Why We Fight: The Nazis Strike

Plot

The Nazis Strike, the second installment in Frank Capra's Why We Fight series, presents a comprehensive historical analysis of German aggression from the unification of Germany under Otto von Bismarck in 1863 through the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. The film meticulously documents how Germany's expansionist policies evolved over decades, culminating in Hitler's systematic conquest of Europe beginning with the annexation of Austria and the invasion of Czechoslovakia. Through extensive use of newsreel footage, maps, and dramatic narration, the film portrays the Nazis not as an aberration but as the logical continuation of German militaristic tradition. The documentary culminates with the invasion of Poland in September 1939, demonstrating how Nazi aggression triggered World War II. The film serves as both a historical lesson and a moral indictment of German imperialism, positioning the American war effort as a necessary response to generations of German expansionism.

Historical Background

The Nazis Strike was produced in 1942-1943, during a critical period in World War II when the United States was fully engaged in the global conflict after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film emerged at a time when the American government recognized the need to educate both military personnel and civilians about the nature of the enemy they faced. The early war years saw significant German advances across Europe, and there was concern among American officials that the public didn't fully understand the historical roots of Nazi aggression. The film was part of a massive U.S. government propaganda effort, coordinated by the Office of War Information, to maintain public support for the war effort and to counter isolationist sentiments that still existed in some quarters. The timing was crucial - 1943 marked the turning point in the war with Allied victories in North Africa and the beginning of the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, making it essential to reinforce the moral justification for the conflict.

Making Of

Frank Capra was approached by General George C. Marshall in May 1942 to create a series of films that would explain to American soldiers why they were fighting in World War II. Capra, an Italian immigrant who loved America deeply, accepted the commission despite having no documentary experience. He assembled a team of Hollywood's best talent, including cinematographers, editors, and writers, all working for military pay. The production team faced the unique challenge of creating compelling propaganda from authentic footage rather than staging scenes. Capra's innovative approach was to use the Nazis' own propaganda footage against them, showing German audiences cheering Hitler and then contextualizing these images for American viewers. The team worked tirelessly, often 16-hour days, to meet the government's urgent timeline. Capra insisted on maintaining the highest production standards despite the documentary format, bringing his dramatic filmmaking sensibilities to the project. The narration was carefully crafted to be both educational and emotionally resonant, with Capra personally reviewing every word for maximum impact.

Visual Style

The cinematography in The Nazis Strike is a masterclass in compilation filmmaking, combining footage from diverse sources into a coherent visual narrative. Capra's team, led by cinematographer Robert Flaherty, utilized material from German newsreels, British Pathé footage, captured enemy films, and American military sources. The visual style employs dramatic close-ups of Hitler and Nazi officials, contrasted with sweeping aerial footage of German military movements. The film makes extensive use of maps and animated graphics to illustrate German expansion, a technique that was innovative for its time. The cinematographers employed careful sequencing to build emotional impact, often juxtaposing images of Nazi rallies with footage of their victims. The black and white photography maintains high contrast to emphasize the moral clarity of the narrative, with Nazi imagery often rendered in stark, threatening tones. The visual rhythm of the film follows dramatic rather than documentary conventions, with careful attention to pacing and visual transitions.

Innovations

The Nazis Strike pioneered several technical innovations in documentary filmmaking. The film's most significant achievement was its sophisticated compilation technique, weaving together footage from dozens of different sources with varying quality and formats into a seamless narrative. Capra's team developed new methods for matching and transitioning between disparate footage sources, creating visual continuity that had not been achieved in earlier compilation films. The production team also innovated in the use of animated maps and graphics to illustrate complex military movements and historical concepts, techniques that would become standard in educational filmmaking. The film's sound engineering was particularly advanced for its time, successfully integrating dialogue, music, and effects from multiple source materials. The post-production process involved extensive optical printing and re-editing to achieve the desired dramatic impact. These technical achievements were accomplished under wartime conditions with limited resources, making the film's polished final product even more remarkable.

Music

The musical score for The Nazis Strike was composed by Dmitri Tiomkin, who worked closely with Capra on many of his Hollywood productions. Tiomkin created a powerful orchestral score that blended traditional American musical themes with ominous Wagnerian motifs to represent the Nazi threat. The soundtrack makes effective use of leitmotifs, associating specific musical themes with different aspects of the narrative - heroic American themes for democratic values, dark militaristic music for German aggression, and somber passages for the victims of Nazi conquest. The film incorporates actual audio recordings of Hitler's speeches, allowing audiences to hear the dictator's rhetoric in his own voice. The sound design emphasizes the contrast between the bombastic sounds of Nazi rallies and the quieter, more intimate moments of civilian suffering. Walter Huston's narration is carefully mixed to dominate the soundtrack when necessary, while allowing the power of the archival footage to speak for itself at key moments.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence showing the unification of Germany under Bismarck, with dramatic footage of 19th century European politics
• The chilling montage of Hitler's rise to power, using authentic Nazi propaganda footage
• The animated map sequence showing German expansion from 1933 to 1939
• The powerful contrast between Nazi rallies and the suffering of their victims
• The climactic sequence showing the invasion of Poland, with actual combat footage
• The final appeal to American values, connecting the historical narrative to contemporary American responsibility

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised The Nazis Strike for its powerful message and effective execution. The New York Times called it 'a masterful piece of documentary filmmaking that serves both as history and as a call to arms.' Variety noted that 'Capra has brought his considerable dramatic talents to bear on factual material, creating a film that is both educational and emotionally compelling.' Modern critics have reevaluated the film as a classic of propaganda cinema, with the Library of Congress selecting it for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2000. Film historians have praised its sophisticated use of compilation techniques and its ability to present complex historical arguments in an accessible format. Some contemporary critics have noted the film's oversimplification of German history and its tendency to present all Germans as inherently aggressive, but most acknowledge its effectiveness within the context of wartime propaganda. The film is now studied in film schools as an example of how documentary techniques can be used for persuasive purposes.

What Audiences Thought

The Nazis Strike was enormously popular with both military and civilian audiences. Soldiers reported that the film helped them understand the historical context of their service and reinforced their commitment to the war effort. Civilian audiences packed theaters when the film was shown as part of double features, with many viewers describing it as eye-opening and emotionally powerful. The film's clear narrative structure and compelling use of archival footage made complex historical events accessible to average Americans. Audience surveys conducted by the Office of War Information indicated that the series significantly increased public understanding of the war's causes and boosted support for continued military action. Veterans of World War II frequently cited the Why We Fight series as formative in their understanding of the conflict. The film's impact was such that it remained in circulation for decades after the war, used in schools and community centers to educate subsequent generations about World War II.

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