Early slates allude to failed attempts at peaceful resolution of issues between Germany and England, in World War 1, and the Kaiser's consequent decision on February 1, 1917, to intensify German submarine warfare against Britain. Slate refers to Churchill's admitted concerns expressed in the "Sunday Pictorial," about the resulting constraint on England's control of the seas around the British Isles, referring to the U-boats creating a magic girdle (Magischen Gurtel) around England, which becomes the title for the film. In the first part, Captain, Lothar von Arnauld de la Periere of the German U-boat UB-35, stands in a skiff as he is rowed out to his submarine. He exchanges salutes with his officers, as he boards the U-35, nestled against a German ship. He gives the order to cast off the lines and proceed half power in reverse. The crew scrambles to get underway. German sailors on the nearby ship watch from her railings. Sailors use a long pole to help move the submarine away from the ship. Officers and men on the ship wave as the U-boat pulls away. Views from the submarine deck as it moves on the surface of the water heading toward the Mediterranean Sea. (World War i; World War 1; WWI; WW1)
A line of B-25 Mitchell bombers on an airfield in Britain. They display the British roundel on their fuselages. A line of British de havilland Mosquito bombers on a British airfield. One has its engines running and ground crew are removing ground power unit. A line of Martin B-26 Marauder bombers taxiing on an airfield. Several persons on the ground wave as a pair of B-26s take off in formation. The B-26s display French roundels on their fuselages. View of a B-26 heading toward the camera on takeoff. British Avro Lancaster bombers taxiing out for takeoff. Closeup of one pilot in cockpit of a Lancaster with engines running. The bomber displays numerous mission symbols below the cockpit as well as some nose art. A Lancaster taking off. An animated map showing England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Enemy gun and rocket sites are depicted as important targets. A formation of B-26 bombers in flight. Closeup of one from above. Formation of Mosquito bombers in flight at low altitude over water.Two British B-25 bombers in close formation above clouds. Next, the animated map shows lines of communication that are important targets. .B-25s seen dropping bombs. Views from aircraft of bombs exploding on the ground. A B-26 bomber surrounded by black Flak clouds. More bombs exploding. More B-25s dropping bombs. Animated map highlights transportation centers such as railroad lines and junctions as the next targets. B-26 bombers dropping bombs in flak clouds and views of exploding bombs below. Finally, the animated map shows enemy war factories throughout Europe that are to be targeted. Huge fires and explosions at night from bombed war factories.
Germans at the Siegfried Line World War 2 defenses in Germany. German laborers take rest next to dragon's teeth (tank traps). Adolf Hitler in his car gives a Nazi salute. He rides on a road arriving at a Westwall standardized bunker. He speaks with other officials including Commander in Chief of Army Group 2, General Erwin von Witzleben, and enters a bunker. Views of German soldiers at Westwall bunker -- appears to be Regelbau 35 -- loading large artillery gun. Hitler and officials look at a map. Newspaper headlines announcing von Witzleben's declaration to Hitler about readiness of the Westwall fortifications.
Ruins of Hitler's Berghof residence in Berchtesgaden after bombing by Allied forces near the end of World War 2 in Europe. Goering's stolen collection of paintings and art pieces taken from all over Europe. The stolen collection was hidden in air raid shelters and loaded on battle trains. View of U.S. soldiers retrieving the stolen works of art. Book 'Mein Kampf' written by Adolf Hitler in Landsberg prison. Portrait of Adolf Hitler with a Nazi symbol. German military officials including General Herman Gred Von Runstedt, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, and Hermann Goering surrender to the American Army. Views of Hermann Göring after having been flown from Austria to U.S. Army headquarters in Augsburg, Germany on May 9, 1945, where he is seen handing over his handgun. Göring talking to U.S. 7th Army officials.
German boys or possibly Hitler Youth work at a railroad machine workshop in Germany during World War 2. A factory foreman or supervisor checks the work done by a teenage child labor group in the production plant. Boys close a locomotive door and examine their work. A train engine starts and the locomotive is ready to move from the station. An engineer and a teenage youth inside the train. A signal tower gives departure signal. Teenage girl assists with train dispatching, signaling, and switching. German civilians get aboard the train. A woman dispatcher with a baby in her arms. She hands over the baby to the mother through a train window. She waves her hand on departure.
A German man works on a wood lathe to make wooden hands and legs for amputees in Germany during World War 2. The man makes wooden hand prosthetics for amputees. He cuts hole in wooden blocks. A piece of wood is shaped like a bone. Group of disabled young German men, presumably all veteran German soldiers wounded in combat, is seen outside a hospital, playing ball and exercising with use of prosthetics. A man rides a bicycle wearing his prosthesis. A soldier walks up a hill with a gun on his shoulder. Shows soldiers using prosthesis.
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