Name: Eyewitness to History
Genre: Short
Released: 2006-09-01
Rating: 6.7
Cast: Armin D. Lehmann

Armin Lehmann is an elderly man now, but back during WWII, he was a member of the Hitler Youth as well as the Nazi military. By chance, he's taken to Berlin very late in the war to meet Hitler as well as serve as a courier in the bunker. Lehmann's experiences are the substance of the film, as he sits back and reminisces about this time period. As a result of what he saw, he has since dedicated himself to a life advocating peace.

This short documentary film had good production values and music (though perhaps the music was a bit too dominant towards the end). The only serious problem I had with this film was that it was way, way too short. As a history teacher, I wanted to know so much more--18 minutes just isn't enough. I hope someone records more of this man's and other lives from the period, as these eyewitnesses to this part of our history are quickly vanishing.

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Armin Lehmann provides an unscripted narration in Gary Lester's EYEWITNESS TO HISTORY, offering a fascinating insight into Hitler's Third Reich. Armin's early childhood days were spent on a bucolic estate in the forest, surrounded by pet animals. By 10 years old, Armin walked 45 minutes to school each day. He also joined the Hitler Youth. Life in the country began to lose its innocence. By age 16, Armin found himself a combat veteran, awarded the Iron Cross. By a quirk of fate, Armin is chosen to represent the Hitler Youth at Hitler's last birthday reception. Trapped in the bunker area with Hitler during the final days of the war, Armin delivers a riveting account of the collapse of the Third Reich from a unique historical perspective.

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Eyewitness to History

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