Number of Films Produced 1940-1945

When looking at the list of films and events, it is striking the number of films that came out during the years 1940-1945. It is also surprising in which years the most films were produced. In 1940, Germany was at the height of power. With attacks on Denmark, Normandy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France, the release of 86 films demonstrated the freedom and power of Germany to do as it pleased. In 1941 only 71 movies premiere. As Hitler concentrated increasingly hard on the eradication of the Jews it is possible movies became slightly less important. Also, at the end of 1941 Germany officially declared war on the United States, a huge preoccupation for the German war machine. In 1942 the number of films produced in Germany dropped to 52, indicative of the fact that at this point all German film distribution comes under the central authority of the Deutsche Filmvertriebs GmbH. The jump in the number of German films in 1943 and 1944 is intriguing, as Germany no longer appeared the obvious victor during these years. It seems there was a push by Goebbels for films to be put out, perhaps as a distraction from the looming Allied invasion of Germany. Goebbels declared the need for films of “soldierly and national import” reflecting Hitler’s cry that all men from age 16 to 60 serve in the militia.