Raymond Gram Swing

Radio commentator Swing is seen at the beginning, introducing the animated film to follow. The action shows the various treaties and non-aggression pacts of the 1930's and how they served to expose the foolish trust the allied countries put in them, when Hitler broke them all in his march of conquest. (imdb)

This is a weird one: in 1940 Columbia Pictures commissioned a series of cartoon current events shorts. Only two were produced; this is the first one released. Radio news commentator Raymond Swing Gram gives a brief overview of how World War II started that is reasonably correct although overly brief. Mel Blanc can be heard doing the voice of Hitler, even though he sounds more like Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. (imdb)

The film begins in the spring of 1940, just before the Nazi occupation of the Benelux countries, and ends immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It chronicles how the people of "Main Street America", the country's military forces, and its industrial base were completely transformed when the decision was made to gear up for war. Original footage is interspersed with contemporary newsreels and stock footage. (imdb)

This short traces the cooperation between nations that resulted in the development of atomic weapons, and how they were used to end World War II. It also makes the case for cooperation between nations in order that the further development of nuclear weapons will not spiral out of control and endanger the safety of the world.