Animated map shows German potential thrusts into the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) coming from six different directions an targeting key cities like Leningrad and Moscow. June 22, 1941 is highlighted on the map. Large formation of German twin engine bombers with extended landing gears is seen in flight. Formation of German Panzer III tanks moving across a field. Formation of German Kfz.70 Personnel Carriers filled with troops. Formation of German soldiers on motorcycles (some with side cars) moving across a field. German troops leaving their transports and running into woods, as they encounter shelling. Animated map reiterates German emphasis on Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev (in Ukraine). It shows German forces converging on Leningrad, and then towards Smolensk. (World War II; WW II; World War 2; World War Two)
German forces overrunning Soviet cities and towns during Operation Barbarossa of World War II. View of the city, Pskov, on the Veilakaya river. A steel bridge is seen and city across it with smoke rising. German troops marching in loose formation over a bridge in Novogorod. Views of German armor and troops entering Soviet cities of Brest-litovsk, Minsk, Mogilev, and Vitebsk. View of German Panzer III tank heading toward the camera as it enters a narrow street in Smolensk. Animated map shows progress of these German advances and highlights German forces under German Field Marshal Gerd Von Runstedt attacking deep into the Ukraine. Headline on Chicago Daily News reads: "Nazis Claim Knock-out Victory" with subtitle line reading,"Moscow line cracks." Other newspapers reflect conviction that Soviet forces face imminent defeat by Germany. Slate shows communique issued by the German High Command, stating: "The issue in the East has already been settled. Smolensk is the last halt on the road to Moscow." More views of marching German troops. A battery of Soviet artillery firing from a snow-covered field. Animated map shows German forces movement close to Moscow and Foreign diplomatic representatives being moved from Moscow to city of Kuibyshev. Hitler speaking on October 3, 1941, saying "This enemy is broken and will never rise again." Animated map depicts 500 thousand square miles of Soviet territory occupied by December, 1941, and compares it to the entire west central United States encompassing the states of : South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Glimpse of fires raising much smoke in agricultural area of the Soviet Union, destroyed industrial plants, and huge numbers of Soviet citizens under German occupation. Destroyed Soviet armor, aircraft and artillery pieces. With winter coming on, views of German forces in rain gear moving slowly through cold rainy weather. Some walk beside horses and other ride on horse-drawn caissons along with artillery pieces. Segments of film show contrast between the German military strategies. The German forces would plunge deep into enemy territory and create an area of conquest. This is illustrated by a slate bearing Adolf Hitler's statement that, "A single blow must destroy the enemy, without regard for losses, a gigantic destroying blow." An animated map reminds the viewer of the success of this approach by the Germans in Poland, France, and the Balkans. German Generals seen planning the same "Blitz" approach against the Soviets. Film shifts to the Soviet strategy, showing their military planners idea of defense in depth, with multiple lines of successively stronger defense, taking advantage of the great size of their territory. Views of Soviet troops on the move. View of Shells knocking out a German tanks. Panzer III tanks advancing. Panzer VI tanks completely covered by German troops catching rides. Soviet field artillery and machine guns firing in cities, forcing German soldiers to leave their vehicles and seek them out. Soviet cities bombed out and burning, limiting the ability of armor to navigate in them. Montage of battle scenes cities of Rostov, Kharkov, Kiev, Kursk, Smolensk, standing in the way of the Nazi blitz into the Soviet Union. Battles being waged in cities. (World War II; WW II; World War 2; World War Two)
Allied campaign against the Axis in 1944 during World War II. The Soviet Army advances towards Romania after running over Ukraine. The tanks advance. German soldiers captured by the Soviet Army.
A Junkers Ju-52 aircraft, carrying Adolf Hitler, lands in a grass airfield at Kalinovka, Ukraine, during Operation Barbarossa in World War 2. German soldiers and airmen rush to meet the aircraft, as it arrives. Closeup of Hitler as he steps from the airplane and returns a Nazi salute to officers greeting him. Closeup glimpse of swastika displayed on hood of Mercedes Benz G4 staff car as officer opens door for Hitler., who climbs aboard. View of the staff car driving across the field. German aircraft parked, casually, around its periphery in the background. Closeup of destroyed Soviet artillery tractor and field piece. Hitler's motorcade driving along a tree-lined dirt road. Closeups of destroyed Soviet tank parts along the roadside. German officers and German troops line the roadside and salute as Hitler passes. Hitler arriving and entering the Army Group South headquarters. Inside He is seen at a planning table pouring over a map with Field Marshal Fedor von Bock. Next, Hitler is seen leaving the headquarters building, surrounded by officers and soldiers rendering the Nazi salute. he shakes hands with several of the officers and is next seen boarding the Mercedes G4 staff car, encircled by enthusiastic soldiers. All salute again as the vehicle drives away. Location shifts to Italy, where civilian recruits march on their way to join the army. Helmeted army troops stand in formation on the platform as their train leaves the station. A contingent of Italian army soldiers heading to the Eastern front moves through cheering crowds. They are inspected by an Italian General and others, including a German officer, as they stand in formation on a train platform. Afterwards, some are presented flowers by loved ones. The platform is filled with well-wishers who wave as their train leaves the station. A contingent of Italian troops stands at attention as they prepare to depart to the Eastern front. they receive flowers as they board train and depart. The train station platform is filled with Italian soldiers waving goodbye from windows of railroad train departing station for the war front, as civilians wave from the station platform.
The Russians recapture Kerch in the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic during World War II. A map showing the location of Kerch. Smoke rising from explosions in Kerch. The Red Army soldiers advance through rubble in the city. The soldiers in a freight yard. Abandoned equipment at the yard. Dead Germans on the ground. Damaged buildings in view. The soldiers under cover of the ruins of buildings firing at German positions. Views of dead German soldiers. A Soviet soldier climbs atop a entrance gate structure on which German Swastika symbol is displayed at top center. He bends the large swastika symbol downward to destroy it, and then receives a Soviet flag from another soldier to post atop the gate. Aerial view of the city with ruins of buildings and smoke rising from shelled areas. Damaged buildings along a road. Russian troops on tanks moving along. German and Romanian prisoners marched in columns along a path. Russian troops holding guns beside artillery. A Romanian prisoner is interrogated by few Russian officers. The officers standing beside the artillery. Russian troops on tanks moving on a path. A few buildings in view. A map showing different German positions in Ukraine.
A Cold War era film about the low angle flying ability of U.S. Air Force B-58 Hustler aircraft in the United States. A map traces the route to be taken by B-58 aircraft to the Soviet Union. A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refuels the B-58 in mid air. A map traces the route of a possible B-58 Hustler aircraft mission to Kiev, Ukraine from England. The route of a B-58 mission from Pacific islands to China. A B-58 Hustler in flight carrying a free fall bomb pod. A crewman aboard an airborne B-58 aircraft. The B-58 aircraft makes a low pass over an airstrip.