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Description
In this programme, Brian Bond, lecturer in War Studies at King's College, University of London, examines the film record of the swing from the static defensive war of 1914 to mobile offensive warf...are which was to reach its peak in the Blitzkrieg of 1940. Early film shows the leisurely pace and reliance on horse transport at the start of the First World War, As the war progresses film provides excellent evidence of trench warfare, infantry advances, Mining activity and long range artillery. The tank brought about greater mobility in the latter half the war. Clips fron newsreel trace its development from the early models to the more sophisticated armour available at the start of the Second World War epitomised the formidable German and Russian military displays in 1936, Brian Bond stresses the importance of the development of the tank in the inter war years. A documentary boasting of the impregnability of the Maginot Line reveals something of France's defensive attitude and a newsreel report from Guernica vividly portrays the fear of widespread bombing of cities in a future war. Excerpts from two documentaries, "Feuertaufe" (Baptism of Fire) about the attack on Poland and "Sieg im Westen" (Victory in the West) show the full impact of German Blitzkrieg. Finally, Brian Bond comments on a clip from 'The Battle of Stalingrad", which marks the start of a swing back from the offensive towards an increasingly defensive trend in the conduct of war.
In this programme, Brian Bond, lecturer in War Studies at King's College, University of London, examines the film record of the swing from the static defensive war of 1914 to mobile offensive warf...are which was to reach its peak in the Blitzkrieg of 1940. Early film shows the leisurely pace and reliance on horse transport at the start of the First World War, As the war progresses film provides excellent evidence of trench warfare, infantry advances, Mining activity and long range artillery. The tank brought about greater mobility in the latter half the war. Clips fron newsreel trace its development from the early models to the more sophisticated armour available at the start of the Second World War epitomised the formidable German and Russian military displays in 1936, Brian Bond stresses the importance of the development of the tank in the inter war years. A documentary boasting of the impregnability of the Maginot Line reveals something of France's defensive attitude and a newsreel report from Guernica vividly portrays the fear of widespread bombing of cities in a future war. Excerpts from two documentaries, "Feuertaufe" (Baptism of Fire) about the attack on Poland and "Sieg im Westen" (Victory in the West) show the full impact of German Blitzkrieg. Finally, Brian Bond comments on a clip from 'The Battle of Stalingrad", which marks the start of a swing back from the offensive towards an increasingly defensive trend in the conduct of war.
| Module code and title: | A301, War and society |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A301; 06 |
| First transmission date: | 11-04-1973 |
| Published: | 1973 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:23:38 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Nick Levinson |
| Contributor: | Brian Bond |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Blitzkreig; Maginot Line; Newsfilm; Spanish Civil War; Stalingrad; Tank warfare; Trench warfare; Warfare; World war; World War II |
| Footage description: | Brian Bond introduces the programme. He discusses the way in which warfare has swung from defensive to offensive superiority and outlines his intention which is to show the change from the defensive tactics of the 1st World War to the Blitzkriegs and mobility of the second World War. Sequence from The World war through German Spectacles showing German and British Troops marching to their positions. Transport, horse-drawn of course, is shown. Brian Bond comments over the film then describes briefly the opening months of World War 1 emphasising the change from mobility to static trench warfare. Brian Bond now shows sequences depicting trend warfare in World War 1. He describes and comments. Sequences from the following films are shown: 1. Our Empire's fight for freedom 2. Sons of the Empire. 3. Mining activity on the British Front. Brian Bond shows further sequences from World War 1 films. He describes and comments briefly on the tactics of attack and defence evolved during the war. Sequences from the following films are shown: 1. The military power of France 2. Sons of the Empire The later sequence shows the first tanks in action. Brian Bond describes World War 1. Use of tanks. A portrait photograph of Col J.F.C. Fuller is shown. Brian Bond describes the development of tank warfare theory in the inter war period; a portrait of Sir Basil Liddel-Hart is shown. Sequence from 'Our wonderful tanks' c.1918 showing the development of tank construction during the 1st World War. Sequence from 'British tank manouevres' (1932). Brian Bond describes Britains leading role in tank warfare theory. Brian Bond describes Germany's receptivity to British thinking. Photographs of Guderian, Rommell and Manstein are shown. Sequence from 'Heer in Werden' is also shown. Brian Bond describes the German army of the mid 1930s. Sequence from newsreel showing military demonstration of Russia's strength in the 1930s. Brian Bond describes Russian military thought of time. The film shows Russian tanks, machine gun units and parachutists. Brian Bond describes the importance of the Spanish civil War as a testing ground for the new weapons of mobility. Sequence from newsreel showing the bombing of Guernica is shown. Brian Bond shows film of the Maginot Line and describes the French strategy preceding the 2nd World War. The German attack on Poland is described by Brian Bond. A sequence from ' Feuertaufe' is shown. The original commentary of the film is in German. Brian Bond now describes the Western blitzkrieg of In May 1940. A sequence is shown from the German film 'Sieg im Western'; the commentary is spoken in German. Brian Bond introduces sequences from 'The story of Stalingrad'; he describes the campaign briefly and isolates Stalingrad as the point at which superior weight-attrition strategy gained the advantage over blitzkrieg. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/70993 |
| Production number: | 00521_3308 |
| Videofinder number: | 2572 |
| Available to public: | no |
