Victory in the West

When Germany attacked Poland on 1 September 1939, it hoped that England and France would not intervene, as they had refrained from doing so when Austria had been incorporated into Germany in May 1938 or when the independent state of Czechoslovakia was destroyed in May 1939. However, this time Poland's two allies did react, declaring war on Germany. Not long before, archenemies Germany and the Soviet Union had entered into a non-aggression pact, meaning that Germany need not fear a war on two fronts. On the eve of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of Russia (June 1941), it appeared that Germany was the invincible ruler of Western Europe. Sieg im Westen (1941), by Svend Noldan, shows both the events leading up to it and the "Blitzkrieg" itself. The introduction states that Germany has always been the victim of foreign forces, which have denied Germany her rightful place in Europe. This forced Germany to defend itself. The second part shows the highly successful campaign against the Netherlands, Belgium and France. With its "Blitzkrieg," Germany was able to conquer not only the smaller countries, but even its old enemy France. "Blitzkrieg" is illustrated by means of a good montage of impressive footage. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)