This documentary sparked strong reactions from the liberal intelligentsia of Britain and much of the general public.

In 1946, a Daily Mirror editorial argued for Britain, still deep in austerity measures and rationing itself, helping the Germans:

In saying this we suggest no sympathy for the German people… It is not a feeling of compassion which prompts us to emphasize the importance of dealing with the situation. It is a practical matter which makes action imperative. The longer Europe is allowed to sink into the bog, the longer it will take to raise up — the longer the occupation will have to go on.