Out of Darkness

The fighting spirit of Belgium during the war years of WWI is documented in this "Passing Parade" tribute to the Belgian resistance. It documents the many instances wherein the Nazis tried to crush the spirit of the Belgian people by shutting down their newspaper, killing the various editors who inevitably came back under new leadership.

This resistance went on for a few years until the war was over, at which time Von Heinrich received the Iron Cross from the Secret Police for wiping out the "Free Belgium" press. At least, that's what he thought--until not long afterwards the paper was running again under a new editor.

It reappeared in 1938 and again the Belgians refused to let it die, sending its message of hope to Norway, Holland, Poland and Belgium.

One of the more interesting in the "Passing Parade" series by John Nesbitt.

Out of Darkness (1941)

*** (out of 4)

John Nesbitt's Passing Parade features the story of Nazi's efforts in Belgium to bring their people down. Set during the years of WW1, the film tells the story of a Belgium newspaper, which had to work underground to spread the word to people that they should remain strong even though Germany is trying to tear them down. In a short amount of time, twenty-two different editors of the paper were tracked down and killed. Just knowing that nearly two dozen editors died to keep this newspaper going is quite remarkable and makes for a very interesting story. Just when you think you've heard everything about the war then comes this short, which tells a rather amazing story. I'm sure there are hundreds of others out there like this one and you can't help but wish there were shorts today just to tell them.