Historical Original Footage from Documentary Film Archives

This video series offers the viewer a vital insight into events that occurred in past history. It presents the chronicle of a particular week as though the reportage had happened only yesterday. It shows ­ often as headlines ­ important political and economic events, sport contests and youth performances, cultural events and entertainment, brief encounters with people in public life, as well as innovations and occurrences that stirred and touched and inspired a nation. In this selection of individual newsreels from Der Augenzeuge (The Eye Witness) from the years between 1946 and 1980 ­ altogther, an edition of 12 all-embracing videos ­ the viewer can gather impressions, via ten DEFA weekly newsreels respectively in each video cassette, of life and times in the former German Democratic Republic. The collection takes you on unique camera trips through Berlin, Germany, and the world. Four decades are to be experienced firsthand ­ and to be relived again in word and image as a vibrant history of a people for all mankind.

­ Ed.