Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin is given a welcome ceremony in Moscow, after he became the first human to voyage into outer space. From a Russian newsreel with English narration, created during the "Space Race" between the United States and the Soviet Union. Yuri Gagarin arrives by an Aeroflot plane (CCCP-757) at a Moscow airfield. Premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, greets Gagarin. A huge crowd holds pictures and banners of Gagarin and Khrushchev. Gagarin reports to Premier Khrushchev that he has fulfilled his mission and feels well and ready for his next assignment. Gagarin greets his wife, Valentina Gagarina. He moves in a car through crowd filled streets. At a ceremony in the Kremlin Premier Khrushchev and Defense Minister Marshal of the Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky congratulate Gagarin and award him the title "Hero of the Soviet Union".
Routine activities at a military academy in Moscow, Russia. The military academy building seen. A soldier sounds a bugle. Soviet cadets get out of beds. They run outdoors and perform calisthenics on a snow covered field. Soviet cadets in a classroom. An officer takes their classes. The officer shows a photograph of first army officers to the cadets. The cadets undergo their practicals in a laboratory. The cadets in tanks maneuver across a field.
Activities of Russian soldiers during a holiday at a military academy in Moscow, Russia. Officers discuss and organize a holiday for the soldiers. The soldiers enjoy skiing. Amateur boxers have a training session. Some soldiers lift weights to develop physical fitness. Others play chess. Some visit a library. During a get together with friends and family they go for a dance.
Cooks prepare meals for soldiers at a military academy in Moscow, Russia. A Russian Army cook walks on the grounds of a military academy. Interior of the mess hall. Plates, utensils, cups, soup pot and bread on table. Menu written in Russian. Equipment seen in the modern and automated kitchen. Russian cook puts on chef’s hat. Peeled potatoes and lettuce. Chefs chopping vegetables in the mess kitchen. Chef chops a huge piece of meat. Machine churn out patties. Chefs prepare vats of soup. A chef tastes a spoonful of soup. The cooks dress up and prepare food in the kitchen. Russian soldiers enjoy the food. Russian soldier eating a bowl of soup. Russian soldiers compliment the chef on the table.
Soviet Army song and dance ensemble performs in Moscow, Russia. Song and dance ensemble posters in Russian. Officers discuss about the performances in the ensemble. Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov, Soviet composer and director of the Soviet Army ensemble, talks during a meeting. The Soviet Army song and dance ensemble performs before a large audience at the Moscow Theater. Soviet dancers and singers performing on stage. The audience applauds.
A welcome for Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Moscow, Russia after his successful first voyage into space by a human, orbiting the earth in his Vostok spacecraft. Yuri Gagarin arrives at an airfield in Moscow. Premier of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev greets Gagarin. A large crowd holds pictures and banners. Gagarin reports to Premier Khrushchev. The Premier greets and congratulates Gagarin . Then Gagarin greets his wife. Gagarin and the Premier move through the streets in a motorcade as people of Moscow, Russia, line the streets to cheer his achievement. A helicopter showers flowers on the motorcade, celebrating the Russian achievement during "space race" between the Soviet Union and the United States.