Life of people in a British occupied zone of Germany after World War II. Ground level view of the heavily damaged Reichstag building in Berlin, with destroyed defense equipment on the grounds. Interior view of rubble inside the Reichstag. Close-up panning view of a painting of the Krupp family that produced arms during both world wars. A destroyed steel frame and girder structure that narrator says was part of Krupp arms factory. Former German soldiers being processed. They are lined up, sprayed with delousing powder, interrogated and their documents checked during demobilization. Demobilized former German soldiers give their thumb print impressions. A British officer interrogates an older man in civilian clothes, and then his Luftwaffe picture and papers are shown. Shirtless German men with their arms up in the air pass by a British inspector looking for SS mark under their left armpit. A British interrogator talks to a captured German soldier and rejects him for demobilization, based on his answers or his paperwork. A guard steps forward to escort the man back to prison.
German rocket pioneer, Gerhard Zucker, attempting to develop postal rockets in the 1930s. Location is Wadden Sea off Cuxhaven, on April 9, 1933, where Zucker follows Nazi Sturmabteilung (also called SA or Stormtroopers) carrying the mail rocket across wet sands. The rocket is set up on a launch stand. Zucker and an assistant ignite the 8 side rockets and the mail rocket takes off. It noses up and loops over backwards, falling to the sand. German Stormtroopers lift up the damaged device. Next, is seen a later, more modern, rocket trial ending in failure. Two German engineers display a model similar to the pulse-jet-powered "buzz bomb" (V-1) employed by the Nazis in World War 2. A brief glimpse of similar American machine on sand flat, as narrator states German acknowledgement of knowledge gleaned from Dr. Robert Goddard's work. A German V-1 flying bomb (aka Doodle Bug) being launched in 1944, during World War 2. View of British houses of Parliament, London, England; an air raid shelter sign in City of Westminster. Londoners waiting out a raid in the shelter. Scenes of fire and destruction during German bombing of London, as narrator speaks about the more advanced German V-2 ballistic missiles employed later in the war. Londoners trudging through debris amongst bombed out buildings. Change of scene to U.S. infantry and armor advancing deep into Germany. Narrator refers to them overrunning rocket bases and other vital war-making facilities, near the end of the war. Glimpse of large number of German prisoners of war. Documents of military surrender being signed by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, in Berlin, May 8, 1945. Closeup of Keitel. Scenes of American forces operating in Pacific theater. Aerial view of atomic bomb explosion. Japanese surrender ceremony on September 2, 1945, aboard the battleship USS Missouri. U.S. soldiers and other service personnel return home and greeting loved ones at end of war. Aerial view of Pentagon building and surrounding area in Arlington Virginia near Washington DC. U.S. troops boarding a ship in San Francisco, bound for war again, this time in Korea (1950).
Soviet military forces in massed formations at Red Square, in Moscow, Russia. Joseph Stalin stands on balcony above. Scenes of rebellion in Europe and Asia. A map of Korea. June 25, 1950, as Korean War war broke out between North and South Korea. Buildings burning. Refugees fleeing. View of United Nations building on East River in New York City, where American ambassador Warren Austin is speaking. View of the Capitol in Washington, DC. President Truman, speaking, committed U.S. forces to action. U.S. Reservists are recalled to active duty to fight in Korea. Some are seen getting off a bus at a military base reception center. Recalled reservists with full field gear, starting their journey overseas, and later seen in Korea. U.S. tanks moving over the road manned by soldiers with World War Two experience. Numerous scenes of heavy artillery firing, mostly at night. U.S. regular Army, National Guard, and Army reserve soldiers engaged in fire fights in Korean War using tanks, artillery, mortars, and rifles. Soldiers administer first air and assist wounded comrades. American troops slogging through rain and snow in Korea. Soldiers eating from mess kits, and reading the Stars and Stripes newspaper, during a lull in combat. North Korean officers arriving, in snow, for armistice talks. Following the truce, American soldiers are seen packed up and heading home from Korea.
U.S. President Richard Nixon arrives at Tri-City Airport in Saginaw, Michigan. Placards held by a crowd display welcome messages for President Nixon and anti-Nixon protest demonstration messages such as, "Impeach Nixon" and "Jail to the Chief." A large crowd cheers for President Nixon. President Nixon delivers a speech and thanks all present. He says 'We can be thankful for the fact that American is at peace with every country after 12 years'. He says that his administration is working for an increase in automobile sales in Saginaw base which affects the whole of Michigan. Around 3:48 he says the shortage of energy (following the October 1973 OPEC oil embargo) is the main reason for decrease in automobile sales and it affects jobs directly. He speaks about his proposals to the Congress for bringing up the automobile sales and increasing the jobs in Michigan. President Nixon talks about a bill which would deregulate natural gas for the production in Michigan which would make gasoline available which is not available at the present. He addresses automobile emissions standards and the need for clean air and a good environment, but also the need for jobs. He calls for relaxing auto emissions standards to allow more automobile production and more jobs. He speaks about alternative energy sources and natural resources which the United States has and can use, including more coal. He stumps for James Sparling, recommending voters elect him to Congress.
Propeller starting up on a B-17 bomber. Pilot in cockpit as propeller spins up on B-17 named "Thunderbird." The Thunderbird B-17 taxiing towards the runway. View of building on military air base. Close up of "Thunderbird" nose art and pilot flashing the V for victory sign during start up. "Marnita No. 1" and many mission symbols painted on B-17. Propeller starting to spin for engine start. Ground crewman saluting and clasping his hands above head in victory symbol. Pilot of Thunderbird B-17 patting a propeller on the plane and flashing the OK sign.
Formation of B-17 bombers fly in formation over buildings at an air base. Trees and grass behind B-17 are blown by prop wash. Taxiing B-17 bomber with flowers and ground crew in foreground. B-17 pivots onto a runway.
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