Die Frontschau (English: The Front Show) is a series of German World War II-era military training films, shown to German soldiers shortly before deployment to the Eastern Front. The films were directed by the veteran propagandist Fritz Hippler, best known for the antisemitic propaganda film Der Ewige Jude (The Eternal Jew).
Produced between 1941 and 1943, the series compiled authentic frontline footage — both German-captured and seized from Soviet sources — to prepare recruits for the rigors of combat on the Eastern Front. The black-and-white films total approximately three hours across multiple episodes.
The known installments in the series include:
| Number | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| FS 2 | Russian Construction of Positions | 1941 |
| FS 3 | Advance | 1941 |
| FS 4 | Infantry on the Attack | 1941 |
| FS 5/6 | Mountains Troops Battle for a Town | 1941 |
| FS 7 | Attack by Infantry and Armor Against a Village | 1941 |
| FS 8 | Defensive Battle in Winter | 1943 |
| FS 9/10 | Construction of Positions | 1941 |
| FS 11 | Terrain Difficulties in the East, Winter and Spring | 1943 |
| FS 13 | Traveling Across Ice Surfaces and Waters with Drifting Ice | 1941 |
The films served a dual purpose: they provided tactical instruction to German troops while also functioning as propaganda, showcasing the perceived superiority of German military operations. Some of the footage used was captured from Soviet combat cameramen, giving the films a gritty, documentary-like realism.
