https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/042d1996-0bff-4ee7-816c-304e3774ea97 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). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn_uu0n5lEE Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:22:54 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/042d1996-0bff-4ee7-816c-304e3774ea97 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.