Destroy this tank: as a Disney cartoon helped allies in World War II

Focus translated the article of the former Marine Infantry Service of Travis Pike about how films helped the soldiers of the Union forces in World War II. During the Second World War, most sections of American society, including the entertainment industry, participated in hostilities, as evidenced by the movie "Stop the Tank!" Removed by Volt Disney for the Canadian military.

The film, created by Volt Disney and the Ministry of National Defense of Canada, was intended to teach the soldiers to use the Boys's anti -tank gun. The film lasts 22 minutes and is a mixture of animation and frames with live actors. The Boys's anti-tank gun was a massive rifle with a longitudinal sliding shutter, designed for firing 55-caliber balls that could punch some areas of the armor of the time tanks.

Although the rifle was not a car to kill the tanks, it could kill the crew, immobilize the tank and even break the cannon tower. In addition, it was portable, weighed 16 kg and allowed the shooter to mask during firing. However, during the Second World War, anti -tank rifles practically went out of style, giving way to basukens and other similar types of weapons. The film consists of two parts. The first three minutes are a cartoon with Hitler and five Nazis on tanks.

They approach the village of Allies and plan to attack it while the residents sleep! Here, Hitler appears in front of us in the form of a clown, which speaks with a arrogant appearance and spit. He exclaims nonsense and Tarabar region, occasionally inserting stereotyped German words, such as "schnitzel". At some point, he just rushes. Then the Germans go to the attack. Several Canadian soldiers in camouflage with Boys anti -tank rifles enter the frame.

One of them is disguised as a hay bale, two of the other - under a stirring and a horse, and another shoots from his outbuilding. Boys' anti -tank rifles force German tanks to bounce and fall apart. Animation in "Stop the Tank!" Very typical for Disney. The Germans run under fire, and the Hitler tank is produced by an artillery explosion. Hitler rolls down and stands in front of the devil, which begins to translate his Tarabar region for us. He beats in hysterics like a child and drops his clothes.

My younger son came to watch the movie with me, and the first three minutes seemed funny. I was very laughed by a soldier who hid in a horse. This part attracted attention and prepared the soldiers to learn all about the Boys's anti -tank rifles. Then the movie goes into training mode. In this part, the soldiers learn everything about their rifles, including how the rifle works, what is the maximum shooting range, where and how to shoot it on the tanks.

The film also contains real shots of firing soldiers from the rifle. They probably hurt ears after firing from this massive armor -piercing rifle. With the help of visual animated rollers, soldiers explain at what angle to shoot, where to aim and how to get on tanks. Animation is an effective way to clearly and consistently demonstrate the rifle, its features and the principle of operation.

The same could be done with the help of actors, but at that time animation gave a more clear idea of ​​the rifle and its capabilities. This is an interesting concept that does not seem to be properly recognized. In the movie "Stop the Tank!" There are animated X -rays that show how the weapon works inside, and what happens when the bullet gets into the tank.

Other comedy elements appear in the movie: for example, the narrator slightly ridicules a soldier, similar to Elmer Fudda, and a crazy cow. I have never held a Boys's anti -tank rifle, but after watching "Stop the tank!" It seems to me that I would be able to deal with her. This whole movie has a little gloomy implication.

Why did Volta Disney need to animate a movie about how to kill the Germans? Why do we look at stupid tanks, mowed cows and soldiers who cannot lift the rifle? For the same reason for which the movie is effective. Men who watched the movie were probably still young, and were preparing for war for the same cartoons that they enjoyed only a few years earlier. Stop the Tank! It was effective because these brave young people were still young and were easy to entertain with a cartoon.

Now it is sad to think about it, but it reminds of our unpaid debt to these people once again. They gave their youth, health, and many of their lives to protect democracy and build a more free world. Travis Pike is a former Marines machine gunner who served for 5 years in the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Marine Corps Brigade. In 2009, he was sent to Afghanistan, and in 2011 he returned there as part of the 22nd MEU (SOC) unit, spending a record for 11 months in the sea.