The Battle of Russia

The Battle of Russia 1943 is the fifth film of Frank Capras Why We Fight documentary series, and the longest film of the series, consisting of two parts. The film was made in collaboration with Russianborn Anatole Litvak as primary director under Capras supervision. Litvak gave the film its shape and orientation, and the film had seven writers with voice narration by Walter Huston. The score was done by Russianborn Hollywood composer, Dimitri Tiomkin, and drew heavily on Tchaikovsky along with traditional Russian folk songs and ballads.

The film begins with an overview of previous failed attempts to conquer Russia by the Teutonic Knights in 1242 footage from Sergei Eisensteins film Alexander Nevsky is used here, by Charles XII of Sweden in 1704 footage from Vladimir Petrovs film Peter the First, by Napoleon I in 1812, and by Germany in World War II.The vast natural resources of the Soviet Union are then described, showing why the land is such a hot prize for conquerors. To give a positive impression of the Soviet Union to the American audience, the countrys ethnic diversity is covered in detail, and later on, elements of Russian culture familiar to Americans, including the musical compositions of Tchaikovsky and Leo Tolstoys book War and Peace are also mentioned. Communism is never mentioned at any point in the film instead, the Russian Orthodox Church is described as a force opposing Nazism. The start of the film includes a quote from U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who commended the Russian peoples defense of their nation as one of the most courageous feats in military history. ........

Source: Wikipedia