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Is it really necessary to relive the devastation and torment of Nazi Germany again? For decades, filmmakers have offered us more than enough views of death and destruction, this DVD is right on course with the trend.

Television under the Swastika Disc 1

This was by far the most interesting disc of the set. The segments were filled with footage, long-thought lost, from Nazi television and their attempts at entertainment. From dancers and singers to original interviews with the upper echelon of the regime, the television of Nazi Germany was still far different as each piece of film includes the propaganda the world has come to expect from the Nazis.

I will say that this disc was the easiest of the set, as it carried little of the destruction of the era. Television and history fans will definitely enjoy this as we become privy to material previously thought gone.

The Goebbels Experiment Disc 2

A truly dark and desperate account of Joseph Goebbels’ rise to infamy in the Third Reich. Known as a mastermind with regard to the horrible manipulation of other’s minds, Goebbels took on a crippling view of the world around him at a very young age. From his early childhood, when an illness left him with one foot paralyzed, he found little joy and committed himself to eradicating the lowly Jews who, in his eyes, had no place in his world.

The account of his growth in the Reich is overshadowed by his early passion for Hitler’s plans and his battle against rumors of his [Goebbels] homosexuality. For all of his efforts, the only thing this telling of his life shows is his need to spread his own proud opinions and plans for conquering the world despite his sporadic faith in Hitler, his boss.

Desperate to be recognized and loved, he finds a mate and some comfort in his family, but even that is difficult for the disturbed man many called a genius.

Kenneth Branagh is a welcome addition as the narrator of this story and actually allows the viewer to stay focused while churning against the frightful thoughts of a hauntingly evil man and the catastrophic directions his mind wandered in.

Firestorm Disc 3

This DVD opens with a nearly five minute segment of aerial shots of the remains of a city destroyed in a firestorm. Not only is it disturbing, but it is frightening.

History plays an integral role in learning and surviving, but I found this particular DVD to be unremarkable in content. With a focus on the devastation of entire cities and populations, Firestorm is the account of a radical war fought from the air and is more gruesome than anything.

With jabs taken at the British and the Americans for not playing fair, this material nearly chastises the armies for breaking “the rules of war” in their attack to eliminate Nazi Germany.

With graphic footage of bodies and entire cities leveled by bombs dropped from the air, I found this difficult to watch, simply for the enormous loss of life. It almost makes the segments on the development of “basement communities” seem comical in contrast.

The Reich Underground Disc 4

The segments on this disc that were of the most interest were the inside views of the underground bunkers developed by the Nazis to create and build new bombs and weapons, from missiles to chemical warfare. I did find it remarkable that in such an early time, the level of technological advancement was so intense.

Overall:
Historians and war buffs may find value in Inside the Third Reich, but as a novice, I found it very difficult to remain focused on the content. The narrators, a variety of nationalities, and the voice-overs of the interviewees are more than a little distracting in their lack of emotion.

The material, at times, seemed almost gratuitous to me as we have seen this all before.

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