Two escaped U.S. Army Air Force aircraft pilots, shot down in enemy territory in December 1943 during World War II, speak with U.S. officers after their rescue in 1944. Both pilots are dressed in civilian clothing, and one wears improvised shoes. (Footage shot around the time of the Battle of Cisterna).
Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division during the Battle of Troina in 1943, Sicily. Boats and ships at a harbor. Soldiers load luggage on the ships. Ships underway at sea. Soldiers in jeeps on the street. Houses along the sides of the street. High altitude view of the houses and the city. Map shows the battlefields of the 1st Infantry. Soldiers fire on the mountains of Troina. An officer talks on phone. Wrecked houses after the war.
The aftermath of Allied bombing in Milan, Italy during World War II. Italians walking around damaged buildings and rubble on the ground after heavy bombing. Damaged La Scala Opera House (Via Filodrammatici, 2, 20121 Milano MI, Italy) after the bombings. Interiors of the opera showing its damaged dome. Damage sustained in the Palazzo Marino (Piazza della Scala, 2, 20121 Milano MI, Italy), near the La Scala Opera House. A statue of Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni (Piazza S. Fedele, 20121 Milano MI, Italy) still stands among the rubble of the surroundings. Behind the statue is the Church of Saint Fidelis (Piazza S. Fedele, 4, 20121 Milano MI, Italy). Damaged glass dome of the famous shopping mall Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (P.za del Duomo, 20123 Milano MI, Italy). Italian men walking in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II after bombing. Exteriors of the Ospedale Maggiore (now known as the Policlinico di Milano Via Francesco Sforza, 35, 20122 Milano MI, Italy) after bombings. Corridors of a building with rubble spread all over. Cars and pedestrians on a street and damaged buildings in the background. The neighborhood of San Babila with significant damage. Basilica di San Babila exteriors after bombing. Damaged exterior of the famous Duomo Cathedral (P.za del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI, Italy). Rose windows of the Duomo Cathedral. Damaged body of a naked statue. People close the doors of the Duomo Cathedral.
Italy surrenders during World War II. U.S. Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower salutes after Italy signs an armistice and surrenders during the war. A sign on the ground reads ' Vivailre'. Large airfield filled with parked Italian fighter aircraft lined up. Wall graffiti depicts Mussolini wearing a helmet and the word “DUCE” below. Troops march and a poster of Benito Mussolini. People make hits at the poster after the Italian defeat. People gathered in the streets. Women read a newspaper with the headline ' Italy surrenders '. People celebrate the Italian surrender. Women holding the flags of the United States and Italy cheering from a balcony. A group of Italians drinking as they celebrate Italy’s surrender. They raise a toast during celebrations.
German Wehrmacht motorized units arrive in Italy during World War 2. German soldiers in motorcycles with sidecars (BMW R75) and other vehicles moving through an Austria town, passing by a Gasthof (German-style inn). A tracked vehicle moves. Road sign reads “Brenner Stubaital”. German motorized units pass through a bridge near the Brenner Pass, the border between Austria and Italy. Railroad train flat cars loaded with German tanks and soldiers move slowly past a railway station as they proceed to Italy. German soldiers on top of a tank moving through the Brenner Pass. German tanks entering Italy. German soldiers riding a motorcycle in the Brenner Pass. A military vehicle carries German soldiers to the Italian border. An Italian Carabinieri (gendarme) stands in between a “Deutsches Reich” stone post and a border sign “A.A.S.S. ITALIA”. A German boy with goggles rides on a Volkswagen Kübelwagen with soldiers. Another boy with German soldiers. A German soldier smokes cigarette while driving a BMW R75 in Italy. An Italian woman blows a kiss to passing German troops. Italian woman tosses and distributes bread for German soldiers. Italian men and women give bread to German soldiers. An Italian woman express happiness upon the arrival of German troops. A little girl gives bread to German soldiers. Italian townspeople welcome German troops near the Brenner Pass. German soldiers eat bread. German troops drink refreshments. Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251 halftrack pass by a tunnel. German tanks such as the Panzer IV pass through the Brenner Pass.
Benito Mussolini’s dismissal as Prime Minister of Italy following major military defeats during World War 2. Past events show a large number of people gathered at the Piazza Venezia (Piazza Venezia, 00187 Rome Italy) in Rome, Italy. Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini delivers a speech from his balcony at the Palazzo Venezia (Piazza Venezia, 3, Rome, Laz. 00186). A damaged building in Italy after the defeat. People on the roof of a building as they hoist the flag of the Kingdom of Italy. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler confers with other leaders. People gathered at the Victor Emmanuel II Monument (Altare della Patria Piazza Venezia, 00186 Roma RM, Italy), also known as the Altar of the Fatherland, in Rome. Mussolini delivers a speech. A procession arrives with the Royal Carriage of King Victor Emanuel III of Italy. Marshal Pietro Badoglio shake hands with supporters after his appointment as Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel III. Cheering crowds gathered in Via del Corso street. People gathered at the Piazza Venezia.