The United States First Army enters Roetgen, Aachen and other German border towns without opposition during World War II. Map showing the capture of the Ardennes, Albert Canal, Aachen, and Trier by the First Army. View of Luxembourg’s Ardennes. A dugout in Wallendorf, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. A captured pillbox displays sign in German reads “Der führer besichtigte diese anlage am 15. mai. 1939” (“The Führer visited this facility on May 15, 1939” in English). The town of Wallendorf with heavily damaged buildings from recent Allied shelling. Civilians saving their belongings outside the bombed “Gastwirtschaft von Franz Wenzel” in Wallendorf. Troops on moving M4 Sherman tanks and Jeeps. Soldiers climb the hill and enter Germany. The troops maneuver over fields. Troops occupy the Roetgen, located approximately 16 km (10 mi) south-east of Aachen. 'Roetgen' written on building. White flag on building of 'The Deutsche Reichsbahn'. View of village and huts. Belgian White Army lights fire for supplies by airborne. They gather hay to make bonfires. A White Army soldier with bayonet scans the sky. Another soldier holds a rifle. Soldier watches through binoculars towards plane. A passing bomber drops supplies for the Belgian White Army. Parachutes landing on earth. Supplies and arms are dropped to and retrieved by Belgians. Parachute are rolled and returned to England. Men load supplies into a truck. Horse cart moves away.
Scene opens with closeup of Major General John W. Leonard, Commanding General of the U.S. 9th Armored Division, addressing his troops at the Schlörplatz in Weiden, Bavaria. He has assembled them to hear the news of Germany's surrender, ending World War 2, in Europe. A color Guard stands behind him. Upon hearing the news, the troops raise their arms and cheer, and partially break formation to converse with each other. They resume their formation and listen, as General Leonard continues to speak. Closeup of him reading from some notes. Scene shifts slightly, showing Leonard and the color guard in front of the Gustav von Schlör monument with famous old oak trees behind it. Next, the troops are viewed from the front, as they stand at Parade Rest with buildings near the square behind them. General Leonard walks down from the makeshift podium and passes in front of the assembled soldiers, and shakes hands with his Chief of Staff, Colonel Walter Burnside. Closeups of them shaking hands and conversing. Scene shifts to a unit Chaplain, giving a prayer of thanks for the end of hostilities. General Leonard and Colonel Burnside walk away from the gathering, as the color guard furls the colors. Suddenly an officer walks up on the grass and retrieves something from the base of the Schlör monument and quickly walks back into the square. A Captain has the color guard unfurl the colors again, which include the stars and stripes flanked by the Division colors and the General's two star flag. Next the entire assemblage poses as they are photographed from a high point some yards away. The view shows the color guard standing on grass in front of the Schlör monument with the massive oaks behind, surrounded by assembled troops, including some in a tank. Scene shifts to rear of the assembly, showing troops in armored vehicles at the back of troops in formation. Some armor is moving along a road behind the assembly. Another long shot of the assembled troops is followed by a closeup of them being called to attention. General Leonard walks into the center of the assembly, followed by several officers. They salute the colors and General Leonard converses with the Division Chaplain, who then steps into the grass in front of the color guard, where he removes his helmet, raises his arm, and gives a benediction as all bow their heads. (Note: Armored vehicles seen in this film include M4 Sherman and M36 Tank Destroyer.)
Ceremonial flame burns at Zeppelin Field in Nuremberg, Germany. Adolf Hitler descends steps of the Tribune Grandstand accompanied by SS Head, Heinrich Himmler and SA Head Viktor Lutze. SS troops parade. Japanese and other foreign visitors are seen in the stands. The SA (Storm troopers) parade. Hitler walks amongst troops holding flags of various trooper contingents and shakes hands with some, as a band plays a melody punctuated by periodic artillery fire.
P-47 Thunderbolt fighter P-38 Lightning planes in Munich Germany. P-47s land on airstrip. Formation of P-38s in flight. P-38s landing on an airstrip.
German Chancellor Adolf Hitler's house in Berchtesgaden , Germany. Hitler's guests seated inside the house at Berchtesgaden. Interiors of the house shows a group of women, man, and young girls talking to each other and seated.
German Chancellor Adolf Hitler's mountain retreat, Berghof in Germany. Panoramic view from the terrace of the Hitler's mountain retreat or Berghof in Berchtesgaden, Surrounding mountains and valley. People sit along the mountain side.
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