How were talking films used for technical training during World War II?

During World War II, the development of "talkies"—films incorporating synchronized sound—became a vital tool for teaching and technical training.1

The armed services widely employed these audiovisual education aids to instruct a diverse and often semiliterate population of soldiers. By utilizing motion pictures, the military was able to effectively communicate complex information on a wide range of topics, spanning from specific fighting techniques to essential personal hygiene practices.21

These films were part of a broader shift toward visual approaches to instruction, which proved highly effective in enhancing soldiers' recall, imagination, and interest in the subject matter. In addition to technical training, similar film technologies were utilized by major belligerents for propaganda purposes, such as the United States' Why We Fight series, which aimed to educate troops on the geopolitical stakes of the conflict.21