Life in the town of Madison, Indiana, on the banks of the Ohio River. Scenes in and around the town: View of the Milton-Madison bridge across the Ohio River (US-421, Milton, KY 40045, United States) ; the town of Madison on hillside across the river; Church steeples protruding above tree tops in view from above; tree lined and shaded sidewalk; a tower with ramparts; Italian Campanille- style tower; gothic doorway on a church; slate rooftops with chimneys protruding and towers and cupola building top visible; Greek-inspired column; a renaissance-style fountain with statuary. A fraternal building with ramparts; the Madison Fair Play Fire Company fire department building with Italian-style tower (403-405 E. Main St. Madison, IN 47250, USA); Roman columns on the Jackson safe deposit and trust Company “National Branch Bank” building. Children play in the fountain on a hot afternoon. A Stern-wheeler Riverboat plying the river with dense black smoke streaming from its twin stacks. Men from Greece, Ireland, Germany and other parts of the world have settled in Madison. They include a confectioner, a county agent and others. A Greek confectioner inside his shop. A journalist works on a typewriter in an office. He speaks on the phone during a telephone call. A county agent of Dutch descent speaks to clients. An elderly couple from Germany chat and have drinks at a restaurant. A toddler eats pasta while sitting on a highchair. An Italian family eats pasta together at a dining table. Effigy of James Madison, a founding father and the namesake of Madison, Indiana. Farming activities: Farms and houses. Farmer and other men harvest grapes from grapevines. Other farmers harvest tobacco. A woman brings eggs from a hen house. A farmer loads baskets and milk containers on a truck for market day. Market day activities: An open market is set up around the Madison courthouse. A produce merchant sells his products to customers. View of the main street. Buildings seen on either side of the street. Mountains in the background. Recreation activities: Citizens bowling in a club. Ball seen hitting pins up close. They drink at a bar and play billiards and checkers. They dance and watch a movie. Citizens outside the box office, beneath the movie theatre marquee. People inside a movie theater watching a movie. Faces of people as they watch the movie screen. Customers get refreshed at a corner drug store where a crowded soda fountain bar area and tables are shown. Students play band instruments during a school concert. View of churches. Parishioners enter a church gate. They worship and pray. A man holds a fishing rod. He walks towards a lake. (World War II period).Life in the town of Madison, Indiana, on the banks of the Ohio River, in the United States. Scenes in and around the town: Steel highway bridge across river; the town on hillside across the river; Church steeples protruding above tree tops in view from above; tree lined and shaded sidewalk; a tower with ramparts; italian-medieval style tower; gothic doorway on a church; slate rooftops with chimneys protruding and towers and cupola building top visible; Greek-inspired column ; a renaissance-style fountain with statuary. A fraternal building with ramparts; the fire department building with Italian-style tower; Roman columns on the Jackson safe deposit and trust Company building. Children play in the fountain. A Stern-wheeler Riverboat plying the river with dense black smoke streaming from its twin stacks. Men from Greece, Ireland, Germany and other parts of the world have settled in Madison. They include a confectioner, a county agent and others. A man works on a typewriter in an office. He speaks on the phone during a telephone call. A man and a woman chat and have drinks at a restaurant. A family eats dinner or another meal together at a dining table. Farming activities: Farms and houses. Farmer and other men harvest grapes from grapevines. Other farmers harvest tobacco. A woman brings eggs from a hen house. A farmer loads baskets and milk containers on a truck for market day. Market day activities: An open market is set up around the Madison court house. A produce merchant sells his products to customers. View of the main street. Buildings seen on either side of the street. Mountains in the background. Recreation activities: Citizens bowling in a club. Ball seen hitting pins up close. They drink at a bar and play pool and checkers. They dance and watch a movie. Citizens outside the box office, beneath the movie theatre marquee. People inside a movie theater watching a movie. Faces of people as they watch the movie screen. Customers get refreshed at a corner drug store where a crowded soda fountain bar area and tables are shown. Students play band instruments during a school concert. View of churches. Parishioners enter a church gate. They worship and pray. A man holds a fishing rod. He walks towards a lake. (World War II period)
United States Army and British Army airlifts paratroopers from England to the border of Holland during World War II. British and American transport airplanes and gliders land near Arnhem Holland (Netherlands). Soldiers, tanks and guns supplies offloaded and soldiers begin fighting with the enemy. Soldiers of Dutch Army aid the Allied forces. Allied soldiers rescue injured soldiers and advance towards enemy lines. Allied soldiers meet with Dutch Resistance or Dutch Underground Army members wearing identifying armbands. Group of German Army prisoners is seen including many young boy soldiers. Allied landing draws attention of German units allowing U.S. Army units to cross border into Germany. American soldiers near a bridge and crossing into Germany. They pass near railroad station at Roetgen Germany. Nazi German prisoners use horse carts and bicycle transport while being led away under Allied guard.
Opening shows animated map of Alsace front at junction of Belgium, Germany, and France, in World War 2. Allied forces are schematically shown sweeping toward Wissembourg, Haguenau, and Strasbourg. Next, several U.S. Army M4A3(75) medium tanks are seen driving toward the camera on a rural road, during a pull back by the 7th Army in the first week of January, 1944, from advanced positions at the front. Some are filled with infantry riding atop them. The last of them is seen crossing a bridge 13 miles Northeast of Haguenau. The engineers of the 79th Division place demolition charges to destroy the bridge. Closeup of them placing and then remotely igniting the charge. A huge explosion ensues that completely destroys the bridge. Scene shifts to several U.S. soldiers of an engineer combat battalion preparing 100 pound of TNT in a captured blockhouse at Lauterbach, Alsace. Closeup of engineer carrying the explosives into the blockhouse and preparing the remote detonation device. The engineers string wire in the snow and setup their remote detonation device. One depresses a plunger to ignite the charge and blow up the blockhouse, which explodes in a huge cloud of black smoke. Next, elements of the 79th Infantry Division supported by tanks, are seen moving forward to counter German gains Southeast of Haguenau. (On January 5th the German forces had established a bridgehead across the Rhein (Rhine) river near Gansheim, Germany.) Scene shifts to Drusenheim, Germany where U.S. forces are engaging a Battalion of occupying German forces. Machine gun fire is heard constantly, as American infantry battle the hidden German defenders and tanks drive them from defensive positions near a bridge at the far end of town. Infantry move from behind tanks toward the bridge and are seen crossing it. An M4A3(75) medium tank risks crossing the narrow bridge and is immediately followed by many 79th Infantry troops. The battle continues on the other side of the bridge.
VH-3A Helicopter lands on flight line at U.S. Army Fliegerhorst Kaserne Post. Shows U.S. President John F Kennedy alighting and walking with General Landon and General Freeman. President reviews troops. Scenes of U.S. Air Force officers, civilian spectators and the press. President Kennedy and General Freeman drive to 54th Transportation Battalion Mess Hall. President Kennedy with officers and secret service personnel entering mess hall. President Kennedy meets VIPs including General Landon and General Lemnitzer.
Scenes of Army gathered at USA Fliegerhorst Kaserne Post in Hanau. President Kennedy arrives in car at post and addresses the gathering. President completes his speech and have introduction with Army officers, and leaves by car with Gen Landon and others.
The Balkan War . Troops marching. Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria called the 'Fox of the Balkans'. Generals look at a map. Prisoners standing in a group. Men walk in lines on a path in the Balkans. Soldiers in coats with rifles. Montenegro: King Nicholas I surrounded by military and other officials. A man helps the King put on his coat. Italy: The King and Queen with dignitaries at a ceremony to launch battleships. Spain: The young King Alfonso XIII surrounded by military officials. Germany: German troops march on the streets. Soldiers on horses during a parade. Kaiser Wilhelm II inspects troops. The crown Prince is greeted by the people of Germany.