German Concentration Camps Factual Survey: Special Archival Edition (Dual Format Edition))

This hugely important film documents the liberation of Belsen and other concentration camp by Allied forces in Spring 1945.

The production was originally shelved by the Ministry of Information in 1945, before being restored and completed by IWM in 2014.

This Special Archival Edition has been produced in collaboration with the IWM and contains the museum’s restoration, plus substantial extra features and some previously unseen footage that help to contextualise the film, a perfect-bound book, and commentary. 

The story of this extraordinary documentary was itself the subject of the Emmy-winning film Night Will Fall (which was released by the BFI in 2014).

New restoration by IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Presented with optional Intro and Outro that help to contextualise the film

Panel Discussion at BFI Southbank (2015, 42 mins): restoration director Dr Toby Haggith (IWM) is joined on stage by a panel of experts to discuss the film

Audio Commentary with Dr Toby Haggith and senior nonfiction curator Patrick Russell (BFI)

Vox Pops Compilation (2015, 6 mins): viewers reflect on the film after a screening at BFI Southbank

Interview with Ludwig Weill at Fort Breendonk (1944, 3 mins): archival interview with a liberated prisoner

Interviews at Bergen-Belsen (1945, 18 mins): archival interviews with SS guards, liberated prisoners and members of the British Army

Interviews at Dachau (1945, 38 mins): archival interviews with recently liberated prisoners

Interview with Dr Petr Zenkl (1945, 13 mins): archival interview with the Czech politician, who was imprisoned at both Dachau and Buchenwald

Archival soundtrack: alternative soundtrack featuring only the narration and the original synch-sound

80-page book with comprehensive essays on the making of the film and its restoration, and full film credit