WAR IN EUROPE

Year Published: 1940

Creator: Castle Films

Format: 16mm

Description: This silent film was released by Castle Films in 1940 for the home market. It shows the outbreak of "War in Europe" with the German invasion of Poland, which triggered a declaration of war by France and Great Britain. The film begins with Hitler demanding the city-state of Danzig (:12). Oppressed minorities flee Germany as refugees (:30). Polish Army mobilizes (:48). Poland closes German border (1:00). Great Britain and France pledge to assist Poland and summon reserves (1:20). In London, civilians answer the call for war service by volunteering (1:36), including women war workers and members of the Red Cross. News placard reads: "Britons Told to Leave Germany" (2:02). Shot of Big Ben in London (2:04). Air Raid Warning police notice (2:07). British show off gas masks and other chemical warfare gear (2:15). Barrage balloons (2:23). Americans flee Europe (2:30). Placard: "Americans Told to Leave Britain". Americans shown at the docks in Cherbourg about to depart for New York by ship. Von Ribbentrop flies to Moscow to conclude Soviet-German anti-aggression pact (2:58). British Prime Minister Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier strive for peace (3:20). Big Ben (3:29) and arrival of Chamberlain at 10 Downing Street. In London and Paris, children are evacuated to safety by train. They test out gas masks (4:10). Mothers wave goodbye to their kids. September 1, 1939 -- Germany invades Poland and commences aerial bombing of Warsaw. Great Britain declares war on Germany (6:10); Prime Minister Chamberlain is briefly seen making remarks. News headline: "Warsaw Bombed". France declares war on Germany (6:35). Frenchmen are seen saying goodbye to their families and tanks are shown on parade. On September 3, the Canadian ship SS Athenia is sunk by German U-boat U-30 in the Atlantic (7:12), killing 117 (7:30). German troops open border crossing (7:50). Motorcycles, artillery, tanks and troops follow in rapid succession. Polish Army bravely resists German invasion (8:48). German Air Force / Luftwaffe is seen in action (9:04). Aerial bombing of Warsaw, smashed bridges and railroad trestles (9:59). German battleship Schleswig-Holstein bombards Danzig's fort for six days (11:39). Polish forces dynamited Warsaw bridges to slow the German advance.

Complete Record: This silent film was released by Castle Films in 1940 for the home market. It shows the outbreak of "War in Europe" with the German invasion of Poland, which triggered a declaration of war by France and Great Britain. The film begins with Hitler demanding the city-state of Danzig (:12). Oppressed minorities flee Germany as refugees (:30). Polish Army mobilizes (:48). Poland closes German border (1:00). Great Britain and France pledge to assist Poland and summon reserves (1:20). In London, civilians answer the call for war service by volunteering (1:36), including women war workers and members of the Red Cross. News placard reads: "Britons Told to Leave Germany" (2:02). Shot of Big Ben in London (2:04). Air Raid Warning police notice (2:07). British show off gas masks and other chemical warfare gear (2:15). Barrage balloons (2:23). Americans flee Europe (2:30). Placard: "Americans Told to Leave Britain". Americans shown at the docks in Cherbourg about to depart for New York by ship. Von Ribbentrop flies to Moscow to conclude Soviet-German anti-aggression pact (2:58). British Prime Minister Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier strive for peace (3:20). Big Ben (3:29) and arrival of Chamberlain at 10 Downing Street. In London and Paris, children are evacuated to safety by train. They test out gas masks (4:10). Mothers wave goodbye to their kids. September 1, 1939 -- Germany invades Poland and commences aerial bombing of Warsaw. Great Britain declares war on Germany (6:10); Prime Minister Chamberlain is briefly seen making remarks. News headline: "Warsaw Bombed". France declares war on Germany (6:35). Frenchmen are seen saying goodbye to their families and tanks are shown on parade. On September 3, the Canadian ship SS Athenia is sunk by German U-boat U-30 in the Atlantic (7:12), killing 117 (7:30). German troops open border crossing (7:50). Motorcycles, artillery, tanks and troops follow in rapid succession. Polish Army bravely resists German invasion (8:48). German Air Force / Luftwaffe is seen in action (9:04). Aerial bombing of Warsaw, smashed bridges and railroad trestles (9:59). German battleship Schleswig-Holstein bombards Danzig's fort for six days (11:39). Polish forces dynamited Warsaw bridges to slow the German advance.