Colonel Charles Lindbergh addresses people in New York City, United States. Interior of the Manhattan Center during the America First Committee rally. People gather inside the building. Colonel Charles Lindberg at a microphone. He talks about the position of the United States during World War II underway in Europe. He speaks the protectionist and anti-war sentiment, stating, "When England asks us to enter this war, she is considering her own future, and that of her Empire. In making our reply, I believe we should consider the future of the United States and that of the Western Hemisphere." People cheer and applaud.
A line of aircraft carriers at sea in the Pacific Theater. U.S. sailors stroll on deck of warship, in the sunshine. An American Destroyer, USS Flusser (DD-368) underway. United States naval officers consult a navigation chart aboard ship. An American sailor signals with semaphore flags. A U.S. warship in the North Atlantic. U.S. sailor (radioman) alerts all ships in a convoy to presence of a German surface raider, and gives its position as Longitude 23:45 West and Latitude 63:14 North (vicinity of Iceland). A British sailor (a Leading Telegraphist - radio operator) aboard a British warship, acknowledges " OK USA, OK USA, thank you very much." Ships in convoy seen. British Destroyer HMS Amazon (D39) launches depth charges. A Royal Navy Commander looks through binoculars. The British Destroyer HMS Anthony (H40) steams past. (World War II period).
Opening scene shows German heavy artillery firing as German forces invade France in 1940, during World War 2. Houses being destroyed by gunfire. Formation of Dornier Do 17 bomber aircraft in flight. Formation of German Heinkel He 111 bombers dropping bombs on France. Bombs exploding on the ground. German Panzer I and Panzer 38 tanks crossing a field. Glimpses from inside a tank. A tank smashing through a concrete block wall. German tanks moving through a French town, as infantry move along the sidewalks. A German sIG 33 auf Geschutzwagen self-propelled 15 cm gun (15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B or Sturmpanzer I Bison) fires point blank at a building and destroys it. A formation of Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers flies past a barrage balloon. Smoke rising all around Rouen Cathedral and environs from German bombing. Buildings in the area ablaze and collapsing. French citizens fleeing war zones in their private cars. An open truck evacuating several Catholic nuns. Parisian children carrying their luggage and belongings as they are being evacuated. French children being placed aboard a railroad train by their parents, for evacuation to safer areas. Closeup of one child's coat bearing his name and other information. French men and women placing their children aboard a bus for evacuation to safety, waving goodbye, and crying as their children leave. Sign identifying Valenciennes, France. Camera pans to scenes of destruction from German bombing. Street sign points to Avancon 7K and Reims 41k. A German Ju 87 aircraft diving and pulling out as it attacks. A German Panzer IV tank moving and firing straight ahead as it goes. Street sign for Chateau Porcien. Two Panzer 38 tanks racing along past a burning vehicle at the side of a road. A team of horses pulling an artillery piece. Tanks racing past the camera. Sign identifying Bazeilles, Montmedy, and Verdun. German tank plunging into stream at side of road, as it crosses. Dornier Do 17 bomber aircraft releasing bombs from a dive.
Crowd fills the Plaza Venezia in Rome where Benito Mussolini appears on the balcony of the Piazza Venezia (formerly known as the Palace of St Mark) in Italy, on June 10, 1940. He announces that Italy has entered World War 2 on the side of the Axis powers. Views of the jubilant crowd waving Italian and some Swastika flags. Next, a road sign points to Paris and to Poissons, in France followed by view of German troops triumphantly entering Paris, through the Arc de Triomphe during occupation of France. View of the Eiffel Tower, and of a German flag flying atop it. More views of German troops marching through Paris. A German railway gun firing. (Narrator implies that the target is the Maginot Line, which is not correct. It was bypassed by the Germans, negating need to attack it directly.) Other German railway guns and siege mortars firing and many huge explosions and fires are seen, including some from flame throwers. Next, German troops are seen marching around a circle where a railroad car is parked near Compiègne, France. This rail car is the scene of Germany's surrender to France in World War I. Statue of French Marshal Foch, who had then, received the delegates of vanquished Germany here. Adolf Hitler walking past a German Honor Guard, salutes. He is accompanied by Marshal Hermann Goering and other high ranking military persons. The nearby 1918 "Alsace-Lorraine monument" is covered by a German flag. The German delegation headed by Hitler and Goering, enter the rail car and take their places. Outside, the French delegation, headed by General Charles Huntziger, is escorted by German officers. They enter the car and he German delegation stands. Both delegations exchange salutes. Next, Hitler is seen stepping from the rail car, followed by Goering. The German delegation walks past the honor guard, and Hitler salutes them. German and French officials still in the rail car exchange salutes. Hitler expresses jubilation.
Rubble and smoke rising after German Luftwaffe blitz attack in London, with St. Pauls Cathedral visible in the background behind the smoke. German submarines positioned off the British coast. Luftwaffe aircraft flying over the English Channel bound for bombing runs over England. Radio towers seen, and audio of Lord Haw-Haw (from German propaganda radio program "Germany Calling") making statements about the strength and force of the blitzkrieg (blitz) over England. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill greeting military officials and reviewing citizens recruited for military service. Various British ships in the English Channel. German Luftwaffe aircraft bombing and firing upon British ships and British ports. Explosions and sinking ships. Much nighttime footage of the blitz over London, with burning buildings, wreckage, firefighters working to extinguish the flames. Smoke, fire, and rubble from the blitzkrieg of London. Scenes of British citizens in the underground transit system tunnels, taking cover. A family evacuated from the streets above is seen resting beneath the "Picadilly Circus" underground tube station sign. A subway train arriving at the packed ramp. Women and children living underground during the raids. Women washing clothes and children in washtubs in the underground stations. In the city of Plymouth, day scenes of workers clearing rubble from the blitz. Citizens gathered around a sign posted bearing the names of the dead from the attacks. Scenes of blitz devastation in Coventry, including Coventry Cathedral. Workmen in British cities tearing down precarious, damaged buildings by day and cleaning up wreckage.
Italian warships maneuvering in the Mediterranean during World War 2. Destroyers pass a Corazzata-class Italian battleship. Italian IMAM Ro.43 reconnaissance planes are launched from a battleship. Two Corazzata-class Italian battleships underway. Change of scene shows the island of Malta, viewed from a low flying airplane. A formation of Italian CANT Z.508 seaplane bombers flying overhead to attack Malta. View from ground on Malta of anti-aircraft flak burst clouds in the air above. Smoke rising from bomb bursts. Glimpse of a large British warship slowly easing out of its dock. Single engine aircraft overhead moving through heavy flak clouds. More bomb explosions. Local civilian people and refugees, including many children, seeking safety from bombing. People perusing destroyed buildings. A formation of British Bristol Blenheim light bombers in flight over North Africa. British forces firing artillery in Libya. War materiel abandoned by retreating Italian forces in Eritrea and Somaliland. British troops and a contingent of Ethiopian troops march into Addis Ababa, escorting Emperor Haile Selassie as he is restored to his throne in May, 1942. Next, German armor in North Africa is seen burning. A knocked out German tank viewed through window of a British armored vehicle. More burning German armor. German aircraft destroyed on the ground at an airbase. Bombs lined up on the ground. Huge number of Italian prisoners of war marching across the desert in Libya.
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