Die Deutsche Wochenschau – Newsreel No. 640, 10 December 1942

 

1. Italy.

 

Rome, Mussolini addresses the Fascist Parliament, assuring them of Italy’s desire to fight side by side with Germany.

 

2. Germany.

 

Berlin Sports Palace.

 

– Reich Minister Goebbels speaks at a fascist rally about the goals and upcoming work during the four-year plan.

 

– The audience consists of workers and soldiers.

 

3. Southeast Asia.

 

The sphere of influence of the United States in Asia.

 

– Military operations of Japanese and American troops in the Pacific since December 1941 (diagrams, geographical maps).

 

– Fighting in Singapore.

 

– Japanese infantry in the jungle.

 

– Firefight with the British, Japanese at the gun.

 

– Japanese soldiers walking through mud.

 

– Trucks crossing a river.

 

– Soldiers with guns on the road.

 

– Japanese planes bomb military targets in Singapore.

 

– British and Australian prisoners of war.

 

– Shelling of Singapore’s fortifications.

 

– British Lieutenant General Arthur Percival surrenders the fortress of Singapore on 15 February 1942.

 

– Japanese soldiers on the streets of Singapore, views of the city.

 

– Japanese attack on the island of Celebes, Japanese planes in the air bombing British positions.

 

– Airborne troops landing in the city of Manado.

 

– Japanese infantry advancing deep into the island.

 

Map, operations against the Aleutian Islands.

 

– Japanese ships are moving north.

 

– Japanese soldiers in boats, they are on the islands, a detachment with a Japanese flag is approaching.

 

– Transport ships and seaplanes in the harbour.

 

– Attack by American bombers, explosions.

 

– Fragments of the battle.

 

– Ceremonial formation of Japanese troops.

 

– Japanese planes and ships on the march.

 

4. USSR. Eastern Front.

 

Members of construction groups joining Hitler’s army take an oath.

 

– Young soldiers swear allegiance to the Führer.

 

– Most of them, while still in construction groups, managed to prove themselves as combat soldiers.

 

– The young men stack their shovels in pyramids and march.

 

– Roll call begins for the Reich labour service units that participated on the front lines.

 

– Ceremony of decorating the banner with honorary ribbons and tassels.

 

5. USSR. Military operations south of Lake Ilmen.

 

Massive raid by German bombers on Soviet positions.

 

– Pilot in the cockpit.

 

– Grenadiers and tanks of the SS troops before the offensive, SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Baum, Knight’s Cross recipient with Oak Leaves and Swords, on the front line with soldiers.

 

– Offensive, capture of a village.

 

– A column of captured Soviet soldiers is led through the village.

 

6. USSR, central section of the Eastern Front.

 

In areas of major defensive battles.

 

– Snow-covered trenches.

 

– Tankers in reserve paint their tanks white.

 

– The daily life of German soldiers on the front lines.

 

– Drying laundry, distributing food.

 

– Soldiers chop wood and carry it to the bunker.

 

– Soldiers’ mess hall.