5.1B The Second World War: an overview
On 3 September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Hitler had shown that he could never be trusted by invading first Austria, then Czechoslovakia and then Poland. The policy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France had failed. These films show some of the key events that led to war and the efforts by the British people to prepare for conflict once more.
GERMAN TROOPS MARCH INTO AUSTRIA
2 MINS 37 SECS, SOUND, B/W, 1938
Key Section - 08:06 to 10:56.
Scenes of Austrians sympathetic to the Nazis welcoming the Germans as they march into their country in their effort to unite the German-speaking lands. This newsreel dates from 17 March 1938, though the footage was shot earlier.
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THE CRISIS
3 MINS 1 SECS, SOUND, B/W, 1938
This newsreel, released in cinemas on 26 September 1938, begins with the commentator declaring that the tragedy of 1938 was born in 1919 at Versailles. The film briefly outlines the nature of the crisis in Europe and the efforts of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to bring it to an end, meeting Adolf Hitler for the second time.
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GERMANY INVADES POLAND10 MINS 03 SECS, MUTE, B/W
Footage of the Nazi invasion of Poland, including the surrender of Warsaw.
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THIS COUNTRY IS AT WAR1 MIN 24 SECS, SOUND, B/W, 1939
At the beginning of September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Other nations soon followed. This newsreel was released on 11 September 1939 and includes fascinating archive footage of the preparations being made in Britain for war.