U.S. Army soldiers fight against the Germans during the Battle of Bulge in World War II. U.S. soldiers retreat and engineers prepare and lay mines and barbed wire fences. U.S. soldiers on a snow covered field. A map of Belgium depicts the Nazi drive into the region of Bulge. Allied aircraft bombard German town. Nazi prisoners of war being marched. U.S. Army Air Forces C-47B aircraft drop supplies to U.S. troops at Bastogne. U.S. 3rd Army advances in the regions. Damaged buildings in the city and dead bodies in streets. Soldiers fire rifles in a street in Haguenau, France. Credential being checked by officers. Soldiers fire rifles and artillery and speak over field phone. Alsatian women being freed from a prison. Senator James F. Byrnes speaks about the U.S. soldiers fighting in the war during a war bond drive.
Four U.S. Army soldiers sitting in a field in Germany. A GI sticks his head out from behind a U.S. weapon carrier wearing a Daniel Boone fur hat as he starts a funny, humor skit mocking Nazi German forces. He marches out from behind the vehicle carrying several guns and Nazi daggers for a Nazi enactment. He stands before the group, comes to attention and gives a Nazi salute. The GI displays the various guns and daggers for the audience. He gives a bottle, a gun, a dagger and the hat to the GIs sitting on the ground. GIs smile and cavort as they celebrate VE Day or Victory in Europe Day in World War II.
A Republic P-47D Thunderbolt aircraft, with bubble canopy, in flight over clouds as seen from another plane flying extremely close. At one point, the two airplanes move a little too close as slipstream of lead plane (unseen) forces the P-47 to adjust. The P-47 has tail number: "226716" and "K" and "E4" are painted on its fuselage which indicates it was one of the P-47D-27s of the 362nd Fighter group, 377th Fighter Squadron (or later, of 86th Fighter Group, 525th Squadron). Slate at start notes the P-47 footage was shot by Air Force Lieutenant Colonel William Clothier, a famous cinematographer.
U.S. Army Major General Arthur R. Wilson, Commanding General, Continental Advance Section, and French General of the Army (Général d'armée)Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, seen from rear as they both salute during playing of National Anthem by a French military band at ceremony in World War 2. The Generals review French troops drawn up in formation, presenting arms. Several French officers and an American officer are seen standing against a wall during the proceedings. The marching band passes in review, followed by the troops, as General de Tassigny, along with General Wilson and another American officer, salute. Scene shifts to General Wilson, at attention in front of assembled troops. General de Tassigny proceeds to decorate him with the Legion of Honor and another medal. The troops march away at conclusion of the ceremony.
President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic Charles de Gaulle makes inspection trip through the country at end of World War 2. Crowds line the sidewalks waving French flags. A Free-French tank named: "L'Audacieux." Numerous destroyed and damaged buildings and rubble lining the streets where his motorcade proceeds. At one stop, he is greeted by an honor guard of Colonial troops. His motorcade passes through a section of the Maginot line where rows of anti-tank dragon's teeth appear intact. At entry of one town a welcoming banner across the road reads: "Soyez Les Bienvenus." De Gaulle steps from a car near a sidewalk filled with French school girls, accompanied by Nuns, in habit. He shakes hands with some girls dressed in traditional local costumes. More views of destruction and rubble. Only the street is clear and rubble lines the edges. Armored cars and other armor pass through twin gates of a city and proceed down a main street, followed by marching French infantry, as people watch and cheer from sidewalks. A Cadillac automobile carries De Gaulle to a French Naval marina. Sailors present arms and he proceeds down a ramp to a floating dock, where he boards a motor launch that takes him along a river. More scenes of cheering French crowds.
Two trucks and a bus full of liberated French prisoners drive down an avenue in Paris. A large Parisian crowd including young girls watch their arrival. People wave out to welcome the prisoners as they wave back. Sign on bus stating 'Repatriated Prisoners'. Shots of French prisoners as a civilian offers them cigarettes. A Parisian volunteer nurse. Trucks of prisoners pull up before a building. Algerian prisoner as he drinks from a bottle of wine. A French soldier. (World War II period).