Divide and Conquer (1943)

The World War II US Government account of the European theatre of the war from after the English and French entry to the fall of France.

Writer:

Roger Q. Denny

Stars:

Knox Manning, Murray Alper, General Bergeret

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Knox Manning	...	Narrator

Storyline

In this episode of the Why We Fight propaganda series, the events from the English and French declarations of war against Nazi Germany to the conquest of France by the Nazi. In detail, we learn of how a combination of innovative Nazi military tactics and the work of traitors allowed the conquest of much of Central Europe.

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Plot Keywords:

propaganda | allies | world war two | prisoner of war | warfare | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Why We Fight, 3

Company Credits

Production Co:

The War Department, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System) Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vitaphone production reels #1022A-1023A.

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Goofs

Some of the film of the invasion of Norway show Italian bombers attacking British ships. The Italian Air Force was not involved in the invasion of Norway.

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Connections

Features Triumph of the Will (1935)

User Reviews

Hitler Blitzkrieg marches to the sea.

In the third installment of why we fight Hitler's army blitzkriegs through the Ardennes and routs allied forces. More criticism of the European response to rising Fascism is covered as fifth columnists (Quisling, Laval etc.) plot from within (even the US has local German Bunds) to soften the opposition and France capitulates when the Nazis circumnavigate the Marginot Line and enter Paris.

Try as it might in this propaganda effort to show a united front against Fascism, Why We Fight has to enlist the glory of France past invoking Marshall Foch's dictum J'attaque while it downplays its reticence in this conflict that could lead to the decimation of the vulnerable Allied force at Dunkirk. Taking the free French Army to North Africa Charles DeGaulle becomes the face of France while Marshall Petain oversees Vichy and allies with the Nazis.

There's more Fuhrer prevaricating ( what a perfect poster boy for propaganda ) as he invades Holland, Belgium and Norway in preparation for the invasion of Great Britain. The charts and maps displaying his well executed plan to overrun the lowlands of western Europe are both sobering and disturbing as the Germans well oiled war machine looks unstoppable.

For its time Divide and Conquer does an excellent job of explaining and presenting the war and the high stakes involved in clear and concise terms. There is no avoiding the bleakness of the situation but like all the series entries it ends on a note of hope and resolve, in this case provided by the incredible courage of non-combatants ferrying the retreating Allied Army across the English Channel to safety where they would live to fight another day.