Map of Italy showing major cities. During a battlefield lull,in World War 2, in Italy, a German soldier reads a newpaper called the "Southern Front." View of Monte Cassino,Italy, with German troops taking cover amongst war debris. Fencing and signs identify minefields. German soldiers with their weapons, hidden in foliage. German soldier looks through binoculars as American forces bombard the town of Monte Cassino. German soldier, seeking cover, jumps over a stone wall. Smoke rises from the U.S. bombardment. German officers consult in a dugout. German soldiers move stealthily across a stream and through battle scarred landscape. Some take up positions and fire machine guns, rifles, and rifle grenades toward American lines. They advance from their trenches and come across fallen American soldiers on the field. They encounter one crawling, and several others from the U.S. 34th Division, whom they take prisoner. They remove their equipment and weapons, and smoke the American cigarettes. Behind the lines, a man in civilian clothes questions the captured American soldiers. A German soldier uses periscopic binoculars to spot targets for German artillerymen firing heavy weapons. Explosions seen in valley below as shells burst.
German leader Adolf Hitler stands with members of his staff on a snow covered train station platform in Rastenburg, East Prussia (now Poland) during World War 2. A train arrives, with icicles clinging to its roof. Romanian military officers render traditional hand salutes (not Nazi salutes) from the train as it pulls into the station. Ion Antonescu, salutes with his Marshal's baton and exchanges greeting with Hitler. He is accompanied by Romanian Foreign Minister, Mihai Antonescu. The two exchange salutes and handshakes with members of Hitler's party. (Mihal gives Nazi salute, but Ion does not.) Hitler walks past and exchanges salutes group of Romanians accompanying Antonescu. (Hitler gives his Nazi salute, but the Romanian officers render traditional hand salute to forehead.) Change of scene, shows Nazi Foreign Minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop, escorting Marshal Ion Antonescu and Foreign Minister, Mihai Antonescu, up some stairs to a meeting room.
Opening sequence shows a formal Japanese slow ritual dance performed before a gathering of beautifully costumed observers. An elegantly costumed leader ascends steps and strikes an elaborately decorated cymbal. A chorus of whistle-like sounds is heard as accompanying music throughout. Dancers perform with swords and shields in slow tempo. Slate announces year 1905. A flotilla of Japanese warships makes way through heavy seas during the Russo-Japanese war. The Japanese battleship Mikasa, flagship of Admiral Togo Heihachiro,firing her twin 12 inch guns during the battle of Tsushima. A statue of Admiral Togo. Two sailors bow before shrine to Admiral Togo.
German soldiers work at a camp with Hitler Youth during World War II. They show how to hold a rifle (with dummy model). The boys engage in tug of war with each other and then against group of the German officers.
Adolf Hitler and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop walk side by side, at the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in the woods of Gierloz, Rastenburg, East Prussia (Poland) during World War 2. Hitler pets a dog as they walk. General Franz Halder walks with General William Keitel. Next, Von Ribbentrop and Keitel are both seen escorting General Oshima Hiroshi, envoy from Japan, and an aide. Behind them is Walter Hewel of the Foreign Ministry, and Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, in a white jacket. The group enters a Wolf's Lair building. (Ōshima met with Hitler on October 3, 1942 at the Wolf's Lair.) Scene shifts to outdoors, where high ranking German officers enjoy themselves, with introductions and salutes, and converse, and joke with one another. Next, Hermann Goering is seen walking with Walter Hewel. Scene changes showing Goering, with several other German officials, in wooded area with flowering trees in background. Camera zooms in showing Admiral Theodor Burchardi, who renders a traditional military salute to Goering. German officers huddle, with Goering looking on, over a map. Goering and Admiral Karl Dönitz are the seen conversing as they walk. The next scene is a view from inside a Wolf's Lair building , as Hermann Goering leads a large group of German officers. He steps up the entrance to the building. Change of scene shows Adolf Hitler saying goodbyes and shaking hands with the visiting officers.
Motorcade of Imperial limousines with motorcycle escorts proceeds through gates of an officer's training base in Japan, during World War 2. Emperor Hirohito, on a white horse, is accompanied by other mounted military officers as he rides past officer candidates drawn up in formation. The emperor salutes the candidates. A number of officer candidates in white uniforms, and steel helmets, carrying rifles, demonstrate their skills running through an obstacle course, including a high barrier that must be scaled, as senior officers watch. Several candidates demonstrate gymnastic skills, performing giant swings on horizontal bars. The emperor stands alone, observing, as other candidates perform stunts across various barriers.
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