Allied soldiers escort German prisoners of war through utterly destroyed town. American soldiers run across open space in French village. Damaged wooden church and disabled tank seen. French soldier walks near broken wagons and dead horses. French Corpsman, with cross on uniform sleeve, looks at dead French soldier. Another soldier removes trenching tool from the fallen soldier's equipment. Lines of horses seen coming in the background. French troops begin digging trenches and fortifications.
U.S. Army soldiers and cavalry entering a village. A building in the background. An animated campaign map shows Luxembourg and then reflects changes in areas occupied by allies and Germans as the war progresses.
During World War 1, French troops carry casualties to Red Cross Ambulances for evacuation to the rear, as fresh troops pass them moving toward the front. Armored personnel carriers transport some to the front. Scene of utter desolation. No Man's Land. Nothing is left standing except broken fragments of some trees. American and French wounded being carried to the rear on stretchers. German prisoners of war being escorted. Allied tanks moving toward the front. American troops moving forward with mule trains carrying supplies.
Opening slate describes aerial view from and aeroplane traveling 100 miles per hour. French conical tents are laid out below in military precision at a camp in World War 1. Dirt roads and a river appear in the scenes. Large oblong tents with peaked roofs and several entry flaps are seen in other camp areas. Utility areas with a large piece of equipment are seen plus more conical tents and various pieces of military equipment.
Opening scene shows Portuguese soldiers in a deep lattice-reinforced frontline trench in France, during World War 1. One is standing on a platform looking over the edge of the trench, as an officer stands nearby. Glimpse of the soldier wearing an Adrian French steel helmet as he peeks above the trench. View of cameraman using a periscopic viewer to look over a heavily sandbagged section of trench.
British Royal Engineers troops march to a project site, carrying picks and shovels. Next, they are seen digging a straight ditch following a course laid out by taut string. Sections of pipe are laid on the ground next to them. A large Army truck and an ambulance with red cross markings is seen near a large group of the soldiers. At least one injured is being carried shoulder-high by litter bearers. Several officers appear to be checking plans for the project. As the soldiers mill about, they look up towards the sky, as if noting airplanes above (unseen). The troops continue work on the project, which now appears to involve setting up fortifications. One soldier leaves walking a bicycle. Another view shows the area to be quite rocky, and a large pile of rocks has been used as part of the fortifications. Several ambulatory wounded German prisoners are seen walking toward the rear, as they are passed by a contingent of mounted cavalry headed toward the front (World War I; World War 1; WWI; WW1)