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Videos that made history

We are fortunate that much of NATO’s early history was caught on film. Indeed, NATO has occasionally produced documentaries about transatlantic events and issues, and about itself. The Internet now allows us to share these videos widely.  

The first video, placed immediately below, shows clips from the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949.

We also present three additional videos that are representative of films that NATO has produced over the years. The full range of these documentaries are arranged below by decade. Clicking on a decade opens a separate window that takes the viewer to the NATO TV Channel on the Internet, where the films can be viewed and downloaded.

A third group of films, entitled “The Atlantic Community,” contains national documentaries of NATO’s early members.

Over time, we hope to make more video footage available, both on this site and through our developing NATO TV channel on the Internet.

We hope that you enjoy this digital exploration of NATO’s past.

Signing of the North Atlantic Treaty

On 4 April 1949, The North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington, DC by ministers from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The video to the left includes a speech by US President Harry Truman and moments from the signing ceremony.


A Votre Service

This film, intended for Frnech audiences, explained the necessity of NATO forces on French soil. A French citizen reacts to the presense of foreign troops in his town, and eventually comes to accept them. Watch the movie >>

 

 

 

The Rocket Story

This film is a documentary on the history and military use of rockets, explained in anticipation of the first moon landing. Watch the movie >>

 

 

 

Versus

This avant-garde NATO documentary reflects a growing awareness of environmental concerns in the 1970s. A man and a woman embrace and kiss, but their romance is interrupted by shots of military conflict, bombs dropping, and an atomic bombing exploding. Watch the movie >>

 


 

NATO by decade

Clicking on a box below with open a new window that will direct the viewer to the NATO TV channel on the Internet. There, you may browse archival footage of important events from the Alliance’s past.


The Atlantic Community

Commissioned not long after NATO’s founding, the film series presented below explores the history, politics, and culture of the Alliance’s early members, including Germany. The result is a charming portrayal of Western life in the 1950s.