Tag der Freiheit - Unsere Wehrmacht (1935)

After German generals complained about the army's lack of presence in Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will", she produced this propaganda piece for them.

Director:

Leni Riefenstahl

Stars:

Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler

Cast

Credited cast:
Hermann Göring	...	Self (on reviewing stand)
Rudolf Hess	...	Self (on reviewing stand)
Adolf Hitler	...	Self
Werner von Blomberg	...	Self (on reviewing stand)
Werner von Fritsch	...	Self (on reviewing stand)

Storyline

Filming of the performance show the Deutsche Wehrmacht (German Army) made during the Reichsparteitag of the NSDAP in Nurnberg 1935. Showing the readiness and the will of the newly build army.

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Plot Keywords:

wehrmacht | nazi uniform | nazi propaganda | nazi soldier | nazi | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Short

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Included as a DVD bonus feature on at least one edition of Triumph of the Will (1935).

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Alternate Versions

A speech by Hitler is lacking from the nitrate print found in the USA in the 1970s, and it is this incomplete version that is found on the DVD Short Cinema Journal 8: Vision and Synapse's Triumph of the Will DVD. The speech can be found in a version held in Germany.

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Connections

Edited into The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (1993)

User Reviews

Day of Freedom

Tag der Freiheit - Unsere Wehrmacht (1935)

*** (out of 4)

When Leni Riefenstahl made TRIUMPH OF THE WILL, apparently Adolf Hitler felt that it didn't show off the German Army enough so this short was made. This here was meant to show off how strong the German Army was but of course what happened over the next several years has tainted the film and even Riefenstahl's legacy.

There's no question that this here is a visual masterpiece, although it's certainly not on the same level as TRIUMPH OF THE WILL. With that being said, I think this film is a lot more entertaining to watch since it's just 17-minutes. What we've basically got here are clips of the German soldiers doing their daily routine but it's the masterful camerawork that really sells the film. I really loved how Riefenstahl shot the movie with the camera down low, looking up towards people and making them appear much bigger. The way the sun is high above them beating down just added a surreal touch.

Of course, it's impossible to watch this film without looking at these soldiers and wondering what horrors they committed during WWII. You can't help but think which one of them were killed in battle. Which one of them worked at the camps where millions of Jews were killed. The ugliness hangs its head all over the film.

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

30 December 1935 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Day of Freedom

Filming Locations:

Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reichsparteitagfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

28 min 16 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1