Adolf Hitler consulting with Panzer Generals Paul von Kleist and Heinz Guderian, during World War 2. Animated map showing German invasions of Denmark, Norway,Holland,and Belgium. People hear on radio about the German Blitzkrieg. Many views of families and gathering of men, women, and children listening to various portable radios, console radios, and car radios to hear the news of the attacks. Masses of refugees moving slowly in France and Belgium, and being strafed by German Ju 87 Stuka aircraft. Americans listening to news of German war successes. British forces being attacked by German Ju 87 Stuka bombers as they evacuate at Dunkirk, France.
Presidential Palace in Havana. U.S. Secretary of State, Cordell Hull speaking at the Havana Conference. Flags of Nations attending. Franklin Roosevelt, on May 16, 1940, telling congress to mobilize for national defense. Airplane and engine factories and manufacturing plants. Navy ships being built. U.S. sailors and marines on parade. U.S. soldiers training with mock weapons. Flour bag "bombs" hitting a U.S. Army tank M2. Army trucks labeled "tanks." U.S. Army tanks M3. Empty "Adelphi" brand beer cans used for training. National Guard units Nationalized. President Roosevelt reading first draft numbers under the Selective Service Act. New recruits getting draft notices and physical exams. New soldiers in boot camp. German Ju 87 and Dornier 17 bombers taking off. Animated map showing German air attacks against Britain. View of radio broadcaster Edward R. Murrow in studio as he is describing the "Blitz" from London. German He 111 bomber aircraft in flight during blitz bombing of London, England, United Kingdom. British antiaircraft guns firing. London citizens in underground bomb shelter. British Fire brigades directing water hoses on burning buildings. British warships at sea. U.S. Destroyers transferred to Britain. British Prime Minister Churchill assigning military base rights to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Berle. Brandenburg Gate and German, Italian, and Japanese flags flying in Berlin on September 27, 1940 Hitler greeting Italian Galleazzo Ciano, and Japanese representative Saburo Kurusu. Signing of Berlin Pact. London civilian citizens resting in underground air raid shelters, while the relentless bombing goes on. American Charles Lindbergh talks to an audience and says Britain is losing the war. Next scene shows Wendell Wilkie saying "England will not only survive, England will win!" British people cleaning up after a German blitz bombing run during the Battle of Britain. Fire fighter moving a mannequin from a store among rubble; a large commuter bus on its side and resting against a building in rubble; a British man with a hard hat clearing rubble finds a small British flag and mounts it in a wall. Polls showing increased American support for Britain based on polling between 1936 and 1941.
J. Edgar Hoover speaks from his new office on the occasion of his appointment as the Director of the newly created Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI. Behind his desk a sailfish is mounted on the wall. Exterior views of the new Department of Justice Building at Pennsylvania Avenue and 9th Street, in Washington, DC. A trolley car and tracks can be seen in the streets.
The Battle for the eastern Gustav Line. Snow covered mountains in Italy. British troops being re-supplied with food fuel and ammunition by means of mule trains run by Italian Army troops under Allied control. Wounded British soldier on stretcher is carried high above the snow on shoulders of comrades. British artillery directed toward German positions in Majella mountains. New Zealand troops unloading supplies at their position less than a mile from the Germans. The supplies include snow capes to camouflage the infantrymen. The New Zealanders don the snow capes and proceed through the snow. (World War II period).
Rescue operations underway for crew of sunken submarine SMS Thetis (N25) at Liverpool Bay, England. Rescue fleet in the area and more boats approaching. Airplanes in flight over the Bay. Posters on wall at waiting area where families wait for news. Helicopter flies over rescue ships. Man demonstrates breathing apparatus and life jacket equipment like that available to the sailors on the stricken submarine. Picture of interiors of the submarine. Survivors being taken in a car. Wife of submarine commander speaks. Relatives of passengers aboard the submarine wait for news. A large ship anchored beside the partially submerged wreckage of the submarine.
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.)
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