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| name = Sieg im Westen
| name = Sieg im Westen
| image = File:Sieg_im_Westen.jpg
| image = File:Sieg_im_Westen.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = 1941 film by the [[Oberkommando des Heeres]]
| caption = 1941 film by the [[Oberkommando des Heeres]]
| director = Svend Noldan
| director = Svend Noldan
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}}
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'''''Sieg im Westen''''' (''Victory in the West'') is a 1941 [[Nazi propaganda]] film.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/139915/Sieg-Im-Westen/overview |title=New York Times: Sieg Im Westen (1940) |accessdate=2010-10-31|work=NY Times}}</ref>
'''''Sieg im Westen''''' (''Victory in the West'') is a 1941 [[Nazi propaganda]] film.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/139915/Sieg-Im-Westen/overview |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711171504/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/139915/Sieg-Im-Westen/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-11 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=New York Times: Sieg Im Westen (1940) |accessdate=2010-10-31}}</ref>


It was produced by the [[Oberkommando des Heeres]], the German Army High Command, rather than the [[Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda|Propaganda Ministry]] of [[Joseph Goebbels]].<ref name="won281">Robert Edwin Hertzstein, ''The War That Hitler Won'' p281 {{ISBN|0-399-11845-4}}</ref> Goebbels indeed sabotaged its release in minor ways, delaying its premiere and telling propagandists not to promote it.<ref name="won281"/>
It was produced by the [[Oberkommando des Heeres]], the German Army High Command, rather than the [[Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda|Propaganda Ministry]] of [[Joseph Goebbels]].<ref name="won281">Robert Edwin Hertzstein, ''The War That Hitler Won'' p281 {{ISBN|0-399-11845-4}}</ref> Goebbels indeed sabotaged its release in minor ways, delaying its premiere and telling propagandists not to promote it.<ref name="won281"/> [[Erwin Rommel]] has been described as ''enthusiastically'' helping to direct it.<ref name="Exit Rommel page 166">Exit Rommel: The Tunisian Campaign, 1942-43, page 166 Bruce Allen Watson 2007</ref> French prisoners of war were used during its making.<ref name="Exit Rommel page 166"/>


The prologue consists of the Nazi version of European history and the origins of World War II, and the rest deals with the [[Battle of France]], a [[Blitzkrieg]] in the [[Low Countries]] and [[France]] (10 May – 22 June 1940). The movie was made largely from newsreel footage recut into a documentary.<ref>[[Erwin Leiser]] (1975), ''Nazi Cinema'' p57 {{ISBN|0-02-570230-0}}</ref> The programme provided states that it is to show the audacity of the German offensive and the superiority of German arms, required because they will not be permitted to live in peace.<ref>[[Erwin Leiser]], ''Nazi Cinema'' p57-8 {{ISBN|0-02-570230-0}}</ref> It did not give Hitler or the Nazi party a central role, thus ensuring its disfavor with Goebbels.<ref>Robert Edwin Hertzstein (1978), ''The War That Hitler Won'' p282 {{ISBN|0-399-11845-4}}</ref>
The prologue consists of the Nazi version of European history and the origins of World War II, and the rest deals with the [[Battle of France]], a [[Blitzkrieg]] in the [[Low Countries]] and [[France]] (10 May – 22 June 1940). The movie was made largely from newsreel footage recut into a documentary.<ref>[[Erwin Leiser]] (1975), ''Nazi Cinema'' p57 {{ISBN|0-02-570230-0}}</ref> The programme provided states that it is to show the audacity of the German offensive and the superiority of German arms, required because they will not be permitted to live in peace.<ref>[[Erwin Leiser]], ''Nazi Cinema'' p57-8 {{ISBN|0-02-570230-0}}</ref> It did not give Hitler or the Nazi party a central role, thus ensuring its disfavor with Goebbels.<ref>Robert Edwin Hertzstein (1978), ''The War That Hitler Won'' p282 {{ISBN|0-399-11845-4}}</ref>
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The war is presented "from above"; the battles are depicted as smooth forward advances on the map, with results from reports at the front.<ref>[[Erwin Leiser]], ''Nazi Cinema'' p59 {{ISBN|0-02-570230-0}}</ref> The "encirclement" of Germany is depicted by showing prisoners of war from far-off countries.<ref>[[Erwin Leiser]], ''Nazi Cinema'' p58 {{ISBN|0-02-570230-0}}</ref>
The war is presented "from above"; the battles are depicted as smooth forward advances on the map, with results from reports at the front.<ref>[[Erwin Leiser]], ''Nazi Cinema'' p59 {{ISBN|0-02-570230-0}}</ref> The "encirclement" of Germany is depicted by showing prisoners of war from far-off countries.<ref>[[Erwin Leiser]], ''Nazi Cinema'' p58 {{ISBN|0-02-570230-0}}</ref>


During the shooting of the movie Black French soldiers who were prisoners of war were forced to take part in its making, at the end of the movie Germans forced them to carry out "exotic dance", most likely to underline their exotic "otherness" and as act of humiliation.<ref>Hitler's African Victims: The German Army Massacres of Black French Soldiers in 1940, page 45, Raffael Scheck</ref><ref>French Colonial Soldiers in German Captivity during World War II, page 42, Raffael Scheck</ref>
⚫
On 14 August 1940, more than a dozen German Generals who had (three weeks ago) been appointed [[Field marshal (Germany)#Nazi Germany|Field Marshal]] after the successful [[Westfeldzug]]<ref>[[Walther von Brauchitsch]], [[Wilhelm Keitel]], [[Gerd von Rundstedt]], [[Fedor von Bock]], [[Wilhelm von Leeb|Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb]], [[Wilhelm List]], [[Günther von Kluge]], [[Erwin von Witzleben]], [[Walter von Reichenau]]; [[Albert Kesselring]], [[Erhard Milch]], [[Hugo Sperrle]].</ref> were in Berlin to be presented with their ceremonial batons. While in Berlin, they were shown 'Sieg im Westen'.<ref>An American journalist watched it, too, and made that public. Charles Messenger (1991/ reprint 2012), ''The Last Prussian: A Biography of Field Marshal Gerd Von Rundstedt'', p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=rDPAAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA364&lpg=PA364&dq=%22Rundstedt%22+%22Depression%22&source=bl&ots=qfolsc9d_v&sig=NLyV-B_cKgknWaE0c0UrP_wUvKM&hl=de&sa=X&ei=JIzwU-T3FfLb7Abv9ICYAg&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22Rundstedt%22%20%22Depression%22&f=false 127]</ref>

⚫
On 14 August 1940, more than a dozen German Generals who had (three weeks ago) been appointed [[Field marshal (Germany)#Nazi Germany|Field Marshal]] after the successful [[Westfeldzug]]<ref>[[Walther von Brauchitsch]], [[Wilhelm Keitel]], [[Gerd von Rundstedt]], [[Fedor von Bock]], [[Wilhelm von Leeb|Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb]], [[Wilhelm List]], [[Günther von Kluge]], [[Erwin von Witzleben]], [[Walter von Reichenau]]; [[Albert Kesselring]], [[Erhard Milch]], [[Hugo Sperrle]].</ref> were in Berlin to be presented with their ceremonial batons. While in Berlin, they were shown 'Sieg im Westen'.<ref>An American journalist watched it, too, and made that public. Charles Messenger (1991/ reprint 2012), ''The Last Prussian: A Biography of Field Marshal Gerd Von Rundstedt'', p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=rDPAAwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Rundstedt%22+%22Depression%22&pg=PA364 127]</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Hoffman, Hilmar. ''The Triumph of Propaganda: Film and National Socialism, 1933-45''.
*Hoffman, Hilmar. ''The Triumph of Propaganda: Film and National Socialism, 1933-45''.


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[[Category:1941 films]]
[[Category:1941 films]]
[[Category:1940s documentary films]]
[[Category:1941 documentary films]]
[[Category:Black-and-white documentary films]]
[[Category:Black-and-white documentary films]]
[[Category:German documentary films]]
[[Category:German documentary films]]
[[Category:German films]]
[[Category:Films of Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Films of Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Nazi World War II propaganda films]]
[[Category:Nazi World War II propaganda films]]
[[Category:Nazi propaganda films]]
[[Category:German black-and-white films]]
[[Category:World War II films made in wartime]]
[[Category:1940s German-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Herbert Windt]]

Latest revision as of 03:07, 3 January 2024

Sieg im Westen
1941 film by the Oberkommando des Heeres
Directed bySvend Noldan
Produced byFritz Hippler
StarringErwin Rommel
Adolf Hitler
Music byHerbert Windt
Release date
  • 1941 (1941)
Running time
114 minutes
CountryNazi Germany
LanguageGerman

Sieg im Westen (Victory in the West) is a 1941 Nazi propaganda film.[1]

It was produced by the Oberkommando des Heeres, the German Army High Command, rather than the Propaganda Ministry of Joseph Goebbels.[2] Goebbels indeed sabotaged its release in minor ways, delaying its premiere and telling propagandists not to promote it.[2] Erwin Rommel has been described as enthusiastically helping to direct it.[3] French prisoners of war were used during its making.[3]

The prologue consists of the Nazi version of European history and the origins of World War II, and the rest deals with the Battle of France, a Blitzkrieg in the Low Countries and France (10 May – 22 June 1940). The movie was made largely from newsreel footage recut into a documentary.[4] The programme provided states that it is to show the audacity of the German offensive and the superiority of German arms, required because they will not be permitted to live in peace.[5] It did not give Hitler or the Nazi party a central role, thus ensuring its disfavor with Goebbels.[6]

The Nazi journal "Der deutsche Film" called Sieg im Westen "the greatest of all German newsreels."[7] Unlike many other German propaganda films, Sieg im Westen does not belittle the enemy, instead admitting that the French soldiers fought gallantly.[8]

The war is presented "from above"; the battles are depicted as smooth forward advances on the map, with results from reports at the front.[9] The "encirclement" of Germany is depicted by showing prisoners of war from far-off countries.[10]

During the shooting of the movie Black French soldiers who were prisoners of war were forced to take part in its making, at the end of the movie Germans forced them to carry out "exotic dance", most likely to underline their exotic "otherness" and as act of humiliation.[11][12]

On 14 August 1940, more than a dozen German Generals who had (three weeks ago) been appointed Field Marshal after the successful Westfeldzug[13] were in Berlin to be presented with their ceremonial batons. While in Berlin, they were shown 'Sieg im Westen'.[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New York Times: Sieg Im Westen (1940)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  2. ^ a b Robert Edwin Hertzstein, The War That Hitler Won p281 ISBN 0-399-11845-4
  3. ^ a b Exit Rommel: The Tunisian Campaign, 1942-43, page 166 Bruce Allen Watson 2007
  4. ^ Erwin Leiser (1975), Nazi Cinema p57 ISBN 0-02-570230-0
  5. ^ Erwin Leiser, Nazi Cinema p57-8 ISBN 0-02-570230-0
  6. ^ Robert Edwin Hertzstein (1978), The War That Hitler Won p282 ISBN 0-399-11845-4
  7. ^ Hoffman 220
  8. ^ Hoffman 222
  9. ^ Erwin Leiser, Nazi Cinema p59 ISBN 0-02-570230-0
  10. ^ Erwin Leiser, Nazi Cinema p58 ISBN 0-02-570230-0
  11. ^ Hitler's African Victims: The German Army Massacres of Black French Soldiers in 1940, page 45, Raffael Scheck
  12. ^ French Colonial Soldiers in German Captivity during World War II, page 42, Raffael Scheck
  13. ^ Walther von Brauchitsch, Wilhelm Keitel, Gerd von Rundstedt, Fedor von Bock, Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, Wilhelm List, Günther von Kluge, Erwin von Witzleben, Walter von Reichenau; Albert Kesselring, Erhard Milch, Hugo Sperrle.
  14. ^ An American journalist watched it, too, and made that public. Charles Messenger (1991/ reprint 2012), The Last Prussian: A Biography of Field Marshal Gerd Von Rundstedt, p. 127

Further reading[edit]

  • Hoffman, Hilmar. The Triumph of Propaganda: Film and National Socialism, 1933-45.

External links[edit]

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