Outbreak of World War I as a consequence of Archduke of Austria-Este Francis Ferdinand's assassination in Sarajevo. Troops gather in Germany on the bidding of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Soldiers leave Berlin. Soldiers of the Alexandria Regiment march. Family members bid farewell as new recruit soldiers board a railroad train and leave for a war front. Smiling soldiers. A huge crowd at a platform to bid farewell to the soldiers. The train carrying the soldiers pulls away.
The first phase of German assault on France and the Low Countries during World War II. Vehicles move on an autobahn (freeway). In England: British troops parade and drill. British recruits in civilian clothing are seen with baggage as they join military during recruitment for war effort. German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler reviews German troops. War materiel rolls from German factories, including views of artillery, tanks, and aircraft for German war effort rolling off of production lines. Hitler rides through Vienna Austria and across the Czechoslovakian border. Large group of people gathered on the streets greet him and give the Nazi salute. Hitler in his car as it makes its way across the border. Soldiers give the Nazi salute.
In a speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations, U.S. Secretary of State, George Marshall, refers to repeated vetoes by a permanent member of the Security Council. He discusses the post-war state of the world and the many matters yet to be resolved, including the independence of Austria, the Palestine issue, the matter of Korea, still divided along the 38th parallel, and status of nations in Eastern Europe, etc.
Mankind's earliest attempts at achieving heavier-than-air flight, and footage of early and historic flight and aircraft. Animated film clip showing imaginary rocket in flight. View from an airplane taking off with other aircraft and terminal buildings seen outside. A caption reading "We can fly." Views from airplane windows of scenes below, including a town, bodies of water, Alpine lodges, and snow-covered mountains. (Views are from a Ju52 passenger plane, the corrugated wings, of which are seen.) Some views are out of the small round port window of the airplane. Sequence shifts to film reenactment of Otto Lilienthal setting up one of his early ornithopter-like gliders (looks like early hang glider), and running downhill to launch it (circa 1895). A still photo of Lilienthal aloft in one of his gliders. View of German Karl Jatho's airplane, circa 1903. The American Wright brothers airplane being started and taking off. The Wright Flyer airplane in flight. The Voisin-Farman I airplane in flight. it was built by Frenchman Gabriel Voisin and flown by aviator Henri Farman in 1907. Danish inventor-engineer,Jacob Christian Hansen-Ellehammer, in his airplane, 1906. Louis Bleriot inspects his airplane, circa 1909. A pilot (not Bleriot) sits cockpit of a Bleriot airplane with engine running. He taxis and takes off.A biplane built by Gabriel Voisin in flight, circa 1909. A light monoplane built by German aviator,Hans Grade,takes off, flies a while, and lands again,at an air show in 1909. The pilot crawls out of the airplane.Photograph of The Etrich Taube (AKA Rumpler Taube) monoplane,in flight. It was designed in 1909 by Igo Etrich of Austria-Hungary, and first flown in 1910.
Chart shows USIA information endeavors to send information behind the "Iron Curtain," including libraries, films, newspapers, and broadcasts involved in anti-Communist propaganda during the Cold War. Other charts cite cooperation with private enterprise, including 750 groups, such as businesses, schools, etc. Illustration shows letters written by Americans to family and friends abroad that can inform them of the truth. Town and city affiliation program is shown, with the example of Montclair, New Jersey, in the United States, and its relationship with Graz, Austria. The Mayor of Graz is seen being honored at a dinner in Montclair. Chart illustrates program of salvaging and sending American magazines abroad.
Ruins of Hitler's Berghof residence in Berchtesgaden after bombing by Allied forces near the end of World War 2 in Europe. Goering's stolen collection of paintings and art pieces taken from all over Europe. The stolen collection was hidden in air raid shelters and loaded on battle trains. View of U.S. soldiers retrieving the stolen works of art. Book 'Mein Kampf' written by Adolf Hitler in Landsberg prison. Portrait of Adolf Hitler with a Nazi symbol. German military officials including General Herman Gred Von Runstedt, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, and Hermann Goering surrender to the American Army. Views of Hermann Göring after having been flown from Austria to U.S. Army headquarters in Augsburg, Germany on May 9, 1945, where he is seen handing over his handgun. Göring talking to U.S. 7th Army officials.