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.
The city of Paris, France under German occupation during World War 2. View from above of Place de l'Opera and l'Academie Nationale de Musique - Theatre de l'Opera, with citizens going in and out of the metro subway station. Many new German signs seen. Point of view from moving vehicle of pedestrians, shops, and busy streets of Paris. POV from moving vehicle of French civilians on bicycles and German soldiers on foot. German vehicles drive along the streets.The Hotel Crillon with Swastika flags in front. A large sign in German reads Deutsches Soldatenkino (for a German Soldier's cinema or movie theatre). Sign for "Soldatenheim der Kommandantur gross Paris" (German Military Commander's headquarters in Paris.) People ride bicycles. German trucks drive along the street. French civilians in a line in front of a store, queuing for rations or supplies.
The city of Paris, France under German occupation during World War II. Interiors of the Paris Opera House during a German meeting. German officials exit from the gate of a public building accompanied by French politician Pierre Laval. The German officials shake hands with Laval who enters a car. View of the Longchamps race track. German and French officials with civilian officials during an outdoor ceremony. A French official pins medals on German soldiers. German, French officials and people outside a cathedral. A ceremony at the eternal light at the Arc de Triomphe. A scuffle in the crowd on the sidewalk.
Scenes of French civilians and German army vehicles on street in Paris, France during the Nazi occupation. The French, American and the United Kingdom flags flutter from a pole high over a building. French civilians read notices and walk in a street. Men ride bicycles. A board on a building reads 'Deutsches Soldatenkino' meaning "German Soldier's Cinema". The German flags on a building. Army trucks drive past on a road.
World War II French prisoners of war come out of freight cars and walk towards a railroad platform in Paris, France. Wounded French prisoners arrive at a train station in Paris. Soldiers assist the wounded. French prisoners of war walk with baggage. French politician Pierre Laval arrives from London, England at the North Station along with German Minister Schleier. He shakes hands with other German officers. Debris lying outside German troops barracks.
Allied raid on Dieppe, France during World War II. A Royal Navy warship bombards the coast of Dieppe at night. A ship underway in the Atlantic Ocean. Allied airmen get into an aircraft and take off from an airfield in England. The aircraft in flight over the English Channel. American, British and Canadian troops in landing crafts underway in the English Channel towards the coast of Dieppe. German aircraft in flight. A destroyer ship lays a smoke screen. Naval guns fire at the coast. German aircraft drop bombs and explosions occur at sea. British and U.S. aircraft in flight. Explosions occur at sea. A British aircraft falls in sea. A pilot of the Royal Air Force in water. He comes aboard. Landing crafts at sea. LCTs (Landing Crafts Tanks) go ashore. Aerial view of Dieppe as aircraft bombard the city. British and American soldiers aboard a ship. Wounded soldiers disembark from a ship at a port in England. Allied aircraft return to an air base. A wounded soldier shows a thumbs up sign.