With the help of an animated wall-size map, an American Army Lieutenant Colonel intelligence officer explains details of the German successful breakthough to France during May, 1940, in World War 2. The map depicts the opposing German and Allied lines after the German advances through Belgium and the low countries, and the officer shows their surprise assault through the Ardennes, across the Meuse River and into France, where they shattered the French 9th Army. The map is animated and illustrates as the Officer narrates the events, which end with the successful advance across France to the port of Abbeville, on the Somme River. The subsequent German operations forced British and French forces into an untenable position backed to the English Channel at Dunkirk, France.
Pedestrians in New York City lean against a barrier across the street from the New York Times building on Times Square in New York City. They are looking up at motograph ticker (also known as the zipper) which is showing news reports about the D-Day invasion of France by the Allies in World War 2. Several women and men pause to look up and read the news dispatches, including both civilians and men in military uniform. Camera focuses on a Man in Naval uniform standing near a soldier with a young woman on his arm looking up at the news ticker. Scene shifts to view over the shoulder of a woman standing at a news stand reading a Sun newspaper with headline reading: "Invasion Begins. Armies Storm into France in Great Air-Sea Assault." American flag with 48 stars displayed from window in the Times building, as news display begins reading: "Allied armies invade Europe", and "American British and Canadian troops Swarm..." Closeup of a a man seated nearby holding a newspaper with headline "Invasion Army 10 miles inland." A man's hand holding up the New York Post newspaper with headline, "Invasion - We're in France." He flips to an interior page with headline, "Allies Invade Northern France - Sky Troops Land Deep Inland." Two U.S. Navy sailors in uniform look up at the news ticker. One of them has an unlit cigarette in his mouth. Another man at the news stand reading the headlines. A man buys a newspaper and departs. Man in suit and hat crossing the street while reading the newspaper. Unlit cigarette in his mouth. Women and men in a stopped taxi viewing the Times Building motograph from the car window. More men and women standing and reading the zipper headlines. People in a stopped bus reading the Times displays from the windows of their bus.
Training of U.S. Army infantrymen in the United States. A newspaper headline reads ' infantrymen arrive in France'. The infantrymen are taught to advance on a battlefield. Recruits in New York's Rainbow Division are seen marching in the mud, at Camp Mills, Long Island, They undergo physical training at the camp. They learn to fire rifles and dig trenches. They inhabit a tent city at the camp. Scenes of Rainbow Division soldiers on a chow line at Camp Mills. After basic training, the soldiers board ships and trains for France. Loved ones give them a sendoff. Upon arrival in France, they are given a warm welcome.They resume training in France, until they are ordered to the Front. Scenes of U.S. infantry in trenches wearing gas masks and firing rifles. Tanks advancing across the trenches. View of the 7th Regiment World War I memorial statue in Central Park, New York City.
The inauguration of the first church services in Saint Honorine Des Pertes, France. Soldiers in Jeep pass on the street. Houses, buildings, and shops beside the street. Civilians on the street. Children watch from the window of a house. They wave the French flag. Women enter The Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes Church (Rue de l'Église, 14520 Aure sur Mer, France). Statue of Jesus Christ in front of the church. American soldiers near the church. People come out of the church. (World War II period).
The first U.S. prison camp in Colleville-sur-Mer after the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France during World War II. U.S. soldiers question German prisoners. Prisoners rest on the ground. One of the prisoner being interrogated at a map. American cemetery near Eterville, France shows a grave with flowers. Open graves. Dead bodies of U.S. soldiers on the ground await burial. Wrecked gliders in the background. A soldier writes out a tag for the dead.
A U.S. cemetery near Colleville-sur-Mer France after the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France during World War II. American soldiers receive communion at a beach. American Honor Guard doing a 3-volley rifle salute for a burial ceremony. A U.S. soldier, a U.S. sailor and a British soldier open tinned rations and eat. A bugler sounds a call. U.S. soldiers assembled for the burial ceremony. The soldiers with their heads bowed. A chaplain speaks. A Catholic priest, Reverend Father William Dempsey, of New York City, prays at an altar set up on a jeep hood. French civilians with flowers at the ceremony, including the Mayor of Colleville, Mr. Poidevin.
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