United States officers, Polish officers and freed slave laborers standing near graves of two U.S. aviators. The officers discussing amongst themselves. The aviators are alleged to have been beaten to death by the Germans. German civilians under guidance of U.S. Grave Registration group. They remove bodies for autopsy purposes. Men carrying the burned body of an aviator on stretcher and place it into ambulance.
Opening scene shows the Monument to the Battle of the Nations erected in Leipzig, in 1913, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the epic battle of Leipzig, and the defeat of Napoleon by a coalition of allies arrayed against the French. Notable are images of Teutonic knights standing guard around the upper periphery of the monument. Closeup of the base of the monument and entranceway. Some signs of war damage are visible. Camera pans upward. An American soldier is seen in lower left foreground, manning an M45 Browning .50 caliber Quadmount anti-aircraft gun. Camera continues to pan over details of the monument. (World War 2; WWII; WW2)
Sign atop building identifying town as Berchtesgaden. View of town square with tall snow-covered Alps mountain in background. U.S. paratroopers patrol the street. A White spade symbol on their steel helmets indicates that they are members of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. One carrys belt ammunition around his neck. They each carry weapons of various kinds.
A film about achievements and role of African Americans in the United States. A newspaper headlines about African American athletes at the Berlin Olympics of 1936. Spectators in a stadium. Athletes at a start line for a 100 meter race. Judge fires starting gun and race is underway. African American athletes Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe of the U.S. win gold and silver medals. German and Japanese participants jump over in a High Jump event. African American athlete Cooper Johnson sets a new Olympic record in the event.
The first freight train bringing merchandise arrives in Cologne after the end of World War II. Smoke rises from the smokestack of moving train. Train passes destroyed buildings in Cologne. Flag of the United States seen at rear of train.
Liberation of Paris August 22, 1944. Tricolor flying from Arc de Triomphe. Crowds celebrate. Young people dance in street. Tanks firing guns. Bombs dropping on Germany. American tanks firing in Cologne, Germany. Spires of Cologne Cathedral loom above destruction and rubble in streets of Cologne. German civilian refugees on the streets. Germans in front of air raid shelters. Animated map showing Soviet advance from East.Formation of Ilyushin Il-2 aircraft. Soviet tanks in farm field. Silhouetted German soldiers surrendering. Wounded and dead German soldiers. Destroyed German military equipment. A long line of surrendered German soldiers. Allied forces driving into Germany beyond the Rhine River. Suffering German civilians and refugees including men, women, and children in desperate circumstances after the devastation of war. German refugees walking on roads, including babies in carriages or prams.