Hundreds of short films, featurettes and feature films were produced during World War II. Some of the better and/or more memorable items are listed here. Be advised that wartime vitriol comes through loudly in these movies, so if you are easily offended you might want to chose wisely. |
File | Title | Year | Time | Synopsis | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battle-for-Marianas.avi | Action At Angaur | 1945 | The taking of Angaur by the "Wildcats" 81st Marine Regiment. (Following "Battle for the Marianas.) | ||
Ah-bio.wmv | Adolf Hitler | 1944 |
01:19:00 |
Biography of der Führer | |
After-Mein-Kampf.wmv | After Mein Kampf | 1940 |
53:06 |
British production covering Adolf Hitler's rise to power. | |
Chapter Menu | The Air Force Story | 1945 |
42:44 |
Air Force history prior to WWII. | |
All-Out-for-Victory.mpg | All Out for Victory! | 1943 |
20:42 |
Contributions of handicapped and disabled workers to World War II industrial production. | |
Appt-Tokyo.avi | Appointment in Tokyo | 1945 |
54:23 | Highlighting key events in the Pacific War. | |
Army-Nurse.mpg | The Army Nurse | 1945 |
16:08 |
Shows the daily life and work of the Army nurse, including training and off-duty activities. | |
As-the-twig-is-bent.mpg | As the Twig is Bent | 1945 |
10:49 |
On the problem of youth crime during World War II and the fear that the US was loosing a generation to delinquency. | |
Attack-in-the-Pacific.wmv | Attack in the Pacific | 1944 |
51:58 |
After an intro to some of the peoples of the Pacific, the video covers the Pacific phase of the war. | |
Battle-for-New-Britain.avi | Attack! The Battle for New Britain | 1944 |
58:29 | Covers the attack on Arawe Beach and Cape Gloucester, New Britain. | |
Battle-for-Marianas.avi | Battle for the Marianas | 1944 |
19:49 |
Attack on Tinian, Saipan, etc. (Action At Angaur follows at 20:00.) | |
Battle-of-Midway.avi | The Battle of Midway | 1942 |
18:08 |
Director/cameraman John Ford's coverage of the fighting on the Midway atoll. | |
San-Pietro.avi | Battle of San Pietro | 1945 |
37:47 |
Primarily combat-footage of the battle on the Italian mainland. | |
Brazil-at-War.mpg | Brazil at War | 1945 |
9:41 |
Documents Brazil's contribution to the Allied war effort. | |
Campaign-in-Poland.avi | Campaign in Poland | 1940 |
33:21 |
"Felzug in Polen", German newsreel footage of the invasion of Poland. | |
Campus-on-the-March.mpg | Campus on the March | 1942 |
18:29 |
US colleges and universities retool to assist war effort. | |
Challenge-to-Democracy.mpg | Challenge to Democracy | 1944 |
18:03 |
US-produced film attempting to defend the internment of Japanese Americans. | |
Children-of-Japan.mpg | The Children of Japan | 1941 |
10:41 |
Made prior to December 7th, this film shows the daily life of a middle-class Japanese family. | |
Close-Harmony.mpg | Close Harmony | 1942 |
11:03 |
Discussion on the need for unity between labor and management as the US mobilizes for World War II> | |
Coast-Guard-SPARS.mpg | Coast Guard S.P.A.R.S. | 1943 |
5:43 |
Women in the wartime US Coast Guard. | |
Combat-America.avi | Combat America | 1944 |
1:01:44 |
Follows the 351st Bombardment Group. | Clark Gable narrates. |
Insomnia.mpg | Combat Fatigue: Insomnia. | 1945 |
19:31 |
A Navy recruit must learn to deal with his insomnia (PTSD). | Dick York stars. |
Conquer-by-the-Clock.mpg | Conquer by the Clock | 1943 |
10:40 |
Encourages American worker to make the best possible use of their time in a war where industrial production and combat are synchronized on an international level. | |
DDay-Convoy.avi | D-Day + Convoy to Normandy | 1954 |
27:54 |
"The Big Picture": Preparation for, and land on the beaches at Normandy. | |
D-Day-Minus-1.mpg | D-Day minus 1 | 1945 |
16:52 |
Record of the operations of the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in Europe. | |
December-7th.avi | December 7th | 1943 |
33:38 |
Recreation of the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Directing credits to John Ford, with original director uncredited.) | |
December-7-Pearl-Harbor.mpg | December 7th, Pearl Harbor | 1942 |
1:46 |
Theatrical featurette promoting bond sales on the first anniversary of December 7th. | |
Desert-Victory.avi | Desert Victory | 1943 |
1:00:56 |
From the victory at El Alamein to Tripoli. | Academy award. |
DZ-Normandy.avi | Dropzone Normandy | 1945 |
27:54 |
Glider operations on D-Day. | |
Every-Minute-Counts.mpg | Every Minute Counts | 1944 |
10:14 |
Balancing work and family in a time of heightened mobilization. | |
Everybody's-War.mpg | Everybody's War | 1943 |
10:13 |
Folksy story of soldiers from a small town. | Narrated by Henry Fonda. |
Fighting-Lady.avi | The Fighting Lady | 1945 |
1:00:59 |
Story of an "anonymous" carrier (USS Yorktown) in the Pacific war. | |
Fleet-Came-Stay.wmv | The Fleet that came to stay | 1945 |
21:26 |
Footage depicting the operations of U.S. and British naval forces fending off Japanese Kamikaze attacks. | |
Freedom-Comes-High.mpg | Freedom Comes High | 1944 |
12:54 |
A young wife learns that freedom must sometimes be paid for in lives, when her husband's ship is struck | |
Fury-in-the-Pacific.wmv | Fury in the Pacific | 1945 |
18:58 |
A motion picture chronicle of the invasion of Peleliu Island and the join U.S. forces' capturing of Bloody Nose Ridge. | |
Gracias-Amigos.mpg | Gracias, Amigos | 1944 |
16:03 |
How World War II was won through the help of South American republics who furnished raw materials to the Allies. | |
Great-Battle-on-the-Volga.avi | Great Battle on the Volga | 1962 |
1:15:52 |
Filmed by nearly 150 Soviet cameramen, the movie looks at the Eastern Front. | |
Great-Generals-Bradley.avi | Great Generals: Bradley | 1948 |
28:11 |
Short bio. | |
Great-Generals-Eisenhower.avi | Great Generals: Eisenhower | 1953 |
24:00 |
Short bio. | |
Great-Generals-Patton.avi | Great Generals: Patton | 1947 |
27:19 |
Short bio. | |
Henry-Browne-Farmer.mpg | Henry Browne, Farmer | 1942 |
10:40 |
African American farm contributes to US war effort. | |
Here-is-Germany.avi | Here is Germany | 1944 |
49:56 |
Germany's rise to power is illustrated in this documentary that covers Frederich The Great to the containment of the Third Reich. | |
Hollywood-Canteen.mpg | Hollywood Canteen |
5:26 |
Short on the famous USO operation. | ||
Hollywood-V-C.mpg | Hollywood Victory Campaign | 1945 |
19:32 |
A comedy-drama about Hollywood's help in the war effort. | |
House-I-Live-In.mpg | The House I Live In. | 1945 |
10:17 |
Drama about tolerance in wartime America. Stars Frank Sinatra. | |
Its-Everybodys-War.mpg | It's Everybody's War | 1945 |
15:05 |
Plea for increased commitment by Americans to win the war. | |
Japanese-Relocation.mpg | Japanese Relocation | 1943 |
9:28 |
The US government explains its actions. | |
Kamikaze.wmv | Kamikaze | 1945 |
1:40 |
Sympathetic look at the kamikazes. | Directed by Perry Wolff |
KYA-Britain.avi | Know Your Ally: Britain | 1944 |
41:39 |
An introduction to Great Britain and the vital role it played in defeating the Axis powers. | Directed by Frank Capra |
KYE-Japan.avi | Know Your Enemy: Japan | 1944 | 1:02:26 | Gen. George C. Marshall narrates this look at Japan. Indicative of wartime attitudes. | Directed by Frank Capra |
Last-Will-Tom-Smith.mpg | The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith |
10:39 |
Story about an American GI in a Japanese prison. | Narrated by Fred McMurray. | |
Let-There-Be-Light.avi | Let There Be Light | 1946 |
58:00 |
Emotional disturbed veterans being treated at Mason General Hospital | John Huston directs. |
Letter-From-Bataan.mpg | A Letter from Bataan | 1944 |
14:13 |
Soldier pleads to the folks at home to conserve scarce wartime resources. | |
Marines-at-Tarawa.wmv | With the Marines At Tarawa |
39:01 |
Filmed by combat photographers of the 2nd Marine Division. | ||
Memphis-Belle.avi | The Memphis Belle | 1945 |
39:52 |
Covers the first 8th Air Force B-17 to complete a "tour" of combat duty. "It all happened to us, but not on any one flight." | |
Movies-At-War.mpg | Movies at War. | 1945 |
20:07 |
Informational piece on how motion pictures were used in the war effort. | |
Mr-and-Mrs-America.mpg | Mr. and Mrs. America | 1945 |
13:31 |
Mobilizing citizens on the home front in World War II. | |
My-Japan.mpg | My Japan | 1945 |
16:00 |
Complex and disturbing anti-Japanese propaganda film produced to spur the sale of US war bonds. | Explicit violence and extreme racism. |
Concentration-Camps.avi | Nazi Concentration Camps | 1945 |
59:00 |
Presented as evidence at the Nuremberg war crimes trials. Directed by C. Svilov. | (Graphic material) |
Negro-Colleges-in-War-Time.mpg | Negro Colleges in War Time | 1944 |
8:18 |
Education and training of African Americans as part of the US war effort. | |
Nuremberg.avi | The Nuremberg Trials | 1946 |
1:14:59 |
Soviet film on the trials | |
Our-Enemy-the-Japanese.mpg | Our Enemy: The Japanese | 1943 |
19:52 |
Stridently anti-Japanese film that attempts to convey an understanding of Japanese life and philosophy. | Narrated by Joseph C. Grew. |
Payoff-in-the-Pacific.avi | Payoff in the Pacific | 1945 |
1:16:41 |
Covers the Pacific War to the surrender of Japan. | |
Postwar-Germany.wmv | Postwar Germany | 1947 |
46:06 |
Silent (with text frames added in editing) tour of Germany. | "Home movie" type production. |
Radio-at-War.mpg | Radio at War | 1944 |
21:58 |
How radios helped win the war. | Produced by RCA. |
Zero-Recog.mpg | Recognition of the Japanese Zero | 1942 |
19:59 |
Produced for the use of the pilots that shared air space with the legendary fighter. | Ronald Reagan stars. |
Remember-These-Faces.mpg | Remember These Faces | 1945 |
17:18 |
Intense view of American soldiers in combat, produced to sell World War II bonds. | |
Report-From-The-Aleutians.wmv | Report from the Aleutians | 1943 |
44:55 |
"Hey, it's cold up here!" Narration and direction by John Huston. | Oscar nomination. |
Ring-of-Steel.mpg | Ring of Steel | 1941 |
8:39 |
Features home defense forces of the US. | Stars Spencer Tracy. |
Secret-Life-of-Adolf-Hitler.avi | Secret Life of Adolf Hitler | 1945 |
52:42 |
Examination of aspects of Hitler's private life. | |
Soldiers-in-Greasepaint.mpg | Soldiers in Greasepaint | 1945 |
28:59 |
Study of how the entertainment industry supported the war effort at home and overseas. | |
Smashing-the-Reich.wmv | Smashing the Reich | 1961 |
1:22:45 |
Covers the European Theater. | Directed by Perry Wolf |
Solomon-Islands.wmv | Solomon Islands | 1945 |
36:58 |
The struggle to control Guadalcanal. Footage of Adms. Nimitz and Halsey included. | |
Spreading-Holocaust.avi | The Spreading Holocaust | 1944 |
52:50 |
Covers US involvement in the war from Pearl Harbor to the invasion of Italy. | |
Stilwell-Road.wmv | The Stilwell Road | 1945 |
50:58 |
A look at the China-Burma-India Front. | Narrated by Ronald Reagan. |
Strategy-in-the-Pacific.mpg | Strategy in the Pacific | 1944 |
8:58 |
Lowell Thomas helps pitch for workers for the Curtiss-Wright airplane factories in this series of short films. | |
Strictly-G.I.mpg | Strictly-G.I. |
17:01 |
"Photographed report of an Armed Forces Radio Service Program". Good example of a wartime radio program. | ||
Suggestion-Box.mpg | Suggestion Box. | 1945 |
8:55 |
How war plant workers made suggestions that resulted in efficiency and economy. | |
Surrender-in-the-Pacific.wmv | Surrender in the Pacific | 1945 |
18:48 |
Post-war events in the Pacific, including Tojo Hidecki's attempted suicide. | |
Target-for-Tonight.avi | Target for Tonight | 1941 |
48:55 |
Recreation of an RAF bomber mission, with actual military playing the roles. | |
These-People.mpg | These People | 1944 |
15:30 |
Frigidaire plant converts to military production during World War II. | |
This-is-the-Philippines.wmv | This is the Philippines |
30:13 |
Indoctrination film for soldiers heading for duty in the Philippines. | ||
Thunderbolt.avi | Thunderbolt | 1947 |
41:56 |
P-47 Thunderbolts of the 65th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group. | Directed by William Wyler and John Sturgis. |
Shores-Iwo-Jima.avi | To the Shores of Iwo Jima | 1945 |
44:35 |
The battle to take Iwo Jima. | Produced by Milton Sperling. |
Town.mpg | The Town | 1945 |
10:49 |
Shows life during wartime in an AMErican town (Madison, Indiana). | Directed by Josef von Sternberg. |
Troop-Train.mpg | Troop Train | 1945 |
10:52 |
Evocative film following a troop train; the coordination of effort; its staging and assembly of cars, cargo and passengers; its heavily guarded journey through the American countryside; and the food, sleep, exercises, training, drilling and recreation of its soldier-passengers. | |
True-Glory.avi | True Glory | 1945 |
1:23:47 |
Covers European Theater. Narration by Robert Harris and Peter Ustinov. (Academy Award for best documentary.) | Prologue by D.D. Eisenhower. |
Tunisian-Victory.avi | Tunisian Victory | 1944 |
1:15:31 |
Co-operative effort of the British Film Unit and U.S. Army Signal Corps. Narration by Bernard Miles and Burgess Meredith. | Directed by Frank Capra |
Unfinished-Business.mpg | Unfinished Business | 1943 |
20:13 |
Postwar adjustment is easy for a young World War II veteran who is welcomed back to his job at U.S. Steel with a position, training course, and counseling. | |
USNEWSREVIEW.mpg | US News Review: The Plywood Bomber | 1942 |
19:12 |
Newsreel on the Mosquito, etc. | |
VJ-Day-San-Francisco.mpg | VJ-Day San Francisco | 1945 |
10:00 |
Celebrating the end of WWII. Unnarrated. | |
Voice-of-Victory.wmv | Voice of Victory | 1944 |
27:14 |
How radio equipment helped win the war. | Produced by RCA |
Wartime-Nutrition.mpg | Wartime Nutrition | 1943 |
10:22 |
Wartime work of public welfare agencies in World War II. | |
What-Makes-a-Battle.mpg | What Makes a Battle | 1944 |
15:35 |
Analysis of the Marshall Islands campaign. | |
When-Work-is-Done.mpg | When Work is Done | 1943 |
8:55 |
War plant workers flood the town of Sylacauga, Alabama, and the town constructs facilities and organizes activities to make them feel welcome. Excellent, idealized view of home front life in a World War II factory town. | |
Why-Were-Here.avi | Why We're Here | 1943 |
28:35 |
Informational film on the US contribution to the Chinese war effort. | |
Wings-For-This-Man.mpg | Wings for this Man | 1944 |
9:34 |
This film features the "Tuskegee Airmen". | |
Wings-Up.mpg | Wings Up | 1944 |
21:14 |
Feature on the Officers Candidate School for aviation recruits. | Narrated by Clark Gable |
Women-In-Defense.mpg | Women in Defense | 1941 |
10:36 |
Narrated by Katherine Hepburn. | Commentary by Eleanor Roosevelt. |
Wood-for-War.mpg | Wood for War | 1942 |
6:24 |
Forest production and its strategic importance. | In Kodachrome. |
WWF-Battle-of-Britain.wmv | Why We Fight 4: The Battle Of Britain | 1943 |
52:10 |
The "Why We Fight" series of seven films was a major WWII propaganda effort for the U.S. | |
WWF-Battle-of-China.wmv | Why We Fight 6: The Battle Of China | 1943 |
1:02:49 |
The "Why We Fight" series of seven films was a major WWII propaganda effort for the U.S. | |
WWF-Battle-of-Russia.avi | Why We Fight 5: The Battle Of Russia | 1943 |
1:22:41 |
The "Why We Fight" series of seven films was a major WWII propaganda effort for the U.S. | |
WWF-Divide-Conquer.wmv | Why We Fight 3: Divide and Conquer | 1943 |
56:27 |
The "Why We Fight" series of seven films was a major WWII propaganda effort for the U.S. | |
WWF-Nazis-Strike.avi | Why We Fight 2: The Nazis Strike. | 1943 |
42:29 |
The "Why We Fight" series of seven films was a major WWII propaganda effort for the U.S. | |
WWF-Prelude-to-War.avi | Why We Fight 1: Prelude to War | 1942 |
50:18 |
Discusses how the diplomatic and political fallout of World War I resulted in World War II. | |
WWF-War-Comes.wmv | Why We Fight 7: War Comes to America | 1945 |
1:05:02 |
Promotes "the good war" theme and emphasizes the common bonds of the American peoples, along with the pre-December 7th shifts in attitude toward the Axis. | |
Marines-at-Tarawa.avi | With the Marines at Tarawa | 1944 |
39:01 |
Covers the first opposed amphibious landing by the USMC in WWII. |
Compiled and formatted by Larry Jewell for the HyperWar Foundation