More than a million people attend the “I Am An American Day” citizenship ceremony in Central Park in New York City, during World War 2. Over 150,000 people attended the ceremony as newly naturalized American citizens. Native American Indians in traditional dress and women and men in military uniform attend the ceremony. Flags of various nations are flown. Wounded Army soldiers and wounded Navy sailors arrive as guests of honor. New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia shakes hands with servicemen, giving tribute to their heroism during World War II. Immigrants stand up to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America as part of the naturalization ceremony. Speaker recites the Pledge of Allegiance, which predates the inclusion of "under God" which was added later in the 1950s.
French General Marie-Pierre Kœnig and his staff (plus a civilian official) review U.S. Army troops in Paris, before they depart, after the liberation of Paris,in 1944, during World War 2. General Koenig has been appointed by General Charles de Gaulle to consolidate French control and administration in Paris. In the opening scene, He and the group are seen walking past the U.S. troops as they stand at attention. Later Koenig and the others stand at attention as the American troops march past, on parade. Views of the U.S. troops marching out of Paris, past landmarks and along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and through the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (Arch of Triumph). Complete change of scene, shows an American armored personnel carrier moving through a French town and an M3 half track firing at a building. Then U.S. infantry spread out as they attack the area. Next American jeeps are seen traversing a steep bridge. Winding roads in rugged country are seen. A GI using binoculars. American artillerymen firing M116 75mm Pack Howitzers, including some under camouflage nets. Soldiers working to repair and strengthen a timber bridge. A truck carrying Free french soldiers who climb down and receive small arms from another French soldier in a jeep. Camera pans over the boots worn by the French soldiers. Closeups of two. Change of scene shows Free French troops in snow at an Alpine location, where they set up military equipment. French soldiers scanning mountain peaks. A soldier on skis. The soldiers responding to a whistle signal from an officer. They take up positions and fire weapons.
General Eisenhower standing in front of a large wall map briefing officials in front of large wall map, view of newspaper headline of New York Post announcing D-Day Invasion of Europe in June 1944. Allied soldiers storming the beach at Normandy. U.S. soldiers fall to the ground after being hit by enemy fire on a Normandy beach on D-Day. German soldiers with hands up in surrender seen approaching Allied forces on beach. Body of a dead German soldier seen on the roadside as soldiers march by. Aerial views of gathering around Arc de Triomphe in Paris as Allies enter Paris and French citizens cheer during liberation of Paris in August 1944.Adolf Hitler seated with other Nazi soldiers listening to an unseen speaker. Views of French citizens lining roads in Paris and cheering as Allied forces enter the city.
As film begins, heavily camouflaged German Panther tanks (Panzerkampfwagen V Panther) are seen moving along a dirt road in Normandy during World War 2. Next, German infantry walk along a road next to forests and behind a Stug IV assault gun. A stone marker on the ground, at rear of a parked Panther tank, points to Beauquay 5 Km and Aunay 7Km. A German soldier lying prone on side of road firing an M42 machine gun. Another soldier lying prone behind him. Parked Stug IV with gun pointed to right. Some infantry gather behind artillery firing from heavily camouflaged positions. An officer with headphones communicates to gun crews. Shells bursting in the distance. A battery of rocket launchers (Nebelwerfers) begins firing. Closeup of soldier activating remote fire control box. White smoke rising in distance. Infantry moving forward toward area of white smoke. German soldiers examine a dead American soldier lying next to a knocked out Sherman tank. Closeup of large shell hole in side of the tank. German infantryman walks past a destroyed U.S. Army tank. A German soldier exploring inside the turret of a half overturned American tank. A formation of German soldiers at a field decoration ceremony. Soldiers receiving the iron cross award. They exchange hand salutes and handshakes afterwards. Next, Oberleutnant Franz Ludwig Chef 2. Batterie / Sturmgeschutz - Abteilung 1346 and Commander Stug III (Sd. Kfz. 1542/1) is seen showing approval of a soldier who mans a Stug III Ausf G, with numerous white rings painted on its gun barrel (indicating victories in combat). (Franz Ludwig is wearing the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded on June 24, 1944 for success against British tanks in combat at the forest of Bovent east of the River Orne, Normandy.) Closeups of Franz Ludwig. View of him briefing several soldiers as they stand in front of barrel-striped StuG III. (Note: Franz Ludwig died in combat on August 14, 1944.)
A large military barge, marked "US RHF-25" (Rhino Ferry) passes camera viewing from a boat in the water (unseen). Large transport ships seen in background. The barge is filled with military equipment including trucks, construction equipment, and soldiers. As it proceeds, the camera reveals a large transport ship behind it. Closeup of soldiers standing among the cargo on the barge. Landing ship Tank, (LST 499) flanked by a tug boat. Barrage balloons aloft. Closeup of LST 499 port bow. A transport ship in the background. (Note: on June 8th, 1944, LST 499 struck a mine while backing away from Utah Beach, loaded with wounded and medical personnel. Fourteen Crew members were lost, and an unknown number of casualties among the wounded passengers and medical personnel.)
Opening scene behind introductory writing, shows U.S. troops climbing down from a landing craft and walking towards a beach during Normandy invasion of World war 2. Date is D-Day +3 (June 9, 1944) and allies are setting up logistic resupply operations. Views across beach at extreme low tide. A cluster of DUKW amphibious vehicles sitting on the sand, below some cliffs. Some buildings of the French village of Arromanches-les-Bainsin background. Closeup of a demolished French dwelling at base of cliff. Two U.S. soldiers walk along a road at the waterfront, where steel barriers that have been removed from the beach, are piled up. Closeup of the steel barriers. An M4 Sherman tank, equipped with deep wading gear is seen mired in the sand. A closeup of U.S. Landing Craft Tank (LCT-25) on the beach with an M3A1 Half-Track destroyed on its offramp. It had been hit by shell fire on D-day, setting other half-tracks and the landing craft afire. Closeup of the destroyed halftrack.
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