Economic Conditions in Germany

Film flashes of the European front: The war diary of Albert K. Dawson, 1915––1916

“…6 At General Staff Headquarters in Berlin, Dawson was introduced to Hans Theyer , an experienced Austrian cameraman who from 1907 had travelled around the world for Pathé as a newsreel photographer. Then after writing out a brief will and leaving full instructions for the disposition of my body with the hotel clerk, I looked at the sun, moon and stars for the last time and reported at the Foreign Office, feeling rather shaky.…”

“…I was scared stiff. 14 Having gone south to the forests of the French Argonne -a relatively quiet sector of the front -Dawson and Theyer captured pictures of the elaborate trench works built by the Germans. I was so frightened that I had no more control over myself than a man in the back seat has over an automobile.…”

“…Shortly after the First World War he was exposed by the United States Secret Service as a propagandist for the German government. 21 The meat supply, although on ration, was still plentiful. 18 While Archibald toured the United States with his lectures on the German side of the war, Albert Dawson travelled within Germany, filming the industrial mobilisation, the prison camps and food supplies.…”

“…22 He also mentioned the daily life in the camps and the cultural differences between the prisoners: the Russians, "simple minded and obedient", who proved to be of great help harvesting the crops; the French, "always good natured and smiling"; the English and colonial troops, with their different religions. But by introducing a well-balanced ration they kept the situation under control.…”