The following is a list of German National Socialist propaganda films. Before and during the Second World War, the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under Joseph Goebbels produced several propaganda films designed for the general public. Production of films made to serve a propaganda purpose was not limited to the Axis powers, but was produced by both sides, such as the Allies' production of propaganda films.
The list of films may contain films concerning several different subjects or genres, but who all functioned as propaganda films of the Third Reich.
Legend Release date: The date of the film's release (or premiere) Original title: The film's original German title English title: English language title (titles in italic marks official English title) Running time: Length of the film as released Type: Genre and function Producer: The producer(s) of the film Director: The director(s) of the film Cast: Leading actors and actresses Notes: Additional comments and notes, such as propaganda use and post-war history.
Before the War (1933–1939)
Releasedate Original title English title Running time Type Producer Director Cast Notes 1927 Eine Symphonie des Kampfwillens A Symphony of the Will to Fight 30 min (ca.) Documentary silent film NSDAP Julius Lippert Adolf HitlerNSDAP membersNuremberg Rally attendants First documentary of a Nuremberg Rally. 1929 Der Nürnberger Parteitag der NSDAP The Nuremberg Convention of the NSDAP 90 min (ca.) Documentary silent film NSDAP Baldur von Schirach NSDAP membersNuremberg Rally attendantsFranz Ritter von Epp Documents the 4th party convention of the NSDAP, which occurred at Nuremberg 2 August 1929 June 14, 1933 S.A.-Mann Brand Storm Trooper Brand 94 min Motion picture Franz Seitz Franz Seitz Heinz KlingenbergWera LiessemRolf Wenkhaus September 19, 1933 Hitlerjunge Quex: Ein Film vom Opfergeist der deutschen Jugend Hitler Youth QuexOur Flag Leads Us Forward (US) 95 min Feature film Karl Ritter Hans Steinhoff Jürgen OhlsenHeinrich GeorgeBerta DrewsClaus Clausen Today classified as a in Germany 1 December 1933 Der Sieg des Glaubens The Victory of Faith 64 min Documentary film Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl Adolf HitlerRudolf HessHermann GöringJulius StreicherJoseph GoebbelsErnst Röhm First propaganda film directed by Riefenstahl.Recounts the Fifth Party Rally of the Nazi Party, which occurred in Nuremberg from 30 August to 3 September 1933. 8 December 1933 Flüchtlinge "Refugees" 87 min Feature film Gustav Ucicky Hans AlbersKäthe von NagyEugen KlöpferAndrews Engelmann 13 December 1933 Hans Westmar. Einer von vielen. Ein deutsches Schicksal aus dem Jahre 1929 "Hans Westmar. One of many. A German Fate from the Year 1929" 132 min Feature film Robert Ernst Franz Wenzler Emil LohkampPaul Wegener 28 December 1934 Um das Menschenrecht. Ein Filmwerk aus der Freikorpszeit "About human rights" Motion picture Hans Zöberlein (executive) Hans ZöberleinLudwig Schmid-Wildy Hans SchlenckKurt HolmErnst MartensBeppo Brem Released as Sturmtage 1919 in Austria 24 January 1935 Nur nicht weich werden, Susanne! Eine Groteske aus vergangener Zeit Don't Lose Heart, Suzanne! Drama film Arzén von Cserépy Jessie VihrogVeit HarlanWilli SchurHilde Krüger, etc. 29 January 1935 Der alte und der junge König The Old and the Young King 100 min Historical film Deka-Film GmbH Hans Steinhoff Emil JanningsLeopoldine Konstantin 28 March 1935 Triumph des Willens Triumph of the Will 114 min Documentary film Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl Adolf HitlerHeinrich HimmlerViktor Lutzeother NSDAP leaders Riefenstahl won several awards, not only in Germany but also in the United States, France, Sweden and other countries 26 April 1935 Das Mädchen Johanna Joan of Arc 87 min Historical film Bruno Duday Gustav Ucicky Angela SallokerGustaf GründgensHeinrich George First female personification of the Führer 19 November 1935 Friesennot Frisions in Distress 97 min Motion picture Alfred BittinsDr. ScheunemannHermann Schmidt Peter Hagen Friedrich KayßlerHelene FehdmerValéry Inkijinoff Reissued as Dorf im roten Sturm in Germany 30 December 1935 Der höhere Befehl The Higher Command 93 min Historical film Bruno Duday Gerhard Lamprecht Lil DagoverKarl Ludwig DiehlHeli FinkenzellerFriedrich Kayßler Highlights German-British historical relations in an attempt to ensure an alliance with Great Britain. 30 December 1935 Tag der Freiheit: Unsere Wehrmacht Day of Freedom: Our Armed Forces 28 min Documentary film Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl Adolf HitlerHermann GöringRudolf HessHeinrich Himmler Recounts the Seventh Party Rally of the Nazi Party, which occurred in Nuremberg on 10–16 September 1935. 1935 Das Erbe The Inheritance 12 min Short film Harold Mayer Carl Hartmann 16 June 1936 Traumulus The Dreamer 100 min Drama film Carl Froelich Carl Froelich Emil JanningsHilde WeissnerHarald PaulsenHildegard Barko 16 June 1936 Ewiger Wald Enchanted Forest 75 min Documentary film Hanns SpringerRolf von Sonjevski-Jamrowski Albert Graf von Pestalozza Günther HadankHeinz HerkommerPaul Klinger 9 September 1936 Verräter The Traitor 92 min War drama film Hans Ritter Karl Ritter Lída BaarováWilly BirgelIrene von Meyendorff 1936 Erbkrank The Hereditary Defective 25 min Documentary short film Herbert Gerdes 5 January 1937 Panzerkreuzer Sebastopol: "Weisse Sklaven" Battleship Sevastopol: "White Slaves" 111 min War drama film Karl Anton Theodor LoosGabriele HoffmannCamilla HornKarl John Rereleased as Rote Bestien (Red Beasts) 17 March 1937 Der Herrscher The Master 103 min Drama film Veit Harlan Emil JanningsPaul WagnerHannes Stelzer Propagandistic demonstration of the Führerprinzip of Nazi Germany.Erwin Leiser, Nazi Cinema p. 49 1937 Alles Leben ist Kampf All Life is Struggle 27 min Documentary short film Herbert GerdesW. Hüttig 1937 Opfer der Vergangenheit: Die Sünde wider Blut und Rasse Victims of the Past: The Sin against Blood and Race 25 min Documentary short film Gernot Bock-StieberKurt Botner Kurt MühlhardtTrude HaefelinMax Lohmann 1937 Festliches Nürnberg Festive Nuremberg 21 min Documentary short film Adolf HitlerHermann Göringother NSDAP leaders 11 January 1938 Urlaub auf Ehrenwort Leave on Word of Honour 87 min War drama film Karl Ritter Karl Ritter Rolf MoebiusFritz KampersRene DeltgenOtto Graf 28 March 1938 Wort und Tat Words and Deeds 10 min Documentary short film Fritz HipplerOttoheinz JahnGustav UcickyEugen York Joseph GoebbelsAdolf HitlerBenito Mussolini 20 April 1938 Olympia Olympia 226 min Documentary film Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl Documenting the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. 22 December 1938 Pour le Mérite Pour le Mérite 121 min War film Karl Ritter Paul HartmannHerbert A.E. BöhmeAlbert Hehn 8 March 1939 Aufruhr in Damaskus Uproar in Damascus 103 min Thriller film Otto Lehmann Gustav Ucicky Brigitte HorneyJoachim GottschalkHans NielsenErnst von Klipstein 7 July 1939 Robert und Bertram Robert and Bertram 86 min Musical comedy film Helmut Schreiber Hans Heinz Zerlett Rudi GoddenKurt SeifertCarla RustFritz Kampers 10 August 1939 Der Westwall "The Westwall" 46 min Documentary film Fritz Hippler 5 September 1939 Kadetten Cadets 94 min Historical war film Karl Ritter Karl Ritter Mathias WiemanCarsta LöckAndrews EngelmannTheo Shall General release was 2 December 1941 due to its anti-Russian theme following the Nazi-Soviet Pact.
Wartime films (1939–1945)