Editing Triumph of the Will (section)

==Synopsis==
The film begins with a prologue establishing the present-day as 5 September 1934 and the elapsed time since [[World War I]], the [[Treaty of Versailles]], [[Adolf Hitler's rise to power|Hitler's appointment as chancellor]], climaxing in his visit to [[Nuremberg]] on that day. It is the only commentary in the entire film.

'''Day 1''': The film opens with shots of the clouds above the city, and then moves through the clouds to float above the assembling masses below, with the intention of portraying the beauty and majesty of the scene. The cruciform shadow of Hitler's plane is visible as it passes over the tiny figures marching below, accompanied by an orchestral arrangement of the ''[[Horst-Wessel-Lied]]''. Upon arriving at the Nuremberg airport, Hitler and other Nazi leaders emerge from his plane to thunderous applause and a cheering crowd. He is then driven into Nuremberg, through equally enthusiastic people, to his hotel where a night rally is later held.

'''Day 2''': The second day begins with images of Nuremberg at dawn, accompanied by an extract from the Act III Prelude (''Wach Auf!'') of [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg]]''. Following this is a [[Montage sequence|montage]] of the attendees preparing for the opening of the Reich Party Congress, and footage of the top Nazi officials arriving at the [[Nazi party rally grounds#Luitpoldarena|Luitpold Arena]]. The film then cuts to the opening ceremony, where [[Rudolf Hess]] announces the start of the Congress. The camera then introduces much of the Nazi hierarchy and covers their opening speeches, including [[Joseph Goebbels]], [[Alfred Rosenberg]], [[Hans Frank]], [[Fritz Todt]], [[Robert Ley]] and [[Julius Streicher]]. Then the film cuts to an outdoor rally for the ''[[Reichsarbeitsdienst]]'' (Labor Service), which is primarily a series of quasi-military drills by men carrying spades. This is also where Hitler gives his first speech on the merits of the Labour Service and praising them for their work in rebuilding Germany. The day then ends with a torchlight [[Sturmabteilung|SA]] parade and fireworks display in which [[Viktor Lutze]] speaks to the crowds.

'''Day 3''': The third day starts with a [[Hitler Youth]] rally on the parade ground. Again the camera covers the Nazi dignitaries arriving and the introduction of Hitler by [[Baldur von Schirach]]. Hitler then addresses the Youth, describing in [[militarism|militaristic]] terms how they must harden themselves and prepare for sacrifice. Everyone present, including General [[Werner von Blomberg]], then assemble for a military pass and review, featuring [[Wehrmacht]] cavalry and various armored vehicles. That night Hitler delivers another speech to low-ranking party officials by torchlight, commemorating the first year since the Nazis took power and declaring that the party and state are one entity.

'''Day 4''': The fourth day is the [[Climax (narrative)|climax]] of the film, where the most memorable of the imagery is presented. Hitler, flanked by [[Heinrich Himmler]] and Viktor Lutze, walks through a long wide expanse with over 150,000 [[Sturmabteilung|SA]] and [[Schutzstaffel|SS]] troops standing at attention, to lay a wreath at a First World War memorial. Hitler then reviews the parading SA and SS men, following which Hitler and Lutze deliver a speech where they discuss the [[Night of the Long Knives]] purge of the SA several months prior. Lutze reaffirms the SA's loyalty to the regime, and Hitler absolves the SA of any crimes committed by [[Ernst Röhm]]. New party flags are consecrated by letting them touch the ''[[Blutfahne]]'' (the same cloth flag said to have been carried by the fallen Nazis during the [[Beer Hall Putsch]]) and, following a final parade in front of the [[Nuremberg Frauenkirche]], Hitler delivers his closing speech. In it he reaffirms the primacy of the Nazi Party in Germany, declaring, "All loyal Germans will become National Socialists. Only the best National Socialists are party comrades!" Hess then leads the assembled crowd in a final ''[[Sieg Heil]]'' salute for Hitler, marking the close of the party congress. The entire crowd sings the ''Horst-Wessel-Lied'' as the camera focuses on the giant Swastika banner, which fades into a line of silhouetted men in Nazi party uniforms, marching in formation as the lyrics "Comrades shot by the Red Front and the Reactionaries march in spirit together in our columns" are sung.