German invasion and occupation of France and the Low Countries during World War II. German panzer infantry and tanks advance in France during Battle of France. They pass French civilians and wrecked vehicles en-route. A map depicts German movement from Sedan to Abbeville. Men transfer war material and barrels from freight cars into military trucks at a storage facility. German soldiers carry fuel cans to parked German aircraft. Soldiers nearby as the convoy of trucks leaves. A sign for places including Mecheln and Brussels in Belgium. The convoy crosses a bridge. French policemen direct traffic on the city roads. The convoy passes wrecked and abandoned French automobiles and military vehicles. French civilians return to their homes with their belongings. People on foot and in horse carts. Families seated with their belongings. Elderly men, women, children and new born babies. German volunteers distribute food to French refugees. A sign reads 'Revitaillement pour les Refugies'. Women distribute food and water to refugees. People wait in lines. A volunteer holds a child.
Series 'Why We Fight' episode "Prelude to War" depicts the battles during World War II. United States soldiers parade on street lead by a band. Japanese bombing attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The London Blitz with buildings destroyed and burning. The Eiffel Tower in Paris with Nazi flag flying atop it. German troops marching into Paris, through the Arc de Triomphe. Japanese warplanes bombing shanghai, China, in 1937. Chinese residents running for shelter. Glimpse of German "Schwerer Gustav" 80 cmrailway gun firing during German offensive against Soviet Union in 1941. German forces entering Czechoslovakia in 1938. German mounted troops entering France in 1940. Heavy guns firing. German ships en route to Norway 1940. German Ju-52 aircraft flying low over trees. Montage showing rapid succession of war scenes, including heavy guns firing, smoke rising, explosions, an aircraft shot down and crashing straight down, German armor on the move, German Ju-52 aircraft dropping paratroopers into Holland and one flying over Athens, Greece, with Mount Lykabettus in the background. More of the same with Narrator mentioning Belgium, Albania, Yugoslavia, and Russia (where citizens are seen digging anti-tank trenches and fortifications). Cavalry charging across a field. A German tank rolling forward. A German Dornier Do-17 bomber taking off, and bombs falling.
Japanese army officers examining foreign military equipment. A Japanese worker employing electric drill developed in a Western country. The Japanese freighter, Tatsuno Maru, loading scrap iron at a port in the United States. Other Japanese freighters loading coal and oil for shipment back to Japan. View of the Washington Naval Conference in Memorial Continental Hall, Washington, DC, held in 1921-22 and again in 1927 and 1930, to deal with several lingering issues. Glimpse of Japanese people holding flags while gathered near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Glimpse of Japanese army troops on parade. Japanese Navy warships at sea. A fleet of Japanese Mitsubishi G3M bombers and Nakajima Ki-27 pursuit planes, parked on an airfield. A loose formation of Ki-27s airborne. Animated map illustrates Japanese fortification of Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall islands in the Pacific. Animated map illustrating China's greater size and population vis-a-vis Japan. Animated map illustrating Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931. New York Times newspaper with headline "Japs Seize Manchuria" hovers over fires burning in Manchuria. Other newspaper headlines reporting on Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia; the Spanish civil war; surrender of Czechoslovakia; invasion of Poland; assaults on France, Belgium, and the Netherlands by Nazi Germany; the London Blitz; and Nazi advances against Russia on the Eastern Front. Fnally, a Boston Hearald extra edition headline reports: "Pearl Harbor Bombed." A still photograph of Japanese Baron Tanaka Giichi (on left) with two other dignitaries, circa 1929. Japanese infantry streaming into Manchuria and then celebrating as they walk into local town. A busy street in a Chinese city. Japanese soldiers in Manchuria escorting local prisoners along a street. Animated map illustrating Japananese warships surrounding harbor of Shanghai, China. View from a Japanese ship bombarding Shanghai. Smoke rising from shell striking on Shanghai waterfront. View from land of severely damaged buildings on a street, and a shell exploding in background, as Chinese defenders move to successfully repel the Japanese forces. New map illustrates subsequent Japanese move, annexing Jehol, from occupied Manchukuo, and Korea. Japanese troops entering a town in Jehol. Sun newspaper headline: "League Censures Japan." Chinese diplomat protesting at League of Nations. Japanese troops exiting railroad trains in Jehol. Aisin Gioro Puyi aka Henry Pu Yi, Kangde Emperor (Kang-te Emperor) of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo, is seen saluting Japanese troops on parade. Closeup of Puyi wearing shaded glasses, looking directly into the camera. chiang Kai-shek, with other Chinese officers. Reenactment of barbarian forces riding against China and thwarted by the Great Wall. Many Chinese walking in a long line along the Great Wall. Map tracing the Great Wall across China. Aerial view of the Great Wall from overflying airplane. Japanese troops marching through a city gate; infantry climbing a sheer cliff; and helmeted Japanese soldiers marching past civilians in a city. Map illustrated progress of Chinese unification by year 1937. Japanese officers conferring during occupation. Japanese troops leave a barracks, riding in open trucks. A line of the troop trucks moving along the dirt street of a town. The troops climb from their trucks in the town.
Men stand at dump yard in World War I era. Possibly Belgium. Man stands besides yard cart. Men near tin-shed chamber. Man removes small ammunition shells from rectangular box on yard cart and hands them to another man who places them in a furnace incineration chamber. Wooden logs and litter on the ground. Man walks on logs.
Map shows the boundaries of Germany, France, Poland and Belgium. Animated arrow indicates battle line at the end of war and then line to which German must retreat across Rhine River. Shadowed portion of Rhine River as neutral zone. Kaiser Wilhelm II on horse.
The Marshall Plan implemented in Europe after World War 2. Opening scenes are in Turkey: A man marks on a wall drawings for farm fields. A farmer tests a farm vehicle received from an American farm equipment company. Modern farm equipment including tractor, plow, harrow, and a combine are used in the field by Turkish farmers. A sack of grain is loaded into a horse driven cart in Turkey. Discussion of food production in Denmark and Northern Europe. A chicken farm in Denmark. A Danish farmer woman collects eggs in a hen house. She loads eggs in a basket. Farmer feeds pigs. A farmer distributes feed to cows in a shed. Men in white coats examine large blocks of cheese. Food crates and barrels arriving dock side at a port for export through countries of Europe. Scenes of shipping a dock operations in Antwerp Belgium, as ships are loaded with goods. Wide views of Antwerp harbor.
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