German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, on leave, in Germany during World War II, visits the home of his friend, Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels, and shares some time with Magda (Mrs. Goebbels) and her children. He comes out of the house in the company of five Goebbels children and their dog. Mrs. Goebbels is behind them carrying her youngest daughter, Heidrun. They all walk a path and Rommel and Magda pose with her daughters. Then, as they walk toward the house, son, Helmut Goebbels, is seen walking backwards ahead of them. They all stroll in the garden.
At start of film, German infantry and supplies are seen moving in large barges, along a river in Germany, during World War 2. Closeups of the troops looking tired and bored. Many of them are sleeping on the barges. Closeups of several asleep. Scene changes showing troops on the camera barge waving at another passing barge carrying some soldiers and many containers of war materiel and supplies. Connected to it's stern is a small barge carrying several horses and two soldiers. View of troops disembarking from a barge and stepping onto a dock, each carrying their personal small arms and equipment. Complete change of scene shows a small boy grooming a horse. A log cabin, trees, and a body of water are in the near background. A youthful cavalryman approaches the boy and gives him a dispatch to be carried. They exchange old-fashioned hand salutes. Next, the boy carries a large saddle and places it on the horse. Then, climbing over the cavalryman (who is on his knees) the boy mounts the horse. The cavalryman hands him the dispatch and they exchange salutes, again. Closeup of the little boy astride the horse, holding the reins and the papers to be delivered. View of the boy riding rapidly without the dispatches. He stops and slides down off the horses back. He is next seen being hugged by two women and a soldier in uniform. They appear to be a happy family. Closeup of the smiling boy with the two women.
Film begins showing two German soldiers in an established log lined firing position at an artillery training facility in Germany during World War 2. One is using a periscopic telescope. Closeup of a soldier hurrying along a log-lined trench toward a communication center. He picks up a field telephone that is next seen ringing and picked up at another communication center manned by several German officers. One takes the phone call. Scene shifts to an artillery crew at a log-lined gun emplacement where they attend to a 10.5cm artillery piece. Closeup of soldier signalling for guns to fire. Shells exploding in the distance. Crew at another gun emplacement hold their ears as their gun fires. Many more views of guns firing and smoke filling the air.
Luftwaffe Junkers Ju-52 transport planes take off from an airfield in Germany during World War II. Empennage of the aircraft shows the Nazi Swastika/Hackenkreuz emblem. Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger paratroopers jump out from planes. They open and activate their parachutes as they fall. Animation shows the defining features of a Junkers Ju-52 transport plane. The nose, body, and tail assembly are highlighted. The Vertical Stabilizer and landing gear of the plane are also shown. Three Junkers Ju-52 transport planes eject paratroopers while mid-air. Animation shows the engine, wings, winglet and tail plane.
Luftwaffe paratrooper meeting in Germany during World War II. A Luftwaffe official with points to a diorama. “Fallschirmjäger” cuffband on his sleeve. Other officers listen and watch the diorama. Luftwaffe officials look at each other’s maps. Junkers Ju-52 transport planes take off from an airfield. Empennage of the aircraft shows the Nazi Swastika/Hackenkreuz emblem. Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger paratroopers jump out from planes. They open and activate their parachutes as they fall.
A transport ship carrying released German prisoners of war arrives at a Baltic Sea port during World War II. Crowds cheer the returning prisoners of war and throw flowers at them. Sailors perform the Nazi salute. Women and children waving bouquets of flowers. Prisoners of war crowd the deck of a ship with a Nazi flag. Nazi officials among the crowd welcoming the soldiers home from North Africa. Former prisoners of war disembark from ship one by one. They are holding bouquets given to them. Sign reads “Die heimat grüßt euch” (“Greetings from the homeland”). An Afrika Korps veteran soldier holding a bunch of flowers besides a smiling woman. Girls offering flowers to an Afrika Korps veteran smoking a pipe. Elderly women admire a young veteran. An Afrika Korps veteran cradling a kitten. A woman writes on a notebook at a table with paperwork processing the incoming soldiers. Stamps and wads of cash on the desk. A nurse and a German soldier together. The soldiers board a waiting railroad train. A woman gives a cup of beer to a soldier, through the train window. The soldier drinks it and smile. A soldier with a cast talking to his friend. Soldiers returning to Germany for rest. Railroad train cars filled with smiling, German soldiers who crowd at the windows and wave to family, friends, women and children crowding the train station platform to see them off. Crowds waving at the soldiers as the train leaves the train station.