The Nazi Plan

The Nazi Plan
Directed by	George Stevens
Written by	Budd Schulberg
Starring	See below
Edited by	Robert Parrish
Release dates	1945
Country	USA
Language	English

The Nazi Plan is a 1945 American documentary film directed by George Stevens. The film, compiled from extensive footage of captured Nazi propaganda and newsreel image and sound recordings, was produced and presented as evidence at the Nuremberg Trials for Hermann Göring and twenty other Nazi leaders.

Background

The Nazi Plan was shown as evidence at the International Military Tribunal (IMT) in Nuremberg on December 11, 1945. It was compiled by Budd Schulberg and other military personnel, under the supervision of Navy Commander James B. Donovan. The compilers took pains to use only German source material, including official newsreels and other German films (1919-45). It was put together for the US Counsel for the Prosecution of Axis Criminality and the US Office of the Chief Counsel for War Crimes."

"In the course of this work, Budd Schulberg apprehended Leni Riefenstahl at her country home in Kitzbühl, Austria, as a material witness, and took her to the Nuremberg editing room, so she could help Budd identify Nazi figures in her films and in other German film material his unit had captured. Stuart Schulberg [also] took possession of the photo archive of Heinrich Hoffmann, Hitler’s personal photographer, and became the film unit’s expert on still photo evidence. Most of the stills presented at the trial carry his affidavit of authenticity."

Cast

• Adolf Hitler as Himself (archive footage)
• Hermann Göring as Himself (archive footage)
• Rudolf Hess as Himself (archive footage)

Plot summary

The film's central footage and themes "relied heavily" on the work of German film maker Leni Riefenstahl, in particular the 1935 movie Triumph des Willens (Triumph of the Will).

Media

The effect and context of the film, specifically Goering's presence within the Nuremberg Trials, was discussed in episode 1, entitled "On the Desperate Edge of Now" of the 1995 BBC series The Living Dead written and directed by Adam Curtis.

External links

• The Nazi Plan at IMDb
• The Nazi Plan is available for free download at the Internet Archive