The Silence of Budapest: Life Under the New Order | Europa Woche № 77

Episode 290

*Explore the Full Archive (7,000+ Films)*

I’ve digitized over 7,000 rare films to preserve this history. Open a free account to browse and purchase raw high-res reels here:

*Support the Mission on Patreon*

Get exclusive access to raw footage and preview all upcoming uploads:

Europa Woche 77

15.8.1944

Moravia

With the Germans occupying Hungary on March 19th of 1944 as a result of Hungary’s attempt to negotiate a separate pease with the Western Allies the persecution of jews stepped up considerably. Under the organization of Adolf Eichmann an estimated 440,000 were deported and murdered between May and July of 1944. Against this backdrop this footage taken in Budapest showing attentive personalized medical care is surreal.

This 1941 film shows combat operations in what was known as the Arctic Front. Here we see General Dietel, a popular commander of German mountain troops.

In 1944, the Sturmabteilung (SA) played a significantly diminished role in Germany.

By August, with Germany facing significant military setbacks, particularly following the D-Day invasion in June, the war was reaching a critical point. The focus of the regime and its military efforts was on the war, diminishing the role of the SA, which had a political and auxiliary orientation.

In 1944, although still large, members were being quickly integrated into more militarily focused organizations. In addition the SA was often regarded with suspicion by both the Wehrmacht, the regular German armed forces, and the SS. The SA struggled to find a meaningful role, and its members were often sidelined in favor of the more elite and militarized SS units.

In summary, by 1944, the SA had largely become a defunct organization with a role that was reduced to a shadow of its former self, overshadowed by the SS and focused on the war.

A number of official party-sponsored social service organizations were supposed to encourage women to have more children and to prepare them for their role as housewives and mothers. The Mother and Child Relief Agency offered more than just education; for example, among other services, it offered medical care and financial support for pregnant women, as well as childcare in its own kindergartens. The Reich Mothers' Service also offered a variety of courses that taught women about pregnancy, housekeeping, child rearing, and racial hygiene. In addition to offering charitable support these organizations reinforced ideological and sociopolitical goals: women were to earn their place in the national community by having as many healthy children as possible and by giving them a proper National Socialist upbringing.