Deutsche Kino-Wochenschau und der wirtschaftliche Aufschwung in West und Ost

During the period of economic recovery in Germany after World War II, newsreels shown before every cinema screening were a significant source of information. With impressive images on a large screen, accompanied by spoken commentary, music, and sound effects, they provided orientation and shaped collective memory. To this day, individual images or short sequences from cinema newsreels are used in numerous documentary film and television formats as historical evidence, illustrations, or for dramatization. However, the extraordinary principles of information delivery are no longer evident. To reach the audience, a mix of informative reports and entertaining contributions was essential at that time. The case studies presented in this book reflect fundamental themes of the economic recovery period in both German states (1950-1965). In addition to the principles of audiovisual design, the central communication strategy is also elaborated. Transmedial and transnational aspects that play a role here identify the newsreel as part of an international media system.