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 Allies invade Germany during period March 1945 - April 1945, during World War II. Animated map depicts Allied invasion of Germany. Ninth United States Army troops and tanks advance in Hanover, Germany. A convoy of military vehicles on a road. Smoke rises from behind a house. Smoke near a tank. Allied M4 Sherman tanks and trucks move at various German fronts. German women wave white handkerchief signifying surrender. Over the border in Overijssel, Netherlands, British Coldstream Guards roll in to Enschede to liberate the Dutch people there, and many Dutch citizens wave and cheer their liberators. A captured train loaded with German V-2 rockets. United States Army Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft drop bombs on a village. Smoke rise due to explosions. Tanks and troops of Ninth U.S. Army cross a bridge. U.S. Infantry soldiers cross a bridge and run through ruins of bombed buildings in house to house village fighting, working to evade German sniper fire. Some German soldiers seen surrendering to American forces. US Army forces walking single file on both sides of a road as tanks and equipment roll by in Germany.
Camera shows close up of two certificates of affidavit signed by Lieutenant Colonel George Stevens and Lieutenant Kellogg. The first affidavit by U.S. Army Signal Corps Colonel Stevens cites Stevens' work from 1 March 1945 to 8 May 1945 photographing concentration camps and prison camps liberated by Allied forces. It is read aloud by George Stevens (or by a narrator reading the text of the affadavit). The second affidavit, signed by U.S. Navy Lieutenant E.R. Kellogg, and witnessed by Captain John Ford, is also read aloud. It cites Kellogg's expertise in motion picture and photographic techniques through his employment with Twentieth Century Fox Studios in California from 1929 to 1941. He attests that he has thoroughly examined the concentration camp liberation films of the Army Signal Corps and found them to be unaltered, genuine, and true copies of the originals in the U.S. Army Signal Corps vaults. A map shows the location of concentration camps in Germany and other parts of occupied Europe under Nazi control. (World War II period).
Map points to Allied positions during Battle of the Bulge in World War II. British soldiers walk in a trench on the prong of the attack south of La Roche en Ardenne (La Roche-en-Ardenne or sometimes just Laroche). Trench in the snow covered area. British soldiers wear warm clothes and try to stay warm in the trench. British soldier knocks hole in ice and draws water into a bucket. British soldiers wash and shave with the freezing water. They heat water and use it to make cups of tea. They move on tanks to location where British and American forces meet and greet. The soldiers talk amongst themselves. On 14 January 1945 armored recce cars of the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry, 51st Highland Division, meet GI's of the 347th Infantry, 87th U.S. Infantry Division, near Ortheuville. The first link up between troops of VIII Corps and British 30 Corps. Another encounter between British soldiers, dressed in white camouflage smocks, with Americans of the 87th U.S. Infantry Division at Champlon. Later that same day. Field Marshal Montgomery wearing a new beret, commands the northern forces. British soldiers advance on a roadway and supplies move on vehicles. Houses in the background. U.S. 3rd Army soldiers shovel snow during a blizzard, clearing the way for trucks with supplies and mail to pass. Large tractors with snow plow attachments clear snow. On January 14, 1945, American forces gently sweep snow from the bodies of American soldiers at Malmedy who had surrendered to the Germans a month prior but were then massacred. (These were mostly U.S. forces of the American 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion) German prisoners of war look on apprehensively as the Americans uncover the victims of the Malmedy Massacre. American soldiers look at from a snow covered hillside into the village of Houffalize in Belgium. A twisted sign for Houffalize is seen, and wreckage and destruction in the town. Close views of wrecked and burned homes in Houffalize. Destroyed tanks with one tipped in a river
Harry S Truman appointed President of the United States. The U.S. Capitol building in view. Trees in the foreground. President talks on the phone. Harry Truman attends the 1944 Democratic convention with his daughter, Margaret Truman. People gather holding boards and placards of Truman in hand. A board reads: 'Truman for Vice President'. Franklin Roosevelt seated in a car during his fourth inauguration parade, on January 20, 1945, with motorcade proceeding on Constitution Avenue in Washington DC, and then driving up to the White House. Past events show President Franklin Roosevelt talking to Vice president Truman. Flag at half staff on the U.S. Capitol following death of President Roosevelt. Truman addressing a joint session of the Congress. General Marshall, Admiral King, Secretary of War Stimson all arriving at the White House to meet with President Truman. Also seen are James Byrnes and Truman receiving Lord Halifax, Anthony Eden, Secretary of State Stettinius in the White House. Truman speaks to joint session of congress on April 16, 1945 and expresses desire to continue the efforts and direction set by Franklin Roosevelt, saying, "With great humility I call upon all Americans to help me keep our nation united in defense of those ideals which have been so eloquently proclaimed by Franklin Roosevelt...." He also states, "So that there can be no possible misunderstanding, both Germany and Japan can be certain, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that America will continue to fight for Freedom until no vestige of resistance remains. Our demand has been, and it remains, unconditional surrender. We will face the problems of peace with the same courage that we have faced and mastered the problems of war. In the memory of those who have made the supreme sacrifice; in the memory of our fallen president, we shall not fail."
U.S. Strategic bombing survey film about the situation in Japan after atomic bombing in World War 2. Film titled 'Effects of Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki'. Map of Japan. Location of Hiroshima. City of Hiroshima. Camera pans over view of the city of Hiroshima before the atomic bomb destroyed the city. Buildings and huts in city of Hiroshima pre-destruction. Portrayal of events on August 6, 1945: Sentry standing on a platform. Sentry stands near 'bell' air raid alarm. Sentry in dugout cave. Narrator relates that bomb was dropped. Still image of Hiroshima mushroom cloud explosion seen. Views of destroyed Hiroshima (from September 1945). Bomb damage to large concrete building. Ruins of the city. Damaged street cars in street. Hiroshima station. Hiroshima Prefecture office building damaged by blast. Damaged buildings. Statistics of casualty and damage.
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