WEAPON OF WAR

Year Published: 1944

Description: This film is of a series of propaganda films created by the Signal Corps to be shown to industry workers during the war effort for WW2. It was produced by the Army Pictorial Service (:24) with cooperation of Combat Film Units from the Signal Corps Army Air Forces. The first section takes a look at the Nazi propaganda model (1:32). Physical weapons such as the “robot bomb” (1:48) weren’t nearly as dangerous as Hitler's propaganda model. This was developed during peacetime (2:09) and spread amongst the German population. Opposition was silenced, including the church (2:40). The propaganda was then spread to neighboring European countries (2:56). Nazi conquest began in 1939 (3:50). Hitler joined with Mussolini and Hirohito (4:04). The American public is shown to disapprove of Hitler’s prejudice based agenda (6:12). The ‘Great Floor’ segment shows the undertaking of building airstrip in China during 1944 (6:19). A map of China shows the Great Wall which had been constructed 1,500 years prior to the discovery of the United States (6:32). Children are viewed on the air strip as civilians were enlisted in the effort (6:58). US industry was sending supplies for the effort although much of the war materials were diverted to Europe (7:39). Without modern machinery it took about one month to build the strip (7:48). US Army Engineers are seen standing by to assist Chinese civilian workers (8:03). Locals arrive with wheelbarrows and other farm equipment (8:17). Workers set stones onto the ground by hand (4:02). The “Great Floor” is viewed nearly 30 football fields large (9:54). “Sky Guys” (10:46) shows the initial step in the liberation of southern France. Paratroopers take off from an airfield somewhere in Europe (11:47). The C-47’s are seen in formation (11:35). The men receive the jump call (12:19). The film concludes as discarded chutes dot northern France (12:40).

Complete Record: This film is of a series of propaganda films created by the Signal Corps to be shown to industry workers during the war effort for WW2. It was produced by the Army Pictorial Service (:24) with cooperation of Combat Film Units from the Signal Corps Army Air Forces. The first section takes a look at the Nazi propaganda model (1:32). Physical weapons such as the “robot bomb” (1:48) weren’t nearly as dangerous as Hitler's propaganda model. This was developed during peacetime (2:09) and spread amongst the German population. Opposition was silenced, including the church (2:40). The propaganda was then spread to neighboring European countries (2:56). Nazi conquest began in 1939 (3:50). Hitler joined with Mussolini and Hirohito (4:04). The American public is shown to disapprove of Hitler’s prejudice based agenda (6:12). The ‘Great Floor’ segment shows the undertaking of building airstrip in China during 1944 (6:19). A map of China shows the Great Wall which had been constructed 1,500 years prior to the discovery of the United States (6:32). Children are viewed on the air strip as civilians were enlisted in the effort (6:58). US industry was sending supplies for the effort although much of the war materials were diverted to Europe (7:39). Without modern machinery it took about one month to build the strip (7:48). US Army Engineers are seen standing by to assist Chinese civilian workers (8:03). Locals arrive with wheelbarrows and other farm equipment (8:17). Workers set stones onto the ground by hand (4:02). The “Great Floor” is viewed nearly 30 football fields large (9:54). “Sky Guys” (10:46) shows the initial step in the liberation of southern France. Paratroopers take off from an airfield somewhere in Europe (11:47). The C-47’s are seen in formation (11:35). The men receive the jump call (12:19). The film concludes as discarded chutes dot northern France (12:40).