United States Army Air Service (USAAS) 94th Fighter Squadron in France during World War I. 2nd Lieutenant E. K. Delaney climbs into the cockpit of a USAAS De Havilland Airco DH-4 bomber. An officer and a ground crewman are standing near the nose of the aircraft. 2nd Lieutenant Allan F. Winslow seated in the cockpit of USAAS Nieuport 28 C-1 . A ground crewman turns the propeller of an Airco DH-4. Another crewman holds the first crewman's arm. The DH-4 bomber taxis away. The parked Nieuport 28 C-1 with its engine running. Lieutenant Douglas Campbell of the 94th fighter Squadron seated in the cockpit of the Nieuport 28 C-1. Two parked Nieuport 28 C-1s start to taxi. Third Nieuport 28 C-1 parked in the foreground. A Nieuport 28 C-1 taxis away. Bi-wing of a parked aircraft in the foreground. Ground crewmen starting the engine of a Nieuport 28 C-1. Ground crewmen hold onto the wings as the wheel chocks are removed and the aircraft turns. The aircraft takes off. Two ground crewmen standing beside a parked bi-winged aircraft in the foreground. American fighter ace Lieutenant Eddie Rickenbacker seated in the cockpit of a SPAD S. XIII fighter aircraft. 94th Aero Squadron "Hat in Ring" insignia on the side of the aircraft. Lieutenant Rickenbacker seated in the cockpit of a SPAD S. XIII near Rembercourt, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France on 18th October, 1918. A Nieuport 28 C-1 takes off.
German cavalry on horseback entering Belgium and Berman infantry marching in France, at the start of World War 1 (1914). The famed Taxicab army is seen carrying French soldiers in Paris. General Ferdinand Foch reviewing elements of the French 9th Army. French and British troops firing a British BL 8-inch howitzer. French troops rushing across no-man's land of trenches and barbed wire, as shells burst. German soldiers taken prisoners in trench. General Foch shaking hands with U.S. General Pershing, aboard a U.S. warship. Sketch of signing of the armistice, November 1, 1918 on a railway carriage at Compiegne. Monument to Marshal Foch. Monument to Minister of War, Andre Maginot. concrete being poured. French construction of the Maginot Line. Animated illustrated cross-section of the line.View of troops moving on rail cars in the Maginot line. Glimpse of Maginot line guns on surface. At outbreak of World War 2, French troops deploy to the Maginot line. French troops inside bunkers and tunnels of Maginot Line. Marshal Petain reviewing the troops as they deploy. Muzzle of a Maginot line gun. Hitler with Military Chiefs planning. View of French Foreign Minsister, Aristide Briand,during signing of the 1928 Kellogg-Briand antiwar pact in Paris.Frank R. Kellogg, U.S. Secretary of State at the table to Briand's left. His signature on the document. A field full of French Morane 406 airplanes. French airman poses with Potez 58 airplane. French AMC 34 tanks. Crowd milling about at Renault Building and unrest elswhere in Paris, France. Newspapers chronicle failure of the League of Nations. Movie cartoon about weakening of France by Nazi inspired social strife and sabotage. French Army troops in mess hall eat at long tables and pour wine with meal. Idle French troops across the Rhine River targeted by German propaganda and psychological warfare including banners; messages by balloons;German bands playing French tunes; large loudspeakers broadcasting in French.
German occupation of France during World War 2. The cathedral in Reims, France. Vehicles and a few men on a road in front of the church. Trees lining the road. The railway car in which an armistice agreement was signed by Germany and the Allies at end of World War 1. The Memorial Tablet symbolic of the 1918 armistice, the Alsace-Lorraine, and Ferdinand Foch's Memorial in Compiegne Forest. Ferdinand Foch's carriage in which the first armistice was signed. In 1940 : German troops cross River Marne in rafts. A signboard showing the distances to Paris and Soissons. Another signboard showing the distances to Grand Fitz James and Paris. Troops on tanks moving on roads. A signboard shows distances to Pontarme and Paris. A soldier with a gun on his back. Soldiers moving with carriages on a path between fields. Trees lining the path. German troops moving on tanks advancing deeper into France. The troops on the road in front of the castle in Versailles. The German flag hoisted on a flag pole over the Palace of Versailles and German soldiers occupy the Palace of Versailles.
Film begins showing nighttime scene of fires burning from German bombing of Paris in the World War 2 German invasion and Battle of France. In daylight, firemen are seen directing streams of water on smoking remains of buildings. Camera pans across numerous destroyed buildings and debris. One notable undamaged structure is the the Sacre Coeur Cathedral and its tall bell tower, on lÎle-de-France. Citizens are gather discussing the situation. One mostly destroyed building has "Les Soeurs de St. Vincent Paul," written on its side. It is headquarters of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (Catholic order) on 140 rue du Bac. A woman of the order, wearing their signature cornette, is seen conversing with a police officer. A Nun of the order works with several women (not in habit) to save some tables. More views of the destruction including one showing water gushing from a burst underground water main. Camera pans over more scenes of destruction. Inside of a badly damaged church. Women distributing snacks to children. A sign reading: "Milice Francaise," (a local Militia) where food and drinks are being given to many people.
Shows U.S. Army troops at the war front in France during World War I. U.S. 39th and 58th infantry Regiments advance under machine gun and artillery fire at Montfaucon and Nantillois in Meuse, France on September 28,1918.
Shows U.S. 305th and 306th Infantry, 77th Division approaching Longueval (France) under heavy enemy artillery fire on their drive from Vesle to the Aisne on September 5th, 1918. U.S. medical corps give first aid to wounded troops under heavy enemy fire. General Pershing decorates U.S. 42nd Divison troops at Bagneux (France).
CRITICALPAST.COM: About Us | Contact Us | FAQs - How to Order | License Agreement | My Account | My Lightboxes | Shopping Cart | Advanced Search | Featured Collections | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy ©2026 CriticalPast LLC.
License Agreement |
Terms & Conditions |
Privacy Policy
©2026 CriticalPast LLC.