Nazi Titanic ine or a!hyped by the medi
Even 100 years after the sinking of the mammoth supposedly unsinkable ocean liner on its maiden trip, it still evokes emotion in some. Seriously, nobody actually knows whether the sentimentality is genuine or hyped by the media.
It must have left the same feeling among the Nazi sympathizers then. Even during the heights of the World War II, to highlight the cowardice, stupidity and greed of the British to the German public to justify their attack on the British soil, what better way do than to use this maritime blunder to their benefit through the propaganda tool which they have perfected, the silver screen.
The Nazi regime realize that using human drama with ability to create emotion was an excellent way to coax the German people to follow the party's agenda. They depicted a story of socially decadent society of Britain exploiting the transatlantic voyage for the pure purpose of profit without a care for the safety of its passengers. To show German true honesty, a fictitious character, a hero in the form of a know all German captain in included in the cast. He is the only person with a heart and tries to warn the danger of iceberg.
Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister, who is known for producing anti Semantic propaganda films is appointed to carry this task. Herbert Selpin, an accomplished director is given a massive budget to recreate the tragedy of the Titanic with the party agenda on mind. Walter Zerlatt-Olfenius, an old friend of Selpin is in turn selected to write the screenplay.
Germany in the early of 20th century was known as the Hollywood of Europe. Many of these movie makers like Billy Wilder and Fritz Lang were mostly Jewish. Turn of events in the 30s made these people to migrate en masse to America, explaining the conquer of Hollywood by them and their course.
Meanwhile, the flamboyant Selpin kept on demanding bigger budget and sets all in the name of party aspirations and Nazi ideology. He even demanded a real mammoth ship to depict the real Titanic at the height of war in sea and air front.
Even 100 years after the sinking of the mammoth supposedly unsinkable ocean liner on its maiden trip, it still evokes emotion in some. Seriously, nobody actually knows whether the sentimentality is genuine or hyped by the media.
It must have left the same feeling among the Nazi sympathizers then. Even during the heights of the World War II, to highlight the cowardice, stupidity and greed of the British to the German public to justify their attack on the British soil, what better way do than to use this maritime blunder to their benefit through the propaganda tool which they have perfected, the silver screen.
Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister, who is known for producing anti Semantic propaganda films is appointed to carry this task. Herbert Selpin, an accomplished director is given a massive budget to recreate the tragedy of the Titanic with the party agenda on mind. Walter Zerlatt-Olfenius, an old friend of Selpin is in turn selected to write the screenplay.
Germany in the early of 20th century was known as the Hollywood of Europe. Many of these movie makers like Billy Wilder and Fritz Lang were mostly Jewish. Turn of events in the 30s made these people to migrate en masse to America, explaining the conquer of Hollywood by them and their course.
Meanwhile, the flamboyant Selpin kept on demanding bigger budget and sets all in the name of party aspirations and Nazi ideology. He even demanded a real mammoth ship to depict the real Titanic at the height of war in sea and air front.
They managed to secure SS Cap Arcona in mid 1942 in spite of attacks by Allied Force into Germany.
Groebble's obsession with movies assured Selpin to get everything he wanted (money, wine, a luxurious hotel as base and even soldiers) as if there was no war whilst the rest of the country was under rationing.
Zellet, the screenwriter, a decorated nationalist war hero, a good friend of Selpin for years, gets into an argument over delay in production. Selpin ridicules the Army, the Nazi war efforts and even the Iron Cross and the Third Reich. Zellet, humiliated, reports the incidence to the Ministry. At that time, in this totalitarian country, everybody was reporting each other.
Selpin is interogerated by ministry and Goebbels. He stood on his ground and was imprisoned and had mysteriously hanged himself in custody. In spite of two years into production, the film was not fully ready.
Time goes on and money getting less as the war is not going Germany's way..
Hollywood joins the proganda chase after the Pearl Harbour bombing with movies like 'Casablanca'.
Another director is given the task of completing the movie.
Come December 1942, things are going terribly wrong for Germany. Groebbles who watches the movie 'Titanic' realizes that he had made a mistake. Too much had been lost - too much money, the life of director and the question of people dying seem of context as too many people in Germany had lost their loved ones and the idea of people dying might not resonate well with them. It was therefore never shown to German public. It was felt that Selpin had subtly mocking the Third Reich and his and Nazi policies through the characters in his 'Titanic'.
It was however screened in German's occupied territories and the movie became smashing blockbuster there.
Before another propaganda movie can be produced to rectify the faux paus, Germany loses the war.
3 days after Hitler's demise, thousands of Jews are marched from concentration camps and placed on SS Cap Arcona (the same ship which used in filming) filled in inflammable gases and set on sail. The RAF planes fired at them thinking it was German war ship. The survivors of the wreckage were shot at by the the German soldiers.
The ironic of the story is that, just like the doomed original 'Titanic', the 'Nazi Titanic' seem to carry the same curse. On top of all that, the 'Nazi Titanic' actually brought down with it more lives than its predecessor (more than 4500 vs 1500) that it was suppose to depict!
In 1950, the edited version was finally shown to the German public with no mention of Selpin's effort. Now it is restored and Selpin is given credit as its director.
Groebble's obsession with movies assured Selpin to get everything he wanted (money, wine, a luxurious hotel as base and even soldiers) as if there was no war whilst the rest of the country was under rationing.
Zellet, the screenwriter, a decorated nationalist war hero, a good friend of Selpin for years, gets into an argument over delay in production. Selpin ridicules the Army, the Nazi war efforts and even the Iron Cross and the Third Reich. Zellet, humiliated, reports the incidence to the Ministry. At that time, in this totalitarian country, everybody was reporting each other.
Selpin is interogerated by ministry and Goebbels. He stood on his ground and was imprisoned and had mysteriously hanged himself in custody. In spite of two years into production, the film was not fully ready.
Time goes on and money getting less as the war is not going Germany's way..
Hollywood joins the proganda chase after the Pearl Harbour bombing with movies like 'Casablanca'.
Another director is given the task of completing the movie.
Come December 1942, things are going terribly wrong for Germany. Groebbles who watches the movie 'Titanic' realizes that he had made a mistake. Too much had been lost - too much money, the life of director and the question of people dying seem of context as too many people in Germany had lost their loved ones and the idea of people dying might not resonate well with them. It was therefore never shown to German public. It was felt that Selpin had subtly mocking the Third Reich and his and Nazi policies through the characters in his 'Titanic'.
It was however screened in German's occupied territories and the movie became smashing blockbuster there.
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J Bruce Ismay , Chairman of the White
Star Line which operated the Titanic.
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3 days after Hitler's demise, thousands of Jews are marched from concentration camps and placed on SS Cap Arcona (the same ship which used in filming) filled in inflammable gases and set on sail. The RAF planes fired at them thinking it was German war ship. The survivors of the wreckage were shot at by the the German soldiers.
The ironic of the story is that, just like the doomed original 'Titanic', the 'Nazi Titanic' seem to carry the same curse. On top of all that, the 'Nazi Titanic' actually brought down with it more lives than its predecessor (more than 4500 vs 1500) that it was suppose to depict!
In 1950, the edited version was finally shown to the German public with no mention of Selpin's effort. Now it is restored and Selpin is given credit as its director.
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