With Our Heroes on the Somme(Bei unseren Helden an der Somme)

This film is the direct answer to Britain's 1916 war documentary film "The Battle of the Somme" and features footage taken in the time of June to November 1916. This was the first film made under the BuFA (Bild- und Filmamt - Picture and Film Agency - precursor to the UFA) regime was a direct response to the British model. It was called "Bei unseren Helden an der Somme" and was first shown publicly in Berlin on 19 January 1917. For the first time a film was released bearing the explicit characterisation "amtlich-militärisch" - or "official military business". Never before had a film presenting pictures of actual battle been shown in Germany - this film was advertised of doing so. And never before had a propaganda film been given a festival premiere. A journalist reported: "One was invited to the first private performance preceding the public performances in one of the modern Berlin movie palaces.