Nostalgia

DVD rekindles North World War Two memories

Posted by The Journal on Nov 27, 09 12:39 PM in Nostalgia

A South East Northumberland local history group have compiled footage that brings back to life the horror of what war in the North East was like.

From German aircraft landing on rooftops to the VE Day celebrations across the region, a new DVD has been produced to show how the area both suffered and survived the Second World War.

Footage from the North East during the Second World War, from the North At War DVD, produced by Six Townships Community History group

The rare archive footage showing places was brought together to remember how millions of men, women and children coped during one of the worst conflicts in history.

The film shows terrifying scenes of horrific bomb attacks on homes, schools and railways in some of the towns and villages in Northumberland.

It also includes 10 minutes of unseen video captured on a cine camera by German soldiers as they invaded Poland in 1939.

The tape of black and white images, which show Nazi troops rounding up Polish villagers for execution and throwing hand grenades into houses, was confiscated by allied forces during the liberation of Warsaw.

Material in the 50-minute DVD was collected by the Six Townships Community History Group, based in Bedlington.

The historians produced the DVD, The North At War, to show what life was like for people living through the war.

Secretary of the group, John Dawson, said: "It just shows you the horrors that went on during the war and how people coped with them.

"There are some very grizzly scenes but also scenes of the VE Day and peace celebrations when the war ended, which are very nice to watch.

"It is a very important part of world history but also very important locally because the North East really suffered.

"There was a lot of damage and lives lost here and it just shows what people had to live through. The DVD is an in depth look at the war from start to finish and it is fascinating."

The DVD includes images from the cities, towns and villages throughout Northumberland, including Bedlington, Ashington, Choppington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, that also came under fire from enemy troops.

Footage shows youngsters being evacuated from their homes and sent to live in the country in preparation for an enemy attack.

The DVD also includes some scenes from Polish concentration camp, Auschwitz.

Mr Dawson added: "You see what sort of damage was done when the Germans started bombing here. It reminds people of some of the horrors that actually went on and they should never be forgotten."

The North At War DVD is available to buy at Al's superstore, in Ashington, Northumberland, or online at www.sixtownships.org.uk, priced at £5. It is free to all schools.

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