War in Ukraine 1944 historical snapshot from primary sources inc. newsreel, newspaper & private film

Episode 139
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This 1944 Ukraine combat footage is from the German newsreel series Auslands-Tonwoche reel 644, which was produced for foreign consumption. We’ll look at the content makeup from the reel and see an original newspaper article from that theater of war. I’m also excited to finally introduce a new platform where supporters can invest in the originals that we cover on this channel.

This is a gorgeous complete 1944 collection of the weekly newspaper Illustrierte Beobachter which is well known for it’s high quality photography. It’s currently stapled to a flimsy cardboard cover which makes accessing the collection without damaging it difficult. I’ll soon create a video showing how I give it a new binding.

We are looking at Nr. 3 from January of 1944. The photo on the front page is of a gunner, possibly of an 88 flak, and the caption reads “Enemy tanks approach. The target is in view and after a few minor adjustments the gun is fired.

Here is the main photo portage of the newspaper which is titled “Rollbahn-Sicherung im Raum von Schitomir”. Schitomir is a Ukrainian city that sits 140 km to the East of Kiew. During the war it was an important headquarters for the SS in the East and a major transportation hub.

The caption for the first photograph reads:
The tank destroyer receives a warm welcome as it takes its ordered position to the side of the supply road.

The officer in charge positions the heavy and light tank destroyers and then designates the individual fields of fire.

The soldiers sleep in tents. Years of practice has made the setting up of the tents second nature.

So let’s now turn back to the Ausland Tonwoche newsreel Nr 644 from 1944 and take a look at its content.

By this stage of the war much of the newsreel content focused on recreational activities meant to distract the viewers from the hardships that most were enduring. Until the invasion in Normandy, France, far from the most active combat zones was considered heaven on earth. Here we see modern dance at a Paris Cabaret, probably the Moulin Rouge… and here are the more traditional Can Can dancers that were certainly known to all.

After showing scenes from a field hockey game and a segment on coal mining, the focus transitions to Rome where important works of art are being collected and put in storage for protection. A common recurring theme was the occupiers portraying themselves as protectors of the local populations and their cultures.

This newsreel has a runtime of 13:39 Min and my Patreon Channel members now have access to this exclusive footage. Patreon supporters make the purchase of the original content for the development of these videos possible. You can see an example of exclusive footage on the website Military1945.com where you can open a free account. Come and see.

The next segment of the newsreel jumps to Croatia and shows a mass demonstration in favor of the governments alliance with Germany.

In many of the Ausland Tonwoche Series the language of the target nation is used but in some, like this one, there is no commentary. When there is a speaker more segments are focused on national topics but here it jumps around quite a lot. it really could have been shown anywhere without problem.

If you like this kind of content produced with multiple primary historical sources please hit the like button and subscribe to the channel. No-one does this better. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

Getting back to our Illustrierte Beobachter photo portage from January of 1944, the caption to this photo is

Someone stands guard
As usual, it is expected that the Soviets will show up at night to bomb the position. Because of this protective foxholes must be quickly prepared.

The ordered positions are taken. The the tank destroyers are camouflaged in order to avoid being spotted from the air.

Taking shelter from the wind behind the prime mover, a hole to cook in is prepared and an army soup ration is warmed up for dinner.

The sentries are protected from the wind and cold by their warm Winter clothing.
They are on the look out for Soviet tanks which have been reported in the area.

Back to the newsreel, we see Polish POWs being interviewed by a delegation of the red cross to check on their condition. The prisoners shown here seem to be healthy and happy, even allowed to wear their original uniforms. Some are even smoking cigarettes. In a later sequence the Polish POWs can be seen with Catholic priest allowed to worship. These comfortable conditions were often staged, the most infamous of which at Theresenstadt which was in occupied Czechoslovakia.

The next sequence shows the loading of the massive Me 323 Gigant transport which was considered a kind of technical wonder. On the other hand it was slow, lightly armed and its outer shell was made of canvas which made them easy targets for enemy fighters.