The third chapter of Frank Capra’s Why We Fight series begins with Britain and France declaring war on Germany following Hitler’s invasion of Poland. The narrative shifts to the rapid Nazi conquests of Denmark and Norway, pivotal moves in preparing for a future assault on Britain. The chapter delves into Hitler’s methodical strategy as his forces overrun Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with a sharp focus on the atrocities committed along the way.
Scenes of devastation include haunting images of dead and injured children, underscoring the brutality of the Nazi regime. The bombing of Rotterdam is highlighted as a grim milestone, with the narrator explaining how “thirty thousand men, women, and children were killed in just ninety minutes.” The Luftwaffe’s systematic bombing of small villages is described as a tactic to force refugees onto highways, clogging routes needed by Allied forces. Survivors are herded toward advancing Allied armies under the threat of precision machine-gun fire, further hindering their movements and creating chaos.
An American military officer provides insight into the Nazi invasion of France, where Hitler’s forces conquer the country in just over a month. The film details the overwhelming power of the German war machine, which forces French armies into surrender. Once in control, the Nazis “enslave” much of the local population, compelling them to serve the German military regime.
This chapter paints a stark picture of the calculated aggression and human cost of Germany’s early victories in World War II.