Three Overlooked Films On Third Reich Germany

There are several films I recommend for intimate looks at decision-making within the Third Reich, such as the WTBS miniseries of 1982 “Inside The Third Reich” (from the Albert Speer book) with Rutger Hauer as Speer and Derek Jacobi as Hitler and the 2004 German film “Downfall” with Alexandra Lara as Traudl Junge and Bruno Ganz as Hitler.  These two productions are the first in my opinion and to my knowledge to “humanize” Hitler, or to show him as more than just someone shouting on a podium.  He was also a conniving politician and an interested, motivated dogmatist.  But there are lesser-known films that cover the infamous fascist administration that merit mention:

“Countdown To War” – Ian McKellen, Michael Aldridge (ITV-UK, 1989)

From Ronald Harwood’s play, this portrayal of the period between the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the invasion of Poland (March to September 1939) follows the jousting between von Ribbentrop, Hitler, Neville Chamberlain and others.  Germany’s bluffing strategy continues to pay off until Britain, honoring treaty obligations, declares war on Germany over Danzig (in reality all of Poland).  This could be considered one of the two points (the other being Dec. 7, 1941) when WW2 became a world war in actuality, rather than the border skirmishing Germany expected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QdVLKrs7A4

“The Wannsee Conference” (Die Wannseekonferenz) – Dietrich Mattausch, Gerd Böckmann (German TV, 1984)

January 1942’s discussion of the “Jewish question” is known to have been held on Tuesday the 20th of that month by Reinhard Heydrich with Adolf Eichmann due to the survival of a single document (a topics agenda).  Various Gauleiters, city officials and regional government figures can also be placed there from reports of staff survivors.  This script cleverly builds an understanding of the SS intention and need to pressure civilians into either assisting in prisoner liquidations or into declining to interfere with the (understood) killings.  They obliquely describe their plans in the manner of foregone conclusions, with the confidence of those who have the law and government force on their side.  In a contest between armed fascists and unarmed bureaucrats, the outcome is predictable.  (I’m aware of this event also having been covered by the Kenneth Branagh film “Conspiracy” in 2001 but I haven’t seen that one.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URSNN5mnI2g

“The Architecture Of Doom” (documentary, Germany, 1989)

This Peter Cohen study of the backgrounds of high Nazi officials points out that almost all were failed artists, poets or novelists of some description.  Some had limited success in newspapers, theater or film.  The point is that Germany was not transformed from democracy to dictatorship via random domino-falls but that it was taken down that road by people of at least a vague but grand vision.  Collectivists of today can be seen to have similarly emotionalistic outlooks.

(the film begins with silent soundtrack for around :30 sec.)

https://www.documentarystorm.com/architecture-of-doom/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBqGThx2Mas&feature=emb_logo

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