Events early in World War I. Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria gets out of the car and walks with military escorts in front of troop formation. French troops happily enter protected fortified area. Woven wooden supports for trench. French Colonial soldier smiles as he poses in trench with rifle. German Kaiser Wilhelm II leads procession in front of honor guard. Ladies are in attendance. German parade led by goose stepping military band. Russian cavalry and the mass of autos. German lancers. Sign posted in France, announcing general mobilization of Army and Navy. French street scene with notices being passed out among the population. French Legionnaires march in crowded street. British palace guards parade in London followed by British Horse Guards. Belgian refugees walking along a roadside and cattle pulling wagons loaded with refugee belongings.
Political scenario in Europe prior to World War I. Kaiser Wilhelm II reviews troops in Germany. The Kaiser on horseback followed by officers also on horseback. Emperor Franz Joseph in Austria. He is accompanied by a royal party. A dignitary in a horse driven carriage. German General Von Hindenberg reviews a parade in Berlin. Soldiers march. Cavalry units move in review.
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.
Headlines in various New York and Belgian newspapers report the entry of Austria, Germany, Russia and Great Britain into the World War 1. A poster part of the recruitment campaign by Lord Kitchener, British Secretary of State for War. British troops in the streets of England, mobilize for the war. King George V, his son and uncle, inspect British troops. Turkey: The Sultan of Turkey and other military officials emerge from a building. The Sultan takes his seat in horse carriage and is driven away. Turkish troops at a port and soldiers seated in a ship. Belgium: Bombarded buildings and ruins in Louvain. People and soldiers on the street. People in carts on a road in search of new homes. Military officers study a map. Belgrade: Serbians bomb Belgrade. Soldiers fire artillery guns. Bomb explosions on a hill. British soldiers camp with French soldiers across the channel. Australian soldiers march ahead to join the war. Germany: Retired General Paul Von Hindenburg, commander of the Germans, and other military officers pose outside a building. The German emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II ascends from the sand dunes of Belgium to inspect his troops in a field. France: French soldiers on alert in trenches and bunkers, defend the borders of Paris. General Gallieni and his troops leave Paris for the front in taxicabs.
Austrian schoolgirls perform a traditional dance to celebrate the end of the school year. Schoolgirls, wearing white dresses, hold floral arches while dancing. Schoolgirls curtsy, performing a folk dance (likely the "Laender").
Scenes from Nuremberg Trials, including footage of prior events being discussed in the trials. Nazi officer reads an announcement to Hilter and Nazi leadership confirming the March 7, 1936 occupation and remilitarization of the Rhineland by the German Army, and the loyalty of the German Army. German Army rally and parade is held in Nuremberg. Soldiers march and goosestep, along with Nazi leadership such as Hermann Goering, while Hitler speaks assuring peaceful intentions by Germany. German officials Goering, Rader, and von Neurath arrive at special meeting with Hitler and Generals von Blomberg and von Fritsch in November 1937 to plan conquer of Czechoslovakia and Austria. Tall meeting chamber doors under armed guard. Scenes from February 1938 Berchtesgaden meeting arranged by von Papen with Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg, Hitler, Keitel, and von Ribbentrop walking on grounds. Car approaches Berghof. Guido Schmidt, former foreign minister of Austria seen at the meeting, and then seen on stand testifying at Nuremberg trials concerning Hitler's decision to annex Austria. Scenes of German troops marching and a night-time rally parade in Austria. View of Schuschnigg on March 9, 1938 at podium during meeting announcing a plebiscite vote on Austrian independence. Views of German newspaper headlines denouncing the plebiscite and demanding Schuschnigg's resignation. Crowd surrounds new Chancellor Arthur von Seyss-Inquart with Nazi salutes following Schuschnigg's resignation. Next is scenes of March 12, 1938 German Anschluss annexation of Austria. Initial German forces seen meeting some resistance by Austrian citizens. Germany army rolling into Austria and dismantling border gates. Hitler memo announces intent to annex Czechoslovakia. Operation Green leader Konrad Henlein seen walking in parade with officials. Scenes of Munich Pact signing ceremony. Czech President Hacha walks with Nazi leaders and enters car for meeting to hear German ultimatum. Map shows lands grabbed by German