During World War II and immediately after it, in addition to the many private films created to help the war effort, many Allied countries had governmental or semi-governmental agencies commission propaganda and training films for home and foreign consumption. Animated films are not included here.
British Empire and Commonwealth United Kingdom 1939 Title Director NotesThe Lion Has WingsAdrian Brunel, Brian Desmond Hurst, Michael Powell, Alexander Korda (uncredited)
1940 Title Director NotesThe Call for ArmsBrian Desmond HurstCivilian FrontMary FieldLondon Can Take It!Humphrey Jennings and Harry WattMen of the LightshipDavid MacDonaldMiss Grant Goes to the DoorBrian Desmond HurstMusical Poster Number OneLen LyeNeighbours Under FireRalph Bond
1941 Title Director NotesAn Airman's Letter to His MotherMichael PowellATSA film about the Auxiliary Territorial Service, a women's formationThe Battle of LondonJack KempChristmas Under FireCharles Hasse and Harry WattNominated for Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectFerry PilotPat JacksonFighting FieldsStanley RussellFood for FreedomGreen GirdleRalph KeeneThe Heart of BritainHumphrey JenningsHow to DigHow to FileMerchant SeamenPlastic Surgery in WartimeQueen's MessengersShunter Black's Night OffMax Mundenproduced by Verity FilmsTarget for TonightWords for BattleHumphrey Jennings
1942 Title Director NotesAfter Mein KampfAlice in SwitzerlandBattle Is Our BusinessBorder WeaveCoastal CommandJ. B. HolmesDoverGreek TestamentListen to BritainHumphrey JenningsNominated for Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectIn Which We Serve Noël Coward and David LeanMaking a Compost HeapMalta G.C.Men of TomorrowMessage from CanterburyThe Next of Kin(aka Next of Kin)Thorold DickinsonOriginally a British War Office services training film by Ealing Studios based on the wartime security axiom that "Loose lips sink ships" / "Careless talk cost lives", it was also distributed commercially as its propaganda was of general strategic importance thus applicable to all citizens.Night ShiftOne of Our Aircraft is MissingMichael Powell and Emeric PressburgerTrinity HouseTwenty-One MilesNominated for Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectWent the Day Well?Alberto CavalcantiWe ServeCarol ReedWinning Your WingsJohn Huston and Owen Crump (uncredited)Nominated for Academy Award for Best Documentary
1943 Title Director NotesBefore the RaidJiří WeissButterfly BombsLouise BirtCameramen at WarClose QuartersJack LeeDesert VictoryNominated for Academy Award for Documentary FeatureDevelopment of the English TownMary FieldFires Were StartedHumphrey JenningsGlorious ColoursAlfred TraversIt's Just the Way It IsLeslie FentonLift Your HeadsMichael HankinsonThe People's LandRalph KeeneScottish MazurkaThe Silent VillageHumphrey JenningsThe Nazi massacre at Lidice recreated in a Welsh villageTarget for TodayWilliam KeighleyWaterlightAlberto CavalcantiThe VolunteerMichael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
1944 Title Director NotesAventure malgacheAlfred HitchcockChildren of the CityClean MilkDebris ClearanceThe Great CircleJungle PatrolLiberation of RomeMen of RochdaleNew BuildersNorth East CornerOut of ChaosRoad to RussiaSailors Do CareSoil ErosionTowards the OffensiveTunisian VictoryFrank CapraCo-production with USV-1: The Robot BombV. 1Western ApproachesWilling Hands
1945 Title Director NotesBurma VictoryRoy BoultingA Diary for TimothyHumphrey JenningsFarm WorkHomes for the PeopleSong of the PeopleSteamThe Ten Year PlanThis Was JapanThe True GloryCarol ReedShows the final invasion and victory in Europe; won Academy Award for Documentary Feature
Australia In Australia the Australian News and Information Bureau, under the Department of Information, produced the following Year Title Director Notes1941Advance to LibyaFrank Hurley1942Kokoda Front Line!Ken G. HallWon Academy Award for Documentary Feature1942Men of TimorDamien Parer1942Moresby Under the BlitzKen G. Hall1942Soldiers Without UniformCharles Chauvel1943Assault on Salamaua1943The Bismarck Convoy Smashed1945Mid EastFrank Hurley
Canada In Canada, the National Film Board of Canada either distributed or produced the following as part of its Canada Carries On and The World in Action series.
1940 Title Director NotesAll Out for WarAtlantic PatrolStuart LeggChildren from OverseasStanley HawesControls for VictoryPhilip RaganFront of SteelJohn McDougallNarrated by Lorne GreeneWatch onlineHome FrontStanley HawesWatch onlineLetter from AldershotStanley HawesLetter from Camp BordenRaymond SpottiswoodeNot Peace but a SwordRoss McLeanRe-edited version of Lights Out in EuropeOn Guard for TheeStanley HawesSquadron 992Frank BadgleyTimber FrontFrank BadgleyWings of YouthRaymond SpottiswoodeNarrated by Lorne Greene
1941 Title Director NotesACK ACK Peter BaylisFrench title: Défense contre avionsBattle of BrainsStanley HawesCall for VolunteersRadford CrawleyChurchill's IslandStuart LeggWon Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject. First NFB Oscar winner.Fight for LibertyFood, Weapon of ConquestStuart LeggGuards of the NorthRaymond SpottiswoodeHeroes of the AtlanticJ.D. DavidsonWatch onlineIceland on the PrairiesRadford CrawleyThe People's WarSoldiers AllStuart LeggStrategy of MetalsRaymond SpottiswoodeStrategy of MetalsGraham McInnesCombination of A Call for Volunteers (above) and Ottawa, Wartime CapitalTools of WarWarclouds in the PacificStuart LeggNominated for Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectWho Sheds His BloodJudith CrawleyWings of a ContinentRaymond Spottiswoode
1942 Title Director NotesBattle for OilStuart LeggBattle of the HarvestsStanley JacksonBlitzkrieg TacticsContains footage of Nazi film FeuertaufeEverywhere in the WorldStuart LeggStresses Commonwealth and American solidarityThe Face of TimeGraham McInnesCentenary of the Geological Survey of Canada. Contains war related information.Ferry PilotStuart LeggField Training in WinterStanley HawesFighting ShipsGraham McInnesForward CommandosRaymond SpottiswoodeFreighters Under FireGeopolitik - Hitler's Plan for EmpireStuart LeggGreat GunsGraham McInnesIfPhilip RaganInside Fighting CanadaJane MarshWatch onlineInside Fighting ChinaNominated for Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectInside Fighting RussiaVoice of ActionJames BeveridgeWatch online
1943 Title Director Notes100,000 CadetsNicholas Read13 PlatoonJulian RoffmanAction StationsJoris IvensA.R.P. in SchoolsTraining children about what to do in an air raidBanshees Over Canada"Watch: 'Banshees Over Canada'." Nfb.ca. Retrieved: April 1, 2016.James BeveridgeBattle Is Our BusinessJulian RoffmanBattle Is Their BirthrightStuart LeggBombing the NazisBuying FeverPhilip RaganCanada - Workshop of VictoryCanada's Youth Training PlanCoal Face, CanadaRobert EdmondsCorvette Port ArthurJoris IvensCoupon ValueCurtailment of Civilian IndustriesPhilip RaganFarm FrontFarmers ForumFirst Aid in A.R.P.Fighting DutchRaymond SpottiswoodeCo-produced with Netherlands Information BureauFighting NorwaySydney NewmanThe Gates of ItalyStuart Legg and Tom DalyWatch onlineGetting out the CoalHandle with CareGeorge L. GeorgeHe Plants for VictoryPhilip RaganConcerns Victory gardensIndustrial WorkersProudly She MarchesJane MarshWatch onlineThe War for Men's MindsStuart LeggWatch online
1944 Title Director NotesAccording to NeedDallas JonesAir CadetsJane MarshAlaska Military HighwayJulian RoffmanBack to NormalGeorge DunningConcerns life of war amputeesBalkan Powder KegStuart LeggBattle of EuropeStuart Legg, Tom DalyThe BayonetBreak-throughJames BeveridgeWatch onlineCanadian Army Sing-Song No. 1Don Baker, B.K. BlakeCanadian Blood Saves Lives on All FrontsKeep Your Mouth ShutNorman McLarenNarrated by Lorne Greene(unconfirmed)Fortress JapanStuart LeggInfantry - Pride of the ArmyDan WallaceRoad to the ReichTom DalyTarget: BerlinErnest BornemanTrain BustersTrans-Canada ExpressStanley HawesWatch onlineZero HourStuart Legg
1945 Title Director NotesJohn Bull's Own IslandStuart LeggHeadline Hunters
India Year Title Director Notes1940He's in the NavyGeorge Radcliffe-Genge1940The Planes of HindusthanGeorge Radcliffe-Genge1941V for VictoryBibhuti Mitra1941Voice of SatanEzra Mir1941Road to VictoryEzra Mir1941In Self-DefencePittamandalam Venktatachalapathy Pathy1942The Golden Grain of BharatkhandPittamandalam Venktatachalapathy Pathy1943Home FrontPittamandalam Venktatachalapathy Pathy
United States The United States possessed the largest film industry of any of the Allied powers during the war, making Hollywood a central instrument for wartime propaganda. Due to its immense size and vast scale, there was no single governmental or semi-governmental agency that centrally controlled it. Instead, the Office of War Information co-ordinated efforts among many entities to produce propaganda:
OCIAA: Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs
OEM: Office for Emergency Management
OSS: Office of Strategic Services
USAAF: United States Army Air Forces
USASC: U.S. Army Signal Corps
USASSD: U.S. Army Special Service Division
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
USDT: United States Department of Treasury
USN: United States Navy
USDW: United States Department of War
WACMPI: War Activities Committee of the Motion Pictures Industry
Several of these films, although they have propaganda value, were used as training films for the United States armed forces.
1941 Pre-December films given IMDb release date where available. Title Director Agencies or Organizations involved NotesAluminumWACMPIAmerica Builds ShipsWACMPI; OPMReleased June 5America PreferredWACMPI; USDTReleased 20 MayArmy in OverallsWACMPI; OPMReleased June 5Bits and PiecesWACMPI; OPMReleased June 5Defense Review No. 1WACMPIDefense Review No. 2WACMPIMen and ShipsWACMPI; BPIReleased June 23Pots to PlanesWACMPI; OEMReleased November 22Power for DefenseWACMPI; NDCReleased February 18Preflight Inspection of the B-17EUSASC; UASAAFWar Department Training Film 1-532Red Cross TrailerWACMPI;Where Do We Go?WACMPI; USOReleased May 28Women in DefenseWACMPI; OEMReleased May 28; narrated by Katharine Hepburn; written by Eleanor Roosevelt
1942 Title Director Agencies or Organizations involved NotesAfrica, Prelude to VictoryOWIThe Arm Behind the ArmyUSASCRing of SteelOEMRecruiting short, narrated by Spencer Tracy, released April 7The Battle of MidwayJohn FordUSN, WACMPIAcademy Award for Documentary Feature 1942*Campus on the MarchOWIColleges at WarDefense Review No. 3Fighting the Fire BombFuel ConservationHemp for VictoryRaymond EvansUSDAHenry Browne, FarmerUSDANominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectHitler--Dead or AliveNick GrindeHomes for DefenseHow to Fly the B-24D AirplaneIntroduction to the P-39It's Everybody's WarOWINominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectJapanese RelocationWACMPI; OWIJapanese American internmentKeep 'Em RollingKeeping FitLake CarrierManpowerOWIOWINominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectMorgenthau TrailerNight ShiftStarring Danny KayeWhy We Fight:Prelude to WarFrank CapraUSASSD; USASCAcademy Award for Documentary Feature 1942*Safeguarding Military InformationPreston SturgesAMPASSalvageServicing P-39: Bore Sighting All GunsSex HygieneJohn FordUSASCTanksTraining Women For War ProductionNYANarrated by Eleanor RooseveltTorpedo SquadronJohn FordUSNU.S. Coast GuardUnited China ReliefVigilanceWinning Your WingsJohn HustonOwen Crump (uncredited)USAAFStarring James Stewart; Nominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Short SubjectThe World at WarLowell MellettOWIWood for WarArthur H. WolfUSDTYour Air Raid WardenYour American Tragedy
The 1942 Academy Award for Best Documentary, whose time frame included part of 1943, was split among four films, including the two seen here. Also, that year saw the amalgamation of the feature and short subject documentary categories into a single category.
1943