Front Illustrierte

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL and get access to exclusive film footage www.Patreon.com/Military1945 This outstanding Soviet footage is from the Winter of 1941-42 during the German retreat from the gates of Moscow. It fits in nicely with this original Soviet propaganda leaflet from January of 42 from the series Front-Illustrierte. As I talk about the content of this leaflet I’ll mix in further film footage. In a later video I’ll create a binding from scratch for this valuable leaflet and begin to explain the market of such original WW2 printed materials. If this sounds interesting, go ahead and subscribe to the channel. This film produced in early 1942 was made for export to Russia’s English speaking allies. The front page of the leaflet explains the defeats suffered by the German army during the Russian counter attack of late 1941. The caricature of Hitler portrays him as Napoleon, whose army was defeat by the Russians in the Winter of 1812. Sunday, December 21. The new Commander in Chief takes office: In honor of this event Russian troops reconquer a number of localities, including Budogostsch and Krapiwna. On December 23 the German army continued its retreat. They moved out of a number of localities including the large rail hub at Gorbatschewo and the cities of Tscherepet and Odojew. On the 26th, the surging Russian armies forced the Germans to retreat from Naro-Fominsk and Bjelew. The caption claims to show Germans retreating in the fields os snow. On the 27th the cities of Lichwin, Wyssokinitschi, Nowossil and Tim were retaken by the Russians. The caption by the photograph states that vehicles and tanks were abandoned by the Germans when they retreated out of Nowossil. On the 30, it states that Russian troops occupied Kertsch out on the Crimean Peninsula. The photo shows a German plane exploding in the air. On January 1 and 2, it states that the Russian armies have managed to continue their advance taking the cities of Stariza, Peremyschl and Malojaroslawez. Then it claims that the former Commander in chief of the German Wehrmacht Von Brauchitsch had informed Hitler that victory can not be achieved in the East. Fighting an enemy that has limitless supplies of men and material, with the vastness of territory, time is against us. Eventual defeat is certain. These propaganda leaflets were printed on one sheet of paper that would then be folded in half giving it four pages which simplified their production and distribution. If you are a Patreon Member then you receive regular access to exclusive footage from material that I use in the production of these videos. Much of the footage, especially that produced by the Soviets, cannot be shown here because of its graphic nature. If you are not yet a member I suggest that you consider becoming one. It’s worth it, I promise. In addition I’m building out the website www.Military1945.com. You can gain access now to situational maps from Barbarosa from 1941 by opening a free account. In a few days I’ll be uploading a new video which covers the last pages of this leaflet. I’ll leave you with another interesting clip from a Russian propaganda film

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL and get access to exclusive film footage www.Patreon.com/Military1945 This is the second video covering the Soviet propaganda leaflet Front-Illustrierte Nr. 2 from January 1942 and associated stock film footage. If you haven’t seen part 1 I suggest you go back and watch it. In the Winter of 1941/42 Germany’s push to take Moscow under the code name Operation Typhoon had failed. With the Soviet counter attack under way their propagandists were claiming that the entire front had collapsed. Focused on the misery being experienced by the individual German soldier their intention was to convince them to surrender. The accompanying music is Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture which was meant to commemorate the successful Russian defense against Napoleon's invading Grande Armée in 1812 which I find appropriate. The remainder of a German infantry regiment that was defeated near Moscow. The freezing and starving soldiers were trying to stay warm by the fire when they were captured. The German army’s way of retreat to the West of Klin German Soldiers Save you lives! End this meaningless war. Either go home or surrender! The caption reads Here it reads A group of German soldiers that surrendered near Kiln. For these soldiers this senseless war is over and their lives have been saved. The German troops haphazardly retreated leaving bags full of iron crosses behind. The Führer had intended these medals to be presented to the conquerers of Moscow. Instead of iron crosses the German soldiers received birch crosses on top of their graves. This caption states that the soldier died swearing at Hitler’s bloody adventurism. The photograph used has been altered by the artist Aleksandr Zhitomirsky. Looking closely at the helmet, the hole seems unnatural extending to remove the top of the head of the eagle that has also obviously been painted in. This foreshadowing suggests to the reader of what is to come if they don’t act. This photo was supposedly found on the Eastern Front in a German fox hole that was destroyed by the Red Army. The farewell message has obviously been added in post production. Not only does it look fake but the message completely lacks subtlety. With the relative newness of these propaganda techniques I assume the artist thought that the reader would believe anything that they see with their own eyes. Looking back at this photograph we can see the the dead soldiers in the foreground have also been added. Sometimes figures would be painted in direction or brought in from other photographs. Looking at the 50 or so original leaflets from Zhitomirsky’s private collection I see that many of the same figures are used in different propaganda leaflets. Finally looking at the last page of this leaflet the propaganda message is meant to come together for the reader. The personal photographs of a solder that has been killed at the front are used in this propaganda technique. At the top we see the soldier happily with his child on a summer day. Next we see his dead body covered with snow, somewhere along the Eastern Front in Russia. Then is widowed wife left to take care of the children back in Germany. A strategically important city that’s been mentioned a few times today is Klin which also happens to be the where Tchaikovsky was from. We’ll end this video with footage that shows the condition his house was found in after the Soviets had retaken the city.