Why We Fight: The Nazis Strike

The second installment in Frank Capra's iconic "Why We Fight" series, "The Nazis Strike" (1943), offers a scathing portrayal of the rise of Nazi Germany in the years leading up to World War II. This propaganda film series, which ran throughout the war, aimed to educate Americans about the motivations behind the conflict and the dangers posed by the Axis powers. With expert storytelling and meticulous research, Capra's team sets out to explain the origins of Germany's aggressive ambitions, and how the Nazis became the embodiment of a nation once again driven by a desire for power and domination. The film begins in 1863, with the introduction of Otto von Bismarck, the brilliant and cunning German statesman. Bismarck's ambition was to create a unified German state, a dream that had haunted the nation for centuries. He skillfully manipulated the complex web of alliances and rivalries between European powers, using a combination of military might and diplomatic guile to expand Germany's influence across the continent. As the viewer is taken on a journey through the tumultuous decades that followed, Capra's team highlights the key events and figures that shaped Germany's destiny. We see the unification of Germany in 1871, the devastating defeat in World War I, and the subsequent rise of the Nazi Party under the charismatic leadership of Adolf Hitler. One of the most striking aspects of "The Nazis Strike" is its thoughtful and nuanced analysis of the underlying causes of Germany's slide into chaos and aggression. Rather than relying on simplistic stereotypes or emotional appeals, the film presents a clear-eyed assessment of the complex historical forces at play. Capra and his team expertly weave together archival footage, interviews with ordinary Germans, and dramatic reenactments to create a vivid and engaging narrative that brings the past to life. Throughout the film, the viewer is repeatedly reminded of the devastating consequences of Nazi aggression. The atrocities committed against Jews, Poles, and other minority groups, the brutal suppression of dissent, and the horrific spectacle of Nazi atrocities on the battlefield all serve as stark reminders of the evil that the United States and its allies are battling to defeat. As the film draws to a close, Capra's team turns to the modern era and the emergence of the Nazi regime. The camera pans across the imposing architecture of Berlin, takes in the frenetic energy of the streets, and introduces us to some of the key figures within the Nazi hierarchy. We see Goebbels and Göring, Goering as a military air chief, their faces twisted into snarls of hatred and contempt as they plot their next move. In its portrayal of the Nazi leadership, the film is both revealing and unsettling. The propaganda experts in the audience may feel a sense of unease as they watch the footage of Nazi rallies and the relentless propaganda campaigns that demonized their perceived enemies. The stark images of anti-Semitic and anti-communist propaganda leave many a chilling impression. The viewer can almost hear the echoes of the same kind of fear-mongering and xenophobia that drove Americans to join Capra's efforts of the Why We Fight series and their eventual march into battle. Capra's film is less concerned with demonizing the individual figures within the Nazi leadership and more with highlighting the underlying ideologies that drove Germany's aggression. He argues that the Nazi regime's ideology of racial supremacy, militarism, and aggressive nationalism is precisely the sort of mindless, expansionist thinking that has destroyed so many civilizations in the past. Ultimately, "The Nazis Strike" is a call to arms, a warning to the American public about the dangers of unchecked power and the imperative of standing up against tyranny. The film reminds us that, just as in the past, a strong and united America can still make a difference in the world.