Why We Fight: Divide and Conquer

Plot

This third installment of Frank Capra's 'Why We Fight' series meticulously documents the Nazi military strategy of 'divide and conquer' as Hitler's forces systematically invaded and occupied Western European countries in 1940. The film begins with the Nazi invasion of Denmark and Norway, then proceeds to show how the blitzkrieg tactics overwhelmed Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg through a combination of surprise attacks and exploitation of political divisions. Using captured enemy footage, animated maps by Disney Studios, and powerful narration, the documentary explains how the Nazis exploited the policy of appeasement and internal conflicts among European nations to achieve rapid conquests. The film culminates with the dramatic fall of France and the establishment of the collaborationist Vichy government, leaving Britain to stand alone against Nazi Germany. Throughout, Capra emphasizes how the Nazi strategy relied on turning neighbor against neighbor and exploiting weaknesses in democratic societies.

Historical Background

This film was produced during a critical period in World War II when the United States was fully engaged in the conflict but needed to educate its population about the nature of the Nazi threat and the reasons for American involvement. In 1943, the outcome of the war remained uncertain, and there was still significant public misunderstanding about how Nazi Germany had managed to conquer most of Western Europe so quickly. The film was part of a massive government propaganda effort commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who believed that the American people needed to understand the strategic importance of the war and the nature of their enemy. The timing was crucial - it was released after major American victories in North Africa but before the D-Day invasion, when public morale and understanding of the war's stakes were paramount. The film's focus on the 1940 conquests served to remind Americans of what was at stake and why their involvement was necessary to prevent further Nazi expansion.

Making Of

Frank Capra approached this government commission with the same dedication he brought to his Hollywood features, viewing it as his patriotic duty during wartime. The production process involved extensive research through military intelligence reports, captured enemy documents, and newsreel footage from various sources. Capra and his team faced the challenge of creating compelling propaganda while maintaining factual accuracy - they used actual Nazi footage to show the enemy's own perspective, then recontextualized it with American narration. The collaboration with Disney Studios was particularly innovative, as their animation team created sophisticated maps and tactical illustrations that could clearly explain complex military movements to audiences of all educational levels. The film was rushed through production to meet the urgent need for public education about the war, with Capra often working 16-hour days to complete the project. The narration script went through multiple revisions by military officials to ensure it conveyed the intended strategic message while maintaining Capra's distinctive storytelling approach.

Visual Style

The cinematography in 'Divide and Conquer' represents a sophisticated blend of multiple visual sources, including captured German newsreel footage, British military film, and original American material. The film's visual strategy combines gritty, authentic combat footage with carefully composed explanatory sequences. The use of aerial photography and long shots of invading armies creates a sense of overwhelming force, while close-ups of civilian suffering provide emotional impact. The animated sequences, created by Disney Studios, employ a clean, educational style that makes complex military movements easily understandable. The cinematographic approach emphasizes contrast - the precision of Nazi military formations versus the chaos of civilian evacuation, the dark uniforms of German soldiers versus the bright colors of peacetime Europe. The film uses montage techniques effectively, particularly in sequences showing the rapid succession of Nazi victories, creating a sense of unstoppable momentum that the narrative then seeks to counter with calls for resistance.

Innovations

The film pioneered several technical innovations in documentary filmmaking, particularly in its integration of animation with live-action footage. The animated maps created by Disney Studios represented a breakthrough in educational filmmaking, using moving graphics to illustrate complex military strategies in ways that static maps could not achieve. The production team developed new techniques for synchronizing narration with multiple visual sources, creating a cohesive narrative from diverse footage. The film's use of captured enemy footage required innovative processing and restoration methods to make the material suitable for American audiences. The sound engineering was particularly advanced for its time, achieving clear dialogue and music reproduction even when using varied source material. The editing techniques, particularly the rapid montage sequences showing the succession of Nazi victories, influenced subsequent documentary and propaganda filmmaking. The film also demonstrated how to effectively combine educational content with emotional persuasion without sacrificing clarity or accuracy.

Music

The musical score for 'Divide and Conquer' was composed by Anthony Collins, who created a soundtrack that balanced dramatic tension with patriotic inspiration. The music incorporates elements of military marches, classical compositions, and original themes that enhance the film's emotional and educational impact. The score uses leitmotifs to represent different forces - ominous, driving rhythms for Nazi military movements, and more hopeful, melodic themes for the occupied nations. The soundtrack also makes effective use of silence in key moments, particularly during sequences showing civilian suffering, to maximize emotional impact. The narration, delivered by Walter Huston, is carefully timed with the musical cues to create a unified audio-visual experience. The sound design includes authentic battlefield audio, radio broadcasts, and speeches from the period, adding historical authenticity to the documentary elements.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening animated sequence showing Hitler's silhouette over a map of Europe, with the title appearing in dramatic font
• The animated map sequence showing the Nazi invasion of Denmark and Norway, with arrows and military symbols illustrating the blitzkrieg tactics
• The montage of European capitals falling to Nazi forces, accompanied by the narrator's explanation of the 'divide and conquer' strategy
• The footage of the evacuation of Dunkirk, showing both the military disaster and civilian courage
• The dramatic sequence showing the fall of Paris, contrasting German military parades with weeping French civilians
• The final scene showing Britain standing alone, with Winston Churchill's silhouette and defiant music underscoring the resolve to continue fighting

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised 'Divide and Conquer' for its clarity, powerful imagery, and effective combination of education with persuasion. The New York Times called it 'a masterful piece of documentary filmmaking that serves both as history lesson and as compelling argument for American resolve.' Variety noted that 'Capra brings his Hollywood storytelling skills to bear on factual material, creating a film that is both informative and emotionally engaging.' Modern critics and film historians view the series as a landmark in documentary cinema, with the British Film Institute describing it as 'perhaps the most successful example of state-sponsored propaganda in democratic history.' While some contemporary viewers questioned the propagandistic elements, most acknowledged the film's effectiveness in its stated purpose of educating Americans about the Nazi threat. Film scholars today analyze it as an example of how documentary techniques can be employed for persuasive purposes while maintaining a foundation in factual material.

What Audiences Thought

The film was extremely well-received by both military personnel and civilian audiences. Soldiers reported that the films gave them a clear understanding of what they were fighting for and helped them comprehend the larger strategic picture of the war. Civilian audiences, many of whom had limited knowledge of European geography and politics, found the animated maps particularly helpful in understanding the rapid Nazi conquests. The film was shown widely in theaters across America as part of double features with entertainment films, reaching millions of viewers. Audience surveys conducted by the Office of War Information indicated that the 'Why We Fight' series significantly increased public understanding of and support for the war effort. Veterans of World War II often cited these films as formative in their understanding of the conflict, and many reported that they helped motivate them for combat. The films were also popular with Allied audiences, with British and Soviet viewers finding them valuable for understanding the American perspective on the war.

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