Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi" is a 10-minute movie by Disney from 1942, the years of World War II. Propaganda was actually truly common back then, especially in animated short films. However, it is rather rare that this is not included in films with very famous cartoon characters ("Blitz Wolf", "Der Fuehrer's Face"), but that characters appear that only appear in this film here. This would be Hans. We follow his path from a little boy to a fully-grown man and soldier. As usual with Disney, there is comedy in here, but this one also has great drama and tragedy. We find out how the Nazis deal with the sick and weak, we find out about their take on un-Aryan art (music in this case) and about many other of their approaches. Hitler must have hated this film if he saw it. The final shot is a very moving one. The narrator in here basically translates the German dialogs by the cartoon characters, so it's easy to understand if you are not a German native. A really good cartoon and I highly recommend it to everybody with an interest in 20th century history and animation. Thumbs up.
gring0
This is a short film I show in my classes, not to explain how Hitler made good his boast that it needn't matter if people crossed over to join his movement as their children already belonged to him, but using a contemporary source to analyse its origin, purpose, value and limitations. Unlike what other commentators here have stated, the cartoon does not show all Germans as evil, but how they have to be moulded to follow the Nazi ideology. My main issue that I would ask you to look at whilst watching it is the complete omission of anything to do with the Jews. The fear the British and (more so given they were not directly attacked by Germany) American Governments did not want its people to think they were fighting for Jews. But here no mention is made of Reichskristallnacht or the clear systematic persecution of Jews that had been covered in world newspapers since Hitler's assumption of power in 1933. Synagogues have been replaced with churches, toras with Bibles, stars of David with crucifixes. Whilst understandable given the mentality at the time it was made, it is glaring and a bit concerning that none has apparently seen fit to make this connection here. www.tracesofevil.blogspot.com
kayakofan
Simply put, this is perhaps the most effective political-propaganda short I've seen, particularly since it was made by Disney.There is some of the good Disney comedy in there (a hilarious retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale, only this time to fit the Nazi teachings; and some *clever* re-paintings of Hitler and others), but overall it's a grim and depressing short. It subtly represents the true cruelty of the Nazi, how they treated their soldiers, and especially how they made the parents raise the children who were to become soldiers. It all comes to the inevitable, and again, frightening ending.Highly recommended if you're curious about the Wartime shorts, or as an example if you are doing a report of Political Propaganda.My rating: 10/10.
jukeboxbaby18
Watching this film for the first time, I was completely unprepared as to just how scary and graphic this film was going to be. I can see why this film is still banned and not allowed to be shown on television- it shows all Germans as horrible, hateful beasts, which isn't true. The scene in which the Bible changes into a copy of Mein Kamph and the crucifix changes into a sword and a swastika is especially frightening. It is an interesting film, however, it should only be viewed by older people, as it would frighten young children. If you manage to find a copy, see it; but be forewarned: make sure the toddlers are out of the room.
AD
