Fate of Hungarian Jews PRIVATE HOLOCAUST FOOTAGE + GERMAN NEWSREEL ATW 690 10.1944

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Episode 268

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Ausland-Tonwoche
Nr. 690 - October, 1944

01:13 - Arrow Cross fascist party takes power in Hungary
01:49 - Germany: Armaments industry
02:25 - General Vlasov of the ROA meets with General Model
05:13 - Inspection of Bulgarian (not Romanian) soldiers
06:17 - Combat around Goldap, Nemmersdorf and Gumbinnen
07:34 - France: Combat around Luneville
09:38 - Formation of Volkssturm units
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13:45 - BONUS: Historically important private footage showing Jews in forced labor battalion

The Arrow Cross Party, a far-right nationalist party in Hungary, took power on October 15, 1944. They established a government that aligned with Nazi Germany during World War II, and their rule was marked by severe repression, including the persecution and deportation of Jews and other minority groups.

In 1944, Germany's war production faced significant challenges and changes. In spite of the pressure caused by the intense Allied bombing campaign, Germany managed to increase war production through the introduction of a Total War Economy. For instance, the production of tanks increased to about 1,500 per month, and aircraft production also reached high levels at over 30,000 planes produced that year.

Andrei Vlasov, was the Soviet General responsible for organizing the defense of Moscow in the Winter of 1941/42. However, after being captured by German forces in 1942 during the Battle of Kharkov, he became disillusioned with the Soviet regime and sought to oppose Joseph Stalin's government. He would be appointed to lead the Russian Liberation Army (ROA), composed mainly of Soviet prisoners of war and anti-communist Russians. Its members fought alongside Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union, believing they were fighting for a free Russia. The ROA was involved in several battles on the Eastern Front.

Vlasov’s forces faced significant challenges, as they were often viewed with suspicion by both the Germans and the Allied forces. After the war, as the Soviets reasserted control over Eastern Europe, members of the ROA faced dire consequences. Many were captured, and Vlasov himself was tried for treason and executed by the Soviet authorities in 1946.

General Model worked as the liaison between the German Wehrmacht and the ROA. Here he is seen reviewing soldiers of the the formation with each wearing a different shoulder badge representing volunteers from different Russian geographical regions.

The relationship between the German military command and the ROA was complex. While the Germans used the ROA for little more than their own propaganda purposes the Russian involved hoped to leverage German support for their anti-Soviet objectives which would eventually lead to the forming of a new independent Russian state. Had the German’s been victorious the creation of such a state would have been allowed.

On September 5, 1944, the Soviet Union declared war on Bulgaria and launched a military invasion shortly thereafter. This invasion was part of a broader Soviet campaign to gain control over the Balkans.

Faced with the Soviet advance and internal pressure, the Bulgarian government capitulated quickly. On September 9, 1944, a coup d'état took place, leading to a change in power. The new government, backed by the Communist Party, looked to negotiate a peace agreement with the Soviet Union and align itself with the Allies. This newsreel being released after these event means that this segment’s content is purely propaganda fiction.

The Volkssturm was officially created on October 18, 1944, by Adolf Hitler in response to the pressing military crises faced by Germany, particularly as the nation was losing ground to advancing Allied forces on both the Western and Eastern fronts.

These units were made up of men aged 16 to 60 regardless of whether they had any prior military experience. The units were organized at the local level, under the leadership of local Party leaders and Nazi officials. In addition to lacking basic training the Volkssturm men often lacked proper equipment with many relying on whatever weapons could be found, such as outdated rifles and civilian arms.

The Volkssturm was supposed to support the regular Wehrmacht and protect German territory from the advancing enemy armies. The morale among the these troops was understandably generally low, as many were conscripted most were aware of the impending defeat.

The Volkssturm units suffered heavy casualties during battles, particularly during the Soviet advances into Germany and the final battles in the West as Allied forces moved into the Reich.