French General Marie-Pierre Kœnig and his staff (plus a civilian official) review U.S. Army troops in Paris, before they depart, after the liberation of Paris,in 1944, during World War 2. General Koenig has been appointed by General Charles de Gaulle to consolidate French control and administration in Paris. In the opening scene, He and the group are seen walking past the U.S. troops as they stand at attention. Later Koenig and the others stand at attention as the American troops march past, on parade. Views of the U.S. troops marching out of Paris, past landmarks and along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and through the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (Arch of Triumph). Complete change of scene, shows an American armored personnel carrier moving through a French town and an M3 half track firing at a building. Then U.S. infantry spread out as they attack the area. Next American jeeps are seen traversing a steep bridge. Winding roads in rugged country are seen. A GI using binoculars. American artillerymen firing M116 75mm Pack Howitzers, including some under camouflage nets. Soldiers working to repair and strengthen a timber bridge. A truck carrying Free french soldiers who climb down and receive small arms from another French soldier in a jeep. Camera pans over the boots worn by the French soldiers. Closeups of two. Change of scene shows Free French troops in snow at an Alpine location, where they set up military equipment. French soldiers scanning mountain peaks. A soldier on skis. The soldiers responding to a whistle signal from an officer. They take up positions and fire weapons.
Various field artillery firing under camouflage nets during Operation Windsor, part of the Battle of Caen during World War 2. Royal Canadian forces advance on Carpiquet airfield. Canadian soldiers crouch for cover. Canadian soldiers firing with mortar field artillery. Carpiquet airfield in smoke as seen from the fields. A camouflaged soldier aims his rifle and shoots. Soldiers in a tank. Close up of tank firing its machine gun. Canadian soldiers firing with machine gun behind hedgerows. A soldier uses binoculars, pointing at a direction, while standing on a tank. Carpiquet airfield buildings destroyed after Canadian shelling. The attack was conducted by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade.
The Normandy beachhead. General Charles De Gaulle and other Free French officers and officials, in jeeps, make their way into village of Courseulles-sur-Mer. Barrage balloons seen in sky. Allied troops move along roads in military vehicles, and some soldiers are on foot. A French Catholic priest, on a bicycle, recognizes General de Gaulle and his party, stops his bicycle in amazement and doffs his hat. A Frenchman, gardening, waves. Man, on horse-drawn cart, stops to look. Women on the side of the road greet and wave to the jeeps. People on either side of the road. General Charles De Gaulle arrives with other officers in the village. Children offer flowers to th General. Several people look on. The General and officers walk through the streets of the village. The General meets the villagers. A French sailor kisses a woman. General De Gaulle speaks from a platform,under a Free French Cross of Lorraine flag, and flanked by British and American flags. A huge crowd gathered to listen to the General. Several women and children look on. General Henri Giraud, stands nearby. The audience sings La Marseillaise. The General amidst the villagers.He kisses a small child. Buildings in view behind. The General proceeds to the vehicle. (World War II period).
French civilians cheer the arrival of Allied infantry soldiers and armored vehicles in Normandy after the D-Day landings in World War II. French men and women waving to the soldiers and a boy flashed the “V” or “Victory sign”. Smiling French children waving to the soldiers. Soldiers and a 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 enter a village. Sign reads “Sainte-Mere-Eglise”. Civilians welcome troops on top of an M4 Sherman tank entering the commune. A Military Police directs traffic in Sainte-Mere-Eglise. French civilian men pushing wheelbarrows with supplies. A soldier speaks to locals. Civilians clapping at the Military Police. Faces of smiling French civilians.
American soldiers of the U.S. 90th Infantry Division, walking atop captured Fort Obergentringen, Near Thionville, on the west side of the Moselle River, in World War 2. Next, the Fort's German Krupp 105mm guns are seen firing numerous shells at German positions in Thionville, east of the river. American soldiers with binoculars observe the shell strikes from the fort. Smoke rising from the shelling. [Note: A September 17, 1944 wireless report about the fort's capture , to the New York Times, by Frederick Grahamby, stated that "The fort's name is Gingringen and from 1870 to 1919 it belonged to Germany." However, it is actually Fort Obergentringen (Fort Guentrange) on the hills of Guentrange, overlooking Thionville, and built in 1899.]
British Army General Bernard Montgomery with his staff during the Battle of Caen in World War 2. General Montgomery speaks with a Naval Liaison Officer. General Montgomery and British soldiers meeting in a forest. Soldiers refer to a map during the meeting. British Army soldiers in tanks (likely Mk IV Churchill tanks) approach Caen. A British Army tank covered in foliage moves towards Caen. British soldiers move towards Caen. A tank fires in the darkness. Silhouettes of German soldiers raising their hands to surrender. British soldiers moving though the fields. Captured German soldiers raise their hands.
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