The filmed war (italian translated newsreels)

[Panzerknacker]

I am translating a bunch of Luce films, some of them very interesting beside the propagandistic tone.This is quite unique:http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=860_1344868217

[Panzerknacker]

Assault engineers at el Alamein, september 1942. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=24f_1344706098

[leccy]

Assault engineers at el Alamein, september 1942. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=24f_1344706098

First time I have seen how they operated the Brixma Model 35 mortar/grenade thrower, quite rapid fire as well.

Even in a propaganda film they could have given the blokes weapons to carry though, in most shots the majority had no weapon.

[Nickdfresh]

First time I have seen how they operated the Brixma Model 35 mortar/grenade thrower, quite rapid fire as well.

Even in a propaganda film they could have given the blokes weapons to carry though, in most shots the majority had no weapon.

Maybe they'd shoot the camera crew?

[leccy]

Maybe they'd shoot the camera crew?

Nah when we did training films we all carried weapons (we tried to find some mug to fire our rounds though so we would not have to clean our gats), still posed for the camera's though

[Frankly Dude Really]

Maybe they'd shoot the camera crew?

Amazing film!
At first I thought it was an enacted film or a training (camera at pretty high elevation, stable no shocks (on tripod)), but then you get to see the first 2 italian victims (and these were not enacted!..still despite close by explosions, camera keeps rolling*)..the attack with the 2 flamethrowers seemed like training (aiming above the ground and not IN the supposed british MG pit) and the advancing two men walk pretty visible above ground, whereas they could throw grenades in the pit from that distance, but then you see a british helmet (with "something" but not a skull) flying in the air and the two british (or italian actors?) laying on the ground with already their tommy helmets covering their faces (and NO breathing and sand washed against their legs = been there a while or sand/ash from artillery shell explosion) .
I have seen nazi propaganda films and british newsreel films in wartime which more clearly showed the reenactment (especially that it doesNOT show your own men "falling" by enemy fire).
If this is reenactment then their quality is 10x better than anything seen before; hence I say real-"ish".

* you would think that Robert Capa is the only or first one to be brave enough to film in the heat of battle, but who or what is to say that no other did the same (but did not last that long and/or his film is not of independent reporter newspaper).
Maybe this filmer was a "noob" from the italian propaganda film academy and thought he can shoot film this way...only to learn soon, that that is not too bright **?
It takes only one or two occasions to learn...but the film IS shot and kept...so you can't discard it as being fully set-up/staged immediately.

** most of veterans underline that most of the time they see no fighting action at-all !! A big fight may occur only 2 miles west of you and get described in history books, but you didnot get anything of it.
So , likewise, the camera man joining the engineers troop (in a small tentative patrol attack on a single MG..therefore no deep incursion, therefore no full gear on their backs) may be in an area without further bullets whizzing through the air than that of the single british MG pit. WHich may have been suppressed by italian fire from elsewhere and manned by not Island Britons or Free French but men from India ?

[Panzerknacker]

Loading and firing the monster 15 inch triple turrets in the battleship "Littorio"

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a9f_1...927&comments=1

Notice the gauge of that conning tower doors.... ...that was a real steel time.

[Panzerknacker]

The assault engineers usually didnt carry rifles but pistols and explosive charges, some of them use flamethrowers and that could be seen on video.

[leccy]

The assault engineers usually didnt carry rifles but pistols and explosive charges, some of them use flamethrowers and that could be seen on video.

Seems odd to not carry long arms or rapid fire weapons when you are doing an assault or trench raid, even if it is just simulating an attack on a MG position. It looked around 1 in 5 carried a rifle and hardly any had any web kit or packs for anything. Having done assaults as a Sapper they seem very very lightly armed and equipped.

It was obviously a staged propaganda film because of the camera positions, so maybe they just had what was required to stage the show.

[Panzerknacker]

The costly capture of Bir hacheim, following the Ariete armored Division in may-june 1942.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bb3_1345657170

[Nickdfresh]

Interesting footage, especially showing how the Italians made use of giant wooden carts, or wagons, to ferry tanks to the battlefield...

[Panzerknacker]

Probably easier to ferry thna german tanks given its relative light weight. Not such a strong wagon was needed.

[leccy]

I was reading that around 150 of those trailers with their attendant tractor units could pretty much move a whole Italian Armoured Div in one lift.

Interesting battle against the (mostly) Free French.

[Panzerknacker]

Yeap, notice the large quantity of sudanese and indian troops also captured. Brand new Flak train given by Hitler to Mussolini. July 1940. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d25_1346775747

[leccy]

Light Flak carriages designed to accompany Hitlers and other senior Nazi's trains to provide air defence, these are the two carriages given to Mussolini on 22nd July.