"THE FUHRER'S RETURN AFTER VICTORY IN FRANCE" JULY 6, 1940 BERLIN VICTORY PARADE NEWSREEL gg51355

Disclaimer:This historic German film was produced during WWII as propaganda in support of the National Socialist regime. It is presented in its original form as an historical document so that students, educators, researchers and the general public can see how the Nazi regime justified its criminal activities. The political symbols of the regime, including the flag, swastika and eagle, may appear on screen. Periscope Film absolutely condemns the Nazi regime and affirms that it committed grave atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity before and during WWII. These include the tragic, mass extermination of millions of innocent civilians. We preserve these films in part so that these terrible events and victims are not forgotten. Following the French surrender on June 22, 1940, German dictator Adolf Hitler toured Paris and part of newly Occupied France including Normandy. This astonishing propaganda newsreel "The Führer's Return After Victory in France" shows his railroad journey home, and the Berlin victory parade that followed. The date of the parade was July 6, 1940, and it was attended by millions of euphoric German citizens. Few could foresee the disaster that would unfold in the coming years. Just as a point of reference, the Anhalter Bahnhof train station where Hitler is shown arriving in the film, was one of three stations used to deport about 55,000 Berlin Jews between 1941 and 1945 (about a third of the city's entire Jewish population). By the end of the war the station — like virtually all of Berlin — would be a hollow ruin, destroyed by British and American bombs and Soviet artillery shells. 00:00 Crowds of people line a highway as Hitler's motorcade drives through the countryside. At :26, a young woman hands a gift basket to the Fuhrer and shakes his hand. The narration of this propaganda film begins with the statement: "The entire population thanks their leader for the most glorious victory in German history. The journey back from the front to the Reich's capitol became a true triumphal procession. Everywhere along the route, signs of love, loyalty and gratitude are brought to the leader..." 00:59 Passengers on a train, probably soldiers, wave and seig heil at the Fuhrer's train. 1:08, Hitler's train passes Marbach, Germany, near Stuttgart. 2:00 Hitler's train arrives at a station, possibly Stuttgart. He signs a photo for a fan. "A picture of the leader with his own signature is among the most precious memories..." 2:46 Preparations are underway in Berlin for the arrival of the dictator. Nazi flags fly and flowers are placed on the Wilhelmstraße. Narration: "All of Berlin was preparing to give Adolf Hitler an incomparable reception. The streets from Anhalter Train Station to the Reich Chancellery will be transformed into a single carpet of flowers." 3:40: "Everyone wants to be there to express their personal thanks to the leader." 4:30: The Anhalter Bahnhof in Berlin 4:55: "The welcome at Anhalter Train Station." 5:49 "Solemn bells and the jubilation of millions welcome the victorious general in the capital." 7:00 Motorcade through the streets of Berlin Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k/4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com