Description
Object description
II. German workers improve own efficiency. Box marked Suggestions for Improvements is situated beside display board (Siemens sign, Pst ! careless talk campaign poster, Deutsche Arbeitsfront) at entry to Siemens factory (Berlin ?), where men and women workers arrive at start of day. Such boxes have given every worker the possibility to improve productivity. Examples shown include gadget enabling woman to double speed for fitting washers on screws, production line manufacture of uniforms increasing output by 700% and the batch automation of sewing machines which frees nine out of ten women operators for other tasks.
Object description
I. Processing dehydrated potatoes for Wehrmacht. Potatoes are washed, checked by hand, cut and dried on racks in mechanised production line ready for packing. Large quantity of potatoes next to equivalent in dehydrated form illustrates valuable saving in transportation space. Name on filled sacks is Konservenfabrik Bernhard Werner, Freital-Dresden; shelf-life is 30/9/1945.
Object description
III. Girls join up as RAD searchlight battery operators. Former members (Arbeitsmaiden) of Reichsarbeitsdienst descend from train with suitcases, line up on platform and march off cheerily to receive uniforms and steel helmets which they don. Girls are accommodated in closed camps under female RAD supervision and are instructed in use of equipment by officers and NCOs of Luftwaffe. Girls stand outside barracks with blankets and bowls, then wearing trouser uniforms learn mechanism of searchlight situated in field.
Object description
IV. Volkssturm members receive weapons training. At (live) indoor ceremony uniformed leader formally hands over control of new Volkssturm volunteers to bespectacled company commander after declaring that the life of every single person, family and the whole people is at stake (and must by implication be defended by the Volkssturm). Commander ascertains that one elderly recruit has been evacuated from the Western part of Germany and is keen to fight on, another has long service as an armaments worker and another, wounded seven times, is determined to hold out. Men then receive rifles and hand grenades, plus a Panzerfaust, and are instructed in their handling by experienced commanders.
Object description
V. Germans battle to defend Southern Netherlands. Animated map of Western Front from Arnhem to Belfort. German paratroops dig defensive foxholes on rising ground overlooking Schelde Estuary, since weeks an Allied target of artillery fire and air attack. Germans return artillery fire. Elsewhere in Netherlands a town occupied by enemy comes under attack from line of five Nebelwerfers, fired in succession, which leave pall of smoke over town on horizon with twin-spired church. Infantry supported by armour move past; tracking shot from turret of Jagdpanzer IV records passage through destroyed town with wrecked church. Signpost points to Eindhoven (37kms), Asten (13kms) and Heeze (26kms) in one direction and Venlo (24kms), Roermond (24kms) and Helder (9kms) in opposite direction, with Jagdpanzer IV in background. Camouflaged Sdkfz 10/4 2cm Flak drives past through town, then opens fire against enemy observation posts. Grenadiers engage in street-fighting in empty town; Jagdpanzer IV backs away round corner during engagement and smoke canister creates protective cover. Over close-ups of individual soldiers, with stubbled faces and one with bandaged arm, and paratroops waiting in dugouts with Panzerfausts, commentary declares that heavy armour is always welcome but it is only the grenadiers who throw themselves into battle.
Object description
VI. Germans destroy Soviet armour south-east of Budapest. Animated map of Hungary, Rumania and Yugoslavia. German counterattacks have reportedly cleared space around Budapest; long column of trucks heads west towards setting sun and another column, of varied armour, moves along flat road edged by anti-tank defences in daylight. Movement of troops (presumably withdrawing) continues with Waffen SS trudging through village past shop with apothecary sign at foot of hills. Pzkpfw V, with dog on top, passes, as does StuG loaded with SS troops and motorbike. Tracking shot from German vehicle records friendly farewell from village women wearing black scarves who throw bouquets, showing that country population knows what Bolshevism means. Russian prisoners, including Asiatics, pass by. South-east of Budapest frontal assault by Bolsheviks on Hungarian capital is broken by German armour; StuG IV fires, T-34/85, with turret traversed backwards, burns and another stands destroyed by shellfire by side of road. Sdkfz 251 passes destroyed horse-drawn supply column. Pzkpfw VI Königstiger tanks move off beside edge of wood; another T-34 burns and Russian gun lies destroyed. Direct aftermath of tank battle in (unidentified) badly damaged town is conveyed by film of StuG III turning, Sdkfz 138/1 150mm infantry gun passing by, burning T-34, Sdkfz 250 wireless halftrack speeding past and rubber rims of T-34 road wheels blazing in circular pattern.
Object description
VII. German forces retake Goldap in East Prussia. Animated map of East Prussia shows Goldap near Gumbinnen and Rominten. Early on 6 November grenadiers reportedly stormed barracks at Goldap; soldiers wait in ditch with Panzerfaust and camera tracks over battle-scarred road into town, over which smoke rises, and reach blown bridge. Grenadiers with stubbled faces place anti-tank obstacles in position. Wall of Otto Kutz agricultural machinery business is peppered with bullet holes; Komsomolets small tracked carrier stands abandoned in street, together with dead Russians and horses. Snipers are reportedly cleared. Jewellery looted from shops and houses is removed from pockets of Russian clothing; Cyrillic sign stands on wall next to Otto Mehlhorn butcher's shop. Long line of Pzkpfw IV Ausf Js moves along tree-lined street of Goldap, now free of enemy thanks to fighting prowess of Panzergrenadiers fighting for Germany's freedom, and backed by the faith and strength of the Volk.
Full description
I. Processing dehydrated potatoes for Wehrmacht. Potatoes are washed, checked by hand, cut and dried on racks in mechanised production line ready for packing. Large quantity of potatoes next to equivalent in dehydrated form illustrates valuable saving in transportation space. Name on filled sacks is Konservenfabrik Bernhard Werner, Freital-Dresden; shelf-life is 30/9/1945.
Full description
II. German workers improve own efficiency. Box marked Suggestions for Improvements is situated beside display board (Siemens sign, Pst ! careless talk campaign poster, Deutsche Arbeitsfront) at entry to Siemens factory (Berlin ?), where men and women workers arrive at start of day. Such boxes have given every worker the possibility to improve productivity. Examples shown include gadget enabling woman to double speed for fitting washers on screws, production line manufacture of uniforms increasing output by 700% and the batch automation of sewing machines which frees nine out of ten women operators for other tasks.
Full description
III. Girls join up as RAD searchlight battery operators. Former members (Arbeitsmaiden) of Reichsarbeitsdienst descend from train with suitcases, line up on platform and march off cheerily to receive uniforms and steel helmets which they don. Girls are accommodated in closed camps under female RAD supervision and are instructed in use of equipment by officers and NCOs of Luftwaffe. Girls stand outside barracks with blankets and bowls, then wearing trouser uniforms learn mechanism of searchlight situated in field.
Full description
IV. Volkssturm members receive weapons training. At (live) indoor ceremony uniformed leader formally hands over control of new Volkssturm volunteers to bespectacled company commander after declaring that the life of every single person, family and the whole people is at stake (and must by implication be defended by the Volkssturm). Commander ascertains that one elderly recruit has been evacuated from the Western part of Germany and is keen to fight on, another has long service as an armaments worker and another, wounded seven times, is determined to hold out. Men then receive rifles and hand grenades, plus a Panzerfaust, and are instructed in their handling by experienced commanders.
Full description
V. Germans battle to defend Southern Netherlands. Animated map of Western Front from Arnhem to Belfort. German paratroops dig defensive foxholes on rising ground overlooking Schelde Estuary, since weeks an Allied target of artillery fire and air attack. Germans return artillery fire. Elsewhere in Netherlands a town occupied by enemy comes under attack from line of five Nebelwerfers, fired in succession, which leave pall of smoke over town on horizon with twin-spired church. Infantry supported by armour move past; tracking shot from turret of Jagdpanzer IV records passage through destroyed town with wrecked church. Signpost points to Eindhoven (37kms), Asten (13kms) and Heeze (26kms) in one direction and Venlo (24kms), Roermond (24kms) and Helder (9kms) in opposite direction, with Jagdpanzer IV in background. Camouflaged Sdkfz 10/4 2cm Flak drives past through town, then opens fire against enemy observation posts. Grenadiers engage in street-fighting in empty town; Jagdpanzer IV backs away round corner during engagement and smoke canister creates protective cover. Over close-ups of individual soldiers, with stubbled faces and one with bandaged arm, and paratroops waiting in dugouts with Panzerfausts, commentary declares that heavy armour is always welcome but it is only the grenadiers who throw themselves into battle.
Full description
VI. Germans destroy Soviet armour south-east of Budapest. Animated map of Hungary, Rumania and Yugoslavia. German counterattacks have reportedly cleared space around Budapest; long column of trucks heads west towards setting sun and another column, of varied armour, moves along flat road edged by anti-tank defences in daylight. Movement of troops (presumably withdrawing) continues with Waffen SS trudging through village past shop with apothecary sign at foot of hills. Pzkpfw V, with dog on top, passes, as does StuG loaded with SS troops and motorbike. Tracking shot from German vehicle records friendly farewell from village women wearing black scarves who throw bouquets, showing that country population knows what Bolshevism means. Russian prisoners, including Asiatics, pass by. South-east of Budapest frontal assault by Bolsheviks on Hungarian capital is broken by German armour; StuG IV fires, T-34/85, with turret traversed backwards, burns and another stands destroyed by shellfire by side of road. Sdkfz 251 passes destroyed horse-drawn supply column. Pzkpfw VI Königstiger tanks move off beside edge of wood; another T-34 burns and Russian gun lies destroyed. Direct aftermath of tank battle in (unidentified) badly damaged town is conveyed by film of StuG III turning, Sdkfz 138/1 150mm infantry gun passing by, burning T-34, Sdkfz 250 wireless halftrack speeding past and rubber rims of T-34 road wheels blazing in circular pattern.
Full description
VII. German forces retake Goldap in East Prussia. Animated map of East Prussia shows Goldap near Gumbinnen and Rominten. Early on 6 November grenadiers reportedly stormed barracks at Goldap; soldiers wait in ditch with Panzerfaust and camera tracks over battle-scarred road into town, over which smoke rises, and reach blown bridge. Grenadiers with stubbled faces place anti-tank obstacles in position. Wall of Otto Kutz agricultural machinery business is peppered with bullet holes; Komsomolets small tracked carrier stands abandoned in street, together with dead Russians and horses. Snipers are reportedly cleared. Jewellery looted from shops and houses is removed from pockets of Russian clothing; Cyrillic sign stands on wall next to Otto Mehlhorn butcher's shop. Long line of Pzkpfw IV Ausf Js moves along tree-lined street of Goldap, now free of enemy thanks to fighting prowess of Panzergrenadiers fighting for Germany's freedom, and backed by the faith and strength of the Volk.
Physical description
35mm