Days of Glory
• Thesis:
German forces were defeated not only with the recognized American, British, and French soldiers but also with the unrecognized or forgotten soldiers of African nations. They perservered through racism and inequaility to defeat the same opponent as everyone else around the world, the Germans.
• Important turning points in the film:
The first major turning point in Days of Glory is when the African soldiers, fighting for the French, were successful in overtaking the hilltop from the Germans. The mission seemed like a suicide mission because some of the leading commanders refered to the mission as a “light infantry mission.” This could be interpreted that the French army was willing to sacrifice the native French colony soliders before “true and trained” French soliders. However, with courage and luck the African soldiers took over the mountain top. They were successful in their first battle against the Germans.
Another turning point within Days of Glory is when the men are to view a ballet performed by French performers. The ballet began, and not long after, most men began getting up and leaving the show. They could not understand the relivance the show was to their time on leave. The soldiers had just witnessed death of their friends and loved ones and then made to watch a ballet while other French soliders are given their own free time on leave. The ballet was inappropriate to what the men had just experienced. After leaving the tent, a group of soldiers formed and began talking about wanting liberty, equality, and fraternaity for their hard work and sacrifices for their motherland of France.
The final turning point within the film is when Abdelkader is the only French soldier left within an Alsatian village. He is running from the invading German army, trying to seek cover and save ammunition. After feeling that all hope was lost for Abdelkader, French reinforcements arrive pushing back the Germans.
• What does the film tell us about the
German forces were defeated not only with the recognized American, British, and French soldiers but also with the unrecognized or forgotten soldiers of African nations. They perservered through racism and inequaility to defeat the same opponent as everyone else around the world, the Germans.
• Important turning points in the film:
The first major turning point in Days of Glory is when the African soldiers, fighting for the French, were successful in overtaking the hilltop from the Germans. The mission seemed like a suicide mission because some of the leading commanders refered to the mission as a “light infantry mission.” This could be interpreted that the French army was willing to sacrifice the native French colony soliders before “true and trained” French soliders. However, with courage and luck the African soldiers took over the mountain top. They were successful in their first battle against the Germans.
Another turning point within Days of Glory is when the men are to view a ballet performed by French performers. The ballet began, and not long after, most men began getting up and leaving the show. They could not understand the relivance the show was to their time on leave. The soldiers had just witnessed death of their friends and loved ones and then made to watch a ballet while other French soliders are given their own free time on leave. The ballet was inappropriate to what the men had just experienced. After leaving the tent, a group of soldiers formed and began talking about wanting liberty, equality, and fraternaity for their hard work and sacrifices for their motherland of France.
The final turning point within the film is when Abdelkader is the only French soldier left within an Alsatian village. He is running from the invading German army, trying to seek cover and save ammunition. After feeling that all hope was lost for Abdelkader, French reinforcements arrive pushing back the Germans.
• What does the film tell us about the