Celebrations on London's streets following Italy's decision to join the Triple Entente– Britain, France and Russia -- and declare war on Austria-Hungary, during World War I. Crowd on street gathers for demonstration, vehicles also on road. Crowd stand in front of building with flags. Kingdom of Italy flag flies.
Refugees and foreigners fleeing conflict and unrest head to Shanghai as the Communist Chinese Army advances, challenging those loyal to Nationalist China. An Orthodox priest looks at an infant carried by a European woman. Many people are screened before boarding the USS General W.H. Gordon (AP-117) to evacuate. Two Roman Catholic nuns board the ship. The ship departs from Shanghai. Scene shifts to view of Communists on parade in Rome, Italy and assemble at event overseen by Communist leader Palmiro Togliatti. Crowds of communist Italians gathered at the Stadio dei Marmi (Viale dello Stadio dei Marmi, 00135 Roma RM, Italy). In East Germany a large poster showing Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Speakers at rally of East German FDGB (Freier Deutscher Gewerkshaftsbund) which is the Free German Trade Union Federation. Rioting and destruction in riots in Bogota, Colombia, after 1948 assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán. Crowds of Colombian protestors overturn cars and burn cars and streetcars. Protestors through files of paperwork out of windows of a government building during unrest.
Scenes of Norway and Italy. A farmer in Italy using a hoe. An elderly gentleman describing the hardships of the Italians. Scene shifts to Ireland, and farmers digging potatoes or tubers. An old Irishman describing the problems of the Irish prompting immigration to America early in the 20th century.
United States President Franklin Roosevelt sits in a room. He speaks of Fascist decline in Italy during World War 2, saying "the first cracks in the Axis has come." He stresses that the U.S. terms to Mussolini in Italy are still unconditional surrender. President wears a bow tie during his speech.
Crowd fills the Plaza Venezia in Rome where Benito Mussolini appears on the balcony of the Piazza Venezia (formerly known as the Palace of St Mark) in Italy, on June 10, 1940. He announces that Italy has entered World War 2 on the side of the Axis powers. Views of the jubilant crowd waving Italian and some Swastika flags. Next, a road sign points to Paris and to Poissons, in France followed by view of German troops triumphantly entering Paris, through the Arc de Triomphe during occupation of France. View of the Eiffel Tower, and of a German flag flying atop it. More views of German troops marching through Paris. A German railway gun firing. (Narrator implies that the target is the Maginot Line, which is not correct. It was bypassed by the Germans, negating need to attack it directly.) Other German railway guns and siege mortars firing and many huge explosions and fires are seen, including some from flame throwers. Next, German troops are seen marching around a circle where a railroad car is parked near Compiègne, France. This rail car is the scene of Germany's surrender to France in World War I. Statue of French Marshal Foch, who had then, received the delegates of vanquished Germany here. Adolf Hitler walking past a German Honor Guard, salutes. He is accompanied by Marshal Hermann Goering and other high ranking military persons. The nearby 1918 "Alsace-Lorraine monument" is covered by a German flag. The German delegation headed by Hitler and Goering, enter the rail car and take their places. Outside, the French delegation, headed by General Charles Huntziger, is escorted by German officers. They enter the car and he German delegation stands. Both delegations exchange salutes. Next, Hitler is seen stepping from the rail car, followed by Goering. The German delegation walks past the honor guard, and Hitler salutes them. German and French officials still in the rail car exchange salutes. Hitler expresses jubilation.
June 10, 1940, American man, in San Francisco barbershop, reads newspaper report that Italy enters World War 2 as part of Axis and against France and Britain. Barber cuts the mans hair. They both look over at a portable radio on a counter and listen as President Roosevelt denounces Italy's action. American family with a husband, wife, and boy sit in a living room and listen to the radio while William L. Shirer broadcasts from Compiègne as France signs an armistice with Hitler. Views of railroad carriage in clearing surrounded by German troops in formation. Hitler strides with Hermann Goering, Admiral Erich Raeder, and others. Statue of Marshal Foch. French General Huntzinger, and his delegation escorted by German officers. Hitler and his delegation rise as the French delegation enters the rail car. Germans drape Nazi flag over the Glade of the Armistice monument (French: Clairière de l'Armistice). View of the Eiffel Tower. German troops marching through the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysee in Paris. Hitler's railroad train entering Paris station. Hitler taking an early morning tour of Paris in an open car. Hitler and party admiring the Eiffel Tower during German invasion of France and occupation of France. View from Eiffel Tower of German troops marching along street. German rail guns in new positions on coast of France, pointed toward the English Channel and England. The German rail guns moving on tracks and firing. Animated map showing Allies overseas possessions. German residents in Brazil in largely German communities, with German schools, German school children, Nazi textbooks, and Nazi German newspapers in a town in Brazil. A Hermann Goering glider club operating in Brazil, as a glider is prepared for flight. View of Japanese residents in Brazil on behalf of Imperial Japan. SEDTA German airline planes with bomb racks operating in Ecuador, South America. Germans exercising at exclusive German clubs in Argentina, modeled after Hitler Youth. Narrator indicates these operations represented a "Fifth Column" ready to take over.
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