Kolberg

Nazi lavish historical drama that was one of the central propaganda efforts of the 3rd Reich film industry. Made in 1943-1944, "Kolberg" intended to counter the Germans' war-weariness and encourage optimistic spirit. The story is loosely based on the events that took place in Kolberg, the small town on the Prussian Baltic coast whose inhabitants raised a people's militia against Napoleon's invading forces in 1806-07 at a time when the army was ready to surrender. The film's two heroes are Nettelbeck, Kolberg's Mayor, and Gneisenau, the leader of the Prussian soldiers. Despite the corruption of the local government and the defeatism of the professional military, the Mayor is able to rally the citizens to defend their town from the French. The story of Kolberg's citizenry's resistance suited the Nazi idea of the Volkssturm (people's army) in the closing stages of the war, encouraged by the propaganda ministry.