesaal.bundesarchiv.de/en/video/5351
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bQmzk49IEY&t=20s

Die Deutsche Wochenschau (German Weekly News) Nr. 582 - 29 October 1941

Die Deutsche Wochenschau is the title of the unified newsreel series released in the cinemas of Nazi Germany from June 1940 until the end of World War II, with the final edition issued on 22 March 1945. The co-ordinated newsreel production was set up as a vital instrument for the mass distribution of Nazi propaganda at war.

In this Die Deutsche Wochenschau video:
00:58 - Images from Homeland, Munich, German Reich, 1941.
Scenes show city center and town hall of Munich. The House of German Art has welcomed over half a million visitors in major German art exhibition. Around 750 artists from all discricts of the Reich are exhibiting approximately 1,500 works of sculpture, painting, and graphic art. Scenes shows some paintings and sculptures by German artists.
03:49 - Mountain farmers cultivating the fields, Sellrain Valley, Tyrol, Austria, 1941.
Scenes show difficulties in farming the fields at an altitude of over 1,500 meters. Despite the harsh living conditions, these mountain farmers remain loyal to their land. The farms in these highlands have mostly been owned by the same families for centuries.
05:00 - Hop harvest in the Hallertau region, Bavarian Ostmark, German Reich, 1941.
Country girls help bring in the harvest blessings. Food is being distributed to the workers. 
05:40 - Lignite mining in West Germany, German Reich, 1941.
The extremely rich brown coal deposits here extend for many kilometers. The lignite is mined in open-cast mines. From the mines, the lignite is transported via conveyor belts to large loars. Lignite mining forms an important basis for a power generation and the production of synthetic fuels.
07:16 - Boxing match in the Berlin's "Deutschlandhalle", Berlin, German Reich, 1941.
Heavyweight boxing match between Heinz Lazek and Walter Neusel. The opponents delivered a tough and dynamic fight which ended with a deserved point victory for the titleholder, Heinz Lazek.
09:34 - Visit of the Slovak statesmen to the Führer's headquarters, German Reich, 1941.
At the invitation of the Führer, Slovak President Dr. Tiso and Prime Minister Dr. Tuka visited the Führer's headquarters. In the discussions between the two statesmen participated Reich Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop and the Chief of the High Command of the Wehrmacht, Field Marshal Keitel. The Reich Marshal Hermann Göring in conversation with the Slovak envoy Cernak.
10:47 - Battle of Petroskoi/Finnish Front, Soviet Union, 1941.
The units of the Finnish army advanced to Petroskoi, during operations between Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga. Soviet aircraft attack the Finnish troops. Finnish troops enter the Petroskoi city on October 1st, 1941. The town was renamed Äänislinna. Finnish Women's Auxiliary Corps "Lotta Svard" have taken over the care of the wounded troops. General Heinrichs, Commander-in-Chief of the Karelian Army, presents Finnish decorations to German officers and non-commissioned officers who distinguished themselves during the capture of Petroskoi.
13:30 - Battle of Dagö Island, Soviet Union, 1941.
From Ösel, German batteries launch the attack on Dagö which blocks access to the Gulf of Finland. Units of the German Navy intervene in the battle from the sea. The cruiser "Köln" during the attack on enemy coastal fortifications. In further stubborn individual battles, the island is cleared of the enemy. Scenes show the battle for Kärdla, the capital of Dagö.
17:26 - Leningrad area, Soviet Union, 1941.
German soldiers prepare to build winter quarters. Men of the Reich Labor Service building barracks. Scenes show difficult weather conditions during advance on Leningrad. Railway engineers are nailing the broad-gauge Soviet railway tracks to standard gauge. Soviet attempt to break through the steel German ring around Leningrad. 
22:39 - Operation Typhoon/Battle of Moscow, Soviet Union, 1941.
Scene show the destroyed Vyazma train station. Cars and motorcycles driving over completely muddy country roads. In a bold assault, German troops, after capturing Kalinin and Kaluga, have broken into Moscow's outer defensive line. Endless columns of Soviet POW advance from all sides.
27:37 - Attack on Odessa, Black Sea/Soviet Union, 1941.
Units of the German and Romanian Navy lay mines in the Black Sea. Fighter squadrons of German Air Force attack the defenses and the port of Odessa. On October 16th, after fierce fighting, the Romanian troops enter Odessa. Destroyed port area of Odessa. 
33:11 - Attack on Taganrog, Soviet Union, 1941.
German troops advance on Taganrog. Motorized units of the Waffen SS advance beyond the city further east remaining hot on the heels of the retreating enemy.

Source :
https://archive.org/details/die-deutsche-wochenschau-berita-mingguan-jerman-no.-582-29-oktober-1941-teks-indonesia
https://digitaler-lesesaal.bundesarchiv.de/en/video/5364/145284
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qrX7E7usGo

Die Deutsche Wochenschau (German Weekly News) Nr. 557 - 7 May 1941

Die Deutsche Wochenschau is the title of the unified newsreel series released in the cinemas of Nazi Germany from June 1940 until the end of World War II, with the final edition issued on 22 March 1945. The co-ordinated newsreel production was set up as a vital instrument for the mass distribution of Nazi propaganda at war.

In this Die Deutsche Wochenschau video:
00:28 - On May 1, the national holiday of the German people, Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess, in the Messerschmitt factory in Augsburg. He presented golden flags to over one hundred new National Socialist model factories, and presented three Pioneers of Labor with badges given to them by the Führer. In his speech, the Deputy Führer said that the history of this war could not be written without appreciating the quality of German arms, and thus commemorating the women and men who created these arms.
01:52 - The Führer in the Berlin Sportpalast. Nine thousand graduating officer candidates of the Army, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, and Waffen-SS have assembled for roll call.
03:29 - On May 4, the German Reichstag convened in Berlin to receive a declaration from the Reich government. The Führer arrives in front of the Kroll Opera House. In his great speech, the Führer gave the German people a report on the unique achievements of our Wehrmacht in the campaign in the Southeast.
06:07 - After the victorious conclusion of the Serbian Campaign, the Führer traveled to the liberated Lower Styria.
11:50 - The operations in the Balkans took the following course depicted in the diagram.
13:15 - Battle for Thermopylae. Here, on one of the most famous battlefields of classical antiquity. Greeks, New Zealanders, and Australians tried once more to halt the impetuous attack of German troops and cover the retreat of the English.
15:17 - Flight to Athens.
16:49 - Formations of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler advanced from Ioannina toward Patras in order to cross over to the Peloponnese.
17:15 - SS-Obergruppenführer Sepp Dietrich converses with Italian Army General Carlo Rossi.
21:33 - Tanks of the German Afrika Korps on the march to Tobruk. The ring around the last English positions in Cyrenaica closes ever tighter.
27:43 - The blockade around the British Isles becomes more effective from week to week. Heavy units of the German Kriegsmarine once again advance in closed formation into the Atlantic.

Source :
https://archive.org/details/die-deutsche-wochenschau-berita-mingguan-jerman-no.-557-7-mei-1941-teks-indonesia
https://digitaler-lesesaal.bundesarchiv.de/en/video/5341/659055
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiBQFrw2lHw&t=828s

'Soldaten von Morgen' (Soldiers of Tomorrow) - German Propaganda Film about Youth Education (1941)

“Soldiers of Tomorrow“ (Soldaten von Morgen) is a 1941 German propaganda film about youth education.

Directed by Alfred Weidenmann, a famous German youth book author, who wrote propaganda books and directed propagand films for the Hitler Youth during the Nazi era,the first part of the movie shows, in the form of a theater play, a mocking presentation of the youth of England. It starts with a quote from Socrates, that good and bad habits form during the youth.

The theater play then mockingly presents British youth, showing them as being more occupied with wearing expensive clothes, drinking and smoking, but ultimately being bad soldiers who are only good at surrendering.

The second part contrasts this with German youth, which are shown to be educated in sports and shooting, fencing, horse riding etc. and thus eventually turn into good soldiers.

Source :
https://archive.org/details/soldiers-of-tomorrow-german-propaganda-film-about-youth-education-ca.-1941
https://digitaler-lesesaal.bundesarchiv.de/en/video/657336
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADB54X6_ZgQ

Luftwaffe Crews and Rows of Fw 200 Bombers

German Focke-Wulf FW 200 bombers and their Luftwaffe crews on airfield in the Western Europe. Translation of official German caption on photo reverse: "Large mission of an Atlantic bomber squadron. Share Request: BMW Aircraft Motor Works, Inc., Sec. VF 407. In the West, October 1941".

Source :
https://www.ww2online.org/image/german-bombers-and-their-luftwaffe-crews-airfield-october-1941

Why German Soldiers Fought with their Sleeves Rolled up

To date, there are not so many people left who remember and saw with their own eyes the events of the Second World War, and you and I, the descendants, can only observe the events of those years from documentary chronicles, photographs, or from artistic paintings that were shot in Soviet Union or already in our time.

Surely, many of you have noticed how German soldiers appeared in newsreels with a proud expression on their faces, leisurely walking with an MP40 machine gun in their hands. And almost always their sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, while Soviet soldiers never did this.

What is the reason for such wearing of military clothes. I would like to note right away that in this situation we are not talking about any military traditions. It was all about the form itself.

The fabric from which the German uniform was sewn consisted of two-thirds of wool, the rest of viscose. The quality and characteristics of the appearance of the clothes were at a high level. In the cold season, in this form it was quite warm, but this plus turned into a minus at the same time. Heat transfer is disturbed in woolen products and because of this, it was very hot in a woolen military uniform in the warm season, unlike cotton clothes. Toward the middle of the war, the German uniform began to be sewn, it was from cotton, but the rolling up of the sleeves by the Wehrmacht soldiers on the tunic had already become a habit. Apparently, the charter did not prohibit such wearing of a military uniform, and the officers turned a blind eye to this. However, discomfort in warm weather is not the only reason for rolling up sleeves. We all know that natural wool is a rather prickly material, and those who have worn a wool sweater on their naked body at least once understand what is at stake and remember how the skin itches after that.

As for the soldiers of the Red Army, their uniforms were sewn almost entirely from cotton fabric, as a result of which it was much lighter and more practical. Cotton also breathed well, was a versatile fabric for heat and cold. Plus, the tunics of Soviet soldiers were distinguished by a special cut. The sleeves were slightly tapered, so rolling up the sleeves was quite difficult and impractical.

Source :
https://dzen.ru/media/id/5fdf902d0199050378ad334d/pochemu-nemeckie-soldaty-voevali-zasuchiv-rukava-60771d448fb1c273054dd6bb
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:German_troops_in_Russia_-_NARA_-_540156_(cropped).tif

Happy German Soldiers in Yugoslavia

German soldiers, confident of success shortly before the end of combats, in Yugoslavia during Operation Marita, 14 April 1941. The Axis victory was swift. As early as 14 April the Yugoslav high command had decided to seek an armistice and authorised the army and army group commanders to negotiate local ceasefires. That day the commanders of the 2nd and 5th Armies asked the Germans for terms, but were rejected. Only unconditional surrender could form the basis for negotiations they were told. That evening, the high command sent an emissary to the headquarters of the Panzergruppe 1 to ask for armistice, and in response General Ewald von Kleist sent the commander of the 2nd Army, Maximilian von Weichs, to Belgrade to negotiate terms. He arrived on the afternoon of 15 April and drew up an armistice based on unconditional surrender. This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Artur Grimm and first published in SIGNAL magazine.

 
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Yugoslavia
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/352969689554597002/

British POW being Questioned by Afrikakorps

April 1941: Rommel wrested more than 800 kilometres from the British forces that were forced to retreat towards Egypt. The men under his command took so many prisoners. In the picture, a British POW is being questioned by german officer.

Source :
NARA - 242-EAPC
"Deutsche Afrikakorps (1941-1943)" by Ricardo Recio Cardona

German Anti-Aircraft Halftrack in Training

Sd.Kfz. 10/4 anti-aircraft half-track with 2 cm Flak 30 gun during training of Heeres Flak-Kompanie, April 1941. The "SdKfz 10 leichter Zugkraftwagen 1 t." (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 10) was a German semi-tracked product produced at 17,000 between 1934/1937 and 1944, capable of carrying eight men, and towing the 3.7-cm Pak 35/36 anti-tank guns; Pak 38 5-cm and Pak 40 7.5-cm; or the 7.5-cm LeIG 18 infantry howitzers; sIG 33 of 15-cm; 12-cm Heavy Granatwerfer 42 mortars; as well as any artillery or Flak pieces with the weight included in the cathegorie of these weapons. The chassis of the "SdKfz 10" was used for the production of the SdKfz 250.

 
Source :
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/tanks--482588916295606544/
https://www.net-maquettes.com/waffen-arsenal/halbketten-fahrzeuge-waffen-arsenal-008/

Reinhard Heydrich in Norway

Reinhard Heydrich at Ekeberg cemetery for German soldiers in Oslo during his visit to Norway 3-6 September 1941.. Heydrich (1904 – 1942) was a SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei (Senior Group Leader and General of Police) as well as chief of the Reich Main Security Office RSHA (including the Gestapo, Kripo, and SD). Heydrich walking in front with SS-Brigadeführer Heinrich Müller (head of the Gestapo) to his right and SS-Oberführer Heinrich Fehlis (leader of SD and Sipo in Norway) to his left. Also SS-Hauptsturmführer Hermann Kluckhohn, SS-Sturmbannführer Walter Schellenberg, Rudolf Schiedermair, and other SS police officers.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fo30141711030060-2_Bekransning_p%C3%A5_%C3%A6reskirkeg%C3%A5rden_p%C3%A5_Ekeberg_september_1941_Heydrich.jpg

German Soldiers Put Chains on Truck Tires

Two German soldiers put skid chains on Army truck, after heavy snow in Russian battle area, winter of 1941. This photo was published by American press on 22 December 1941.

Source :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/402818039849?hash=item5dc9d38029:g:TucAAOSw6Utgi-1g&_trksid=p5731.m3795

Painting Luftwaffe Helmets

 

From shiney helmets into a Matt finish: nice photo showing a Luftwaffe flak unit (circa 1940/41) painting their helmets to come in line with the 1940 order on helmet paint and decals. The sprayers is wearing HBT reed green Luftwaffe worksuits. It is also a very good photo depicting depot repaints of helmets.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/LuftwaffeFD/photos/a.114470297207428/314601447194311/

Regimentskommandeur Emmanuel von Kiliani in the Winter

Oberst Emmanuel von Kiliani (Kommandeur Artillerie-Regiment 193 / 93.Infanterie-Division) in Gostilizzy, winter of 1941/42. Starting from 8 September 1941, the regiment set up its command post in a manor in Gostilizzy, Leningrad Oblast, Russian Front. Kiliani would receive the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 2 January 1942 as a Regimentskommandeur in the same position.

Source :
https://www.ebay.de/itm/384289550473?hash=item5979713089:g:qn8AAOSwV6Bg5aUt

Helmuth Mentzel during Heldengedenktag 1941 in Romania

 

Generalmajor Helmuth Mentzel (Kommandeur der Luftwaffe Armee-Oberkommando 11) with Romanian air force officer during Heldengedenktag ceremony, March 1941, in Romania. He later received the Deutsches Kreuz in Silber on 4 August 1944. His last rank is Generalleutnant.

Source :
https://www.ebay.de/itm/373570749552
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027111925fw_/http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/LUFTWAFFE/Generalleutnant/MENTZEL_HELMUTH.html

German Soldier Humiliating Yugoslav Soldier

 

German soldier humiliating a Royal Yugoslav soldier by breaking his rifle and refusing to shake his surrendering handshake. April 1941, during the Invasion of Yugoslavia.

Source :
https://www.instagram.com/p/COs1km0B2q3/

Fallschirmjäger Training with Motorcycles

"Alarm an die Maschinen!!!!" 11.Kompanie /  III.Bataillon / Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1  at the Truppenübungsplatz Bergen-Hohne (Bergen-Hohne military training area), Germany. The picture was probably taken in the summer of 1941, after Crete operation and before the next assignment to the northern sector of the Eastern Front. Funny that they had those motorbikes for free and tuday it costs close to 60,000 euros/dollars!

"Wilhelm, always keep your hands on the handlebars when you are driving blindfolded!" - "Yes, sergeant major!"

Source :
Maddin Maddin photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=510697089944138&set=gm.4728044367222687

SS Artillery in Finland

German Waffen-SS artillery (Nord Infanterie Geschutz platoon.) at Kokkosalmi, Kiestinki, 4 August 1941. Looks like they're on the training session.

Source :
http://sa-kuva.fi/neo?tem=webneoeng

General Neubronn von Eisenburg Salutes French Honor Guard

Generalmajor Alexander Freiherr Neubronn von Eisenburg, who, as an Inspekteur Heeres-Kontroll-Inspektion (Inspector of Army Control Inspection), always checks on what was left of French Army after the surrender of 1940. Here he is saluting as he reviews a French Honor Guard during his visit to the Vichy France, 3 November 1941.

Source :
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1941-german-general-neuronn-von-1840002321

First Axis POWs at Tobruk

 

Men of the Australian 9th Infantry Division guard Italians and some of the first German prisoners to be taken during the war in North Africa, after Rommel's first unsuccessful assault on Tobruk, 17 April 1941. If we are talking about Heer Division, it was the 5. leitche-Division during the 1st Siege of Tobruk that was on 10-14 April 1941. However, on the 2nd Siege of Tobruk from 30 April to 7 May 1941 it was a mix between the elements of the 5.leichte-Division and the newly arrived 15. Panzer-Division (except for Panzer-Regiment 8 that was not involved yet). BTW, if someone asking: Why are their heads bowed? It is actually a basic techniek of not to look your captors in their eyes, state only your name and number. Look what happened at Malmedy: at the Nuremberg Trials the SS Soldiers stated in their defense that the American POW’s looked at them tauntingly almost staring them down ... we all know how that ended for the Americans!

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4981605118546865&set=gm.2563691697254982
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205205791

Generalmajor Wilhelm Rupprecht in the Inauguration Ceremony

 

Generalmajor Wilhelm "Willy" Rupprecht (3rd from left, Kommandeur 327. Infanterie-Division) in the inauguration of Besancon Stadium. Doubs, France, 1941.

Source :

https://crainsmilitaria.com/index.php?route=common/home