From a 1943 film blending dramatized scenes and actual archival footage about the conditions soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii in December 1941 by Japanese bombers during World War II. U.S. troops remove the dead bodies of soldiers who died in action. The U.S. flag on the grave of a U.S. soldier. Pictures and parents of U.S. service men of the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Army and Medical Corps who died during Pearl Harbor raid. The family of a U.S. Medical Corps Lieutenant who died during Pearl Harbor raid. Wife of the same lieutenant holds her baby born after the attack. Prayer services for the dead U.S. servicemen. Families of the dead servicemen lay wreaths and flowers around U.S. flags. U.S. Navy officers and sailors at shore attend the memorial services. Ceremony shows line of U.S. Navy sailors laying garlands around each U.S. flag bearing the names of U.S. servicemen who died during Pearl Harbor attack. An Army Chaplain and Navy officers attend the prayer services. Palm trees on the beach.
Animated map starts the film, showing the Eastern (Russian) front in vicinity of the Dnieper River, during beginning of winter, 1943-44, as German forces battle against Soviet forces in World War 2. German troops are seen in deep trenches and lying prone behind rubble. Light snow covers the ground. Closeups of German tiger tanks moving along a muddy path beside a river. German Panzergrenadiers taking a smoking break during a lull in combat. German soldiers trudging through mud as snow falls. They pass by some German artillery field pieces firing at Soviet positions. Heavy German guns firing. German troops hurrying toward entrenched positions. Closeup of two soldiers conversing as one points toward Soviet positions. A soldier takes up his defensive spot at the mouth of a dugout at the end of a trench. Closeup of two German soldiers smoking cigarettes. A German soldier reports to an officer at the front, who pins a medal on him and shakes his hand. Another view of a soldier smoking a cigarette. German soldiers walk past some knocked out tanks. Closeups as they pass the camera. One soldier looks skyward. A large formation of German Junkers Ju 87 (Stuka) dive bombers is seen overhead. View from a Stuka cockpit, as it dives emitting classic sound. Stuka aircraft diving and dropping bomb that are seen bursting on ground below. Good closeup of Stuka in a dive.
Slate reads, "Hero Battle Ship X revealed to be USS South Dakota" Aerial view of USS South Dakota at sea with airplane wing tip in foreground. Sailors assembled on the deck of the USS South Dakota. Overhead view of ship's guns. The ship had been dubbed "Battleship X' for reporting to the press around January 1943 when it was undergoing repairs. Guns firing on the USS South Dakota. An officer speaks.
Two escaped U.S. Army Air Force aircraft pilots, shot down in enemy territory in December 1943 during World War II, speak with U.S. officers after their rescue in 1944. Both pilots are dressed in civilian clothing, and one wears improvised shoes. (Footage shot around the time of the Battle of Cisterna).
'With Marines at Tarawa ' United States 2nd Marine Division embark a ship for an amphibious operation in Tarawa during World War II. Marines briefed about the terrain of Tarawa with a relief map. They clean machine guns, check and test fire weapons. Marines exercise and receive instructions from an officer. A mass on board the ship where a Chaplain and marines offer prayers before the battle of Tarawa.
United States 2nd Marine Division sailors get into landing crafts and underway in the sea towards Tarawa in Pacific Theater. Aerial bombing takes place and explosions occur. Marines wade through the surf protected by aerial and naval bombardment. Japanese fire at marines and wounded carried on litters for medical aid.
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