What Were We Watching?

What Were We Watching? Americans’ Responses to Nazism Through Cinema, Radio and Media PROGRAM GUIDE Stories about World War II and the persecution of Europe's Jews were prevalent in American movie theaters and living rooms throughout the 1930–40s. This program explores how Hollywood and leaders in entertainment and government battled for the hearts and minds of Americans. It includes film, newsreels and radio broadcasts that brought home the harsh realities of what was happening in Europe and influenced Americans to enter WWII.

VISUAL SLIDE # DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND NOTES

I. SETTING THE SCENE: ISOLATIONISM IN AMERICA IN THE MID 1930s

IMAGE 1: Title Slide 1) What was the mood of the country in the 1930s? IMAGE 2: Military • The Great War left Americans wary of international entanglements/military Cemetery intervention. • IMAGE 3: Soup Great Depression/25% unemployment Kitchen • Divided/Racist society that is intertwined with the economic concerns. • Xenophobia against foreigners/immigrants IMAGE 4: KKK Rally • Antisemitism is strong. Jews are associated with Communism and represent a IMAGES 5: threat to the American way of life. Antisemitic boycotts • There are efforts to boycott “Jewish” Hollywood and movies.

IMAGE 6: Radio at 2) What was the role of radio at that time? What kinds of programs were home Americans listening to in their homes every night? IMAGE 7: Radio in • Radio enormously popular during Depression public • More radios than telephones or refrigerators IMAGE 8: FDR • Many program genres (like TV has today) Fireside chat 1934 • FDR used it to talk directly to Americans through his Fireside Chats from March 1933 to June 1944 which were heard by millions of people.

3) In the early 1930s, most Americans went to the movies regularly. What types of movies were being made and what was the role of newsreels before the feature IMAGE 9: RKO film was shown? Republic Movie

Theater • Two-thirds of Americans went to the movies at least once a week and saw a variety of films ranging from comedies to dramas.

• Newsreels of current events were shown 15-20 minutes before the feature film which were the only visual news Americans saw besides newspapers IMAGE 10: News footage at the movies

II. SHIFTING OPINIONS ABOUT AMERICA ENTERING WWII

1) When Europe went to war in 1939, most Americans wanted to stay out of WWII VIDEO 11: and were isolationist. Newsreels of Americans expressing predominantly isolationist opinions about WWII Length: 50 seconds Last scene: “NO!” (Women with mop slams window closed) 2) How was Hollywood influencing the hearts and minds of governmental leaders and the general public during this time period? Please explain the sea change

that happened in Hollywood. IMAGE 12: Movie • Originally, Hollywood avoided criticizing Germany for fear of jeopardizing sponsors Poster Confessions of and the large German market. a Nazi Spy • A sea change began even before America joined WWII when the dramatic film, VIDEO 13: Film clip, Confessions of a Nazi Spy, was released in 1939 which openly criticized the Confessions of a Nazi Nazis. Spy • Charlie Chaplin soon after wrote, directed and produced the comedy, The Great Length: 55 seconds Dictator (1940) which mocked Hitler and the Nazis. Last scene: “It’s your • After America joined the war in 1941, films were made that openly criticized the American privilege to Nazis, including Academy Award winning films, Mrs. Miniver (1943) and see it.” Casablanca (1944).

IMAGE 14: Movie Poster, The Great Dictator IMAGE 15: Movie Poster, Mrs. Miniver

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IMAGE 16: Movie Poster, Casablanca

3) The focus in Hollywood was to fight fascism and protect democracy. Eddie Cantor was one of the few Hollywood and radio celebrities who spoke about the

plight of European Jews. What impact did he have on FDR and others before IMAGE 17: Eddie America joined the war? Cantor NBC Radio • As a Jewish celebrity, and radio star, he navigated isolationist tensions. • Eddie Cantor spoke out about anti-Semitism with Jewish groups and he raised several hundred thousand dollars to aid Europe’s Jews through various Jewish organizations. • On his popular radio show, Cantor made subtle anti-Nazi statements, though networks and sponsors did not allow more explicit political commentary. • He sent a telegram to FDR, which FDR read in president’s Thanksgiving address to the American public (November 1938).

III. AMERICA JOINS THE WAR

IMAGE/AUDIO 18: 1) Once America joined the War, how did some Hollywood personalities - like Static radio image Eddie Cantor - become even more emboldened to speak out directly and and audio from two forcefully against Hitler and the Nazi regime? Eddie Cantor radio programs. • Eddie Cantor used comedy and drama to reach a broad audience Runtime: 1 minute, 29 • 20 million Americans on average listened to his show seconds • Radio played an important role in boosting public morale. Last scene: Cheering • The two Eddie Cantor audio clips from his March 1943 radio program demonstrate crowd and music. the tone and techniques he used to appeal to audiences. Image of radio fading.

2) The Government realized that a targeted effort was needed to convince the public that joining the war was not only the right thing to do but that it was vital IMAGE 19: Director for our national interest. A relationship developed between the US Government Frank Capra and Hollywood to accomplish that goal. VIDEO 20: Film clip, Why We Fight • A wide range of films were produced which included re-enactments and even live footage in battle.

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Runtime: 1 minute, 45 • Frank Capra’s used Hitler’s propaganda to motivate military personnel and later seconds influence the American public to support the war effort in the seven part film Last scene: Music series, Why We Fight. playing and a Big V

IV. WORLD WAR II ENDS AND CONCENTRATION CAMPS ARE DISCOVERED

1) What is happening in America and in Europe at the end of the war?

• FDR died at the same moment that concentration camps are liberated and IMAGE 21: exposed. Newsstand “FDR • General Eisenhower and American military encounter concentration camps and Dead” are shocked by what they find. IMAGE 22: General • Eisenhower: “I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in position to give first- Eisenhower at hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency Ohrdruf concentration to charge these allegations merely to 'propaganda'." camp • Eisenhower orders that photos be taken to record the atrocities he encounters because he wanted to ensure the world knew the truth of what happened and wouldn’t distort or deny it.

IMAGE 23: Edward 2) How did the American public learn about the conditions in the concentration R. Murrow CBS Radio camps?

IMAGE/AUDIO 24: • Radio was used to convey to the American public that unimaginable atrocities The entrance of really happened. Buchenwald Concentration Camp • One of the most famous radio broadcasts of WWII is Edward R. Murrow’s account with the audio of of Buchenwald the day after its liberation. It aired on April 16, 1945, three days Edward R. Murrow’s after he observed the concentration camp. Buchenwald • The broadcast had an immediate impact because several million people listened Broadcast live. • It continues to be an important historical document from a credible source of what Runtime: 1 minute, 50 the Nazi concentration camps were really like. Even a seasoned war reporter, seconds such as Murrow was shocked at what he encountered. Last scene: “I am not • Video was another important tool that showed the horrors of the concentration in the least bit sorry.” camps.

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IMAGE 25: George • Director George Stevens and other film-makers filmed the horrors they Stevens encountered as American military personnel and liberators at Dachau concentration camp, IMAGE 26: “First actual newsreel • Some of the graphic footage taken of the concentration camps after WWII was pictures of shown in movie theaters throughout America. atrocities…”

3) What images or footage does the Museum have with regards to what Americans saw of the Nazi concentration camps after liberation?

IMAGE 27: • The Museum’s National Institute for Holocaust Documentation contains millions of “Germany’s atrocities documents, artifacts, photos, films, books and testimonies from victims, revealed” survivors, rescuers, liberators and others. o It includes footage taken by eyewitnesses who encountered concentration camps. o Some of that film was shown to the American public in newsreels in movie theaters before the feature film.

• To learn more about this and other topics about America’s role in the IMAGE 28: Holocaust, see the Americans and the Holocaust exhibition in Americans and the Washington, DC and/or visit the americans and the holocaust online Holocaust Special exhibition. Exhibition • You can view a version of this program recorded at the Museum in Washington, IMAGE 29: DC on Youtube. Americans and the Holocaust online exhibition IMAGE 30: American Newsreels from the Americans and the Holocaust online exhibition

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