The film was directed by
Fritz Hippler and the music was composed by
Herbert Windt. Footage shot by Gustav Lantschner and
Sepp Allgeier, who were working for
Leni Riefenstahl's Special Film Troop, was used in the film. In addition, Hippler made use of footage from the newsreels
Ufa Ton-Woche 471/38/1939 and
Ufa Ton-Woche 472/1939. It was first shown to a select audience on 8 October 1939, but the military's leadership was concerned that it did not completely reflect the army's role in the invasion. A second version of the film was made and
Joseph Goebbels made changes to the script.
Adolf Hitler watched this version on 11 December, and asked for more edits. One of Hitler's demands, as reported by
Alwin-Broder Albrecht, was to have the
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia coloured the same as the rest of Germany rather than having its own colour. The first version of the film only covered up to 20 September, and the second version covered up to 5 October. ==Release==