'The fighting first' about the role of United States 1st Infantry Division in various campaigns during World War II. A soldier of United States 1st Infantry Division. Combat boots of soldiers during the civil war and World War I. A map shows the 1st Infantry Division units moving across the Atlantic Ocean towards North Africa for Operation Torch in November, 1942. Soldiers of 1st Infantry Division go to England and loaded onto ships as they move to Africa. U.S. General Terry Allen aboard a ship. Infantry soldiers fire in Oran, Algeria. Aircraft in flight, explosions occur and a convoy of trucks on advance during the battle in Oran. 1st Infantry Division troops as part of US II Corps battle against Nazi General Rommel's armies in Tunisia, North Africa. Battle scenes against German forces in North Africa in a variety of locations, overlaid with this narration: "we damn near flunked out at the Kasserine (Kasserine Pass). But we learned the score and we started to teach Gerry a few things out of our book. We rammed our way back to Gafsa and down Rommel's throat at El Guettar, where we tore up his crack 10th panzer division." In 1943, men of 1st Infantry Division load onto ships and arrive in Sicily. Troops advance into a town in Sicily after capturing it. Damaged houses in a city in Sicily.
The Allied Forces fight the Axis troops in North Africa during World War II. A map of North Africa and Europe. Allied Forces in Gibraltar. An Allied convoy moves towards North Africa. U.S. troops in boats land on the shore. Tanks roll ashore. An Allied plane in flight over the Algiers. The troops including the Free French troops, the Arabs and the natives on the move. French General de Gaulle addresses the troops.
Large U.S. munitions dump in North Africa during World War II. Bomb fin assembly area at a munitions dump in North Africa. Bomb fin assemblies of 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 lbs.
Mechanics work on USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) planes parked in a hangar in North Africa during World War II. Large gas and oil dump in North Africa. U.S. army trucks pass on highway to Bizerte. Semi-truck and trailer carry wrecked USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) P-38 Lightening fighter aircraft. Interiors of a bomb wrecked hangar. Two mechanics walk to steel work rack at tail of B-25 Mitchell bomber, lift machine gun, and climb up to work platform. They install machine gun on B-25 tail. Large hole in hangar ceiling. Mechanic inside the tail adjusts pivot on the gun of B-25. Mechanic climbs on work rack and works on tail of B-25. Several gliders parked outside bomb wrecked hangar. Crew members clean glider nose.
Activities of the American soldiers in North Africa in November 1942 during World War II. U.S. ship convoy underway at sea. Soldiers debark in North Africa. Mountains in the background. Landing craft underway. Airplanes fly in formation overhead. Paratroopers jump out of the airplanes and descend on the land with the help of parachutes. Citizens cheer the Allies in Casablanca and Algiers.
Prisoners of war (POW) held in custody by U.S. Army in North Africa, during World War 2. German troops of the Hermann Goering Division, some of which are wearing SS camouflage smocks, and Italian prisoners of war enter a U.S. Army processing station in North Africa. They stand with hands on their heads. U.S. soldiers inspect their identification tags. Several U.S. soldiers stand and converse.