Liberation of Rome, Italy from German forces by Allied troops during World War 2. Opening scenes are of German occupation of Rome earlier in the war during winter campaign, and German forces marching British and American captured allied forces through the streets of Rome. The Roman Colosseum (Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy) seen in background as Allied forces are marched by German armed guards. Buildings along the sides of the street. Damaged buildings and wrecked equipment scattered are seen in the city. German Field Marshall Albert Kesselring looking through field glasses at battlefield. Smoke arises due to firing and bombardment from the Allied and the German army. Heavy artillery is fired including German 280mm cannon. After Germans retreat, the U.S. forces of the 5th Army enter Rome in triumph. U.S. Army General Mark Clark enters with other officers and soldiers in the city. Civilians cheering and applauding. U.S. troops and tanks passing through the city. Bells of Saint Peters basilica ringing. A large crowd gathers in Saint Peters Square (Piazza San Pietro 00120 Città del Vaticano Vatican City) inside the Vatican. Pope Pius XII addressing the crowd. Prince Umberto II of Italy arrives in front of the crowd. Crowd cheering and applauding. American soldiers queue to enjoy real beer served from wooden barrels, made from supplies shipped from the United States. Smiling soldiers fill metal cups with beer. Wrecked railroad marshalling yards in Civitavecchia Italy are seen, as U.S. Army soldiers inspect an abandoned large German Krupp K5 rail gun (Krupp 28-cm-Kanone 5 (E). The gun shown here is either "Robert" or "Leopold" as termed by the Germans, also known by Allied names "Anzio Annie" or "Anzio Express".
Allied troops in Rome during World War II. A tank crosses the St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City) in Vatican City. Civilians watch a jeep drive in Vatican City. Latin inscription on the base of the Egyptian Obelisk at the center of St. Peter’s Square. A United States Army truck pass by the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 4, 00184 Roma RM, Italy). Jeeps and motor bikes pass by the Theater of Marcellus (Via del Teatro di Marcello, 00186 Roma RM, Italy). Landmark buildings in view including Vatican dome and Piazza Venezia. Trucks driving toward the Roman Colosseum (Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy). Huge crowd of civilians fill St. Peter’s Square.
Italian civilians welcome Allied forces in Rome during World War II. Allied troops and tanks seen in front of the Victor Emanuel II National Monument, also known as the Altar of the Fatherland (Altare della Patria, Piazza Venezia, 00186 Roma RM, Italy) in Rome, Italy. An M4 Sherman tank in front of the Altar of the Fatherland. Huge crowd of civilians seen on streets. Soldiers stationed near a bridge view the city through binoculars. Allied soldiers and Italian children sit by the Tiber River near the Roman Ghetto. The Tempio Maggiore di Roma synagogue is seen in the background. Italian girls sit on the sidewalk curb. Civilians casually talk to the troops along the Via del Teatro di Marcello. The ancient Roman Marcello Theater (Via del Teatro di Marcello, 00186 Roma RM, Italy) is seen nearby. People reading notices near the Capitoline Hill. Soldiers sitting on the steps of the Altar of the Fatherland.
Animated map depicts the spread of Fascism in Japan, Germany and its neighboring countries, and Italy. Views of Italian Fascist "Black Shirts" marching bearing flags and rendering the fascist Roman Salute. Fascists participating in the famous "March on Rome" (“Marcia su Roma”) in October 27, 1922. Spectators line the sidewalks and side of the road. Brief (jerky) views of unrest and desperate crowds of citizens in post-war Italy circa 1919 and 1920 following World War I, due to unemployment and hard times. Italian people getting food at an outdoor soup kitchen. Fascists promising better times are seen parading and riding in jammed open cars. Benito Mussolini, who was elected to Parliament in 1921, is seen in a top hat, arms akimbo, standing with other officials. Glimpse of Black Shirts marching in front of the Palazzo Venezia (Via del Plebiscito, 118, 00186 Roma RM, Italy). Back to Mussolini, again, who now makes some remarks to those standing with him and expresses himself with exaggerated body language. Another glimpse of Black Shirts marching. Film transitions to Germany, where Adolf Hitler is seen walking through a dense crowd of supporters and some brownshirts or SA stormtroopers. Hitler's clothes resemble a military uniform. Next, scenes illustrating the terrible post-World War 1 hyperinflation suffered by Germany during the Weimar Republic. Various Deutschmark (Deutsche Mark) banknotes in ridiculous denominations are shown. Baker puts a 460 billion Deutschmark price on bread. People trying to buy groceries during this period. German militaristic marchers. Fascists giving arm salutes as they parade in a city street. General Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg (President of Germany) is seen standing in front of Germany's top military leaders. Directly behind him is Marshal August von Mackensen, in a fur busby hat with Totenkopf (death head) insignia. Other Generals wear pickelhaube spiked helmets. Hindenburg's closest associate, General Erich Ludendorff stands just behind and to the left of Hindenburg. Glimpse of German soldiers in more modern uniforms. Next, Hindenburg is seen reviewing troops in the company of their commander. Next, Hitler is seen with a group of German civilian industrialists whose interests he promises to support. Alfred Krupp Jr. sits, with his legs crossed, next to Hitler. Glimpse of Hitler, in uniform, waving from a window. People running as a cadre of mounted police canter in formation down the street.
A newsreel titled 'Victory crowns Italian march through Ethiopia.' Film opens showing Italian troops riding in a column of armored personnel carriers. Closeup of Italian soldiers riding in one. An open truck moving uphill on sandy ground helped by Italian infantrymen who push on its sides. Italian soldiers manually moving an artillery piece up a shallow slope, as viewed through a thicket of bamboo. Soldiers running beside a canvas covered army truck that is out of control and rolling rapidly backwards downhill. It stops suddenly, as it hits a tree. An airplane is seen maneuvering low over some hills. Next, white smoke rises from the area. Italian infantry running freely and rapidly towards a native village of houses made mud, sticks, and thatch. Gunfire is heard. Then, two Italian officers are seen standing near some Ethiopian tribesmen prisoners seated on the ground. Italian Colonial troops carrying a wounded comrade in a sling. View from an overlooking hill of Ethiopian tribesmen prisoners in an outdoor enclosure. Closeups of some of the prisoners. Italian officers standing near a large stack of captured arms. Closeups of the stacked rifles and of an artillery piece. More prisoner closeups. Stacks of captured small indivual boxes containing rifle cartridges. Marshal of Italy, Pietro Badoglio, and another officer are seen at TC:01:06 through 01:10. Italian troops marching past the frame and propeller of an aircraft completely devoid of covering. Glimpse of Italian Camel Corps contingent. Mounted Italian cavalry dressed in ponchos and carrying the flag of the Kingdom of Italy, ride over a small bridge. A good number of Ethiopian tribal men and some women dancing and singing as Italian officers and troops pass on horseback. The Ethiopians bow in unison. The leading Italian officer salutes. Closeup of Italian officer by the Kingdom of Italy flag.. A large number of Ethiopians, some carrying large umbrellas, follow the Italians.
Italy enters World War II. A large number of people march on the streets in Rome, Italy. Colosseum seen in background. People gathered outside the Palazzo Venezia in Rome as Italy declares to enter World War II. Italian tanks advance in France. A wrecked tank on a field. Italian soldiers fire and aircraft in flight. Citroen Kegresse P19 half-track vehicle drives by. Artillery being fired and explosions occur.
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