US war film explaining the central role of ball bearings in the Second World War and shedding light on the strategic background to the Schweinfurt attacks of 1943.
Film – The Case of the Tremendous Trifle – Ball Bearings
Description
Historical Context
The Case of the Tremendous Trifle is an American war film from the Second World War era that explains the strategic importance of ball bearings for modern warfare. The film vividly shows how crucial ball bearings are for the operation of vehicles, aircraft, weapons and industrial production processes, explaining why the US Air Force carried out the attack on the ball bearing industry in Schweinfurt, Germany, in 1943. Through animated sequences, technical demonstrations and documentary footage, the film conveys the military logic behind the “Schweinfurt Raids” and highlights the vulnerability of key industrial resources in total war.
