Baptism of Fire

Adolf Hitler

This German narrated film opens with the following details in English. "After Germany's surrender at the end of World War 1, the victorious Allies met at Versailles to dictate a harsh peace. English, French and American leaders created new European states, including modern Poland. They gave the Poles parts of Silesia and Prussia, which were inhabited by Germans. "In one such territory, known as the Corridor, rested the so-called "free-city" of Danzig. Populated by Germans, it was surrounded by Poland, but controlled by the League of Nations. "In March 1939, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler opened direct negotiations with Poland to recover Danzig and the provinces taken from the Reich at Versailles. But Great Britain intervened, with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain promising military assistance in the event of a war with the Reich. "Backed up by London's guarantee, Polish Premier Edward Rydz- Smigly broke off all talks with Germany. Hitler accused Britain of sabotaging the negotiations. He described Poland as a militant state whose purpose was to help England and France encircle Germany with enemies. "Danzig's Nazi leader, Albert Forster, poured fuel on the fire with anti-Polish demonstrations. Hitler became increasingly frustrated over the breakdown of talks with Warsaw and the abuse of Poland's ethnic-German minority, by Polish gangs, and eventually decided on war. "The events that followed are depicted in this film."—Bill Goode