General Paul von Hindenburg, 1914 (HD)

This rare and remarkable footage follows von Hindenburg, beginning in 1914 when the 66-year-old served as Germany’s Chief of General Staff in World War I. It includes battle scenes as well as those with him in strategy sessions with other officers and in the field with German troops. Following the war, von Hindenburg was twice elected President of Germany. During his second term, under pressure, he appointed Adolf Hitler as Chancellor and several scenes show him with Hitler where von Hindenburg’s dislike for the man he called a “Bohemian Corporal” is obvious. The footage concludes in 1933, one year before von Hindenburg’s death. This was scanned from 7 minutes and 18 seconds of silent 16mm B&W print film shot at 18fps.