(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
The US Department of Defense had no intention of creating nuances when they invaded parts of Walt Disney's studio during World War II. The purpose was to create animated propaganda that would strengthen the morale of American soldiers. In 1943, the company received the Oscar for the Donald short film Der Fuehrer's Face.
- The film is an excessive and surreal parody of Hitler 'Germany. Even trees, shadows and houses turn into swastikas and Hitler caricatures. It starts with Donald being at home in his bed and being picked up by German soldiers to produce bombs by an assembly line, says cartoonist and Disney expert Waldemar Hepstein.
Following the messages "you will be working 48 hours for where Fuehrer" and "you have been selected to work overtime", as well as attempts to make coffee from one coffee bean, Donald stands by the assembly line at the bomb factory. Shortly after, he wakes up in his bed dressed in pajamas adorned with the stars and stripes of the American flag. He happily boasts that it was a dream, squeezes his miniature copy of the Statue of Liberty, and exclaims, "Well, I'm glad to be a citizen of the United States!"
- In addition, Disney also made The Spirit Of '43, where people were encouraged to pay taxes to win the war. Education for Death tells how German children are encouraged to become soldiers. It shows dramatic images of German soldiers with blindfolds marching to their own graves, says Hepstein.
Still, Walt Disney was not required by the state to make all of its propaganda films.
- "Victory Through Air Power" was Disney's personal project and a strange mixture of documentary and cartoon. He had read a book by the Russian-American major Aleksander de Seversky, and thought the Americans invested too little in the air force. In the film, the major himself appears, and his exposition of his own theories alternates with spectacular animation scenes that advertise the effective use of bombers, says Hepstein.
- Colorful images show the destruction of the enemy's lands and buildings, but no people are to be seen.
