Opening slate identifies site of World War 2 combat as Stavelot, Belgium, 20 miles from the German frontier. American soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division are seen digging protective field positions. M1917 Browning 30mm machine guns are at their positions. U.S. troops set up 90mm guns along the roads, as fog begins to obscure the area. On 21 December, 1944, Two U.S. soldiers walk across a square in the town of Stavelot where American and German forces clashed on December 20th. Views of destroyed buildings, abandoned Tiger II tank of s.SS.Pz.Abt.101 and Stummel half-track and wreckage. Civilians run for cover into a substantial building as German forces renew an attack on the town. (World War II; WW II; World War 2; World War Two)
Allied airborne operation in Netherlands during World War II during Operation Market Garden. Map showing the cities of Arnheim, Nijmegen, and Eindhoven in the Netherlands. The 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division prepare for a mission in the Netherlands in World War 2. Troops listening. Paratroops board C-47s and fly to their objectives. Glider troops prepare to take off. They board the U.S. Army gliders (Waco CG-4). Waco CG-4 gliders take off and seen in flight. Aerial views of aircraft and ground below. View of gliders landing at Eindhoven. Troops assemble for their initial objectives. Troops hold rifles and pass away on Jeep. Allied troops enter the town of 't Zand on September 18, 1944 as Dutch citizens greet them.
Activities of First United States Army pressing eastward in Germany during World War 2. U.S. engineers and soldiers build a bridge over the Inde River since all nearby crossings had been destroyed by retreating German forces. Army vehicles cross the completed bridge. Soldiers bring heavy artillery and adjust it. View changes to Mausbach area to the South, where rockets are launched by 3rd Armored Division toward the river. Line of 75 U.S. Army rockets seen being loaded by U.S. soldiers and then fired together. Bright flashes and smoke as rockets are fired. Tanks of the 3rd Division moving out from the town. A U.S. vehicle in the advancing column toward Gressenich is hit by German guns. U.S. Army tanks, lined up like artillery, fire on German forces at Gressenich. Continuous line of 3rd Armored Division tanks, armored vehicles, and 6x6 vehicles come to the front and advance on roads of cities and villages moving eastward, and supporting the U.S. First Army Infantry. 1st Army infantry move through Hurtgen forest near Aachen. Ruined German factory is used as an observtion base by U.S. forces to coordinate attack on Gressenich, which was captured on November 19, 1944. 3rd Armored Division tanks move into open fields to continue offensive toward Werth, with U.S. infantry soldiers staying close to tanks for cover. Soldiers carry the wounded U.S. tank commander after German counter fire hits lead U.S. tank in the column. The wounded soldier is dragged to safety. Men of U.S. Army 1st Division Infantry enter town of Werth under German mortar fire and move from house to house clearing enemy snipers and mopping up in the ruins. U.S. Army soldiers guard a column of German prisoners (POW) who surrendered in Werth. View of ruined and destroyed buildings in German towns like Hamich after defeat. U.S. Army soldiers move through the town on foot with a small church in the background. U.S. Army trucks arrive in a rubbled village with food and ammunition for the offensive drive toward the Ruhr.
Activities of American first Army in Germany, advancing eastward in late 1944 during World War 2. Animated map shows: 4th and 8th infantry division move out from Stolberg and enter into Hurtgen Forest . U.S. 4th Infantry attack with field guns and artillery. Field gun amidst pile of shells fires toward Hurtgen Forest. 4th Infantry Division troops crawl up a hill in the Hurtgen Forest, sometimes pinned down under enemy German fire. Armor comes to their aid and casualties are treated by medical corps personnel. U.S. Army tanks arrive to support the infantry and they continue forward, where footage shows U.S. mortars and artillery bombing Grosshau, and point of view shot of a U.S. Army machine gun firing at a target in the town of Grosshau. Animated map shows: 5th and 8th Inf. Divisions enter into Kleinhau. Kleinhau is bombarded by a heavy volley of U.S. Army rockets and artillery from units of the 5th and 8th Infantry Divisions. Allied fighter bombers in flight over the area. Artillery is loaded and fired at close-range on target of Kleinhau which was then captured. U.S. Army Soldiers around the ruined buildings of Hurtgen, eating and drinking during a break. Infantry division move towards another towns. U.S. Army soldiers take a moment to relax during the long drive eastward. U.S. soldiers fire mortars from positions along the west bank of the Ruhr.
Activities of American First Army advancing eastward in Germany in December of 1944 during World War 2. Units of the 9th Divisions are moved up by truck and meet retiring units of the 1st Division at a road intersection. They enter town of Lucherberg after an artillery barrage, then attack through Inden and close in on Pier Germany. View of ruined buildings and wreckage in Pier, Germany. Sign of 'Duren'. U.S. Army 3rd Armored Division enters into German town on trucks and army tanks. 3rd Armored Division fires artillery at town of Schlich Germany, and are joined in the attack by soldiers of newly arrived 9th Infantry Division. Artillery barrage underway, with targets in Schlich visible in distance. Armored vehicles and soldiers move through mud advancing on Schlich with new piece of equipment known as a rotary mine exploder. German troops are rounded up as prisoners by U.S. Infantry. Gunners fire. On December 11, German prisoners assemble for inspection. Some of the German prisoners appear to be young boys. Smoke screen thrown up by Allies to cover movement of armored column heading into German towns across open field. U.S. Army soldiers enter into wrecked town of Geich, Germany, where buildings are destroyed and still burning. Armor and supply vehicles move through mud. Infantry of 83rd Division arrive as reinforcements and march in snow covered area toward a suburb of Duren. U.S. mortar fire pins Germans retreating toward Ruhr. Infantry attack to clear town outside Duren, and Infantry mop up, clearing German snipers. German troops and female collaborators are rounded up as prisoners. American First Army infantry forces marching on a road, continuing eastward.
Air and Ground Forces cooperation in Aachen, Germany. The ruins and collapsed buildings of Aachen Germany on October 15, 1944, following Allied bombing. Smoke rises from ruins. View of a field area and then a giant explosion as a ground target is detonated with explosives. Large cloud of smoke rises. U.S. Army soldiers inspect exploded area.
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