Free French 2nd Armored Division tanks firing guns while parked on a street in Antony, France during World War II. Smoke emanates in the horizon as tank shells hit. M4 Sherman tanks rolling on street. Side view of a Free French M4 Sherman tank (“Auerstedt”) firing its machine gun. Close side view of M4 Sherman tank firing main gun.
A Junkers Ju-52 aircraft, carrying Adolf Hitler, lands in a grass airfield at Kalinovka, Ukraine, during Operation Barbarossa in World War 2. German soldiers and airmen rush to meet the aircraft, as it arrives. Closeup of Hitler as he steps from the airplane and returns a Nazi salute to officers greeting him. Closeup glimpse of swastika displayed on hood of Mercedes Benz G4 staff car as officer opens door for Hitler., who climbs aboard. View of the staff car driving across the field. German aircraft parked, casually, around its periphery in the background. Closeup of destroyed Soviet artillery tractor and field piece. Hitler's motorcade driving along a tree-lined dirt road. Closeups of destroyed Soviet tank parts along the roadside. German officers and German troops line the roadside and salute as Hitler passes. Hitler arriving and entering the Army Group South headquarters. Inside He is seen at a planning table pouring over a map with Field Marshal Fedor von Bock. Next, Hitler is seen leaving the headquarters building, surrounded by officers and soldiers rendering the Nazi salute. he shakes hands with several of the officers and is next seen boarding the Mercedes G4 staff car, encircled by enthusiastic soldiers. All salute again as the vehicle drives away. Location shifts to Italy, where civilian recruits march on their way to join the army. Helmeted army troops stand in formation on the platform as their train leaves the station. A contingent of Italian army soldiers heading to the Eastern front moves through cheering crowds. They are inspected by an Italian General and others, including a German officer, as they stand in formation on a train platform. Afterwards, some are presented flowers by loved ones. The platform is filled with well-wishers who wave as their train leaves the station. A contingent of Italian troops stands at attention as they prepare to depart to the Eastern front. they receive flowers as they board train and depart. The train station platform is filled with those waving goodbye.
World War II restrictions on movements of civilians in the Eastern United States, are referenced by U.S. Army Lieutenant General Hugh Aloysius Drum, Commander of the Eastern Defense Command, and Mr. James M. Landis, Director of the U.S. Office of Civil Defense. They look at a large map showing the U.S. Eastern states and coast, from Maine to Florida. General Drum discusses Public Proclamation number 4 issued by the War Department, and urges citizens to read it. (It is posted in U.S. Post Offices and describes restrictions on the movements of citizens near war plants and beaches.) General Drum speaks of a uniform system of controls needed for U.S. Civil Defense. James M. Landis, Director of the Office of Civilian Defense, adds his comments about the importance of Civil Defense measures.
RAF glider, a Waco CG-4A, being towed by small tracked vehicle (M29 Weasel) and crew. Crew parks M29 and enters glider. Aerial view of farmland from the air.
Film starts showing animated map of American forces driving East from France and British forces.including the 53rd Infantry Division, from Belgium toward the Rhein (Rhine) River in Germany. Allied infantry and armor gathering on a street in France. Closeups of some soldiers in berets mingling with American troops. Left shoulder of a soldier with Engineers patch. Another with white cross in white circle. American troops entering Bad Godesburg, where many white flags are displayed. An M4A3 Sherman tank moves along a street. "Adolf Schmitz" written on building in background U.S. infantry and armor moving through the town cautiously subject to lingering sniper fire. Views of signs identifying shops and commercial establishments in the town. U.S. soldiers silhouetted looking out of an upper story of a building where they are firing a machine gun towards a sniper's nest. German soldier surrendering and being searched briefly. A wounded person being carried on a litter by two civilian men, accompanied by a woman wearing a Red Cross armband. Scene shifts to road in countryside, clogged with long line of German prisoners of war being escorted under armed guard. Closeups of some of the prisoners and guards. Views of the Rhein river with many bridges destroyed by retreating German forces. Closeup of an American tank crew in their M4A3 Sherman tank. The Bridge at Remagen, with a sign on it reading: "Cross the Rhine with dry feet courtesy of the 9th ARMD Div." American soldiers guarding the bridge against air attack man an M33 twin mount 50 caliber antiaircraft machine gun. Another gun crew firing an M45 quad mount 50 caliber antiaircraft machine gun at attacking German aircraft attempting to destroy the Remagen bridge. Another antiaircraft gun defending the bridge. View from some distance of bomb bursting near the bridge, raising a geyser of water. Back at the bridge, itself, American infantry and vehicles continue to pour across it. Closeups of some and of soldiers in the vehicles. An M4A3 Sherman tank completing the crossing and moving on the German side of the river. Infantry walking along the roadside.
Infantrymen of U.S. 94th Division, 301st Regiment advance in Oberleuken, Germany during World War 2. Infantrymen advance along a road. A German roadblock destroyed by explosions. Soldiers clear debris after destroying the roadblock. Soldiers use minesweepers over the area. M4 Sherman tanks and infantrymen pass after clearing of road. Soldiers set detonation wire into place. ( Note: The final column of M4 Sherman tanks are worth noting as they are M4A2 dry stowage tanks received from the British as evidenced by the "T" numbers visible on a number of the tanks in the clip and British spare track stowage. The tanks are fitted with U.S. radios, as evidenced by the antenna.)
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