Succession of Berlin, Germany, newspapers shown, from 1918 through 1919, chronicling progress of war towards the World War 1 Armistice, and subsequent problems and conditions in postwar Germany. Newspaper of November 12, 1918 addresses concerns about the conditions and the price of the truce. Crowd stands on a road covered with snow around statue of the Kaiser, with scaffold around it. Crowd in a square in War Bond rally. One of crowd carries a Communist red flag. Newspaper refers to gunfire in Berlin from Unter den Linden to Friedrichstrasse. Newspaper announces the Kaiser's abdication, which is then illustrated by reversed footage showing the Kaiser walking backwards and being lifted into his automobile, which then drives away backwards. Returning German soldiers are happy to see the war end, and sing in their returning trucks. An officer inspects war trenches that are now empty. Newspaper announce increasing domestic problems . Newspapers raise issue of German prisoners of War held in foreign countries. Troops are seen moving in streets and at checkpoints in Germany.
Clip opens with scene from a play in Berlin entitled: The Star Shines Again. German officer stands on a stage and gives speech. Following street scenes and newspaper headlines illustrate the increasingly desperate conditions developing in postwar Germany following World War 1, culminating in declaration of martial law by the Ministry of Defense. Scenes of civil unrest and use of martial force to control the population during the German Revolution of 1918-1919. German soldiers and artillery in the streets work to control unrest of German citizens. Massive crowd of German citizens running and dispersing in panic on streets of Berlin. Newspaper headlines describe the unrest.
Heinkel HE-57 amphibian monoplane in flight. Point of view shot from camera behind pilot as plane performs aerial spinning dive. Changing view of ground from cockpit of aircraft. Pilots with parachutes land on field. A model aircraft in flight. At timecode 1:00: Paul von Hindenburg and other German dignitaries present at the December 1925 re-interment of Manfred von Richthofen in Invalid's Cemetery (Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery) in Berlin, Germany. (He was originally buried in France following his 1918 death). At 1:04: Scene from before his death: Manfred Von Richthofen (The Red Baron) smiling and conversing with other German pilots. Clip ends with brief view of Fokker Dr.I Triplane like that flown by Manfred von Richthofen.
A crowd of German civilians is seen gathered in the Lustgarten. But the scene shifts suddenly to the Berlin Deutsches Stadion (Deutsches Stadion, Olympischer Platz 3, 14053 Berlin) in the Grunewald Racecourse. Men in old-fashioned traditional military uniforms march into the stadium, carrying flags of the various German States. They parade around the perimeter of the stadium. Flag of the German Weimar Republic flies over the principal building in the stands. The flag bearers on the field lower their flags, in salute. Next, Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg and his deputy, General Erich Ludendorff, enter the field, leading several military officers, together with a civilian, carrying a sign reading: "I.G.I.D." They are followed by a long line of civilians. Spectators are on their feet in the stands where some men wave their hats and some women wave handkerchiefs. (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)
German troops in the European Theater during World War I. German Kaiserine Hermine Reuss talks to medics and German officers in Berlin, Germany before a hospital train leaves for the war front. German units advance past a building towards the western front. Horse drawn carts loaded with supply boxes being pulled along. Allied prisoners march as German soldiers keep guard.
Crowd of people on the street during German Revolution at conclusion of World War I. Soldiers carrying a howitzer and trying to position it in front of the Kaiser's palace (Also called Kaiser-Wilhelm Palais or Altes Palais). Group of soldiers installing a howitzer inside the palace with the help of ladder. Huge crowd of cheerful people celebrating the proclamation of a Republic Germany shortly after the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II.