The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

The 1968 film, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, is an engrossing historical documentary. This three-hour-long film features Richard Basehart as the narrator, augmented by original footages, newsreels, and interviews with people who witnessed the events firsthand like Ernst Hanfstaengl, a former friend, and aide of Hitler himself. The movie even includes authentic scenes of Adolf Hitler rallying his followers and executing his war strategies.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich problematizes the inception, escalation, and culmination of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, commonly known as the Nazi Party. Throughout the film, viewers are presented with a detailed overview of Hitler's path to power, his ideology, and his dictatorial regime, leading up to the Second World War and its subsequent aftermath.

Distinguished actor Richard Basehart – widely recognized for his role as Admiral Harriman Nelson in the television series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea – lends his potent voice to the narration of the documentary. Through him, audiences gain a deeper understanding of the political and social climatic of Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. Basehart's commanding narration enriches the breadth of the narrative, providing a comprehensively rounded picture of the era.

There's an in-depth engagement with Adolf Hitler's character as well. Hitler is presented through newsreels, speeches, and archived footage that throws light on different aspects of his life, leadership, and the intoxicating charisma that led a nation down an irrevocable path of war and genocide.

Ernst Hanfstaengl, a German businessman and Hitler's early associate, is also a pivotal part of the documentary, having been interviewed to provide a first-hand account of the shocking internal workings of the Nazi party. His account of Hitler's rise, persona, and eventual fall is illuminating and provides a level of direct experience that supplements the historical objectivity of the documentary with a valuable subjectivity.

Another distinguished aspect of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is its use of a wealth of previously unseen archives and footage. From the Reichstag Fire to Hitler's last days in the Berlin bunker, raw footage gives the audience a visceral and chilling perspective on one of history's darkest phases. It chronicles important facets of Hitler's life such as his humble beginnings in Austria, his experiences during the First World War, the growth of his extremist ideas, his ascension to the Chancellorship, and finally, the destructive path of the Third Reich, creating an atmosphere of tense realism.

The film maintains a thorough analysis of the political, social, and economic climate during the Inter-War period, the effects of the Treaty of Versailles, the Great Depression, the racist Aryan ideology, and Hitler's brutal dictatorship, leading to an explosion on a global scale – World War II.

Notwithstanding, the documentary also critically explores the infamous Holocaust — the genocide of six million Jews during World War II. The chilling account of the concentration camps like Auschwitz and Dachau, where mass exterminations happened, is difficult to digest, and yet, absolutely crucial in understanding the magnitude of the Nazis' atrocities.

While the major focus is on the rise and subsequent fall of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich also examines the international perspective and the world's response to Hitler's actions and the unfolding global situation. It analytically delves into the roles of key players during this period, including the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France, and others, in either containing or antagonizing the situation, leading to the ultimate conflict.

In the purest sense, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is more than just a movie; it's an intense historical study realized for the big screen. For anyone interested in world history, and specifically the tumultuous times leading up to, during, and after the Second World War, this documentary is a vital resource. The film's scope is colossal in its ambition, and it succeeds in delivering a detailed, riveting exploration of one of the darkest periods in human history.