Film 'The Road to the Wall' depicts the rise of communism in Russia, Eastern Europe, China and Cuba. Opening scene shows a newly build section of the Berlin Wall, early in its construction period, and a line of German people viewing the newly built wall between East Germany and West Germany. Historical retrospective shows various scenes of refugees in various countries (China; somewhere in Europe) walking on roads and uphill with baggage in hand. Communist troops march. Refugees walk bare foot. Man carrying a child on his back. Huge gathering of people in Moscow at the Kremlin wall (near future site of Lenin's tomb). Vladimir Ilyich Lenin speaks to a crowd in Russia during the Russian Revolution circa 1917. Refugee women and children being checked by soldiers as they attempt to board a railroad train. Closeup of a baby looking frustrated or angry and throwing a baby tantrum. Bodies of dead refugees on the ground. View of Fidel Castro, in January 1959, with Che Guevara, and other rebels or revolutionaries, in Cuba. A person being executed by a Che Guevara revolutionary firing squad. Huge parade in Communist China in 1960. View of Chinese workers manually pulling what appears to be, a heavy gun carriage. Parade of communists in East Germany in 1961. The Berlin wall, and East German policeman on horseback riding to intercept persons attempting to cross. A few East German people making an escape from East Berlin to West Berlin by running through a gap in barbed wire at the Berlin Wall border, and being escorted by West Berlin citizens afterward. Armed East German guards at border marked with barbed wire and other obstacles.
Checkpoint Charlie (Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10117 Berlin, Germany) separating Western and Eastern Berlin. A large Soviet flag at the entrance to the eastern side, and a Checkpoint Charlie sign reads "You are leaving the American sector." A watchtower with military personnel inside watching all movement. Historical footage of the Berlin Wall being built circa 1961, with Soviet troops stringing barbed wire when the wall was first constructed. Views of a wreath, flowers, and makeshift memorial, presumably for someone killed while attempting to cross the Berlin Wall. A watch tower high above the Berlin Wall, and views of the Berlin Wall separating West Berlin from East Germany, constructed of large flat, grey bricks and blocks of varying sizes.
Togolese Prime Minister and President Sylvanus Olympio raises his fists during a celebratory motorcade in 1961. Newly independent countries in Africa and Asia celebrate their independence. Sign reads “Proclamation de L’Independence du Togo 27 Avril 1960”. Sylvanus Olympio speaks to the Togolese people after his election as president. The flag of Togo is raised. Togolese women raising their hands. The United Nations seal. An African delegate speaks to the United Nations (U.N.). The host and narrator shows a map of Europe to the audience. He points to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia on the map. He also points to other Eastern European countries such as East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary that fell under Soviet influence after World War II.
A biographical documentary shows the life of Dwight Eisenhower who was the President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. Eisenhower travels in Europe as the Supreme Commander of the NATO forces. A Hotchkiss Artois makes a stop. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Dwight David Eisenhower and officers salute. Others stand near him. Statues on a wall outside a building. Dwight David Eisenhower comes out of a car. A guard with sword in his hand at the entrance. Eisenhower walks inside the building with a French officer. He is greeted by an official. He is seated with another officer. People seated at a round table in a conference hall. Netherlands: A plane lands. Soldiers are gathered. They salute. Eisenhower walks with officers. The 'Schiphol' near Amsterdam. Bikes move ahead of a car. The car parked in front of the Cabinet of the Minister President at the Dutch Ministry of General Affairs. He meets other officers. A building. He gets out of the car. The flag of Norway. The Big Ben in London, England. Eisenhower arrives at the Ministry of Defense and greets the waiting public. He addresses officials. People sit and take notes. The Monument to Victor Emmanuel II in Rome, Italy. Eisenhower walks with officers and officials. Frankfurt: An aircraft is stationed. Eisenhower is greeted by an officer. Eisenhower reviews soldiers marching in Heidelberg, Germany. He salutes the soldiers.
A biographical documentary shows the life of Dwight David Eisenhower who was the President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. A Humber Pullman with a British flag driving. President Eisenhower is greeted by Konrad Adenauer, the Chancellor of Germany. Eisenhower talks to Adenauer. They sit and laugh. The Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. He is greeted by another person. He walks with soldiers standing in rows on either side. He sits with other men and talks to them. President Eisenhower arrives in Washington DC. He meets and kisses his wife, Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower. He holds one of his grandchildren. He presents his final report before the U.S. Congress.
Aerial view of Brandenburg Gate with East German guards in Berlin. Aerial view of city during 1961 Berlin Crisis and construction of Berlin Wall. View of Postdamer Platz, Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten, and the Reichstag Building.