On 14th March, 1939 President Hacha of Czechoslovakia arrives in Berlin as a guest of Hitler. Emil Hacha is accompanied by High-ranking German officers as he walks past an honor guard and band, on a wet street after dark, in Berlin, Germany. Hacha enters an automobile.
The signing of the European Axis Pact (called, by Mussolini, the Pact of Steel) in Germany on 22th May, 1939. Italian Foreign Minister, Count Galeazzo Ciano arrives in Berlin by train and is met by his German counterpart, Joachim von Ribbentrop. Ciano reviews honor guards as a band plays. Then he and von Ribbentrop drive in a car through throngs of cheering Berliners. Later, when the principals and German and Italian officials are assembled for the signing, Adolf Hitler enters the hall and walks over to greet Ciano and Goering and several German and Italian officials present. He then sits down at the table and is flanked by the two foreign ministers who sign the pact. Hitler says farewell to Ciano and leaves the hall. Von Ribbentrop publicly explains the pact.
Original design document of the DC-3. View of a Douglas DC-3 suspended from the ceiling of the Smithsonian Air and Space museum in Washington, DC. View of DC-3 plane taking off and in flight. 'Bonanza' written on the plane. Views of military use of the DC-3, in WWII for dropping paratroops, for carrying cargo, such as the Berlin Airlift, and as a gunship in Vietnam. A newspaper headline reads 'US Depends on Air to Ship Berlin Freight'. Interior view of the DC-3 as a luxury passenger aircraft, circa 1939. Discussion with a current executive of the McDonnell Douglas aircraft Company, Michael Burch. Scenes of DC-3 aircraft being manufactured in large factory plants during World War 2 era. Various scenes of vintage DC-3 aircraft, crews, passengers, and interior and exterior views over the years.
Discussions between Germany and the Soviet Union in November 1939, about Russia joining the Axis together with Germany, Italy, and Japan (this is 3 months after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact for non-aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union). Diplomatic and military delegation stand at railway station in Berlin, Germany. A railway train arrives. Premier Vyacheslav Molotov of the Soviet Union arrives on the train at the railway station. German Foreign Minister Joachim Von Ribbentrop, German High Command and Japanese representatives greet Molotov. A band plays as the men come out of the railway station. German soldiers stand in lines and Molotov passes the troops in reivew. Delegation takes Molotov to the Reich Chancellery to meet Adolf Hitler, War Minister Hermann Goering, and other German officers.
Film opens showing Adolf Hitler, in uniform, on the balcony of his new Reichs Chancellery on Wilhelmplatz (completed in 1939). He is accompanied by Deputy Fuhrer, Rudolf Hess and Schutzstaffel Leader, Julius Schrek. Supporters crowd the square and cheer them. Scene shifts to a nighttime rally, and then to Closeup of Hermann Goering on a balcony with others (unidentified). Glimpse of a Schutzstaffel brass band marching in torchlight parade and Hitler saluting from a balcony. Schutzstaffel assembled in Wilhelmplatz (77 Wilhelmstraße, 10117 Berlin, Germany). Some spectators climb a tree to get better view of events. Crowd returning Nazi salute to Hitler standing alone on Reichs Chancellery balcony. Inserted slate reads: "Memorial Day, 1936."
Germany invades Poland in 1939 at start of World War 2. Adolf Hitler addresses the Reichstag in Kroll Opera House, Berlin. Axis soldiers marching (these appear to be Italian). Aerial view of the soldiers marching in formation. Airplanes flying in formation over a city. Scenery and landmakrs of Polish city of Gdansk Poland (Danzig) before the invasion. People walking on the streets. Various church and other buildings. German sailors on destroyers underway at sea. German sailors manning 20mm antiaircraft deck gun mounted on submarine. Polish infantry and cavalry rally to the defense of their homeland. Polish soldiers driving tankettes (TK or TKS or TK-3) in shallow water and on land. German troops using flame throwers. Smoke arises due to bombardment. German troops firing 77mm field artillery at a bridge. Dragons Teeth seen on the Siegfried Line. Shot of Mussolini giving speech . (Note: Almost no sound .)