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Browse 38 movies from Reichsbahn-Filmstelle
The journey along the Elbe River begins with a train ride through the countryside, exploring the river’s course and the life of river boatmen. Key locations include Spindelmühle and Hohenelbe villages, the Hirschberg-Reichenberg cog railway, and the Sudetenland landscapes. The narrative highlights Reichenberg’s town hall, Hitler Youth activities, and the Bösig ruins. The Elbe’s industrial significance is noted with excursion steamers, cargo ships, and the Steinschönau glass industry. The journey continues through Leitmeritz, Karlsbad, Saaz, and Kaaden, featuring kaolin mining, porcelain molding, and hop gardens. The Eger River’s course is explored, with references to healing springs, lace-making, and winter activities like skiing. Castles and villages are visited, culminating in a silent open-air stage performance of “Wallenstein” at Eger’s Imperial Castle.
Feb 1940
A man and a woman in a convertible on their way from Giessen to Heidelberg. Numerous traffic obstacles are illustrated: unsuitable town thoroughfares, many curves, confusing railroad crossings, a school, flocks of sheep, a detour, a hay cart, a breakdown. An innkeeper tells the two about the new Reichsautobahn. Traffic moves quickly on the Reichsautobahn.
Oct 1935
Jul 1941
In the series of films about Reichsbahn sports, the film is aimed at female railway workers. According to the film, women in particular are exposed to the dangers of physical injury while on duty. German gymnastics shows the way to keep the body fresh and supple through sensibly designed rhythmic movements. In individual and group exercises, while springing, running, walking, hopping, and jumping, the body is kept in motion—every limb is trained, tension and relaxation alternate methodically, providing the basis for the proper functioning of the entire organism and creating a balance between body and soul. The film was intended to encourage female railway workers to form gymnastics groups and experience together the joy that rhythmic physical training would bring.
The film, which includes some staged scenes, depicts a journey on the Deutsche Reichsbahn's Glass Train through the German Alps to Innsbruck. It promotes the use of this train and provides some technical data. A significant part of the film shows the journey through the winter mountain landscape. In detail: A couple from Berlin travels from Berlin to Munich. During a tour of the city, they notice an advertising poster for the Glass Train and decide to take a trip. Footage: Express train departs from Berlin. Arrival in Munich; inside and outside the main station; the Frauenkirche; a Löwenbräu beer hall; the old town hall; Marienplatz; Odeonsplatz with the Theatinerkirche. Feeding pigeons. Conversation with a railway official who points out that there was already a glass court train for the Bavarian kings in 1865. Ludwig II's court train on the move. The new Glass Train. Technical data. Ride on the Glass Train. Stop in Seefeld; trip to Innsbruck.
Sep 1937
This film shows the halls of the Borsig locomotive factory in Berlin with the noise of the machines and riveting hammers. Iron and steel plates, bundles of pipes of all diameters are formed. Huge locomotive boilers, lifted by cranes, move through the hall. They connect with the huge steel wheels, glittering steel parts are inserted into the engine of the locomotive being built. Finally, the giant is on the rails, the class 05 express locomotive of the Deutsche Reichsbahn.
Jun 1936
Feb 1937
Documentary film about the 1933 Christmas party of the Reichsbahndirektion Berlin in the Sportpalast.
Jan 1934
The film shows how the German economy is supplied with sea fish: Hamburg-Altona fishing port. Wesermünde-Geestmünde fishing port. Preparations for departure. Departing fishing trawlers. Hauling in and processing the catch. Unloading the cargo in the fish market. Inspection, weighing, and sorting of the fish. Auction, packaging, and processing. Overview of important sea fish from German catches. Transport in special wagons to the German interior.
May 1935
A trip to Norderney by sea and land. From Bremerhaven, the steamboat journey passes the Rotesand lighthouse and Heligoland. The land route begins with the train in Bremen, continues via Oldenburg, and connects in Norddeich to the mudflat steamer, which maintains the connection to the East Frisian Islands even at low tide.
The film highlights the connection between the Reichsbahn and forestry, showcasing lumberjacks, foresters, and wood transport using horse-drawn carts and forest railways. It features wood processing in sawmills, modern plywood production, and various wood uses like furniture, paper, and railroad ties. The Reichsbahn’s role in transporting wood is emphasized, along with its consumption in carriage factories and coal mines. Wood is also used in highway construction, house building, and a wooden radio tower, symbolizing German culture and spirit.
Apr 1935
Munich Carnival! In the midst of the hustle and bustle, a merry group joins the stream of skiers who left Munich's train stations early in the morning on special trains to enjoy the white splendor of the mountains. From Schliersee station, a short climb past snow-covered alpine pastures and hay barns leads to the host's hut. Once the first hunger pangs have been satisfied, the skis are waxed and off they go in a long line up the steep slope. From the Firstalm, the view stretches far down to the Sunday bustle of the winter sports resort. It's wonderful to bask in the February sun in a light swimsuit. But a snowball fight also has its charms. And just as much fun as the "hut magic" is the evening trip home on the ski train in "hearty" company.
The film shows a series of locations and the way of life in the Black Forest. It leads from Baden-Baden with its 20 hot springs through the Murg Valley southwards, past the Daimler factory and the friendly Gernbach stream, along the scenic Black Forest High Road, past the Allerheiligen monastery at the foot of Kniebis-Freudenstadt, Württemberg's highest town - Thermalbad Rippoldsau - through the Schappach Valley with its high pastures and isolated farmsteads down to the Kinzig, the border between the northern and central Black Forest.
A report on the concrete pavement to be constructed for the Reichsautobahn.
Apr 1937
From different perspectives, the viewer sees the appearance of the newly built Reichsautobahnen: Pictures from the lowlands, the Swabian Alb and many other places.
Nov 1938
Two packers discuss a damaged transport crate, and a young woman arrives to claim it for her father. The supervisor explains the defect and suggests the new container transport system. The father and daughter receive a brochure and watch a promotional film at the Reichsbahn office cinema. The film showcases the efficiency of container transport, featuring various goods like apple juice, strawberries, glassware, and furniture being packed and transported using Reichsbahn containers. The film highlights safety features and the ease of moving large items, concluding with the slogan “From house to house.”
Jan 1935
A film about the landscape of northern Germany and its people. Between the Geest and the marshes, the 200-kilometer-long Marschbahn railway takes viewers through Holstein, across the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal and the Eider River to North Frisia. From Dagebüll, take the mudflat steamer via Amrum, Hallig Hooge, and Föhr to Sylt. Lonely farms and quiet Frisian villages, the Hindenburg Dam, and the sparkling sea greet visitors.
The highest peak in the Thuringian Forest, the Inselsberg, is surrounded by peaceful health resorts and industrious rural towns: Friedrichsroda, Tabarz, Schmalkalden, Bad Liebenstein, Bad Salzungen, Ruhla, and Eisenach, the town of Wartburg Castle. We observe knife and scissors smiths and other craftsmen at work in their workshops. Tabarz: Health resorts and industrious rural towns.
Jan 1936
A film with a short storyline showing how locomotives and carriages are handled at stations from the arrival of a D-train until its next departure. The son of a train driver, who has to write an essay at school entitled "What I saw at the station," learns about the technical facilities of the marshalling yard along with the viewers: coal loading, water extraction, slag removal, work in the locomotive shed, cleaning the boilers, and maintaining the passenger cars. From the arrival of a train at the platform to its departure, the focus is on operational safety, cleanliness, and passenger comfort.
Jan 1937
Documentary about highway construction in Germany.
Feb 1935