As part of the NATO forces, U.S. 7th Army tanks, troops, and artillery participate in "Exercise Cordon Bleu" with Central Army Group and 4th Tactical Air Force. One object of the exercise, among others, was to improve coordination of NATO forces of various types and nationalities. American M24 tanks move past a monitoring team parked at side of the road during the exercises in Germany. Another scene shows soldiers on motorcycles moving along a road and heavy armor following. A mortar team in the field. Infantry in defensive positions. A tank is guided into a firing position. Gunner on top of tank. Tank turret rotates. The name: "Austerlitz" painted on the turret. Tank commander looks through binoculars. Several NATO aircraft fly overhead and swoop low over water area. A tank rolls over a bridge, past Marshal Alphonse juin of France, Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe, who is standing at side of road. Two F-80 jet fighters swoop low overhead. Marshal Juin is joined by two French officers, one a tank commander in helmet and goggles.
Austria is liberated to independent self rule by the occupying nations, post World War 2. Exterior of Upper Belvedere Palace building in Vienna, Austria. Troops of the occupying nations parade. A large crowd gathers for celebrating the independence after Austrian State Treaty agrement. The flags of the big four occupying powers, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union, being lowered from the flag poles and the flag of Austria is raised. Officials stand amidst the crowd, including brief close up views of Theodor Körner, the President of Austria, and Julius Raab, the Chancellor of Austria. People cheering and celebrating.
French woman test pilot, Jacqueline Auriol, gets into the cockpit of a French Dassault Mystere IV N jet fighter. She dons helmet and straps herself in. Aircraft taxis and takes off from runway. Personnel in the control room speaks over radio. Technician looks through a scope designed to observe speed. Group of French observers watch the aircraft in flight. The aircraft lands, taxis and parks on the ramp. Woman pilot Jacqueline Auriol climbs down from the aircraft smiling, for she has just regained the woman's world aviation speed record.
French Army troops boarding a troop ship to deploy overseas. They are in full iniform including blouse and tie, and carrying their military kit and weapons. One soldier carries a French MAT-49 submachine gun. A man at gangplank gives each soldier a piece of paper. View of the full troop ship leaving the dock. Friends and family waving goodbye.