KOLBERG

______Things weren't going well for Germany by 1942. The Western Allies were gathering their strength for a return to the continent while the Soviets were stubborningly holding on in the East. You would have thought that Hitler would have devoted his time and energy to providing new war materials for his beleaguered armies or, more realistically, negotiating a way out of the war. Instead he decided to make a movie.
______Kolberg was to be the most inspirational film yet produced by Goebbels Propaganda Ministry. It was based on the rousing story of the 1807 siege of Kolberg by Napoleon's army. The Prussians held on for over two months against the greatest war machine of its time.
______In order to make his epic Goebbels spent 8.5 million marks, diverted war industry to produce 10,000 costumes and mounds of blank ammunition... at a time when the Reich's factories were having problems keeping up with the demands for uniforms and real ammunition. 100 railroad cars of salt were even acquired to simulate snow scenes for the film.
______Worse, in order to create the image of tens of thousands of French and Prussian soldiers who took part in the battle the German Army had to divert tens of thousands of soldiers from various fronts to be extras. 180,000 badly-needed soldiers were used in the film at one time or another, although the total number at any given time never exceeded 50,000.
______Produced in color, Kolberg took two years to make. Extraordinary attempts were made to make the film look realistic: even the actual crown and orb of the Holy Roman Emperor was taken from its vault so they could be used as movie props. The scenes were done extremely well (except for a couple of radio masts that can be seen in the background of 1813 Kolberg).
______Why put so much effort into a movie? For its inspirational value, of course! The movie was meant to encourage Germans to stand and fight in the face of hopelessness, which indeed happened (to a degree) as the Allies entered Germany. Fanatic Hitler Youth and veterans alike were drafted into volksstturm formations to fight the final battle for Germany. Unlike the real Kolberg and the Prussians who stood up to Napoleon, however, the cause of the Nazis was doomed.
______Kolberg was the last movie Goebbels watched before committing suicide.

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