Jagdgeschwader 53, also known as "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) Geschwader German Luftwaffe in Sicily, Italy during World War 2. Flags of Italy and Nazi Germany together. German officers play with a fox terrier dog, passing him to each other as he doggedly hangs on to a shoe while biting it. Nazi pilot, wearing a flight vest and an Iron Cross, plays cards with comrades. The "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) symbol on an airplane. German Luftwaffe pilot painting another of many Abschussbalken symbols of air victory on the tail of a plane. Mechanics fixing the engine of a fighter, likely a Messerschmitt Bf 109. A crane lifts a Daimler Benz 605 engine. Man spray paints “3” on a plane. A sign in German saying “Die an “dicke Luft” gewöhnten Jöge sind dem Pressluft rausch verfallen” (“Boys, who got used to “Thick Air”, are addicted to the high of compressed air” in German). A man picks up a fox terrier dog by the scruff of its neck and carriers it away.
Views of cars such as a Lancia Aprilia arriving at King's Villa in Salerno. Two guards standing at the entrance of King's Villa. Marshal Pietro Badoglio, Palmiro Togliatti and Count Carlo Sforza and several other cabinet members arrive back-to-back, including S. E. Sentore, S.E. Cott, Benedetto Croce, S.E. Abb, Guilio Rodino, Pietro Mancini. An Alfa Romeo staff car. Guards rush towards the cars and open car doors for dignitaries to get out. Marshal Pietro Badoglio along with other dignitaries standing at the entrance of villa and discussing. Dignitaries entering the villa after discussion. (World War II period).
A film on Pope Pius XII blessing the U.S. troops after liberation of Rome during World War II. Visitors strolling in St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City). View of St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Pius XII seated on ceremonial throne and shaking hands with the soldiers around him. Pope Pius XII is being carried on a sedia gestatoria by sediari. The Pope blesses the soldiers as he passes them. The Pope seated on the throne and the priests standing on either side. Pope Pius XII delivers a speech in English. The soldiers listening to the Pope. The Pope blesses the men. Pope Pius XII seated on the throne being taken through the men gathering around.
Marseilles: View of the French port. British, French and American Naval officers examine German demolition of the port town. Officers survey unfinished U-Boat pens. Toulon: Destroyed German ships in the harbor. Bologne: German coastal guns in ruins. Destroyed artillery. Le Havre: Destroyed buildings and ruins in the town. Unfinished German U-Boat pens. Destroyed artillery. Brest: Destroyed buildings and ruins. German soldiers wave a white flag of surrender on September 18, 1944. U.S, Army Major General. W.M. Robertson , 2nd Infantry Division discusses the surrender with German Colonel E. Pietzonka of the 7th German Parachute Regiment. German soldiers assemble in the main square of the city during the surrender operation.
August 1944: French patriots clear the way for Allied troops approaching to liberate Paris. A map shows entry of Allied troops into France. French patriots draw and distribute hidden arms. French men march towards Paris. Demolition fires set by the retreating Germans occupiers throughout the city. Quiet streets and areas of the city before the August uprising. French Forces of the Interior (FFI) Headquarters. FFI men in hideouts. A FFI command post in the city. The members map strategy and prepare arms and ammunition. A woman with a sleeve band with the letters FFI and the Free French Cross of Lorraine insignia. FFI men and women erect barricades throughout the city. Men load rifles. German tanks advance. FFI men in a street fight. A wounded African French man is helped to safety. French patriots behind barricades. A burning vehicle on the road. Smoke from explosions. A man near a wounded on the street. French man and woman disarm a German soldier. German Panther tanks flee. The French take German soldiers prisoners. (World War II period).
August 1944: Allied troops in Caen, France. Aerial view of the Allied 21st Army Group Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery's armor advancing in the Normandy countryside. Tanks and artillery advance in fields. A tank on fire. Field Marshal Montgomery shakes hands with three little French girls and accepts flowers from them. He talks to the local residents. Refugees in a church. Children, women, men and elderly people are given food. They take rest. Refugees transferred in trucks. A soldier lights a smoke. French underground soldiers in the street. Women collaborationists who aided the Germans are rounded up and their heads shaved. The bald men and women in a truck. Russian troops near a railway track. The troops march back towards Caen. (World War II period).
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