Events leading to start of World War 2. Contingents of German army troops and black uniformed SS (Schutzstaffel) troops parading past Hitler on reviewing stand in German city. Hitler youth at a rally in a stadium. Hitler addressing an open air assembly, shaking his fist, yelling about the might of Germany in an animated fashion. Women holding signs reading: "Down with War and Fascism," and "Aid the Allies." 1939 edition of the New York Times carries headline about Nazi pact with Soviets and of Estonia giving Moscow air and sea bases. Views of Soviet leaders, Joseph Stalin, Vyacheslav Molotov, and General Boris Mikhailovitch Shaposhnikov, preparing to meet with German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop for signing of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact agreeing to non-aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union. Von Ribbentrop descending from his airplane for the meeting. Scenes of German attack and invasion of Poland, September 1, 1939. Vehicles carrying German troops on the move. German Stuka, Ju87 dive bombers peeling off in dives and dropping bombs. German He-111 bomber in flight. Many explosions and collapsing buildings and destruction depicted. Soviet T-26 Twin-Turret Cavalry Tank seen moving through snow as it crosses Polish frontier, on September, 17, 1939. Soviet troops charging into Poland in the snow. The two forces meet in central Poland. Newspaper cartoon of the time shows Hitler and Stalin politely addressing each other in deprecating terms. Soviet icebreaker opening the way for German warships. German submarine making way on the surface, ostensibly from a base in Murmansk, and firing at a surface ship with its 88mm deck gun. A French fighter plane spinning towards earth and pilot parachuting. Narrator speaks of French Communists sabotaging electrical systems on the aircraft. The plane burning on the ground. German troops marching along the Champs Elysees, with the Arc de Triomphe in background. German troops firing artillery at Soviet forces after Germany turns on the Soviet Union and commences Operation Barbarossa in 1941. Wooden buildings burning. Russian soldier with hands up approaches German soldier to surrender. German soldier motions him behind battle line.
German invasion of Eastern European countries during World War II. Maps of Manchuria and Ethiopia. Newspaper headlines. Maps of various European countries conquered by Nazi Germany including Poland. Newspaper printing press running. Newspaper headlines declaring war against Germany. Herald newspaper headline reads, WAR. Animated map of Germany shows the Nazi symbol spreading across Europe with fire. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler and officers at a map as they confer. Maps of Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Hungarian pheasant farmers gather grain in Hungary. Ore car heaped with bauxite in Hungary. Aluminum sheet rolling down conveyor belt. German aircraft parked in line with propellers spinning. Hungarian soldiers marching in parade with crowd giving Nazi salute. Grain pouring into holding bin. Oil derricks in Romania. Romanian soldiers marching in parade. Animated map depicts the importance of cities of Varna and Burgas in Bulgaria for their submarine bases in the Black Sea. Admiral Miklos von Nagybanya Horthy of Hungary, Prime Minister of Romania General Ion Antonescu, King Michael of Romania and King Boris of Bulgaria. Newspaper headlines include 'Bulgarian King Joins Axis', "Bulgarian Revolts Bring 1200 Arrests', 'Riots Sweep Romania', and 'Hungarian Revolt Brewing' German motorcycles with sidecars driving into Hungary. German artillery being towed into Hungary. German soldiers driving halftracks drive into Romania and Bulgaria. Animated map depicts the plan for invasion of Greece.
American Dependent School students in Heidelberg. Two students pause to examine large display of meats at a butcher shop window. Student enters German-American Teenagers Club.
Gold bars, bags and suitcases filled with coins inside the Merkers Mines in Germany. Reichsbank notes and confiscated silver. Two U.S. soldiers open one of the bags, remove gold bar and examine it, then place it back into the bag. They stack bags labeled "Reichsbank" (World War II period).
Gold bars, bags and suitcases filled with coins inside the Merkers Mines in Germany. Reichsbank notes and confiscated silver. Two U.S. Army soldiers examine the stash. (World War II period).
U.S. soldiers climb through a hole blown through the brick wall of a bar-locked room at Merkers Mines in Germany near end of World War II. Bags of Nazi German gold, bank notes, and treasured paintings and stolen art work found inside the mine.
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