African American Preacher speaking from church pulpit to his congregation about threats to Liberty, during World War 2. Closeups of parishioners listening intently. Suddenly, in contrast, the statue of a German Eagle atop a wreathed swastika is seen followed by views of Adolf Hitler looking over maps with his war planners. Next, a Japanese Rising Sun Naval Ensign flag is seen followed by views of Japanese Naval war planners aboard ship, and Japanese war planners at an Army headquarters. Glimpse of Hitler and staff amused by something at Christmas holidays. (A decorated Christmas tree stands in the background.) An entire huge apartment house collapses from German bombing in Europe. An aerial view from a bomber with smoke rising from bomb strikes below, displays labels reading: "Thirteen Countries Conquered," and "150,000,000 People Enslaved." A German officer stands beside a group of hanged persons at a public execution. Scene shifts completely to formation of Japanese Mitsubishi G4M bombers (Mitsubishi Navy Type 1 attack bombers) releasing bombs in flight. Bombs exploding at various sites on the ground. Chinese civilians fleeing from Japanese bombing during the 2nd Sino-Japanese war. Bombs bursting and destruction. Chinese rescuing wounded and collecting the dead. Japanese bombs striking U.S. battleships, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. American sailors running to battle stations and firing antiaircraft guns from a ship. Formations of Japanese warplanes diving from overhead. Several U.S. Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers with cockpits open (possibly representing Japanese dive bombers in a movie ) drop bombs. Explosions and fires from bombing. American sailor furiously turns controls to raise elevation of antiaircraft gun. Japanese airplane streaming black smoke passes overhead. U.S. sailors scrambling to battle stations on a ship. Japanese fighter plane firing its machine guns on a strafing run passes over a ship. An African American sailor lying on a deck, fires a M1917 Browning machine gun and falls back. Another sailor takes his place.
Refugee children, displaced children, and war orphan boys and girls arrive in New York harbor, United States during World War II. The European refugee children aboard the passenger ship Serpa Pinto as they arrive in New York to begin a new life after fleeing war and persecution in Europe. Children, including many Jewish children, from much of war torn Europe, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Spain and Germany disembark from the ocean liner operated under the auspices of the United States Committee for the Care of European Children (USCOM). A group of children poses for camera. Red Cross provides food and fresh milk to refugee children. The children eat the food.
A prelude to the entry of United States in World War II, from the "Why We Fight" series. U.S. Army band marching along with the troops. The bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese during World War II. Night view of air raids in London and anti-aircraft fire amid British building silhouettes. British buildings collapsing and burning during blitz in Battle of Britain. Cavalry and tank battles in Russia against Nazi German forces. Montage of quick shots of German Panzer tank and German Luftwaffe aircraft operations in Western Europe. German troops marching through Paris at Arc de Triomphe. German heavy rail guns firing. Dead bodies of Japanese bombing victims lying on the street in China. German navy ships underway at sea. German army forces advancing in invasion of Czechoslovakia. Very low flying German trimotor bomber aircraft passing overhead over treeline. German invasion of Poland. German heavy artillery guns and railway guns firing. Fighter aircraft plunging toward ground and crashing. German paratroopers being dropped over Holland, Netherlands in invasion of Netherlands. Aerial views of German aircraft passing by Parthenon and ancient Greek monuments in Greece. More heavy rail gun shots. Germans invading Belgium, Albania, Yugoslavia.
United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addresses the nation from White House in Washington DC. Sitting at his desk he talks about the position of United States in World War II. He speaks of economic, industrial and military power of America. President Roosevelt reminds that the Americans were considered as weak links in other countries of Europe and rest of the world. He boosts the morale of General Douglas MacArthur, his soldiers and sailors by his enthusiastic speech.
Events related to World War II. View of destroyed German planes inside a bombed factory. B-24 aircraft lands on runway. Aerial views of German Stuka dive bomber diving and dropping bombs. Flaming map of Europe. Scenes of Dunkirk, France. Stuka bombers British troop try to board boats.
Scenes from a Japanese Yanagi (Willow) submarine mission that carried war-essential minerals and materiel to German-occupied Lorient, France, in World War 2. The submarine (I-30) code-named Cherry Blossom (Sakura in Japanese and Kirschblüte in German) is the first to travel on a visit from the Pacific to Europe during World War 2. Opening scene shows I-30 underway on the surface, with its crew in dress uniforms on deck and officers in the conning tower. Several German Kriegsmarine (Navy) officers, including Admiral Karl Dönitz, Commander of the German U-boat fleet, and another Admiral, are seen rendering classic military (not nazi) salutes. Closeup of some Japanese officers and men standing on the deck of their submarine as it glides past the pier. Local seamen, all giving the Nazi salute, crowd the deck of a nearby ship. Glimpse of Doenitz and the other Admiral walking a gangplank to board the I-30, where they greet officer delegation of the submarine, as the Japanese Naval Attaché to Germany, Captain Yokoi Tadao, and the I-30's Captain,Commander Endo Shinobu, stand nearby. Doenitz, and the two Japanese officers are seen conversing, on deck amidst gathering of German naval officers. Scene shifts to the land, where German Grand Admiral,Erich Raeder (4-striped admiral insignia on sleeve) speaks with Commander Endo Shinobu, as Captain Yokoi Tadao, stands nearby. Next, Officers and sailors are seen saluting from the conning tower of the I-30. A closeup of Commander Endo Shinobu saluting. The I-30 slowly moves away from the pier.