Opening scene shows a man being roughed up by a group of men in an alleyway. A slate comments (in French) that when nations are bellicose, an assassination can cause a world war. Next, a slate shows picture of the world and states (in English) "One murder may start a world war." Another slate (in French) states that In 1914, while Europe's armies and fleets were more powerful than they had ever been, the nephew of the Emperor of Austria (Archduke Ferdinand) was assassinated. A front page is shown of newspaper, "Journal De Geneve" carrying the story. Next scene is a view of the city of Sarajevo. The ancient Emperor's Mosque dominates the scene. A slate appears asking Where is Sarajevo? It is followed by a map of Europe in 1914, which zooms in on Austria and Serbia and identifies and labels Sarajevo,in Austria, close to the Serbian border. Slates (in French) says Austria accused Serbia of War and other nations enter the melee. Animated World map shows the nations getting involved, starting with the German Empire in 1914, including its African colonies, and then successively showing Russia, France, Belgium,Great Britain, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire. Map advances to 1915, showing the Italian empire, Bulgaria,and Central Arabia. In 1916 it adds Portugal, Roumania. Next, the U.S.A. is added in, 1917, along with Central and South America, Greece, Siam, and China. Finally, the slate shows the war ending in 1918. Slate shows Armistice Day, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th Month (November), with time shown on hands of Big Ben in London.
Celebrations in Havana, Cuba as Cuban rebels led by Fidel Castro take over the city. Citizens marching in the streets carrying 26th of July banners (date in 1953 the coup began). Jubilant throngs of people. Newspaper man selling papers with large headline "Se Fue Batista" indicating that Batista has fled the country. Crowds smashing gambling machines in the streets. Hoards of students streaming from the University of Havana joining the celebrations. U.S. tourists leaving a hotel with packed luggage and taking refuge at the U.S. Embassy (being taken there in U.S. Military cars), and then leaving Havana on airplanes to return to the USA. Rebel fighters with beards entering the city. Views of Fidel Castro, a number of his lieutenants, and rebel fighters somewhere in the mountains. The Cuban flag flying.
The USA-USSR Moscow summit on perestroika in Moscow, Soviet Union. A boat sails in water in front of Red Square buildings in Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union. Traffic on road in Moscow. The expert speaks on the sluggish Soviet economy. Soviet Russian people walk on the streets in a Soviet city (likely Moscow). Some are shopping; some are reading posted material on bulletin boards. Marshall Goldman, a Soviet economist, speaks during a world net telecast. More views of Russian people in front of the shops and on the streets in the 1980s. The U.S. president Ronald Wilson Reagan and General Secretary of the communist party of Soviet Union Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev sign a pact limiting nuclear weapons. Mikhail Gorbachev waves to the people. The people hold balloons as they stand to greet him. Soviet Officials including Gorbachev stand at Kremlin in Red Square during a military parade. Flashback scene during the formation of the Solidarit Labor Union in Poland. Lech Wałęsa, Polish Solidarity leader, speaking to a crowd in the early 1980s. Crowd protests on streets in Poland during time of formation of Solidarity movement. Final scenes of clip show rally in Red Square Soviet Union as balloons rise during celebration or parade, and view of large banner of famous deceased Soviet leaders is seen hanging from buildings.
Marshall Plan projects in Ireland. A plaque marked with 'Office of public works Brosna Drainage Officer' can be seen. Supervisor directing excavation by crane, to improve river Brosna and increase drainage of bogs. Views of countryside in Ireland. Various views of Irish houses, roads, people at work. Men cutting peat with slanes, and loading it on donkey cart. Smoke from peat fire rising from chimney of a house. Peat moss being bundled for export to the U.S.A. Mechanized cutting and drying of peat. Peat being loaded in rail cars and transported to power plant for fuel. Rural electrification project. Peat and coal fueled power plants being constructed. A sugar refining plant.
German troops in formation outside the railroad car, in Compiegne, France, where Germany surrendered to France, in World War I. Now, it is being used ironically, by Hitler to secure the surrender of France on June 22, 1940. A formation of German German Dornier Do-17 bombers in flight. Aerial views of the London ablaze during the Blitz. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend Lease Act. Men load a truck with Lend Lease materials in boxes marked, "U.S.A." View of freight train leaving a switch yard. View of freight train passing by with cargo marked 'Bullard Machine Tools, Bridgeport, Conn."
Allied Forces in North Africa during Christmas, 1942, during World War 2. Map of Tunisia. Ancient Roman ruins, including the Amphitheater of El Jem. A native plows a field. Children ride mules. Christian Cathedrals in various places. Interiors of a cathedral. At various places Allied soldiers hold Christmas Services outdoors. Camel Corps troops astride their camels. A Christmas service in front of a Curtiss P-40 aircraft displaying an American flag on its right wing and a Christian flag on its left. Scenes of children celebrating Christmas in different parts of the world, including boys throwing snowballs at each other outside a school building in the United States (Lettering above doorway of school reads "Durham Public School", possibly in Durham, NC. Graves of dead soldiers. Religious services held for the allied soldiers. British General Montgomery attends a religious service. Bells ring in churches across the world Sign reads 'A Happy Christmas'. Soldiers carry sacks. Letters brought for soldiers on a jeep. Soldiers run to get their letters. A soldier reads his letter. A soldier wakes up to find a filled stocking hung on his tent. Another soldier opens a parcel. 'Pine Grove USA' and 'Birney Cave Mincoka' written on two signs. Soldiers open parcels. Empty boxes, cups and bottles on a table. Preparation for the Christmas feast. Feathers are plucked from a turkey. Many bottles of rum in a row. Chickens are removed from an airplane. Soldiers in a chow line. A pudding on a plate is put on the table. A bowl of oranges on a table with some WAC (Womens Army Corps) service members. A sign in the background reads 'A Merry Xmas' Soldiers feed their pets. A puppy is fed. A donkey and a pig are fed. A pet monkey grooms a soldier's head. Candy is thrown to the native children. The Red Cross dispenses milk given by soldiers to native children. Soldiers go sightseeing in Egypt and observe an Egyptian magician. The Great Sphinx of Giza with the Pyramid of Khafre in the background as Allied soldiers fall off a camel they are trying to ride. Native people of Morocco in a city market area. Women pass in veils. British Soldiers play Cricket. American soldiers play baseball. A soldier plays a guitar. Another soldier views a magazine with a young woman centerfold picture. Soldiers polish uniform brass and shine shoes to prepare for assembly. Others take baths in tubs outdoors. With all troops assembled, President Roosevelt visits, riding in a jeep (while in the area for the Casablanca Conference). He is accompanied by Lieutenant General Mark Clark and General George Patton, riding in the back of the jeep. Later the President is seen sitting sideways in the jeep, holding his hat over his heart as he passes troops lined along the roadside. Secret Service agents ride behind carrying machine guns. The generals in his jeep salute as they pass the colors. Next, British Prime Minister Churchill is seen greeted by an honor guard of four British soldiers during his time in Casablanca for the Casablanca Conference. He is seen beside a gate labeled "Villa #3" which was the Villa “Mirador in the complex of Villas beside the Anfa Hotel.
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