Dutch filmmaker Jan Teunissen (1898–1975) became the head of the Dutch Nazi Party’s Film Department during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Before the war, Teunissen was an enthusiastic–though unskilled–filmmaker who directed the first Dutch sound feature and documented his family life extensively on film. The feature was a noted disappointment after the resounding success of his first documentary: A cinéma vérité examination of Jewish life in The Hague. After the Nazi occupation, he zealously aligned himself with the regime, supervising propaganda productions that promoted fascist narratives, ranging from celebrations of Nazi leadership to films asserting racial and agricultural superiority.
Despite his official position in the SS, Teunissen later claimed his involvement was motivated by professional ambition and a desire to strengthen the Dutch film industry rather than political conviction or white supremacist ideology. The fruits of his labor and his own statements collected by oral historian Rolf Schuursma in the 60s paint a different story. Film historian Egbert Barten adds his own experience and materials to the film, expanding the examination of Teunissen’s reign as “Film Tzar” to the prevalence of unrepentant Nazis in the Dutch film and advertising industry post-war. Archival media and modern interviews with film history experts weave together a complex and often forgotten story of Dutch film under the Nazis.
The Propagandist is an honest, in-depth exploration of the long-running influence of proud and active Nazis in post-war Dutch visual media. With first-hand accounts about such individuals from noted Dutch historians and rarely-heard interviews with the men in question, this film dives deeper than ever before into the subject. The biography we get of Teunissen paints a portrait of privilege that only seemed to increase with the Nazi invasion. Two decades later, the former Film Tzar still bragged about his fascist productions, handwaving whenever the interviewer, Rolf Schuursma, asked if he felt any remorse or regrets. This documentary comes in a timely moment, when political repression and fascist ideology is once again rearing its ugly head. For its honest and bold examination of Nazi propaganda and the men who made it, The Propagandist will be a must-see for anyone interested in WWII history or Dutch film. Highly Recommended.
Why should public and academic libraries add this WWII propaganda documentary to their collections?
The Propagandist is a rigorous and unsettling examination of how Nazi ideology embedded itself in Dutch visual culture during and after World War II. By centering on Jan Teunissen and expanding outward to the broader film and advertising industries, the documentary provides rare insight into how propaganda practitioners often escaped accountability and continued shaping media landscapes long after the war ended. For public libraries, it is a valuable resource for patrons interested in WWII history, fascism, and the ethics of media production. Academic libraries will find it especially relevant for courses in film history, European studies, Holocaust studies, and political communication, offering primary-source material and expert analysis that deepen understanding of how propaganda functions beyond wartime.
Is this WWII propaganda documentary suitable for classroom or discussion-based screenings?
Yes. The Propagandist is particularly well suited for upper-level courses and moderated screenings that examine the relationship between ideology, media, and power. Its use of archival footage, oral histories, and scholarly commentary encourages critical discussion about responsibility, historical memory, and the long-term consequences of collaboration. Educators can use the film to explore how propaganda is constructed, how its creators rationalize their actions, and why such narratives remain relevant in the present moment. When paired with guided discussion, the documentary offers a powerful framework for analyzing both historical fascism and its echoes in contemporary media culture.
Icarus Films
Icarus Films
Icarus Films
Icarus Films
Icarus Films
Icarus Films
Icarus Films
Icarus Films