List of Nazi propaganda films

The following is a list of Nazi propaganda films. Before and during the Second World War, the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under Joseph Goebbels produced several propaganda films designed for the general public. Production of films made to serve a propaganda purpose was not limited to the Axis powers, but was produced by both sides, such as the Allies' production of propaganda films.

The list of films may contain films concerning several different subjects or genres, but who all functioned as propaganda films of the Third Reich. Subjects include antisemitism, promotion of National Socialist ideals such as the Führerprinzip, obedience, and gender roles, garnering support for aggression against other nations, rallying support for the war effort, or sway popular opinion on Nazi institutions such as the involuntary euthanasia program. Alongside documentaries, motion pictures played a role in the cinematic propaganda effort, with dramas, war films, biopics, action films, thrillers, and even comedies a part of Nazi cinema.

Legend

Release date: The date of the film's release (or premiere)
Original title: The film's original German title
English title: English language title (titles in italic marks official English title)
Running time: Length of the film as released
Type: Genre and function
Producer: The producer(s) of the film
Director: The director(s) of the film
Cast: Leading actors and actresses
Notes: Additional comments and notes, such as propaganda use and post-war history.

Before the War (1933–1939)

Release
date
Original titleEnglish titleRunning timeTypeProducerDirectorCastNotes
1927Eine Symphonie des KampfwillensA Symphony of the Will to Fight30 min (ca.)Documentary silent filmNSDAPJulius LippertAdolf Hitler; NSDAP members; Nuremberg Rally attendantsFirst film documentary of a Nuremberg Rally.
1929Der Nürnberger Parteitag der NSDAPThe Nuremberg Convention of the NSDAP90 min (ca.)Documentary silent filmNSDAPBaldur von SchirachNSDAP members; Nuremberg Rally attendants; Franz Ritter von EppDocuments the 4th party convention of the NSDAP, which occurred at Nuremberg August 2, 1929
June 14, 1933S.A.-Mann BrandStorm Trooper Brand94 minMotion pictureFranz SeitzFranz SeitzHeinz Klingenberg; Wera Liessem; Rolf Wenkhaus
September 19, 1933Hitlerjunge Quex: Ein Film vom Opfergeist der deutschen Jugend"Hitler Youth Quex"
Our Flag Leads Us Forward (US)
95 min
87 min (US)
Feature filmKarl RitterHans SteinhoffJürgen Ohlsen; Heinrich George; Berta Drews; Claus ClausenToday classified as a Vorbehaltsfilm in Germany
1 December 1933Der Sieg des Glaubens"The Victory of Faith"64 minDocumentary filmLeni RiefenstahlLeni RiefenstahlAdolf Hitler; Rudolf Hess; Hermann Göring; Julius Streicher; Joseph Goebbels; Ernst RöhmFirst propaganda film directed by Leni Riefenstahl.
Recounts the Fifth Party Rally of the Nazi Party, which occurred in Nuremberg from 30 August to 3 September 1933.
8 December 1933Flüchtlinge"Refugees"87 minFeature filmGustav UcickyHans Albers; Käthe von Nagy; Eugen Klöpfer; Andrews Engelmann
13 December 1933Hans Westmar. Einer von vielen. Ein deutsches Schicksal aus dem Jahre 1929"Hans Westmar. One of many. A German Fate from the Year 1929"132 minFeature filmRobert ErnstFranz WenzlerEmil Lohkamp; Paul Wegener
28 December 1934Um das Menschenrecht. Ein Filmwerk aus der Freikorpszeit"About human rights"Motion pictureHans Zöberlein (executive producer)Hans Zöberlein; Ludwig Schmid-WildyHans Schlenck; Kurt Holm; Ernst Martens; Beppo Brem, etc.Released as Sturmtage 1919 in Austria
24 January 1935Nur nicht weich werden, Susanne! Eine Groteske aus vergangener ZeitDon't Lose Heart, Suzanne!Drama filmArzén von CserépyJessie Vihrog; Veit Harlan; Willi Schur; Hilde Krüger, etc.
29 January 1935Der alte und der junge König"The Old and the Young King"100 minHistorical filmDeka-Film GmbHHans SteinhoffEmil Jannings; Leopoldine Konstantin
28 March 1935Triumph des WillensTriumph of the Will114 minDocumentary filmLeni RiefenstahlLeni RiefenstahlAdolf Hitler; Heinrich Himmler; Viktor Lutze; other NSDAP leadersRiefenstahl won several awards, not only in Germany but also in the United States, France, Sweden and other countries
26 April 1935Das Mädchen JohannaJoan of Arc87 minHistorical filmBruno DudayGustav UcickyAngela Salloker; Gustaf Gründgens; Heinrich GeorgeFirst female personification of the Führer
19 November 1935Friesennot
Frisions in Distress (US)97 minMotion pictureAlfred Bittins; Dr. Scheunemann; Hermann SchmidtPeter HagenFriedrich Kayßler; Helene Fehdmer; Valéry Inkijinoff, etc.Reissued as Dorf im roten Sturm in Germany
30 December 1935Der höhere BefehlThe Higher Command93 minHistorical filmBruno DudayGerhard LamprechtLil Dagover; Karl Ludwig Diehl; Heli Finkenzeller; Friedrich KayßlerHighlights German-British historical relations in an attempt to ensure an alliance with Great Britain.
30 December 1935Tag der Freiheit: Unsere WehrmachtDay of Freedom: Our Armed Forces28 minDocumentary filmLeni RiefenstahlLeni RiefenstahlAdolf Hitler; Hermann Göring; Rudolf Hess; Heinrich HimmlerRecounts the Seventh Party Rally of the Nazi Party, which occurred in Nuremberg on September 10–16, 1935.
1935Das Erbe"The Inheritance"12 minShort filmHarold MayerCarl Hartmann
16 June 1936TraumulusThe Dreamer100 minDrama filmCarl FroelichCarl FroelichEmil Jannings; Hilde Weissner; Harald Paulsen; Hildegard Barko
16 June 1936Ewiger WaldEnchanted Forest75 minDocumentary filmHanns Springer; Rolf von Sonjevski-JamrowskiAlbert Graf von PestalozzaGünther Hadank; Heinz Herkommer; Paul Klinger
9 September 1936VerräterThe Traitor92 minDrama war filmHans RitterKarl RitterLída Baarová; Willy Birgel; Irene von Meyendorff
1936Erbkrank"The Hereditary Defective"25 minDocumentary short filmHerbert Gerdes
5 January 1937Panzerkreuzer Sebastopol: "Weisse Sklaven"Battleship Sevastopol: "White Slaves"111 minMotion pictureKarl AntonTheodor Loos; Gabriele Hoffmann; Camilla Horn; Karl JohnRereleased as Rote Bestien ("Red Beasts")
17 March 1937Der Herrscher"The Master"103 minDrama filmVeit HarlanEmil Jannings; Paul Wagner; Hannes StelzerPropagandistic demonstration of the Führerprinzip of Nazi Germany.[1]
1937Alles Leben ist Kampf"All Life is Struggle"27 minDocumentary short filmHerbert Gerdes; W. Hüttig
1937Opfer der Vergangenheit: Die Sünde wider Blut und RasseVictims of the Past: The Sin against Blood and Race25 minDocumentary short filmExampleGernot Bock-Stieber; Kurt BotnerKurt Mühlhardt; Trude Haefelin; Max Lohmann
1937Festliches Nürnberg"Festive Nuremberg"21 minDocumentary short filmExampleExampleAdolf Hitler; Hermann Göring; other NSDAP leaders
11 January 1938Urlaub auf Ehrenwort"Leave on Word of Honour"87 minDrama war filmKarl RitterKarl RitterRolf Moebius; Fritz Kampers; Rene Deltgen; Otto Graf
28 March 1938Wort und Tat"Words and Deeds"10 minDocumentary short filmFritz Hippler; Ottoheinz Jahn; Gustav Ucicky; Eugen YorkJoseph Goebbels; Adolf Hitler; Benito Mussolini
20 April 1938OlympiaOlympia226 minDocumentary filmLeni RiefenstahlLeni RiefenstahlDocumenting the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany.
22 December 1938Pour le MéritePour le Mérite121 minWar filmKarl RitterPaul Hartmann; Herbert A.E. Böhme; Albert Hehn
8 March 1939Aufruhr in DamaskusUproar in Damascus103 minThriller filmOtto LehmannGustav UcickyBrigitte Horney; Joachim Gottschalk; Hans Nielsen; Ernst von Klipstein
7 July 1939Robert und BertramRobert and BertramExampleMusical comedy filmHelmut SchreiberHans Heinz ZerlettRudi Godden; Kurt Seifert; Carla Rust; Fritz Kampers
10 August 1939Der Westwall"The Westwall"46 minDocumentary filmFritz Hippler
5 September 1939KadettenCadets94 minHistorical war filmKarl RitterKarl RitterMathias Wieman; Carsta Löck; Andrews Engelmann; Theo ShallGeneral release date was 2 December 1941 due to its anti-Russian theme following the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

Wartime films (1939–1945)

Release
date
Original titleEnglish titleRunning timeTypeProducerDirectorCastNotes
16 October 1939Leinen aus IrlandLinen from Ireland98 minDrama filmHeinz HelbigOtto Treßler; Irene von Meyendorff; Friedl Haerlin
26 October 1939D III 88D III 88109 min (ca.)Action drama filmFred LyssaHerbert Maisch; Hans BertramChristian Kayßler; Otto Wernicke; Heinz Welzel; Hermann Braun
8 February 1940Feldzug in Polen"The Campaign in Poland"69 minDocumentary filmFritz HipplerAdolf Hitler
February 1940Der Marsch zum Führer"The March to the Führer"45 minDocumentary filmRudolf Hess; Adolf Hitler; Baldur von SchirachDocuments the nationwide march of Hitler Youth to Nuremberg for the Nazi Party Rally.
5 April 1940Feuertaufe"Baptism by fire"90 minDocumentary filmHans BertramHerbert Gernot; Hermann Göring; Adolf HitlerShowed to ambassadors from the Scandinavian countries on the eve of Operation Weserübung. Documents the destruction of Polish cities by the Luftwaffe.
24 April 1940Der Fuchs von GlenarvonThe Fox of Glenarvon91 minMotion pictureHerbert EngelsingMax W. KimmichOlga Tschechowa; Karl Ludwig Diehl; Ferdinand Marian; Elisabeth Flickenschildt
24 April 1940Der Postmeister"The Postmaster"/"The Station Master"92 minDrama filmGustav UcickyHeinrich George; Hilde Krahl; Siegfried Breuer
17 July 1940Die RothschildsThe Rothschilds97 minMotion pictureC.M. KöhnErich WaschneckErich Ponto; Carl Kuhlmann; Herbert Hübner
24 September 1940Jud Süß"Süss the Jew"98 minutesDrama filmOtto LehmannVeit HarlanFerdinand Marian; Werner Krauss; Heinrich George; Kristina Söderbaum
1 November 1940Das Herz der Königin"The Heart of the Queen"112 minHistorical filmCarl FroelichCarl FroelichZarah Leander
28 November 1940Der Ewige JudeThe Eternal Jew62 minFiction/Documentary filmDeutsche Film GesellschaftFritz HipplerHarry Giese
6 December 1940BismarckBismarck118 minHistorical filmHeinrich Jonen; Willi WiesnerWolfgang LiebeneinerPaul Hartmann; Friedrich Kayßler; Lil Dagover
30 December 1940Wunschkonzert"Request Concert"103 minDrama filmFelix PfitznerEduard von BorsodyIlse Werner; Carl Raddatz; Joachim Brennecke
1940Vom Bäumlein, das andere Blätter hat gewollt"Of the little tree which wished for different leaves"7 minShort cartoonHubert SchongerHeinz Tischmeyer
1940Kampf um Norwegen – Feldzug 1940"Battle for Norway - 1940 Campaign"81 minDocumentary filmMartin Rikli; Werner BuhreNever screened. Assumed lost until copy resurfaced in 2006.
1940–1945Die Deutsche Wochenschau"The German Weekly Review"Unified newsreel series
17 February 1941Mein Leben für IrlandMy Life for Ireland90 minMotion pictureMax W. KimmichAnna Dammann; René Deltgen; Paul Wegener; Werner Hinz
28 February 1941Kampfgeschwader Lützow"Fighting Squadron Lützow"109 minWar filmHans BertramChristian Kayßler; Hermann Braun; Heinz WelzelClassified as a Vorbehaltsfilm today in Germany
21 March 1941Über alles in der WeltAbove All Else in the World85 minDrama filmKarl RitterKarl RitterPaul Hartmann; Hannes Stelzer; Fritz Kampers
21 March 1941Carl PetersCarl Peters110 minHistorical drama filmHerbert SelpinHans Albers
23 March 1941Sieg im Westen"Victory in the West"114 minDocumentary filmFritz HipplerSvend NoldanErwin Rommel; Adolf Hitler
4 April 1941Ohm Krüger"Uncle Krüger"135 minBiographical filmEmil JanningsHans SteinhoffEmil Jannings; Lucie Höflich; Werner Hinz
17 April 1941Liebe ist zollfreiLove Is Duty FreeComedy filmE.W. EmoHans Moser; Susi Peter; Theodor Danegger
27 June 1941StukasStukas101 minMotion pictureKarl RitterCarl Raddatz; Hannes Stelzer; Ernst von KlipsteinStaatsauftragsfilm
9 May 1941U-Boote westwärts!U-boat Westward!98 minMotion pictureGünther RittauHerbert Wilk
4 June 1941Venus vor GerichtVenus on Trial90 minDrama filmOttmar OstermayrHans H. ZerlettHannes Stelzer; Hansi Knoteck; Paul Dahlke; Siegfried Breuer
29 August 1941Ich klage anI Accuse125 minDrama filmWolfgang LiebeneinerHeidemarie Hatheyer; Paul Hartmann; Mathias Wieman
31 August 1941Heimkehr"Homecoming"94 minDrama filmKarl Hartl; Wien-FilmGustav UcickyPaula Wessely; Attila Hörbiger; Carl Raddatz
19 December 1941Menschen im Sturm"People in the Storm"80 minDrama filmFritz Peter BuchGustav Diessl; Olga Tschechowa; Hannelore SchrothPropaganda to justify an invasion of Slovenia
3 March 1942Der große KönigThe Great King118 minDrama filmVeit HarlanOtto Gebühr
12 June 1942Die große Liebe"The Great Love"100 minDrama filmWalter Bolz for Universum Film AGRolf HansenZarah Leander; Viktor StaalThe most commercially successful film in the history of the Third Reich.
14 August 1942G.P.U.The Red Terror99 minAction filmKarl RitterKarl RitterLaura Solari; Will Quadflieg; Marina von Ditmar
25 August 1942Anschlag auf BakuAttack on Baku91 minThriller filmHans WeidemannFritz KirchhoffWilly Fritsch; René Deltgen; Fritz Kampers; Hans Zesch-Ballot
25 August 1942Der 5. Juni5 June99 minWar filmWalter UlbrichFritz KirchhoffCarl Raddatz; Joachim Brennecke; Karl Ludwig Diehl; Gisela Uhlen
3 September 1942Die goldene Stadt"The Golden City"110 minDrama filmVeit HarlanVeit Harlan; Wolfgang SchleifKristina Söderbaum; Eugen Klöpfer; Annie Rosar
9 September 1941AnnelieAnnelie99 minDrama filmJosef von BákyLuise Ullrich; Werner Krauss; Käthe HaackPortrays the National Socialist woman
6 October 1942Die EntlassungBismarck's Dismissal110 minBiographical filmEmil Jannings; Fritz Klotsch; Walter LehmannWolfgang LiebeneinerEmil Jannings; Margarete Schön; Christian KayßlerAlso known as Schicksalswende (West German rerun title) and Wilhelm II. und Bismarck (new West German title)
3 March 1943MünchhausenMünchhausen105 minFantasy comedy filmEberhard SchmidtJosef von BákyHans Albers; Wilhelm Bendow
26 August 1943Wien 1910Vienna 191092 minBiographical filmEmerich Walter EmoRudolf Forster; Heinrich George; Lil Dagover
10 November 1943TitanicTitanic85 minDrama filmWilly ReiberHerbert Selpin; Werner KlinglerSybille Schmitz; Hans Nielsen
November 1943Besatzung DoraThe Crew of the Dora91 minDrama war filmKarl RitterJosef Dahmen; Hannes Stelzer
6 July 1944Die DegenhardtsThe Degenhardts93 minDrama filmHeinrich GeorgeWerner KlinglerHeinrich George; Ernst Schröder; Gunnar Möller
8 December 1944Opfergang"Rite of Sacrifice"98 minDrama filmVeit HarlanKristina Söderbaum; Carl Raddatz; Irene von Meyendorff
1944Theresienstadt. Ein Dokumentarfilm aus dem jüdischen Siedlungsgebiet"Theresienstadt: A Documentary Film from the Jewish Settlement Area"90 min (ca.)Documentary short filmKarel Pečený (Aktualita Prag) for the SS-Central Office for the Settlement of the Jewish Question in Bohemia and MoraviaKurt Gerron (under Hans Günther & Karl Rahm)Only 22 minutes of footage extant.
1944PanoramaPanoramaNewsreel seriesQuarterly colour newsreel series
30 January 1945KolbergKolberg110 minHistorical filmVeit HarlanVeit HarlanKristina Söderbaum; Heinrich George; Paul Wegener; Horst Caspar

See also

References

  1. Erwin Leiser, Nazi Cinema p. 49 ISBN 0-02-570230-0
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