The fact that these films were generally regarded as unpopular is reflected in popular criticism of the day but not necessarily in attendence figures in cinemas at a time where the cinema was one of the very few distractions from a grim daily routine of salvaging a livelihood from the ruins.

What these films present is a set of responses to crisis. National crisis, historical crisis and the crises of the present, and ultimately a crisis of German cinema itself. In the context of allied licencing and censorship and the project of 'Denazification' these films offer rare and unique glimpses of a people and a culture dealing with shame and defeat.

Increasing tensions to provide both a pedagogical role and furnish a weary public with entertainment gave rise to inventive engagements with the problematic position of cinema at the time.