United States Secretary of State Christian Archibald Herter and other Foreign Ministers at Policy conference in Paris. Secretary of State Christian Herter enters the French Foreign Ministry. He talks with the British,French and West German Foreign Minister to establish a common grounds in preparation for their Summit meeting in Geneva.
French Marines, returning from overseas, are met and welcomed by a French official. He goes aboard the ship as it docks, and converses with several of the returning marines. French tricolor flies from the ship. The ship carries the name: "Kairowan." and home port Marseille. The marines disembark onto pier with all their belongings, including rifles.
An award ceremony and review of French troops at the Court of Honor (Cour d'Honneur) primary courtyard area of the French military hospital known as the Hotel des Invalides. Field Marshal Philippe Petain pins a medal on a French general as an honor guard stands at attention and photographers capture photos. The receiving general may possibly be Paul Maistre, Maxime Weygand, or Marshal Louis Granchet d'Esperey. Following the ceremony, French Army troops march out of the courtyard while being reviewed by Petain and the other high-ranking officers. At the end of the line, several early armored vehicles join the procession, including a French Renault FT tank and small personnel carriers.
German troops are seen in white winter uniforms, during World War 2, with some holding panzerfaust. Narrator mentions combat against Anglo-Canadian forces, and then speaks of preparation for the New Year's offensive. Heinrich Himmler, as commander of Army Group "Oberrhein" had ordered the launch of Operation Nordwind to recapture Strasbourg. Accordingly, On New Year's Eve, 1945,The Germans launch an offensive (Nordwind) into Alsace, attacking the Allied 6th Army Group at multiple points. On January 5, 1945, Army Group Oberrhein begins a support attack by General Otto von dem Bach's XIV SS Corps, the 553d Volksgrenadier Division, reinforced with armor and commando units. They are seen crossing the Rhine river in small boats at Gambsheim, just ten miles north of Strasbourg. Allied aircraft bomb German positions on the West bank of the Rhein (Rhine) River. The German troopers seize high ground West of the Rhein. German troops are seen firing recoilless anti-tank weapons in a field, Views of knocked out British and American tanks. Abandoned German Jagdpanzer IV faces a U.S. Tank Destroyer. German troops are seen advancing into town North of Strasbourg (Herrlisheim, Drusenheim, Offendorf ?). Scenes of destruction in town. Words: "Haus Bewohnt Civil" scrawled on homes to identify them as civilian occupied.
The interior of building shows dignitaries in Paris Peace Conference of 1919. United States President Wilson, French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George are seated at a long table. President Woodrow Wilson, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Emmanuele Orlando, Prime Minister Clemenceau, and Prime Minister David Lloyd George step outdoors. The four leaders pose outside the building.
U.S. infantry engaged in urban street fighting in World War 2. Allied troops fighting with German troops during Liberation of Paris. U.S. Army soldiers talk into radio before advancing. Soldiers with rifles crouch. Troops fire machine guns from windows of captured buildings. Tanks advance on street. French FFI citizen soldiers fire from upper stories of the building on enemy German trucks. French man throws a grenade from a window down to a truck with German troops in it. Truck explodes and Germany troops emerge from it, some on fire. Tanks advance under Eiffel Tower. Allied troops join French Forces of Interior. Scene changes to Aachen, Germany. Allied troops advance into Aachen. Soldier moves ahead. Sign reads 'Aachen'. Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany, Joseph Goebbels speaks at microphone. Wrecked buildings of Aachen as U.S. Army soldiers move through the city during a nine day period of urban combat. Smoke arises from streets. U.S. Army tanks advance on street. Soldiers fire from behind brick wall. Soldiers moves by a wrecked building. Soldiers firing mortars.
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