Film 'The Road to the Wall' depicts the rise of communism in Russia, Eastern Europe, China and Cuba. Opening scene shows a newly build section of the Berlin Wall, early in its construction period, and a line of German people viewing the newly built wall between East Germany and West Germany. Historical retrospective shows various scenes of refugees in various countries (China; somewhere in Europe) walking on roads and uphill with baggage in hand. Communist troops march. Refugees walk bare foot. Man carrying a child on his back. Huge gathering of people in Moscow at the Kremlin wall (near future site of Lenin's tomb). Vladimir Ilyich Lenin speaks to a crowd in Russia during the Russian Revolution circa 1917. Refugee women and children being checked by soldiers as they attempt to board a train. Closeup of a baby looking frustrated or angry and throwing a baby tantrum. Bodies of dead refugees on the ground. View of Fidel Castro, in January 1959, with Che Guevara, and other rebels or revolutionaries, in Cuba. A person being executed by a Che Guevara revolutionary firing squad. Huge parade in Communist China in 1960. View of Chinese workers manually pulling what appears to be, a heavy gun carriage. Parade of communists in East Germany in 1961. The Berlin wall, and East German policeman on horseback riding to intercept persons attempting to cross. A few East German people making an escape from East Berlin to West Berlin by running through a gap in barbed wire at the Berlin Wall border, and being escorted by West Berlin citizens afterward. Armed East German guards at border marked with barbed wire and other obstacles.
World War I views of Russia including both pre Russian Revolution scenes and post-revolution scenes. Opening scene shows workmen and soldiers at a construction (or rebuilding site) in Russia. Ordinary shops seen, closed with metal barriers across their fronts, on a commercial district street. Russian troops marching in review before Tsar Nicholas II, and other mounted officers, in a square in Russia. A military band marching across the square, watched by Russian troops in formation and by spectators. In post revolution Russia, An open phaeton car drives into the midst of a crowd of Russian soldiers and civilians. Three principal occupants step from the car including an officer carrying a bouquet of flowers. (Some enthusiastic bystanders show great interest in the car. At least one climbs into it.) The car's occupants next appear on the balcony of the Hotel National in Moscow, where they are greeted by a large crowd assembled below them. Abrupt change of scene shows Russian Tsar Nicholas II, on horseback, reviewing troops, who hold aloft a banner reading "Warrier," among other things. He continues past civilians assembled, holding various banners.
Nations mobilizing for World War 1 (The Great War).from 1914 through 1917-18. Civilians in a Slavic country react to information fastened on a large circular post. Closeup of British Mark II tanks moving near the camera, followed by view of British Whippet tank in front of army trucks. Uniformed, armed, German troops assembling in a town square. German General Paul von Hindenburg leading members of his staff and a diplomat, on inspection of troops. A Russian officer on horseback with troops assembled in a city park. Unusual grouping of Military officers from Germany (wearing Picklehaube helmets); France; and Russia (including a Cossack), gathered in front of a Russian Orthodox Church (presumably somewhere in Russia) prior to World War 1. Anachronistic view of middle-aged Winston Churchill giving an address, before numerous microphones. U.S. Marines hurrying along a waterfront pier, past a variety of boats docked in a city marina. American soldiers looking at a U.S. Connecticut-class battleship docked at a pier, displaying a large American flag, during World War 1. Camera pans across the pier. Crew members seen on Japanese battleship, Settsu. Japanese troops disembarking from a transport ship covered with ice.
The October, 1917 revolution in Russia, during World War 1. Opening scene shows an explosion at the base of a tall column topped by a winged figure with outstretched arms. The column and statue teeter and then fall in a crash to the ground. Within the same scenes another similar collumn stands, but any statue it contained is gone. Next, a Bolshevik rioter is seen on a ladder, prying a large bas relief statue of Romanov double eagle from face of a building. It falls and breaks into many pieces on the ground.
During World War I (and near timeframe of Russian Revolution of 1917), view of Russian General Lavr Kornilov and Minister of War Alexander Kerensky coming down through stairs in Petrograd, Russia. They salute and greet other officers, some Russian and some French, including General Joseph Joffre. Russian and French Troops marching. Russian and French Generals review troops.
Alexander Kerensky, War Minister of the Russian Provisional Government and Russian Army Commander-in-Chief, General Lavr Georgiyevich Kornilov, enter a building in Petrograd .They are accompanied by many staff officers. Dramatization of ending hostilities between Russia and Germany. A Russian and a German soldier shake hands and are joined by soldiers from both sides. German and Russian soldiers celebrate. Russian troops returning from the front. A Russian soldier adjusts his socks and boots. Russian troops hike and move cargo in horse-drawn wagons. Russian troop train with soldiers on roof. Caption refers to Lenin being in Petrograd on October 7, 1917. Places, in Petrograd, inhabited by Vladimir Llyich Lenin, and Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. Newpapers and letters pertaining to the period.