The Case of the Tremendous Trifle (1944)

This documentary short film depicts the importance of tiny ball bearings in the ability of a nation to carry out warfare. As ball bearings are necessary for the operation of almost all machinery, war materiel is vitally dependent on the production of these small metallic globes. Allied military forces in World War II decide it is necessary to curtail Germany's ability to provide itself with ball bearings. Intelligence is gathered from many sources in order to plan an aerial bombing raid on Schweinfurt, home of Germany's ball bearing industry.

Production

United States Army Signal Corps