An American freighter is spotted by the lookout on an Italian submarine. Members of the crew rush to the controls of the sub to ready for attack. Activities in the Engine Room of submarine. The Italian submarine fires on the American ship and the freighter is seen sinking. (World War II period).
Civilians return to Italy during World War II. Italian hospital ship Saturnia (later the U.S. Army Hospital Ship Frances Y. Slanger) underway in the Mediterranean Sea. Women and others on the deck of a ship. Civilians disembark from the Saturnia and the Vulcania as they return from East Africa. Women and children on the deck of a ship.
A map shows countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. German army and Italian army motorized units occupy Southern France during World War 2. German and Italian soldiers, tanks, and artillery move along on a road. Many German Quad 20mm anti aircraft guns (Flakvierling 38) in the Port of Marseilles, including some by the Marseille Basilica, high above the port . Ocean liners in the port. German soldiers sit around a truck. Sailors prepare equipment and guns. French officers explain the port facilities to German officers. Civilians in the city. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on the streets. Sign for the town of Cerbere. Motorized columns including German tanks proceed to the border with Spain. German and Spanish troops fraternize. Soldiers greet each other and interact. Fortifications are constructed on the South France coast. Axis soldiers camouflage artillery on the beach.
German warplanes flying overhead. German planes and battleships bombard an American led Allied supply convoy in the Mediterranean Sea off North Africa. Bombs burst close to ships. An Italian torpedo boat launches a torpedo that strikes and sinks an American vessel. Italian crew members seen on their torpedo boat. German Dornier bombers in formation flight.
Allied invasion convoy of ships underway in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II. Amphibious landing of Fifth United States Army at Salerno during Allied invasion of Italy. General Mark Clark and Vice Admiral Henry Hewitt seen talking at time of "Operation Avalanche." An animated map shows Sicily, Salerno and Naples. The soldiers memorize every mountain and valley. Ships and supplies pour in. Night time invasion underway as U.S. soldiers invade Italy under attack from German soldiers. Soldiers seen on tanks advancing. General Eisenhower and Admiral Cunningham seen in discussion on a ship as terms of surrender of Italy are carried out, and Italian ships head toward Allied ports.
U.S. soldiers lower and fold up a flag of the Kingdom of Italy, from atop a tower overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, at Cape Rasocolmo, Sicily, Italy, 15 km from Messina, during World War 2. They examine a large searchlight mounted on a tracked vehicle. They rotate it. The American soldiers uncover a grass camouflaged listening device (used to locate planes before the invention of the radar). A U.S. Army Sergeant occupies the operator's position and checks its movement controls. Soldiers pull grass camouflaging another large piece of equipment related to artillery (perhaps a type of radar). Scene shifts to view from hills overlooking the waterfront with town and port facilities. An American soldier takes photographs of the scene. Sequence shifts to views from a boat (unseen) moving slowly in the water off the coast. Buildings seen perched on the hillside and summit. Unusually shaped rock formations in the water at base of the cliffs. View from hilltop, of farmland in valley below.