Surrendering Italian troops passing through Udine, Italy, after the battle of Caporetto, in World War 1. They are unarmed and accompanied by several armed Austro-Hungarian soldiers, wearing white armbands. They pause for refreshments at a wooden building. View from rear of open truck as it drives out of town. Many pieces of damaged and destroyed guns and vehicles at sides of road. Austro-Hungarian troops moving along a road while Italian refugees with ox carts loaded with hay and other belongings, move in opposite direction. Abandoned heavy guns and mortars in a town square. Armed Austrian Guard on duty, approached by several Austrian soldiers who hesitate so as not to interfere with cinematographer. Long line of Italian prisoners of war marching along a mountainous road in snow, with tall mountains of the Alps in background. Austrian troops along the Italian-Austrian border, with snow-covered mountains in the background. Austrian soldiers moving along roads lined with debris of war, including heavy equipment and artillery pieces, and what appears to be a steam powered artillery tractor. Austrian troops on horseback and with horse-drawn wagons arriving at rest stop.
Film begins showing an area in Italy in which some buildings and houses are being rebuilt after WWII. Clothes are drying on lines between the houses. A man stands outside a house after completing rebuilding. The new house is built inside the opening of a tunnel. A woman occupant looks out her window. The house number: 526A is painted on the wall of the original tunnel structure. View from a height of this section of Rome. Men converse as they stand next to their bicycles near a building. A gathering of men. Closeup of one holding a sleeping infant. Men walk out the gate of an aviation-related factory. The gate is closed as they leave. Closeup of a sign on factory gate reading: Closed. Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi speaks about unemployment and land reform. A poster announces (in Italian): Applications for land assignments and formation of farmers' lists. A man with an application in his hand. Men gathered discussing the land reform applications. A farmer driving his tractor pulling a piece of farm equipment. A map delineates the path of a pipeline. Irrigation canals fed by the pipeline. A truck is seen carrying farm produce. An man operates levers on a fuel storage facility.
Discussion of advances in Italy's transportation system. Hundreds of bridges have been built. Also seen is the Port of Trieste and advances in shipping and shipbuilding.
Italian troops marching 8 abreast in formation, along a road in Italy. They wear field uniforms, including Lippmann helmets (copy of the Ardrian helmet), but no visible weapons or bedrolls. A partially collapsed steel bridge being examined by Italian officials. Contingent of armed Italian troops in battle gear, make their way up a steep slope in woods with snow on the ground. Scene shifts to Italian soldiers escorting large number of German prisoners of war out of a town (in background).
People celebrate as war ends in Europe. Huge crowd gathered on street for Victory in Europe day (or V-E Day). People enter an American Church. Clergy leading worship service inside a church. American citizens in pews participate in prayer and worship. United States President Harry Truman speaks, announcing that the forces of Germany have surrendered to the United Nations. View of U.S. Army and Soviet Army forces meeting at River Elbe near end of World War 2. German Army representative signs surrender document at the Allied Mediterranean Headquarters in Italy. U.S. Army General W.D. Morgan signs on behalf of General Alexander for the Allies. The American flag hoisted in front of a large Nazi Swastika symbol on top of the Nazi Party rally grounds in Nuremberg Germany (Zeppelinfeld). A dead German soldier seen on the ground nearby just before the flag is shown being raised. American forces than detonate an explosion to destroy the Nazi swastika emblem.
Distribution of propaganda newspapers from Italy by United States army aimed at German troops during World War II. U.S. propaganda newspaper 'Frontpost' headlines : 'Luftlandearmee in Holland'. Front page of translation issue reads 'Airborne Army In Holland'.