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U.S. War DepartmentDivide and Conquer (Part I) (1943)

Shows the German invasion of Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France, including the evacuation of the British forces at Dunkirk. From the "Why We Fight" series.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: U.S. War Department
Sponsor: U.S. War Department
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: World War II: General; World War II: Europe

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Shadows WW2 - - February 27, 2006
Subject: Excellent
I have just watched in detail Divide and Conquer and it has filled in the gaps for me about my father who was in the British army. I am working my way through making a WW2 film related to vererans of WW2 and only now can I visualise what it might have been like for my father and veterans of WW2 in Britain during the war. I feel it is an excellent film for any age.

Reviewer: Kake - - December 15, 2003
Subject: EDa
Hmm. at least Hitler speaks VERY loudly, how could he shout like that for hours?

Reviewer: Spuzz - - April 21, 2003
Subject: Wow!
(Full Film) It's ironic that, in the first part of this movie, the narrator talks about how bad propaganda is, when all this is is a total mouthpiece as to how nasty the Germans are. This is an AMAZING film though, as it is a totally engrossing detailing of how Nazi Germany took over Europe in a heartbeat. Exciting battle footage, terse narration, and amazing graphics all add to this highly enjoyable presentation. Of course, it's all sad, but it's totally enrapturing. A must see!

Reviewer: Nathan B - - February 18, 2003
Subject: Intense Battlefield Footage!
This film features intense Second World War battlefield footage, some of it from newsreels, some UN footage, and some captured from the enemy. It is part three of seven films in the "Why We Fight" series, stirring propaganda shown to American troops to bolster their morale before being shipped off to fight and die.

These films were directed and edited by FRANK KAPRA, who produced classics such as "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1949). He has a long directorial history of Second World War propaganda films, including "Know Your Enemy - Japan" (1943).

Kapra is a genius at piecing together the footage and animation with music to evoke powerful emotions of bravery as well as indignation against the Nazi regime that US-troops were trained to destroy. The worried narrator explains events as they unfolded in Western Europe, after the Nazi conquest of Eastern Europe. We see animation of black arrows pushing through France's border, representing the powerful military spearhead design that helped the Nazis advance so quickly in their blitzkreig. Surely any linger doubts in the minds of troops about going to war were disolved by this series of films. The way in which Nazi injustice is presented would be enough to make any "red-blooded American" want to go and "fight for freedom".

"Why We Fight" is also a very entertaining way to learn about the major sequence of events during the Second World War. Of course, the accuracy of specific details might not be presented in the fairest light.

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - October 8, 2002
Subject: Divide and Conquer (Full Film)
This third film of the "Why We Fight" series documents the Nazi push into western Europe and the conquest of Norway, Belgium, Holland, and France. This film is kind of dullÂÂit's mostly combat footage and military strategy explained by an intelligence officer talking in a monotone and pointing to an animated map. About the only really interesting thing about it is that it contains lots of animated footage of the type described in Cartoons Go to WarÂÂmy favorite is a scene of a bunch of little swastika termites eating away at the foundation of a castle meant to represent France. Pretty standard.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ***. Overall Rating: **. Also available on WWII Special Edition.

Shotlist

Nazis bomb Holland; attack on Belgium; Nazis invade France. World War II.
Shows the German invasion of Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France, including the evacuation of the British forces at Dunkirk.


World War II