The German Newsweek (Die Deutsche Wochenschau) was the unified newsreel of Germany from 1940-1945. The concept of a weekly newsreel was much older, dating back to WWI, and in the 1930s, there were several different weekly newsreels in Germany. With the outbreak of WWII, these were unified and from June 1940 shown under the title of "The German Newsweek". It was one of the most important aspects of German propaganda.
Each week, over 2000 copies were sent to theaters and movie houses throughout Germany and shown to the general public, as private TV ownership was extremly rare during WWII. Over 700 episodes were produced, and many of the historical WWII footage we nowadays have comes from the Wochenschau.
This is issue No. 718 from June 7th, 1944.
Despite the Allied landings in Normandy happening the day before, The German Newsweek, like all newsreels back then, had a delay of at least a few days, so it is not featured in this episode.
Instead, this issue shows footage from German universities and student unions, footage of a German equestrian in Paris and a snake dance in Berlin, a Nazi rally in Czech, and antisemitic propaganda scenes, showing Jews in Moscow and New York, insulting them as thieves and fencers.
It also shows footage of the cathedral of Ruen in France, damaged by an American airraid, awarding of Knights Cross and building of bunkers on the Eastern Front, combat footage from Italy, and footage from German fighter planes engaing Allied bombers.
-
Subtitles made by me.
