Plan for Destruction

"Plan for Destruction" was included in the "Crime Does Not Pay" DVD collection from Turner Entertainment. However, this film really does not appear to be a part of the set and bears no similarity to the other films in the series. It really is just a wartime propaganda short from MGM--albeit a well made one.

The film is narrated by Lewis Stone and is a film showing the progression of Germany from the end of WWI to the power-made nation it was in 1943. However, it looked at this in an unusual manner--focusing on an actual but mostly forgotten general and college professor, Karl Haushofer (played by the familiar character actor Frank Reicher). Haushofer's notion of 'goepolitik' was that Germany was destined to rule the world and his teachings fit in wonderfully with the Nazis. However, the short-term benefit of such a policy is more than balanced by the resolve of the united nations of the US, Soviet Union, etc. according to this film.

This is clearly a WWII propaganda film that's meant to strengthen the resolve at home in the war effort. And, for what it is, it's pretty good. A novel way of assessing the Nazis, that's for sure.

Back when World War 2 was going on, people were mostly in constant terror of what may or may not happen regarding the Axis powers. By 1944 Germany was clearly going to lose, but even by then, the possibility of them snatching victory from the jaws of total ruin never disappeared. Whether it be the introduction of a new type of aircraft, new technology or even the development of a nuke, germany had to be subdued and be forced to stay down or else they would resist in any way they could. This film from 1943 dramatizes Hitler's plans for global conquest (even though it's debatable he even wanted that) and how the Allies began to push back against their plans and fight back once their industries were in full swing. The film goes over how disappointed the german public was with their leadership in the wake of the First World War, in which germany was to take sole responsibility for laying waste to Europe and getting millions of people killed. Karl Haushofer, a professor at the University of Munich, teaches a geographic ideology called Geopolitik that would later become central to Hitler's ideas of The Reich's anticipated expansion. Karl says how because of germany's geographic location, it is destined to be the master not only of Europe, but of the entire world and possibly beyond simply because of its central location on what was considered the most advanced and important continent. As a bonus, if germany controls enough land to its east, west and wherever else it sees fit, it would effectively nullify the formidable navy of Britain, germany's enemy, since germans would no longer need to use vulnerable ships to import crucial materials. Being in control of such a huge area that is self-sufficient in terms of goods is a godlike advantage. After the lecture is over, Karl is approached by a student named Rudolf Hess, Hitler's future deputy. He wears a uniform associated with the NSDAP (Nazi Party) which is not in power yet, as Hitler has been imprisoned for his failed Putsch at a Munich Beer Hall some time earlier. Karl is aware of this and ridicules Hess for "being on the wrong side of history", proclaiming that Hitler is a joke and will achieve nothing. Hess is adamant that Karl meet Hitler in prison so his mind will change. Although he will never become a National Socialist party member, Haushofer will eventually have employees in contact with some of nazi germany's most feared organizations (including the Gestapo) and tourists from germany covertly retrieve secret information about countries they visit in order to probe them for any kind of weaknesses that Hitler can later take advantage of. Even places like Norway that belong to roughly the same racial group as germany are eventually invaded and controlled, all under the pretense of trying to build an extremely powerful united european empire. By 1939, germany had illegally sent its forces to reoccupy lands taken from them during the last war and even annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia, putting Karl's policies into practice for all the world to see. Britain and France made clear that they would fight if Poland was attacked, but by now Hitler didn't care. After the invasion, the world believes that any territory Hitler wanted would soon be his, due to the speed with which poland was defeated. However, once the germans attack Russia, Geopolitik begins to falter for the first time. Originally confident they would be in Moscow within 3 weeks, entire german armies are bogged down in mud and horribly cold weather, fighting an enemy that never seems to give up. This shows everyone that the germans aren't invincible, but Karl still believes germany has an ace up its sleeve. Germany hoped that its alliance with Japan would turn out to resemble a giant pincer movement, with germany swinging down to North Africa in order to seize the vital Suez Canal and japan rampaging through China. Once the two powers linked up near central Asia, russia would be strangled. Not to mention, this would mean America would now have to deal with a Pacific dominated by japan and an Atlantic dominated by germany. The rest of the film shows how while Haushofer thought his plans of world conquest would succeed, he didn't take into account how the more you advance, the stronger people's will to resist. Because of this, germany and her allies will continue to be attacked from every direction both by the soldiers and civilians of places they wish to take over. This film was ok. I've heard the synopsis of ww2 countless times by now, but at least this was able to tell me about a person I never heard of. Haushofer is not on the list of most infamous figures of the third reich and was never even officially a nazi, but as this film shows, he influenced how Hitler felt about and viewed new territory.

This just ran on Turner Movie Classics. Although I've seen a LOT of documentaries etc. on WWII and am familiar with Hitler's rise to power, I did not know about the Geopolitical influence on him, and the key elements of that theory. If all US citizens could view this movie, and even see it as part of students' school studies in Civics, we could have a better understanding of how people's need for power and control can become destructive plans for millions. It is important to remember that NOW a Dictator no longer needs to be a leader of a country to finance and organize an army to go out and spread terror to undermine the power of other countries. Don't you see this going on now? Osama Bin Laden is an example. Everyone wake up! The world has changed. We are no longer fighting the government of other countries in formally declared war - we are fighting an insidious plan to undermine the unity and confidence of US citizens to weaken us, making us more vulnerable for takeover. Also, look at the propaganda machines working to get other countries to "hate" Americans and protest against our country. Enemies know that our borders are impenetrable from the strength of our military. They've devised other ways to infiltrate, break down and dismantle our great country, America. Don't be naive and think that America is here forever, and nothing can change that.

Plan for Destruction (1943)

*** (out of 4)

MGM, Oscar nominated documentary short about how Germany's defeat in WW1 led to Hitler trying to take the world over in WW2. This documentary offers quite a bit of information in its 22-minute running time. Most of the stuff is over-dramatic but that's just a part of these WW2 shorts from this period. Lewis Stone stars.

It's also interesting to see how they looked at war issues back then compared to today.

If you're interested in this film then Turner Classic Movies usually plays it during their "31 Days of Oscar" festival.

This documentary was nominated for an Academy Award and looks at the intentions of the Nazis in future globl domination had they successfully prosecuted WWII. Fascinating (and more than a bit chilling) look at just how detailed the plans were for the systematic looting of funds and resources on a global scale for their own benefit. Turner Classic Movies shows this as filler between films and almost invariably airs this each March as a part of the Thirty-one Days of Oscar they do annually. Highly recommended.