An award ceremony and review of French troops at the Court of Honor (Cour d'Honneur) primary courtyard area of the French military hospital known as the Hotel des Invalides. Field Marshal Philippe Petain pins a medal on a French general as an honor guard stands at attention and photographers capture photos. The receiving general may possibly be Paul Maistre, Maxime Weygand, or Marshal Louis Granchet d'Esperey. Following the ceremony, French Army troops march out of the courtyard while being reviewed by Petain and the other high-ranking officers. At the end of the line, several early armored vehicles join the procession, including a French Renault FT tank and small personnel carriers.
German troops are seen in white winter uniforms, during World War 2, with some holding panzerfaust. Narrator mentions combat against Anglo-Canadian forces, and then speaks of preparation for the New Year's offensive. Heinrich Himmler, as commander of Army Group "Oberrhein" had ordered the launch of Operation Nordwind to recapture Strasbourg. Accordingly, On New Year's Eve, 1945,The Germans launch an offensive (Nordwind) into Alsace, attacking the Allied 6th Army Group at multiple points. On January 5, 1945, Army Group Oberrhein begins a support attack by General Otto von dem Bach's XIV SS Corps, the 553d Volksgrenadier Division, reinforced with armor and commando units. They are seen crossing the Rhine river in small boats at Gambsheim, just ten miles north of Strasbourg. Allied aircraft bomb German positions on the West bank of the Rhein (Rhine) River. The German troopers seize high ground West of the Rhein. German troops are seen firing recoilless anti-tank weapons in a field, Views of knocked out British and American tanks. Abandoned German Jagdpanzer IV faces a U.S. Tank Destroyer. German troops are seen advancing into town North of Strasbourg (Herrlisheim, Drusenheim, Offendorf ?). Scenes of destruction in town. Words: "Haus Bewohnt Civil" scrawled on homes to identify them as civilian occupied.
Newspapers print millions of copies to spread the news of Charles Lindbergh's attempt to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Newspapers being printed, bundled, and distributed to delivery services and sellers.
Excerpts from British movie about World War One Battle of the Somme. Map shows area of the Battle of the Somme and points to the region of Montaubon siezed by the British 30th Division on July 1, 1916. British World War I forces are seen entering former German trenches and resting. They clean debris from the trenches under German artillery fire. German troops counterattack out of trenches and cross the battlefield to engage entrenched British infantry. British fire at them with Lewis machine guns. Both sides sustain casualties.
Film opens showing animated images of elephants created by fireworks. View of the Pont Alexandre III bridge illuminated at night with fireworks in the sky above and sparks spouting from containers on the bridge. View of the Nymphes de la Seine statue group by sculptor Georges Recipon, is seen on the near (western side) of the bridge. The fireworks fountains on the bridge increase their discharges. Next, showers of sparks and heavy smoke appear, as people walk across the bridge. (These fireworks are generated East of the bridge.) Spectators viewed from behind are silhouetted against the white smoke and fireworks, as they watch the show from the nearby Pont de la Concorde Bridge. A group of swirling fireworks in the sky. Animated images of dancers wrought in fireworks. One of them collapses. An animated fireworks image of an urn spewing fire, topped by two fish moving atop it. Firework portrait of man with name "Chamberlain" beneath it. Firework bust of Admiral Byrd, with "Byrd" beneath it. Animated firework picture of the Spirit of St. Louis (Lindbergh's airplane) approaching the Eiffel Tower, followed by firework portrait of Lindbergh, with name "Lindy" above, and sequence of word: "The" followed by image of a lone eagle, and words: "of the U.S.A. Film concludes with more fireworks displays.
A French Salmson reconnaissance biplane parked at a French airfield,in World War 1. Pilot is in the cockpit. One crewman begins to pull the propeller through to clear hydraulic lock before starting. Another airman stands at the airplane's left wing tip. A French flier shows twin Lewis machine guns installed in the rear cockpit of a Salmson airplane. He demonstrates their flexiblity and horizontal and vertical range of movement.
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