D I F U, the Deutsch – Italienische Film–Union
Over time, we have acquired a number of original film publications of the "DIFU" import/export company. DIFU was established after a trip to Berlin by Italian Minister for Popular Culture Alessandro Pavolini; as an agreement with Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels to import Italian films into Greater Germany via dubbed/synchronised versions; and the export of Third Reich films into Fascist Italy with dubbed/synchronised versions, in return.
The “Deutsch–Italienisch Film–Union” firm between Germany and Italy was established in 1937 and in the remaining months of that foundation year only one film was able to be released. It was the film Mario,* that told the Ballila story, and under the aegis of Reich Minister Dr. Goebbels and Reich Youth Leader Baldur von Schirach, in attendance by the Führer, a strong participation by Party officials, the Wehrmacht, and the diplomatic corps, the film had its festive premiere in Berlin. ––Filme unter südlicher Sonne, Reihe der Filmschriften, Heft 18, Berlin ("published in collaboration with the DIFU").
* Mario was the German title for Vecchia Guardia (1933).
The DIFU film advertising for both Bengasi and Giarabub in the March 3, 1943 issue of the popular German weekly film magazine, FILMWELT:
BELOW is our inventory of DIFU film materials. Note that all of them use the German translated film title, not the original Italian film title. Check our Publications page under "Original film pressbooks and scripts" for some italian film pressbooks and cinema owners' guides (Werberatschläge) which we also own for certain films, such as Bengasi, Luciano Serra–Pilote or Noi vivi!, but for which we do not have the "DIFU" corresponding German language original publication.