Bei unseren Helden an der Somme (1917)

The documentary is divided into three parts. Before each part is shown, the audience is given a short text describing the action in the silent-film scenes that follow. After many months of the Battle of the Somme, German doctors tend to “the wounded enemy” and lift stretchers carrying the wounded into a converted medical tram. The following scene depicts exhausted French and British soldiers in the citadel of Cambrai, for whom the war is already over. While the Allies are portrayed as tired, wounded, and exhausted, the Germans are shown as strong and powerful despite the description “The reserves of exhausted Germany!”: an endless column of reserve troops wearing Pickelhaube helmets marches through Cambrai, while horse-drawn supply trains, ammunition columns, searchlight units, bridge trains carrying pontoons, and mortar units travel through the villages and along the country roads between Cambrai and Bapaume. This image is reinforced by the depiction of jubilant German assault troops in open trucks on their way to the front. The next scene is introduced with the words, “German railway workers rescue French refugees from the ruthless fire of their own countrymen,” and shows French refugees traveling through the villages in horse-drawn carts or boarding freight trains. Bapaume is described as “the feeble victim of French and English warmongering,” as the town resembles a ruin, with destroyed country roads and the smoke-blackened remains of houses, some completely destroyed. The soldiers lay mines in the woods and try “to harass the enemy on the flank.” The action takes place mainly at or near the forest stream, from where German soldiers also throw hand grenades. The German soldiers’ aim is to distract the enemy so they can reach the main attack point, which they subsequently manage to do. After the attacks in the woods, a group of prisoners is shown, including colonial soldiers of color. Pioneers place explosive charges in a tunnel, then seal its entrance and run the detonating cable into a trench. A field gun is then loaded and fired. The scenes mainly show guns firing and shells exploding, as well as soldiers in the trenches preparing for the attacks to come and trying to protect themselves there. After the attacks, the following text appears: “Report from the sector to the division: Raid successful. Ordered objective reached. Numerous prisoners taken.” A column of French prisoners then marches toward the collection camp, where drinks are handed out to them.