The Nazis Strike (1943) Director: Frank Capra, Anatole Litvak Studio: U.S. War Department – Office of War Information Narrated by: Walter Huston Release Date: April 27, 1943 Runtime: 41 minutes Format: Black & White | Mono | Sound | Documentary | Archival Footage Country: United States Language: English Genres: War Documentary | Propaganda | WWII History | Government Film Summary: The Nazis Strike is the second film in the U.S. War Department’s famous "Why We Fight" documentary series, created during World War II to educate American troops and the public about the causes and progress of the war. This entry focuses on the rise of Nazi Germany’s military aggression, covering the invasions of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. Using maps, newsreels, animation, and dramatized sequences, it outlines Hitler’s strategy of psychological warfare, political subversion, and Blitzkrieg tactics. The film makes a powerful case that Nazi expansion was not spontaneous but meticulously planned, portraying the German war machine as a dire and methodical threat to global democracy. Background: Commissioned by the U.S. government, the Why We Fight series was produced by acclaimed director Frank Capra, who had won multiple Academy Awards before the war. The Nazis Strike was co-directed by Anatole Litvak and written with help from intelligence officers and military historians. Its purpose was both to inform and galvanize: to justify America’s involvement in WWII and boost support for the Allied cause. Though highly effective, the film—like others in the series—uses selective editing and dramatization, serving as wartime propaganda. Still, it’s recognized today for its historical value and innovative use of film as a tool of persuasion and education. Trivia: Narrated by actor Walter Huston, who also voiced several other Why We Fight entries. The film repurposes Nazi propaganda and newsreel footage, often turning it against its original intent. Includes early animation by the same unit that worked with Disney and Warner Bros. The series won an honorary Academy Award in 1943 for its contribution to the war effort. The film is in the public domain and has been preserved by the National Archives. While valuable historically, some of the film’s depictions (e.g., of the Soviet Union) reflect shifting wartime alliances rather than full accuracy. Hashtags: #TheNazisStrike #WhyWeFight #FrankCapra #WWIIDocumentary #PublicDomainFilm #WalterHuston #WWIIFilmSeries #AmericanPropaganda #WarDocumentary #WWIIHistory #NationalArchives #1940sCinema #AntiNazi #OfficeOfWarInformation #AnatoleLitvak #ClassicDocumentary #Blitzkrieg #HistoricalCinema #ColdWarPrecursor #GovernmentFilm