The Holocaust - The Inside Story [DVD]

GENOCIDE THE SYSTEMATIC SLAUGHTER OF MILLIONS A series of six programmes from the second world war, depicting Hitler's persecution of the Jewish race throughout Europe and his treatment of prisoners during the horrific events of the Holocaust. Containing much previously unseen footage, the programmes cover the period from 1933 up to the final defeat of Germany in 1945. With the liberation of the concentration, transit and death camps, the true extent of the Nazi contempt for human life emerged to shock the world. Includes the OscarTM nominated programme 'The Yellow Star'. DISC 1 - THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ Etched deeply into the pages of history, Auschwitz conjures up images of death, torture and unimaginable human suffering. At the time of release only 18 minutes of the footage contained within this DVD had been seen in the west; despite it being used as damning prosecution evidence at the Nuremburg Trials. Recorded from January February 1945 by a Soviet film crew attached to the 1st Ukrainian Front, the programme tells the story of the liberation of the Auschwitz camp. Captain Alexander Vorontsov, a member of the camera crew, describes the emotions that he and his comrades felt as they were confronted by the appalling scenes at Hitler's infamous death camp. In the interest of preserving the original character of the material, the footage has been left unedited, emphasising the truly shocking nature of the crimes recorded. DISC 2 - DACHAU & SACHSENHAUSEN Whilst Hitler sought the answers to his 'Jewish problem' more and more centres of containment sprung up throughout Nazi occupied Europe. Two such camps were Dachau and Sachsenhausen, and although perhaps not such recognisable names as Auschwitz, they were no less crucial in the persecution and extermination of the European Jews. Under the watchful eye of Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS and Hitler s right hand man, a series of containment, transit and death camps were built within Europe, to systematically cleanse all those people considered inferior by the Third Reich. With the liberation of these two camps in April 1945, the true extent of man s cruelty to his fellow man would be revealed; the untold dead, inhumane treatment and squalid conditions would be laid bare for the entire world to see. DISC 3 - GHETTO THERESIENSTADT Between 1941 and 1945 the small fortress town of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia became a transit point to the death camps in the east for thousands of Czech, German, Austrian and Dutch Jews. All those deported to Theresienstadt were led to believe it was an 'end camp' from which they would travel no further. They were promised a comfortable and peaceful life in the 'Reich home for the aged' and were hoodwinked into signing over to the S.S. all of their properties and assets. In reality, many would be sent on to death camps such as Auschwitz. From 1943, following international concern, the Nazis developed Theresienstadt into a 'show camp' a propaganda exercise designed to conceal from the outside world what was really happening to Europe's Jews. A large scale 'beautification' programme swung into action, giving the camp a pleasant and respectable facade, a deception that succeeded in shielding the terrible truth. DISC 4 - THE YELLOW STAR 'One hundred dead are a catastrophe; millions of dead are a statistic' The horrendous observations of Adolf Eichmann. This OscarTM nominated documentary serves not only as a remembrance but a lesson and a warning for the future. It follows the plight of Europe s Jews during the terrifying period from 1933 until the final defeat of the Third Reich in 1945. Never before had the world seen such contempt for human life on such a grand scale, the murder of an estimated 6 million Jews, with countless others persecuted.

United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Box Set, Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: An emotional and educational collection of six remarkable programmes depicting Hitler's persecution of the Jewish race throughout Europe and his treatment of prisoners during the horrific events of the Holocaust. Containing much previously unseen footage the programs cover the period from 1933 up to the final defeat of Germany in 1945. With the liberation of the concentration transit and death camps the true extent of the Nazi contempt for human life emerged to shock the world. Includes the Oscar nominated program 'The Yellow Star'.
List of Films:
THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ
DACHAU & SACHSENHAUSEN
GHETTO THERESIENSTADT
THE YELLOW STAR - THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS IN EUROPE 1933-1945
RAVENSBRUCK & BUCHENWALD
MAJDANEK SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Oscar Academy Awards, ...Holocaust - The Inside Story - 6-DVD Box Set ( The Yellow Star / The Liberation of Auschwitz / Dachau and Sachsenhausen / Ravensbruck and Buchenwald / The Liberation of Majdanek / Ghetto Theresienstadt ) ( Holocaust - Russian Footage )