Ruins and rubble in an unidentified European town near end of World War I. Industrial plants destroyed, only smoke stacks left standing. Civilian people dig among rubble in the bomb damaged ruins of the area. An injured woman with a bandage over her head and part of her face is seen pulling a chair from the rubble of a building. A man climbs up a ladder to access a partially destroyed house. The exterior brick wall is largely collapsed revealing one intact elevated floor inside. A young man with a bandaged head, and a young girl and two boys near some mattresses. One of the young boys also has a bandage on his head.
General John J. Pershing walks in front of a formation of American troops, followed by officers of his staff. Next,Pershing and his staff walk to several soldiers standing in a line. He decorates a field grade officer, and shakes hands and converses with him. He then decorates a Colonel, and another field grade officer. A French officer is then decorated. Finally, he decorates several enlisted soldiers. (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)
World War 1 scene of a French soldier at a concrete and brick protected location, fastens pouches of ammunition to the backs of two dogs. He then leads them, followed by another French soldier. French troops are next seen climbing into a fortified position on a steep hillside or mountain area, where they set up a Vickers machine gun. They examine its field of fire, in preparation for its use.
Events early in World War I. Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria gets out of the car and walks with military escorts in front of troop formation. French troops happily enter protected fortified area. Woven wooden supports for trench. French Colonial soldier smiles as he poses in trench with rifle. German Kaiser Wilhelm II leads procession in front of honor guard. Ladies are in attendance. German parade led by goose stepping military band. Russian cavalry and the mass of autos. German lancers. Sign posted in France, announcing general mobilization of Army and Navy. French street scene with notices being passed out among the population. French Legionnaires march in crowded street. British palace guards parade in London followed by British Horse Guards. Belgian refugees walking along a roadside and cattle pulling wagons loaded with refugee belongings.
Montage of scenes related to European mobilization and preparations for World War I, from 1914 through 1919, plus brief views of Mark VIII tank maneuvers, circa 1924. Patriotic French citizens fill a street as France mobilizes for World War 1. Italian soldiers marching to war through a town. British King George V seen with Prime Minister David Lloyd George and other British officials. British First Lord of Admiralty, Winston Churchill poses and "mugs" for camera. British troops being transported along a country road on double-decker buses and slogging through the mud in France. Two French soldiers join the line of "tommies" to be photographed, and then step out of line to watch. King George V with Field Marshal Douglas Haig, and other officers, next to their automobiles in field, during the King's visit to his troops in 1916. The King and British officers observe tests of Mark IV tank, circa 1917. Scene shifts to August 10, 1916 showing the Prince of Wales and King George V, accompanied by Field Marshal Douglas Haig, and other officers, observing the Battle of Pozières (in Battle of the Somme) from a safe distance, using a telescope. U.S. Army Mark VIII International Tanks in daytime and nighttime maneuvers (likely at Fort Meade, Maryland) circa 1924.
Gun camera footage from U.S. Army Air Forces fighter planes shows numerous German aircraft being shot down during World War 2. Also shown are German aircraft being destroyed on the ground and all manner of conveyances being destroyed by strafing along lines of communication.