Background: The Bildbericht der Woche was a weekly production of the Nazi Party’s Reichspropagandaleitung. It was a film strip with an accompanying text to be presented at small meetings. A speaker would read the text. These would be used in outlying areas where people had less access to the weekly newsreel at movie theaters, or at neighborhood party meetings. It was also used in the military.

This is #12/1939, issued at the end of March 1939. Hitler had just marched into what was left of Czechoslovakia and secured the return of the Memel District from Lithuania. I do not have the text that accompanied the pictures, but have identified what I could. If you can identify any of the pictures, please let me know.

In 1941, 1575 copies of this were produced each week.

The source: Bildbericht der Woche, #12/1939

The opening slide

The title slide

Hitler Enters Prague Castle

Cheering Crowds in Prague

Hitler Greeting Someone

Troops Marching

Anti-Jewish Measures Promptly Introduced

Troops Caring for Children

Nazi Flags Being Passed Out to Wave at Hitler

Hitler Drives Past

Another Picture of the Parade

Göring Greets Hitler

Searchlights in Berlin Celebrate Hitler’s Triumphs (19 March)

Map of the Memel District (in black)

The Memel Harbor

I’m not sure of this one

The poster translates: “Better to have fought and died honorably than to have lost freedom and ruined one’s soul!”

Hitler at the Railroad Station

A Seaman in the Harbor

The closing graphic

A German filmstrip projector

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