THE HARD CORE

Description:

Created by the International Refugee Organization (IRO), "The Hard Core" (1951) was directed by Arthur Zegart and written by Patricia Zegart. The film is about the plight of "hardcore" displaced persons (DPs) in Europe after WWII. These individuals, including the old, sick, and disabled, remain in DP camps because they have not been offered homes or jobs. The film highlights their struggles, the efforts of the IRO to rehabilitate and relocate them, and the challenges they face as time runs out with the IRO ending its operations in 1952. It also describes the efforts to help amputees, the blind, and those with other injuries regain functionality. It shows some of the countries that have accepted refugees, offering them a chance for a new life. The overarching theme is the uncertainty and hope for a better future for those still left behind. (Note: The IRO was founded in 1946 to deal with the massive WWII refugee problem. In 1948, the IRO became a United Nations specialized agency. In 1952, operations of the IRO ceased, and it was replaced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

This short documentary takes a look at a group identified as “The Hardcore.” These were refugees in Europe stuck in displaced persons camps following the close of WW2. In the wake of this major war, many would be resettled through efforts of the International Refugee Organization (IRO) founded in April of 1946. This feature explores hardships of displaced persons as nations closed their doors on them due to various health or physical conditions. Images show rehabilitation centers working to help the refugees regain health and job skills under pressure as the IRO’s operations were set to close in 1951. The IRO seal opens the film (:09). It was produced by the Office of Public Information of the International Refugee Organization (:16). Notable film producer, Arthur Zegart (:26) directed the film. American stage actor Walter Abel narrates (:35). Walter (:42) introduces the story of the hardcore. A refugee runs down German streets with a suitcase (1:06) as he prepares to leave a DP camp. Another DP man walks with a cane after having a foot amputated (1:24). He watches as a bus of refugees leave the camp (1:35). A train passes before an IRO transport ship (1:56). A stream of refugees prepares to board with luggage (2:10). Posters advertise new jobs in Australia at the DP camp (2:38). A DP man enters the IRO Counsellor’s office (2:54). Older and maimed refugees had a harder time finding new homes (3:05). Child refugees born in postwar camps are tended to by DP camp nurses (3:13). Parents meet with tuberculosis affected children (3:35). The entrance for the Neuburg Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Center follows (3:42). A trainer conducts a physical therapy session (3:47). Amputee victims learn to regain strength including a woman who lost both arms (4:12) and a man with a prosthetic leg (4:32). Basketball is used in physical therapy (5:07). One man celebrates after passing his exam (5:20). He exits the Medical Department (5:29); walking with ease on new legs. The IRO aids refugees in regaining work skills in various fields (5:45) including agriculture (5:45), book binding (5:53), knitting (6:04) and tailoring (6:15). A blind man works on a loom (6:22). Auto mechanics (6:53) re-learn how to work on engines. Another rehabilitation center accepts the visit of a mission from the Netherlands (7:14). Following the war, the Netherlands accepted 8,000 DP’s from Germany. A sign notes an IRO Sanatorium (7:30). Sweden (7:34) welcomed tuberculosis victims. A doctor looks over an X-ray of tuberculosis affected lungs (7:43). The large passenger liner Galilah leaves port (7:53) for Israel. Cars marked with the Jewish star (7:56) await arrivals. Wounded are taken off the ship by litter (7:58). A French mission meets with members at the DP camp (8:11). Refugees sit around a table overlooking the shores of Denmark following relocation (8:29). Youth recently cured of tuberculosis play at a Danish sanitarium (8:49). A blind man pets a dog at an airport in Munich (9:04). A passenger plane of the Fred Olsen Air Transport from Norway (9:15) carts blind refugees. The final segment looks at refugees in their new home countries (9:30). Blind receive instruction from a high school teacher (9:46). A blind DP’s wife is pictured at her first day of work (10:03). A 17-year-old gets his sight restored (10:41). A remaining displaced person looks at a poster informing members the IRO was closing (11:17). Walter and J. Donald Kingsley (12:04). The pair urge for sympathy from governments and people as the IRO prepared to close (13:00).

Transcription

e [Music] the hardcore the hardcore means people not just any people but a special group of people who live in the DP camps in Europe the old the sick the disabled they are refugees and so they are also homeless and unwanted this this is their story the story of the [Music] hardcore this man is a displaced person he's in a hurry because he's leaving a DP camp in Germany this man is a displaced person too he must stand aside while thousands of DPS leave the camps and himself behind every day he watches them go on a journey that he can only dream about iro in the 3 years of its operation has moved almost a million displac persons out of the camps of Germany and Austria it is the largest peacetime Mass movement in history the displaced have been offered homes and jobs by individuals voluntary societies and governments all over the [Music] world they are finding their places as citizens of free countries this man is only one of thousands of human beings called the hardcore they have not been offered homes they live in the vacuum of the DP camp and now for these unwanted time is running out iro is ending they know it they dread it these are the victims of the war who are more than displaced most Nations have closed their doors to the blind the old the sick here are some of the hardcore here are the children born in the slave labor camps of the Nazis born in the post-war DP camps most of the children in this Hospital have tuberculosis of the bone their cure takes a long time and often a family must decide leave the sick child behind or wait and perhaps lose all chance of immigrating [Music] these are also hardcore in ir's rehabilitation centers they find the chance they need to make themselves whole again she lost both her arms with new ones she has to learn a new sense of [Music] balance for them every step is a challenge every step brings them closer to their goal to be like other people to be able to walk [Music] again they play these games for control and coordination weeks are spent in exercising and each week brings them closer to the time to the hour all these hours are for the final examination he has passed it this is the most wonderful day in his life for this man lost both his legs during the war now he has learned to walk again at the same time these people have been learning to work again acquiring new skills or practicing old ones this man is a book binder these women are learning to operate a knitting [Music] machine many well-tailored clothes have been made by this skilled [Music] Craftsman this man is almost totally blind but his fingers have learned to distinguish the different colors of his Yarns such handicap is great but her will to conquer it is [Music] greater skilled auto mechanics and Machinists capable of taking care of themselves and their families now they work and wait for the day when some country will tell them we have a place for you as the Netherlands has done this country sent a mission into a rehabilitation center to some of the handicapped and their families the Netherlands was able to offer homes and jobs yes a few countries are helping the hardcore Sweden is taking some of the tubercular cases heartened by the certainty of a secure future no longer DPS and unwanted surely their cure will be [Music] faster a ship carrying the old and the sick destination Israel who has opened her [Music] Gates France sent a mission into the DP camps she held out a warm hand to the lonely agent the shores of Denmark are rich indeed for these old people here they find dignity and peace spending their days in the sun after the barren years in the DP camps in a nearby Danish sanitarium these children once hardcore have been cured of tuberculosis of the bone and at an airport in Munich a happy day arrives for others of the hardcore for these blind DPS and their families Norway sent a special [Music] plane the chance to be a part of a normal Community is theirs at last [Music] and they lose no time learning the ways of their new country a teacher from the local high school volunteers to instruct these people who will be his countrymen though it's hard to learn a language especially for the blind the incentive is strong this is the language of their new Homeland the wife of one of the blind DPS at her first day of work already feels at home now after many years she is useful and independent for a few of the blind life in Norway began with light a beginning from which they had not dared to dream Norwegian Eye Specialists found that with treatment some could be able to see again an operation has restored the sight in one eye for this 17-year-old boy who was totally [Music] blind behind him is the lonely world of the blind where before there was Darkness now there is light [Music] ahead for all these accepted ones is a bright and hopeful future a new life here in Norway and other countries the x hardcore but what are the thousands Left Behind hoping for a door to open to them the old among the hardcore who sit with patient folded hands the children r with promise who wait and grow older waiting the handicapped Never Letting themselves believe that they will be forgotten will they be forgotten that is the story of the hardcore but so far it is a story without an end and that is the big question what will be the end for the Thousand still left in Germany and Austria let's ask ask that question of J Donald Kingsley director general of the international Refugee organization we don't want to leave any of the DPS behind Mr AEL our objective is to move all of them out of Germany and Austria especially these people in the hardcore we're doing everything we possibly can we have sent Representatives around the world to find homes for them we have discussed the question with governments with private organizations both in Europe and in North America there is no lack of sympathy everywhere people who know the story and understand it are willing and anxious to help the problem is time iro goes out of existence in the spring of 1951 and those who have not been moved by then may have lost their last chance the end of the story is up to govern ments to people and groups of people all over the world who are willing to help us [Music]


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