Destroyed remains of Berlin, Germany as seen right after World War 2. Aerial view from airplane flying over remains of the city heavily damaged by Allied bombing. Buildings and statues of the city. People walk on roads. Debris at entrance to a subway station with Brandenburg Gate in background. Street sign identifies Wilhelm Strasse.
Allied invasion task force loading tanks, vehicles, troops and equipment on ships,at British ports, in readiness for the D-Day invasion of Normandy, in World war 2. Armored vehicle seen loaded onto USS Boone County (LST-389) at Falmouth in Cornwell, England on June 2, 1944, as troops load various ships. Troops near anchored craft USS LCI(L)-84 and another vessel (possibly marked 48 or 49). Tanks, bulldozers, and heavy equipement being loaded. View of Landing Ship Tank LST-621 and then LST-317 being loaded. DUKW vehicles in queue to load. A U.S. Army soldier is hoisted aboard a British Royal Navy ship in a special harness. British sailors around him and another U.S. Army soldier on the deck. Invasion troops from England and the United States spending their waiting time aboard ships. Three seen playing musical instruments: Accordion, guitar, and violin. Several play cards. Two practice gymnastics. Some prepare weapons and ammunition (view of LST-506 or LCI-506 in background). Navy sailors and U.S. Army troops huddled together in tight groups as they are briefed by their respective officers regarding the invasion mission.
Film begins showing Brigadier General James M. Gavin, Commander of the Force A (parachute) contingent of the 82nd Airborne Division, standing on the hood of a jeep, at an airfield, to brief his paratroopers as they prepare for the D-Day invasion, during World War 2. A C-47 transport plane taxis behind the assembled group of troopers. Barbed wire is strung in the foreground. Paratroopers are issued French currency before departure. Some gamble with it using dice. Troops are seen playing volleyball on a field surrounded by trees. On an airfield, one trooper hits ground balls with a soft ball and several others field it. Some other troopers sit in grass next to the ramp, assembling wooden containers for airdrop. Two Army Air Forces mechanics fasten a tow bar on the nose wheel of a British-built Horsa Mk.II glider. They then tow it with a tug. View from above of Horsa gliders and C-47 tow airplanes, all in D-Day paint stripes, lined up on an airfield ramp. Paratrooper tent camp is viewed from above. Then, General Dwight D. Eisenhower and other senior officers are seen visiting paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, at the camp, on June 5, 1944, as they prepare to board their aircraft. Famous closeup of General Eisenhower speaking to a tall paratrooper who has his face camouflaged with grease paint.View looking down, as Eisenhower circulates among the troopers. Closeup of him conversing with another one directly.
U.S. Paratroopers boarding C-47 aircraft, on June 5th, 1944 during World War 2. Huge naval task force underway in the English Channel. C-47s loaded with paratroopers taking off, the evening of June 5th. C-47s taking off towing gliders. Formations of C-47s and gliders passing over the Naval task force in the English Channel. Three pet dogs with troops on one of the ships.
Allied forces invading Normandy France, during World War 2. Formations of U.S. A-20 bombers from the 416th Bomb Group, in striped paint, fly over the Allied invasion task force in the English Channel. Allied warships begin bombarding the French coast. Allied troops climb down rope nets from their transport ships into landing craft, and head toward the beaches. A landing craft is struck and sinks with troops aboard. Troops on landing craft from the USS Bayfield (APA-33) hit the beach. U.S. soldiers on the beach being hit by German machine gun fire. Others seeking refuge under a cliff where they treat the wounded.
Battle-weary American soldiers attend an open air chuch service by a barn in Normandy. U.S. gunners commence a concerted artillery barrage before tanks and infantry advance toward Saint Lo, France, in World War 2. Various artillery and tanks are seen, including one M4 Sherman Crab Tank (Mine sweeper). P-47s, flying low altitude close support missions, bomb a critical target, and troops move ahead on the way to Saint Lo. Two German soldiers run to surrender. Saint Lo falls. Scenes of the devastation in the city.
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