South African Military History Society

CAPE TOWN BRANCH

September 1986


The next two meetings take place as indicated below, commencing at 8 p.m., in the DU TOIT ROOM OF THE ATHENAEUM, 154 CAMPGROUND ROAD, NEWLANDS.


NOTE: The Society regrets to advise that due to circumstances beyond its control the talk on "Colonel R.J. Gordon & his Diaries", which was to have been given by Mr. Patrick Cullinan in September, has had to be cancelled.

THURSDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER: Video documentary show: "NIMROD - THE MIGHTY HUNTER".
The story starts in Germany in 1939 with the beginnings of military jet aircraft, progresses through Great Britain's military jet development of the nineteen-forties, and shows how early research resulted in the world's first jet passenger airliner, the Comet, from whose basic airframe a totally new military aircraft, the jet-propelled Nimrod, was subsequently designed to replace the ageing Lancaster-derived Shackleton, for R.A.F. reconnaisance and airborne early warning purposes. (Feature by courtesy of Mr. Bob Symons).

THURSDAY 9TH OCTOBER: 16mm documentary film show: "THE DOUBLE HEADED EAGLE".
The events of World War One drastically changed the course of history and totally eradicated the existing way of life for most of the world. Little did those who celebrated the coming of peace realise that the entire tragic process was to be repeated all too soon due to a then unknown and unimportant N.C.O. in the German Army, one Corporal Hitler. Using material taken from features, documentaries, newsreels and propaganda films, this film traces Corporal Hitler's rise to power from a bitter and disillusioned N.C.O. in 1918 to the time that he became German Chancellor in 1933.

Concentrating on people rather than events, it shows the power of the German Nationalist movement under Hindenburg giving way to that of the National Socialists. Against the pageantry of Nazi rallies, the growing distress of the unemployed finds some alleviation in the fantasy world of the cinema, but elsewhere violent street-fighting breaks out and political opinions polarise. Then, finally, at a parade held after Hitler's appointment as Chancellor, Goebbels harangues the crowd, and nazi students throw the books of banned authors into bonfires.
(Film by courtesy of the Cape Provincial Library Service via the Cape Town Municipal Library Service).


MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO VISITORS


ADVANCE DETAILS
13th November: "Austerlitz", a talk by Mr. C.D. Dorn.
11th December: No meeting - Society in recess.


n Southdown Court
1st Avenue, KENILWORTH 7700
Tel.: 61-nnnn After Hours
Vice-Chairman: Major Antony Gordon (Telephone 61-nnnn after hours)

PAUL LANGE, CHAIRMAN


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