The Battle of Russia as a People's War, 1941-1943
The Battle of Russia is the fifth of seven documentaries from the Why We Fight series directed by Frank Capra. Released between 1942 and 1945, these films were shown to American military personnel for instructional purposes; they also served as American propaganda during World War II. This film portrays the epic struggle between Germany and Russia on the Eastern front. Topics covered include past (failed) invasions of Russia (the Teutonic Knights, Sweden, France), the natural resources of Russia (timber, oil, farmland), the peoples of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.), the scorched earth policy, Red Army methods of fighting, the siege of Leningrad, and the battle of Stalingrad. Two themes are developed in this episode: the battle of Russia as a people's war and the myth of the German army's invincibility. This film does a good job of portraying this titanic struggle between Germany and Russia but makes no mention of the brutalities of Joseph Stalin. Still, this is a good introduction to combat on the Eastern Front in World War II.