Animated map shows movements of German forces Eastward toward Luzk and Lemberg in Belarus during the Operation Barbarossa invasion of the Soviet Union in World War 2. German soldiers work with shovels and wheelbarrow on muddy bank of a river.preparing to construct a pontoon bridge. Two small boats convey some soldiers across the river. German Army Engineers prepare for construction on both banks of the river. A road bed of wooden planks is being laid at one foot of the bridge Engineers crank cables to level the bridge bed. German soldiers stand guard over the construction site. An MG 34 machine gun sits on a tell tripod with a belt of ammunition ready for use if needed. On the river bank, soldiers carry timber planks to the construction site. View from the river of the bridge under construction. The workers and bridge are silhouetted against the light sky. A soldier wades below the bridge showing water only up to his knees. Next, a large shallow draft barge is seen bringing troops a\cross the river. A 5-wheel army truck, camouflaged with foliage and logs, climbs the river bank as it leaves the bridge. Scene shifts to German motorcycles and utility vehicle driving along a well established highway on their way to Lemberg, followed by armor. Closeup of a German Panzer III Ausf. N; with short barrel gun passing into the town of Luzk. It continues moving into the town away from the camera. Civilian refugees walking alongside the roadway as German army vehicles pass them. A destroyed building with a knocked out 1930s vintage Soviet BA-10 armored car in front of it. Hulk of a completely destroyed Soviet tank and a knocked out Soviet BT-7 tank nearby. German army trucks and other vehicles moving along a rutted dirt road. A German medium half track SdKfz 6/1 filled with troops. It displays a large white "K" identifying it as belonging to Panzergruppe Kleist. Some Panzer I Ausf A tanks armed with two 7.92 mm machine guns are seen moving along a dusty dirt road. Closeup of one passing near in cloud of dust. A group of German soldiers rest under a large tree. destroyed weapons litter the ground. Closeup of destroyed Soviet tank. Closeup of shell hole in a knocked out Soviet tank. A smoldering Soviet T-34 tank with dead Soviet soldier lying on ground in front of it. German soldier examines a Soviet tank turned on its side
German invasion of Eastern European countries during World War II. Maps of Manchuria and Ethiopia. Newspaper headlines. Maps of various European countries conquered by Nazi Germany including Poland. Newspaper printing press running. Newspaper headlines declaring war against Germany. Herald newspaper headline reads, WAR. Animated map of Germany shows the Nazi symbol spreading across Europe with fire. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler and officers at a map as they confer. Maps of Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Hungarian pheasant farmers gather grain in Hungary. Ore car heaped with bauxite in Hungary. Aluminum sheet rolling down conveyor belt. German aircraft parked in line with propellers spinning. Hungarian soldiers marching in parade with crowd giving Nazi salute. Grain pouring into holding bin. Oil derricks in Romania. Romanian soldiers marching in parade. Animated map depicts the importance of cities of Varna and Burgas in Bulgaria for their submarine bases in the Black Sea. Admiral Miklos von Nagybanya Horthy of Hungary, Prime Minister of Romania General Ion Antonescu, King Michael of Romania and King Boris of Bulgaria. Newspaper headlines include 'Bulgarian King Joins Axis', "Bulgarian Revolts Bring 1200 Arrests', 'Riots Sweep Romania', and 'Hungarian Revolt Brewing' German motorcycles with sidecars driving into Hungary. German artillery being towed into Hungary. German soldiers driving halftracks drive into Romania and Bulgaria. Animated map depicts the plan for invasion of Greece.
Film opens showing Adolf Hitler shaking hands with Benito Mussolini of Italy. Next Mussolini is seen addressing a large crowd from the balcony of the Palazzo Venezia in Rome, Italy announcing plans to invade Greece. Views of Greek troops marching during the Greco-Italian War between the kingdoms of Italy and Greece from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. Animated map depicts Italian advances into Greece with subsequent withdrawal as the Greeks drive them back and then invade Albania. Closeup of Hitler enraged about this turn of events, delaying his military Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union. Glimpse of Mussolini visiting his troops in the field. Newspaper headline reads: "Jugoslavia Gets Hitler Terms." A sub headline reads: "Nazi move in Greece Seen." Another view of Greek troops marching. A Junkers JU-87 Stuka dive bomber in flight, enters a steep dive to bomb a target. Bombs exploding in forest. Another Stuka diving and dropping bombs on a city building. Closeup glimpse of a Stuka speeding past the camera. View of a bombed out Yugoslavian building from German air attack on April 6, 1941. Animated map shows German and Italian forces attack paths from their bases in Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Hungary, vanquishing Yugoslavia. Map extends to Greece, where German forces overwhelm three defending Greek Divisions (aided by some British forces). Aerial view of a German Junkers Ju 52 transport plane flying over the Parthenon in Athens.
Film begins with animated map depicting conquest of the Balkans by the German-Italian Axis powers. With Southern flank now protected, Germany begins Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, View of German troops goosestepping on parade in large formation. German troops being transported on parade in formation of wheeled open personnel carriers. Glimpse of upper part of Spasskaya Tower and clock overlooking Red Square in Moscow, Soviet Union. View of Soviet heavy industry complex with many smoke stacks. New farm tractors being moved on a railroad train. Scene segues into train carrying Soviet tanks, and then continues with scenes in a steel mill, a machine shop, a tank factory, and an artillery plant. Soviet troops parade bearing left shouldered rifles and singing as they march. Soviet civilian men are seen reporting for duty in the military and then training in hills overlooking a war plant complex. New Soviet recruits training with calisthenics and with small arms. A Soviet soldier speeds past the camera on a motorcycle and segues into a soldier on a horse jumping over a barrier, and then into several Soviet soldiers in uniforms, with rifles, diving into a swimming pool and swimming across it. Film ends showing Soviet troops in formation bringing their rifles from present arms position to pointing forward, as they march.
Animated map shows German potential thrusts into the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) coming from six different directions an targeting key cities like Leningrad and Moscow. June 22, 1941 is highlighted on the map. Large formation of German twin engine bombers with extended landing gears is seen in flight. Formation of German Panzer III tanks moving across a field. Formation of German Kfz.70 Personnel Carriers filled with troops. Formation of German soldiers on motorcycles (some with side cars) moving across a field. German troops leaving their transports and running into woods, as they encounter shelling. Animated map reiterates German emphasis on Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev (in Ukraine). It shows German forces converging on Leningrad, and then towards Smolensk. (World War II; WW II; World War 2; World War Two)
German forces overrunning Soviet cities and towns during Operation Barbarossa of World War II. View of the city, Pskov, on the Veilakaya river. A steel bridge is seen and city across it with smoke rising. German troops marching in loose formation over a bridge in Novogorod. Views of German armor and troops entering Soviet cities of Brest-litovsk, Minsk, Mogilev, and Vitebsk. View of German Panzer III tank heading toward the camera as it enters a narrow street in Smolensk. Animated map shows progress of these German advances and highlights German forces under German Field Marshal Gerd Von Runstedt attacking deep into the Ukraine. Headline on Chicago Daily News reads: "Nazis Claim Knock-out Victory" with subtitle line reading,"Moscow line cracks." Other newspapers reflect conviction that Soviet forces face imminent defeat by Germany. Slate shows communique issued by the German High Command, stating: "The issue in the East has already been settled. Smolensk is the last halt on the road to Moscow." More views of marching German troops. A battery of Soviet artillery firing from a snow-covered field. Animated map shows German forces movement close to Moscow and Foreign diplomatic representatives being moved from Moscow to city of Kuibyshev. Hitler speaking on October 3, 1941, saying "This enemy is broken and will never rise again." Animated map depicts 500 thousand square miles of Soviet territory occupied by December, 1941, and compares it to the entire west central United States encompassing the states of : South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Glimpse of fires raising much smoke in agricultural area of the Soviet Union, destroyed industrial plants, and huge numbers of Soviet citizens under German occupation. Destroyed Soviet armor, aircraft and artillery pieces. With winter coming on, views of German forces in rain gear moving slowly through cold rainy weather. Some walk beside horses and other ride on horse-drawn caissons along with artillery pieces. Segments of film show contrast between the German military strategies. The German forces would plunge deep into enemy territory and create an area of conquest. This is illustrated by a slate bearing Adolf Hitler's statement that, "A single blow must destroy the enemy, without regard for losses, a gigantic destroying blow." An animated map reminds the viewer of the success of this approach by the Germans in Poland, France, and the Balkans. German Generals seen planning the same "Blitz" approach against the Soviets. Film shifts to the Soviet strategy, showing their military planners idea of defense in depth, with multiple lines of successively stronger defense, taking advantage of the great size of their territory. Views of Soviet troops on the move. View of Shells knocking out a German tanks. Panzer III tanks advancing. Panzer VI tanks completely covered by German troops catching rides. Soviet field artillery and machine guns firing in cities, forcing German soldiers to leave their vehicles and seek them out. Soviet cities bombed out and burning, limiting the ability of armor to navigate in them. Montage of battle scenes cities of Rostov, Kharkov, Kiev, Kursk, Smolensk, standing in the way of the Nazi blitz into the Soviet Union. Battles being waged in cities. (World War II; WW II; World War 2; World War Two)
CRITICALPAST.COM: About Us | Contact Us | FAQs - How to Order | License Agreement | My Account | My Lightboxes | Shopping Cart | Advanced Search | Featured Collections | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy ©2026 CriticalPast LLC.
License Agreement |
Terms & Conditions |
Privacy Policy
©2026 CriticalPast LLC.