Many Polish refugees are seen in the final phase of their monumental trek of three years and three thousand miles from Poland, during World War 2. Scene shifts to Poland in 1939, where polish refugees crowd roads carrying their belongings in wooden carts and other conveyances. They are seen at a rest stop where they obtain food. Animated map shows path of refugees fleeing East into the Soviet Union, following the German invasion in August, 1939. The path continues Southeast in 1941, as they flee from the German campaign, Operation Barbarossa, into the Soviet Union. Their journey continues along the west coast of the Caspian Sea, through the Caucasus, to Persia (Iran). Views of refugees arriving at the Persian border, where they are seen near many tents, and being provided with articles of clothing from British and American Red Cross Stations. Refugees donning new shoes and other items. Young girls having their hair styled. Refugees sit at long tables where they receive hot meals. A teacher conducts an outdoor class for Polish refugee children. Closeup of children at their desks. Refugee women are seen tilling soil to plant crops, while fathers and grown sons and daughters leave to join the new armies of the Polish Government in Exile. Views of Polish women, in uniforms marching and of uniformed armed Polish soldiers, as well becoming part of the Allied war against the Axis powers. Polish refugees at an outdoor shrine, offering prayers for the safety of their members in the military. New polish refugee arrivals at the Persian border being greeted by others, many of whom are family members.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressing Congress on January 6, 1941, asking for authority to supply war materiel to Britain and allies. Animated map showing streams of war materiel going to china and to European allies. Views of transport ships, Douglas A-20 Havoc aircraft with British roundel on them. A U.S. light tank M2; a large artillery barrel; and sacks of goods, being loaded on a ship. View of U.S. Capitol. Lend Lease Act passed. Animated map shows German forces overrunning Yugoslavia and Greece, and attacking Soviet Union. German troops in small boats crossing river to invade. German tanks and artillery operating on the Eastern front. Civilian men and women digging fortifications. Lend lease war materiel being unloaded in Britain, and at Red Sea port for British in Africa.Trucks carrying supplies over the Burma road to China. Lend lease supplies piled up in Murmansk, Russia, and Iran. "Hammer and Sickle 'em" chalked on a shipment.Stevedores rolling large tires.Hitler speaking. Head of Statue of Liberty. Animated illustrations about effects of Axis victory. U.S. Forces entering Greenland and Iceland, with consent of their governments.
"British and Russian forces occupy Iran " Anglo Soviet troops loaded in armored troop carriers move on the streets of Tehran as local people look on. Tanks roll out and soldiers and officers of the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom meet each other and shake hands. (World War II period).
Iraqi military vehicles with soldiers moving into Iran during the Iraqi invasion of Iran (Iran-Iraq War). Iraqi soldiers raise rifles while on board a truck pulling artillery. Iraqi infantry pose with BMP-1 tracked carriers in Iran. Chinese-made Type 59 tanks of the Iraqi Army in Iran. A mural portrait of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iraqi soldiers walk past other murals of Ayatollah Khomeini near a house, one covered with an "X" Iraqi soldiers apply a poster of Saddam Hussein on a tank before posing and smiling for the camera.
Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi meeting with Prime Minister Hussein Ala at Sa’adabad Palace (Tehran Province, Tehran, District 1, Taheri St, RC8F+FJ7, Iran), in northern Tehran, Iran. Large garden by Palace and Alborz mountains in background. The Shah of Iran seats himself in a chair, at a desk. The Prime Minister sits and converses with him. Shah of Iran reads several official documents and annotates one. A paper on the desk is labeled: "US News Report."
Russian troops leave Iran and street riots in Iran. Russian troops leave Iran in 1945 after the end of World War II. People walk carrying bouquets. A Russian officer gets into a jeep. People of Iran look at the departure of the Russian troops from the balcony of their buildings. People stand on both sides of a road. Russian Army vehicles move past. Later scenes show street riots in Iran in 1950. People ride horses during the riots.