IWM Desert Victory (58.14) Object description Desperate situation following fall of Tobruk. 8th Army conducts a fighting retreat of 400 miles, deliberately falling back on El Alamein, a naturally strong defensive line. Imminent battle approaches in importance the Battle of Britain. German advance halted. Churchill visits troops bringing new commanders and promise of reinforcements. Montgomery: a modern Cromwell. British and US war production. Lines of supply described. Further German attacks defeated. 8th Army receives Shermans. Rommel's supplies disrupted by air attack. Alexander speaks on the value of training and physical fitness. Disposition of German and Allied forces. Value of joint planning. Montgomery ensures that every soldier understands his role in the coming offensive. Opening barrage. Detailed description of the battle and British breakthrough. Afrika Korps "utterly broken and possessed of no thought but flight". Rommel abandons Italians. Allied pursuit - 1400 miles in 80 days, a "feat unparalleled in military history". Naval role in supplying advancing troops. Italian Empire has been extinguished. Film ends with a triumphant military parade in Tripoli. Film deliberately degrades Rommel's military reputation, and emphasises Allied strength - featuring a wide variety of military equipment - and the remorseless pursuit - advancing armour, strafing runs, columns of prisoners, etc. Physical description 35mm
This film gets a mention in the 24th Lancer War Diary - 18/3/43 Selected all ranks of the Regiment attended at the Doric Cinema, Newmarket. Subject:- Film “Desert Victory”. DESERT VICTORY [Main Title] DESERT VICTORY Full description Desperate situation following fall of Tobruk. 8th Army conducts a fighting retreat of 400 miles, deliberately falling back on El Alamein, a naturally strong defensive line. Imminent battle approaches in importance the Battle of Britain. German advance halted. Churchill visits troops bringing new commanders and promise of reinforcements. Montgomery: a modern Cromwell. British and US war production. Lines of supply described. Further German attacks defeated. 8th Army receives Shermans. Rommel's supplies disrupted by air attack. Alexander speaks on the value of training and physical fitness. Disposition of German and Allied forces. Value of joint planning. Montgomery ensures that every soldier understands his role in the coming offensive. Opening barrage. Detailed description of the battle and British breakthrough. Afrika Korps "utterly broken and possessed of no thought but flight". Rommel abandons Italians. Allied pursuit - 1400 miles in 80 days, a "feat unparalleled in military history". Naval role in supplying advancing troops. Italian Empire has been extinguished. Film ends with a triumphant military parade in Tripoli. Film deliberately degrades Rommel's military reputation, and emphasises Allied strength - featuring a wide variety of military equipment - and the remorseless pursuit - advancing armour, strafing runs, columns of prisoners, etc. Production date: 1943-03-06
Given that the film was made after the Allies took Tripoli one imagines that there was captured German film stock available.
Quite a normal occurance. The film scenes of 'Indian troops assaulting Jalo' were filmed outside Giarabub with the carrier platoon of 3/2 Punjab which had been left behind there. All the best Andreas
Omnibus - Alamein - BBC Sounds Released On: 15 Oct 1992 Available for over a year. "Former soldiers from both sides recall the Battle of El Alamein and historians explain its significance to the Allied victory in World War II."
"A New History of British Documentary" - By J. Chapman A New History of British Documentary "A New History of British Documentary is the first comprehensive overview of documentary production in Britain from early film to the present day. It covers both the film and television industries and demonstrates how documentary practice has adapted to changing institutional and ideological contexts." ... on "Desert Victory"... A New History of British Documentary