Liberated American prisoner reading the Stars & Stripes newspaper, at German prison camp for allied airmen (Stalag 7A) near Moosburg, Germany. Several American former prisoners being interviewed, include African American 2nd Lt. Alexander Jefferson, of the Tuskegee Airmen. Former prisoners posing in a group for the camera. Former prisoners strolling around the grounds of the prison, and sitting outside its buildings. (They are awaiting transport to local airfields where they will board C-47s to Camp Lucky Strike near Le Havre, France, for processing home.)
A review of significant events that occurred in the year 1945. Scenes from fourth inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President. Wide view of snow covered lawn of the White House, and guards positioned on the south White House lawn. View of President Roosevelt as he is sworn in as President of the United States, on the south portico of the White House due to wartime austerity measures, on January 20, 1945. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin pose at the Yalta Conference. Death of Roosevelt in April 1945. Burial procession and funeral ceremony of Franklin Roosevelt. Men and women weeping. An African American woman waves her handkerchief as she mourns. Wreath on grave of President Roosevelt. Harry S. Truman sworn in as U.S. President on April 12, 1945. Surrender of the Germans signed by General Jodl and General W.B. Smith in Reims, France. Representatives of Russia, Britain, France and United States at the surrender. General Dwight Eisenhower smiles.
January, 1945, on the Western front during World War 2. Troops of the U.S. 8th Infantry Division test new white camouflage coveralls for use in snow. They patrol in snow covered forest areas on the Western Front. A sergeant makes outdoor field adjustments to the coveralls using a knife and captured German sewing machine. He helps a soldier who tries on his new coverall. The material used is from old mattress covers. Several soldiers are seen putting on the camouflage coveralls. Scene shifts to U.S. troops with a jeep towing a 20mm Italian dual purpose gun for use in Germany. On January 2, 1945, they set up and fire the gun at targets a half mile away. In Belgium, U.S. Army engineers of Company B, 238th Engineer Battalion, improvise remote controlled bazooka shells as road blocks. They set them up on fence posts and fire them by ordinary flashlight batteries. U.S. soldiers from a Signal Company of the 99th Infantry Division are seen using a Weasel vehicle (officially designated an M29C light cargo carrier) to lay communication cables through snow in the 1st Army Sector, Belgium. Views of the wire spool on back of the weasel, and soldiers pulling wire from it.
Views of the U.S. Army Air Forces fair hosted at Wright Field, near Dayton, Ohio, in October, 1945.The highlights of the event were exhibits of captured German and Japanese aircraft, rockets, and equipment. A German V-2 Rocket Motor on display. Soldiers observe the rocket. A German Junkers Ju 388 Störtebeker multi-role aircraft on display. A German Messerschmitt ME-262 Schwalbe fighter on display. A German pilot's victories recorded on the side of a plane. Two soldiers take a look at a Japanese Kamikaze bomb. One of them gets into the bomb seat. American officers and soldiers view the exhibits. 'Alles Kaputt' written on the side of a German Junkers Ju-290 bomber (one of the candidate aircraft, with further development, in Germany's Amerika Bomber project for a long-range bomber capable of striking the United States). Soldiers walk under the plane. 'Transient Aircraft' written on the control tower building in the background. (World War II period).
Opening slate of this film reads" Churchill Defeated." It goes on to show Winston Churchill attending his last meeting with wartime allied leaders at Podsdam, Germany in July, 1945. He shakes hands with Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. His replacement, Clement Attlee who is also there. View from above of Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin greeting the new British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, who is accompanied by Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and U.S. President Harry Truman, accompanied by Secretary of State James F. Byrnes. The wartime leaders gather around a large round table. Closeup of Marshal Stalin and Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov. Closeup of U.S. President Harry S. Truman at the conference table. View from above of the principals at the table. Film shifts to scenes of Major Attlee campaigning for votes. People in street listening to Ernest Bevin campaigning. Views of Winston Churchill being given a hearty farewell by a crowd, as he rides through on an open vehicle. Closeups of him he picks up a microphone to address the throng. Scene shifts to views of British voters casting their ballots. King George VI strolls with new Prime Minister Attlee and Winston Churchill. He poses with the new Prime Minister (Attlee) and Ernest Bevin on his right. At his left is Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. Closeups of Clement Attlee.
A crowd enjoys fireworks in Red Square, Moscow, Soviet Union, at night. Past events show Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom in Tehran, Iran for the Tehran Conference of 1943. U.S. President Harry S. Truman in Germany during the Potsdam Conference of 1945. The Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Soviet Union. Soviet people along a street in Moscow. Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, Vyacheslav Molotov with others applauding at the Bolshoi theater, in Moscow. Anti-soviet disorders. Street cars being overturned. (Hungary?).