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Description
This programme, like the rest related to the "War and Society" course, sets out to examine the film evidence for one aspect of warfare in the twentieth century. Because filming from aircr...aft, flying at a great height is difficult enough under any conditions, and many of the bombing raids over Germany took place at night, the film is confusing and comparatively rare. Nonetheless the presenter of this programme, Dr. Noble Frankland, Director of the Imperial War Museum, has written a number of books on the subject, including the relevant volume of the British Official History of the Second World War, and is uniquely qualified for the task of analysing the film documents.The programme deals with a newsreel item of a British night raids concentrating on the saturation bombing of Mannheim-Ludwigshaven. Dr. Frankland throws doubt on many of the statements made in the commentary, and shows with the aid of the film that they cannot be true. Then he introduces film documents relating relating to the damage sustained by bombed German cities and German measures for defence against bombers. then he considers bombing theories other than the night saturation one most favoured by the British High Command - the punishing daylight bombing favoured by the Americans and the pinpoint raids, which demanded dangerous low level flying. The fianl group of excerpts deal with the closing years of the war, when bombing was taking its toll of Germany. There is film of the massive retribution raids on Berlin and Dresden which became possible once command of the skies was established for the Allies. Dr. Frankland concludes with some speculation on the value of the bomber offensive to the allied cause, but a final answer on such a matter, if one van ever be found, certainly cannot be gained from film alone. What is obvious is the resilience of the German people under the massive destruction shown in the final clips of the programme.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: A301, War and society
Item code: A301; 10
First transmission date: 13-06-1973
Published: 1973
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:23:21
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Producer: Edward Hayward
Contributor: Noble Frankland
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Berlin; Dresden; Hamburg; Mannheim Ludwigshaven; Newsfilm; Night bombing; Precision bombing; Saturation bombing; Schweinfurt; Spitfire aircraft
Footage description: Noble Frankland outlines the strategy behind and explains the meaning of strategic air bombing. Newsreel item 'Blasting the Reich' is shown. The target is Mannheim/Ludwigshafen film of the attack is shown; Noble Frankland comments on the veracity, or lack of it, of the contemporary commentary. German film of the Hamburg air raids of summer 1943. Fire storms and aftermath in terms of damage to property and life are shown. Noble Frankland adds his commentary. German film of air defences, anti-aircraft and night fighters. Control centres are shown and crashed Allied aircraft. German commentary; Noble Frankland over. Noble Frankland describes American bombing tactics at the beginning of their campaign against Germany. The Schweinfurt raid is described. Sequence from newsreel 'Flying forts battle over Nazi Germany'. Noble Frankland comments on the attack on Schweinfurt again; film of the returned crews is shown. German film of Nazi air defences, fighters principally in action against American bombers. German commentary. Noble Frankland accounts for the switch in Bomber Command tactics in spring 1944. Newsreel sequence 'Our night bomber force was out' is shown. The sequence contains shots of low level precision bombing on French strategic targets. Sequence from newsreel 'Filling ten ton Tess' is shown as an example of the precision bombing possible towards the end of the war. Noble Frankland comments. Film of Spitfires in combat with FW's. Noble Frankland comments over the film. Film of Americans bombing Berlin. Noble Frankland outlines revised bombing strategy at the end of the war, over film of the Berlin raids in January, 1945. Newsreel item 'Elimination of Dresden' is shown. Noble Frankland adds his comments to the film. Noble Frankland shows film shot after the war showing the extent of bombing damage to targets in Germany. Shown are: 1. Thyssen steel plant 2. Duisburg 3. Krupps munitions plant 4. Hannover.
Master spool number: 6LT/70768
Production number: 00522_3310
Videofinder number: 2576
Available to public: no