A flight of German Me-109 fighter aircraft in loose formation over Poland. Views of pilots in cockpits of German He-111 bombers in flight. Polish antiaircraft guns fire at the bombers. Smoke from FLAK seen around the aircraft. German bombardier inside an He-111 makes ready and bombers begin to drop their bombs on the city below. Exploding bombs are seen from the bomber. The mission is completed and German bombers head home. German Me-109 fighters fly past the bombers. Aerial views of the railroads destroyed by German bombing. (World War II period).
Remains of the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw, Poland. Workmen and equipment appear to be demolishing it. The words: "Wawer, 27 XII 39" painted on sidewalk. Passersby place flowers at the spot. At another spot on the sidewalk is painted: "Polska Zwyciezy"(Poland Wins). Cardboard caricatures of Hitler are raised on a building wall and hung from a lampost. Base of lampost, where people walk their dogs, being painted "Nur fuer Deutch" (only for Germans). Newspapers in 1944 reporting on the increased internal Polish armed resistance, or Warsaw Uprising, against the occupying German forces. Scenes of fire and destruction arising in this increasing conflict. Scenes of pre-war Warsaw Poland, including landmark buildings, city square areas, parks, and fountains during pre-war peace time.
Newspapers around the world reporting on the bombing of Warsaw by Nazi Germany as retaliation for the Warsaw Uprising during World War 2. Newspaper headlines read, "Poles Fighting Inside Warsaw," and "Warsaw Being Razed by Hitler's Order," and "Warsaw's Plight" and "Warsaw Poles Fight Tanks in Streets." Scenes of Warsaw in flames as buildings are being bombed by German forces. Montage depicting Warsaw on fire. Scenes of Warsaw before WWII, including scenes such as the Warsaw Old Town Market Square (rynek Starego Miasta, 00-279 Warszawa, Poland), the column of Sigismund III Vasa (plac Zamkowy, 00-001 Warszawa, Poland), the Royal Palace (plac Zamkowy 4, 00-277 Warszawa, Poland) and the Lazienki Park, before World War 2. Statue of King Jan III Sobieski in Lazienki Park. Men strolling near a palace. Baroque gates in park.
May Day celebrations in Poland and, separately, in Bucharest Romania's Stalin Square. Parade through the streets comprising of workers of mills and factories. The paraders holds posters of Stalin, Lenin and other leaders. A huge crowd gathers to witness the event. Communist leaders and representatives of Poland and Romania accept the salute of marching people. including Gheorghiu-Dej, the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Romanian Workers Party and Petru Groza, Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Marching paraders release pigeons from cages.
Marshal Jozef Klemens Pilsudski, Poland's Commander in chief, welcomed in Poland. People gather. Field Marshal walks in followed by field officers. Field decorated with flower and flags. Crowd gathers on a hill and in the field. People walk on a road. Soldiers stand aligned beside the road.
Animated map shows changes in borders and nations surrounding Poland up until 1937. A map with strategic importance city of Danzig in Poland. Map shows Czechoslovakia, Russia, Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Germany.