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List of Nazi propaganda films

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The following is a list of German National Socialist propaganda films. Before and during the Second World War, the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under Joseph Goebbels produced several propaganda films designed for the general public. Production of films made to serve a propaganda purpose was not limited to the Axis powers, but was produced by both sides, such as the Allies' production of propaganda films.

The list of films may contain films concerning several different subjects or genres, but who all functioned as propaganda films of the Third Reich.

Legend

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Release date: The date of the film's release (or premiere)
Original title: The film's original German title
English title: English language title (titles in italic marks official English title)
Running time: Length of the film as released
Type: Genre and function
Producer: The producer(s) of the film
Director: The director(s) of the film
Cast: Leading actors and actresses
Notes: Additional comments and notes, such as propaganda use and post-war history.

Before the War (1933–1939)

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Release
date
Original title English title Running time Type Producer Director Cast Notes
1927 Eine Symphonie des Kampfwillens A Symphony of the Will to Fight 30 min (ca.) Documentary silent film NSDAP Julius Lippert Adolf Hitler
NSDAP members
Nuremberg Rally attendants
First documentary of a Nuremberg Rally.
1929 Der Nürnberger Parteitag der NSDAP The Nuremberg Convention of the NSDAP 90 min (ca.) Documentary silent film NSDAP Baldur von Schirach NSDAP members
Nuremberg Rally attendants
Franz Ritter von Epp
Documents the 4th party convention of the NSDAP, which occurred at Nuremberg 2 August 1929
June 14, 1933 S.A.-Mann Brand Storm Trooper Brand 94 min Motion picture Franz Seitz Franz Seitz Heinz Klingenberg
Wera Liessem
Rolf Wenkhaus
September 19, 1933 Hitlerjunge Quex: Ein Film vom Opfergeist der deutschen Jugend Hitler Youth Quex
Our Flag Leads Us Forward (US)
95 min Feature film Karl Ritter Hans Steinhoff Jürgen Ohlsen
Heinrich George
Berta Drews
Claus Clausen
Today classified as a Vorbehaltsfilm [de] in Germany
1 December 1933 Der Sieg des Glaubens The Victory of Faith 64 min Documentary film Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl Adolf Hitler
Rudolf Hess
Hermann Göring
Julius Streicher
Joseph Goebbels
Ernst Röhm
First propaganda film directed by Riefenstahl.
Recounts the Fifth Party Rally of the Nazi Party, which occurred in Nuremberg from 30 August to 3 September 1933.
8 December 1933 Flüchtlinge "Refugees" 87 min Feature film Gustav Ucicky Hans Albers
Käthe von Nagy
Eugen Klöpfer
Andrews Engelmann
13 December 1933 Hans Westmar. Einer von vielen. Ein deutsches Schicksal aus dem Jahre 1929 "Hans Westmar. One of many. A German Fate from the Year 1929" 132 min Feature film Robert Ernst Franz Wenzler Emil Lohkamp
Paul Wegener
28 December 1934 Um das Menschenrecht. Ein Filmwerk aus der Freikorpszeit "About human rights" Motion picture Hans Zöberlein (executive) Hans Zöberlein
Ludwig Schmid-Wildy
Hans Schlenck
Kurt Holm
Ernst Martens
Beppo Brem
Released as Sturmtage 1919 in Austria
24 January 1935 Nur nicht weich werden, Susanne! Eine Groteske aus vergangener Zeit Don't Lose Heart, Suzanne! Drama film Arzén von Cserépy Jessie Vihrog
Veit Harlan
Willi Schur
Hilde Krüger, etc.
29 January 1935 Der alte und der junge König The Old and the Young King 100 min Historical film Deka-Film GmbH Hans Steinhoff Emil Jannings
Leopoldine Konstantin
28 March 1935 Triumph des Willens Triumph of the Will 114 min Documentary film Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl Adolf Hitler
Heinrich Himmler
Viktor Lutze
other NSDAP leaders
Riefenstahl won several awards, not only in Germany but also in the United States, France, Sweden and other countries
26 April 1935 Das Mädchen Johanna Joan of Arc 87 min Historical film Bruno Duday Gustav Ucicky Angela Salloker
Gustaf Gründgens
Heinrich George
First female personification of the Führer
19 November 1935 Friesennot Frisions in Distress 97 min Motion picture Alfred Bittins
Dr. Scheunemann
Hermann Schmidt
Peter Hagen Friedrich Kayßler
Helene Fehdmer
Valéry Inkijinoff
Reissued as Dorf im roten Sturm in Germany
30 December 1935 Der höhere Befehl The Higher Command 93 min Historical film Bruno Duday Gerhard Lamprecht Lil Dagover
Karl Ludwig Diehl
Heli Finkenzeller
Friedrich Kayßler
Highlights German-British historical relations in an attempt to ensure an alliance with Great Britain.
30 December 1935 Tag der Freiheit: Unsere Wehrmacht Day of Freedom: Our Armed Forces 28 min Documentary film Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl Adolf Hitler
Hermann Göring
Rudolf Hess
Heinrich Himmler
Recounts the Seventh Party Rally of the Nazi Party, which occurred in Nuremberg on 10–16 September 1935.
1935 Das Erbe The Inheritance 12 min Short film Harold Mayer Carl Hartmann
16 June 1936 Traumulus The Dreamer 100 min Drama film Carl Froelich Carl Froelich Emil Jannings
Hilde Weissner
Harald Paulsen
Hildegard Barko
16 June 1936 Ewiger Wald Enchanted Forest 75 min Documentary film Hanns Springer
Rolf von Sonjevski-Jamrowski
Albert Graf von Pestalozza Günther Hadank
Heinz Herkommer
Paul Klinger
9 September 1936 Verräter The Traitor 92 min War drama film Hans Ritter Karl Ritter Lída Baarová
Willy Birgel
Irene von Meyendorff
1936 Erbkrank The Hereditary Defective 25 min Documentary short film Herbert Gerdes
5 January 1937 Panzerkreuzer Sebastopol: "Weisse Sklaven" Battleship Sevastopol: "White Slaves" 111 min War drama film Karl Anton Theodor Loos
Gabriele Hoffmann
Camilla Horn
Karl John
Rereleased as Rote Bestien (Red Beasts)
17 March 1937 Der Herrscher The Master 103 min Drama film Veit Harlan Emil Jannings
Paul Wagner
Hannes Stelzer
Propagandistic demonstration of the Führerprinzip of Nazi Germany.[1]
1937 Alles Leben ist Kampf All Life is Struggle 27 min Documentary short film Herbert Gerdes
W. Hüttig
1937 Opfer der Vergangenheit: Die Sünde wider Blut und Rasse Victims of the Past: The Sin against Blood and Race 25 min Documentary short film Gernot Bock-Stieber
Kurt Botner
Kurt Mühlhardt
Trude Haefelin
Max Lohmann
1937 Festliches Nürnberg Festive Nuremberg 21 min Documentary short film Adolf Hitler
Hermann Göring
other NSDAP leaders
11 January 1938 Urlaub auf Ehrenwort Leave on Word of Honour 87 min War drama film Karl Ritter Karl Ritter Rolf Moebius
Fritz Kampers
Rene Deltgen
Otto Graf
28 March 1938 Wort und Tat Words and Deeds 10 min Documentary short film Fritz Hippler
Ottoheinz Jahn
Gustav Ucicky
Eugen York
Joseph Goebbels
Adolf Hitler
Benito Mussolini
20 April 1938 Olympia Olympia 226 min Documentary film Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl Documenting the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany.
22 December 1938 Pour le Mérite Pour le Mérite 121 min War film Karl Ritter Paul Hartmann
Herbert A.E. Böhme
Albert Hehn
8 March 1939 Aufruhr in Damaskus Uproar in Damascus 103 min Thriller film Otto Lehmann Gustav Ucicky Brigitte Horney
Joachim Gottschalk
Hans Nielsen
Ernst von Klipstein
7 July 1939 Robert und Bertram Robert and Bertram 86 min Musical comedy film Helmut Schreiber Hans Heinz Zerlett Rudi Godden
Kurt Seifert
Carla Rust
Fritz Kampers
10 August 1939 Der Westwall "The Westwall" 46 min Documentary film Fritz Hippler
5 September 1939 Kadetten Cadets 94 min Historical war film Karl Ritter Karl Ritter Mathias Wieman
Carsta Löck
Andrews Engelmann
Theo Shall
General release was 2 December 1941 due to its anti-Russian theme following the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

Wartime films (1939–1945)

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Release
date
Original title English title Running time Type Producer Director Cast Notes
16 October 1939 Leinen aus Irland Linen from Ireland 98 min Drama film Heinz Helbig Otto Treßler
Irene von Meyendorff
Friedl Haerlin
26 October 1939 D III 88 D III 88 109 min Action drama film Fred Lyssa Herbert Maisch
Hans Bertram
Christian Kayßler
Otto Wernicke; Heinz Welzel
Hermann Braun
8 February 1940 Feldzug in Polen The Campaign in Poland 69 min Documentary film Fritz Hippler Adolf Hitler
February 1940 Der Marsch zum Führer The March to the Führer 45 min Documentary film Rudolf Hess
Adolf Hitler
Baldur von Schirach
Documents the nationwide march of Hitler Youth to Nuremberg for the Nazi Party Rally.
5 April 1940 Feuertaufe Baptism by Fire 90 min Documentary film Hans Bertram Herbert Gernot
Hermann Göring
Adolf Hitler
Showed to ambassadors from the Scandinavian countries on the eve of Operation Weserübung.
Documents the destruction of Polish cities by the Luftwaffe.
24 April 1940 Der Fuchs von Glenarvon The Fox of Glenarvon 91 min Motion picture Herbert Engelsing Max W. Kimmich Olga Chekhova
Karl Ludwig Diehl
Ferdinand Marian
Elisabeth Flickenschildt
24 April 1940 Der Postmeister The Postmaster/The Station Master 92 min Drama film Gustav Ucicky Heinrich George
Hilde Krahl
Siegfried Breuer
17 July 1940 Die Rothschilds The Rothschilds 97 min Motion picture C.M. Köhn Erich Waschneck Erich Ponto
Carl Kuhlmann
Herbert Hübner
24 September 1940 Jud Süß Süss the Jew 98 min Drama film Otto Lehmann Veit Harlan Ferdinand Marian
Werner Krauss
Heinrich George
Kristina Söderbaum
1 November 1940 Das Herz der Königin The Heart of the Queen 112 min Historical film Carl Froelich Carl Froelich Zarah Leander
28 November 1940 Der Ewige Jude The Eternal Jew 62 min Fiction/Documentary film Deutsche Film Gesellschaft Fritz Hippler Harry Giese
6 December 1940 Bismarck Bismarck 118 min Historical film Heinrich Jonen
Willi Wiesner
Wolfgang Liebeneiner Paul Hartmann
Friedrich Kayßler
Lil Dagover
30 December 1940 Wunschkonzert Request Concert 103 min Drama film Felix Pfitzner Eduard von Borsody Ilse Werner
Carl Raddatz
Joachim Brennecke
1940 Vom Bäumlein, das andere Blätter hat gewollt "Of the little tree which wished for different leaves" 7 min Short cartoon Hubert Schonger Heinz Tischmeyer
1940 Kampf um Norwegen – Feldzug 1940 Battle for Norway - 1940 Campaign 81 min Documentary film Martin Rikli
Werner Buhre
Never screened. Assumed lost until copy resurfaced in 2006.
1940–1945 Die Deutsche Wochenschau The German Weekly Review Unified newsreel series
17 February 1941 Mein Leben für Irland My Life for Ireland 90 min Motion picture Max W. Kimmich Anna Dammann
René Deltgen
Paul Wegener
Werner Hinz
28 February 1941 Kampfgeschwader Lützow Fighting Squadron Lützow 109 min War film Hans Bertram Christian Kayßler
Hermann Braun
Heinz Welzel
Classified as a Vorbehaltsfilm today in Germany
21 March 1941 Über alles in der Welt Above All Else in the World 85 min Drama film Karl Ritter Karl Ritter Paul Hartmann
Hannes Stelzer
Fritz Kampers
21 March 1941 Carl Peters Carl Peters 110 min Historical drama film Herbert Selpin Hans Albers
23 March 1941 Sieg im Westen Victory in the West 114 min Documentary film Fritz Hippler Svend Noldan Erwin Rommel
Adolf Hitler
4 April 1941 Ohm Krüger Uncle Krüger 135 min Biographical film Emil Jannings Hans Steinhoff Emil Jannings
Lucie Höflich
Werner Hinz
17 April 1941 Liebe ist zollfrei Love is Duty Free Comedy film Emerich Walter Emo Hans Moser
Susi Peter
Theodor Danegger
27 June 1941 Stukas Stukas 101 min Motion picture Karl Ritter Carl Raddatz
Hannes Stelzer
Ernst von Klipstein
Staatsauftragsfilm
9 May 1941 U-Boote westwärts! U-boat Westward! 98 min Motion picture Günther Rittau Herbert Wilk
4 June 1941 Venus vor Gericht Venus on Trial 90 min Drama film Ottmar Ostermayr Hans H. Zerlett Hannes Stelzer
Hansi Knoteck
Paul Dahlke
Siegfried Breuer
29 August 1941 Ich klage an I Accuse 125 min Drama film Wolfgang Liebeneiner Heidemarie Hatheyer
Paul Hartmann
Mathias Wieman
31 August 1941 Heimkehr Homecoming 94 min Drama film Karl Hartl; Wien-Film Gustav Ucicky Paula Wessely
Attila Hörbiger
Carl Raddatz
19 December 1941 Menschen im Sturm People in the Storm 80 min Drama film Fritz Peter Buch Gustav Diessl
Olga Chekhova
Hannelore Schroth
Propaganda to justify an invasion of Slovenia
3 March 1942 Der große König The Great King 118 min Drama film Veit Harlan Otto Gebühr
12 June 1942 Die große Liebe The Great Love 100 min Drama film Walter Bolz for Universum Film AG Rolf Hansen Zarah Leander
Viktor Staal
The most commercially successful film in the history of the Third Reich.
14 August 1942 G.P.U. The Red Terror 99 min Action film Karl Ritter Karl Ritter Laura Solari
Will Quadflieg
Marina von Ditmar
25 August 1942 Anschlag auf Baku Attack on Baku 91 min Thriller film Hans Weidemann Fritz Kirchhoff Willy Fritsch
René Deltgen
Fritz Kampers
Hans Zesch-Ballot
25 August 1942 Der 5. Juni 5 June 99 min War film Walter Ulbrich Fritz Kirchhoff Carl Raddatz
Joachim Brennecke
Karl Ludwig Diehl
Gisela Uhlen
3 September 1942 Die goldene Stadt "The Golden City" 110 min Drama film Veit Harlan Veit Harlan
Wolfgang Schleif
Kristina Söderbaum
Eugen Klöpfer
Annie Rosar
9 September 1941 Annelie Annelie 99 min Drama film Josef von Báky Luise Ullrich
Werner Krauss
Käthe Haack
Portrays the National Socialist woman
6 October 1942 Die Entlassung Bismarck's Dismissal 110 min Biographical film Emil Jannings
Fritz Klotsch
Walter Lehmann [de]
Wolfgang Liebeneiner Emil Jannings
Margarete Schön
Christian Kayßler
Also known as Schicksalswende (West German rerun title) and Wilhelm II. und Bismarck (new West German title)
3 March 1943 Münchhausen Münchhausen 105 min Fantasy comedy film Eberhard Schmidt Josef von Báky Hans Albers
Wilhelm Bendow
26 August 1943 Wien 1910 Vienna 1910 92 min Biographical film Emerich Walter Emo Rudolf Forster
Heinrich George
Lil Dagover
10 November 1943 Titanic Titanic 85 min Drama film Willy Reiber Herbert Selpin
Werner Klingler
Sybille Schmitz
Hans Nielsen
November 1943 Besatzung Dora The Crew of the Dora 91 min Drama war film Karl Ritter Josef Dahmen
Hannes Stelzer
6 July 1944 Die Degenhardts The Degenhardts 93 min Drama film Heinrich George Werner Klingler Heinrich George
Ernst Schröder
Gunnar Möller
8 December 1944 Opfergang Rite of Sacrifice 98 min Drama film Veit Harlan Kristina Söderbaum
Carl Raddatz
Irene von Meyendorff
1944 Theresienstadt. Ein Dokumentarfilm aus dem jüdischen Siedlungsgebiet Theresienstadt: A Documentary Film from the Jewish Settlement Area 90 min (ca.) Documentary short film Karel Pečený (Aktualita Prag) for the SS-Central Office for the Settlement of the Jewish Question in Bohemia and Moravia Kurt Gerron (under Hans Günther & Karl Rahm) Only 22 minutes of footage extant.
1944 Panorama Panorama Newsreel series Quarterly colour newsreel series
30 January 1945 Kolberg Kolberg 110 min Historical film Veit Harlan Veit Harlan Kristina Söderbaum
Heinrich George
Paul Wegener
Horst Caspar

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Erwin Leiser, Nazi Cinema p. 49 ISBN 0-02-570230-0
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