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“1932 German Catholic Congress” Pre-War German Catholic Procession & Ceremony Film Xd8311 (1932)

1932 · Short film · 26 min

  • War
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Synopsis

This silent film shows the 71st German Catholic Congress in August, 1932 in Essen, Germany. Hitler would become chancellor a year after this film was made, in 1933, a fact which explains the lack of Nazi symbols shown in the film. In July of 1933, again about a year after this film was made, the Concordat between the Vatican and the Nazis in promised the Catholic leadership the sort of autonomy they had sought for in exchange for complete acceptance of the new fascist order. Some of the footage shown is from a National German Rally of the National Association of Catholic Southern Germans. Pope Pius XI led the Catholic Church during the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. Many Germans were devoutly religious during that time period; in the early part of his time in power, Hitler was preoccupied with Christianity and the German Catholic and Protestant church. Text regarding the conference of German Catholics (:27). Images of Christ on the cross (:40) as the camera pans down to show an altar boy’s face holding the cross. The Catholic youth hold a rally (:47). Young girls sprint forward in Sunday dresses (:50). These children’s rallies were what led to the German Catholic’s conference. The Equestrian Statue of Emperor William I stands in the city center of Essen (1:15). Religious crowds are seen crammed in the Burgplatz; Essen’s historic heart (1:21). The camera moves over the massive crowd of devote Germans (1:32). A close shot shows the brass band blowing (1:52). The Missionary…

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Details

Running time
26 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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