Opening shows animated map of Alsace front at junction of Belgium, Germany, and France, in World War 2. Allied forces are schematically shown sweeping toward Wissembourg, Haguenau, and Strasbourg. Next, several U.S. Army M4A3(75) medium tanks are seen driving toward the camera on a rural road, during a pull back by the 7th Army in the first week of January, 1944, from advanced positions at the front. Some are filled with infantry riding atop them. The last of them is seen crossing a bridge 13 miles Northeast of Haguenau. The engineers of the 79th Division place demolition charges to destroy the bridge. Closeup of them placing and then remotely igniting the charge. A huge explosion ensues that completely destroys the bridge. Scene shifts to several U.S. soldiers of an engineer combat battalion preparing 100 pound of TNT in a captured blockhouse at Lauterbach, Alsace. Closeup of engineer carrying the explosives into the blockhouse and preparing the remote detonation device. The engineers string wire in the snow and setup their remote detonation device. One depresses a plunger to ignite the charge and blow up the blockhouse, which explodes in a huge cloud of black smoke. Next, elements of the 79th Infantry Division supported by tanks, are seen moving forward to counter German gains Southeast of Haguenau. (On January 5th the German forces had established a bridgehead across the Rhein (Rhine) river near Gansheim, Germany.) Scene shifts to Drusenheim, Germany where U.S. forces are engaging a Battalion of occupying German forces. Machine gun fire is heard constantly, as American infantry battle the hidden German defenders and tanks drive them from defensive positions near a bridge at the far end of town. Infantry move from behind tanks toward the bridge and are seen crossing it. An M4A3(75) medium tank risks crossing the narrow bridge and is immediately followed by many 79th Infantry troops. The battle continues on the other side of the bridge.
Invasion convoy headed toward the French coast for the invasion of Normandy France on D-Day in World War 2. Allied warships begin their bombardment. Many views of naval guns firing. Sailors signaling with blinker lights. Second wave of Allied infantry leaving transport ships, descending rope nets to board their landing craft. Troops loaded aboard LCI(L) 211. Allied fighter aircraft in flight. Gun camera views of Allied aircraft attacking German FLAK tower; a Heinkel HE-111 bomber; a steam locomotive pulling a train; and barge traffic on a canal.
Allied Invasion of Normandy, France during World War 2. British Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber in flight. Allied paratroopers of 6th British,and American 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions jumping from aircraft. Allied troops in gliders being towed across the English Channel. A British pilot in cockpit of aircraft towing a glider. Several gliders descending over French farm fields.Formations of Martin B-26 bombers overhead. Allied Navy warships underway. Scenes on decks of the warships. Navy heavy guns being loaded and fired from Battleships and cruisers. American B-26s and British Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers in flight overhead. British spitfire fighter aircraft overhead. U.S. B-26 in D-day stripes. Bombs exploding on German enemy targets. Navy ships bombarding shore. Allied infantry descending rope nets from troop ships. B-17 bombers aloft.Gunner in a B-17. British warship in camouflage bombarding French coast. British spitfire zooming low over landing craft. Allied American and British soldiers in landing craft going ashore at several different Normandy beaches. London, with streets quiet, in early morning, June 6, 1944. Journalists assemble at British Ministry, and a U.S. Army Colonel tells them the invasion at Normandy is underway. The reporters run from the room to file their stories. People reading about it in their newspapers in various cities of the world.
D-Day invasion of France by Allied Force during World War 2. American troops wade ashore from landing crafts at Omaha Beach, Normandy. Wounded huddle together on Omaha Beach. Allied troops care for wounded on litters at the beach. Fallen American soldiers covered and lying on beach next to a dozen captured German prisoners of war. Allied ship burning offshore. Reinforcements coming from other beaches and from more landing craft. Troops wading ashore from landing craft. German soldiers firing rifles and mortars. A crashed Allied glider. "Screaming Eagle" insignia of 101st airborne Division on sleeve of paratrooper. German reinforcements of armor and infantry arriving from Berlin. British infantry leaving landing craft on another Normandy beach. They move rapidly off the beach and then fight their way inland, crawling at times. British artillery support firing. Views of British soldiers and American soldiers advancing in coastal towns of Normandy region. The steeple of a church falling to shellfire. British General Bernard Montgomery jumping down from an amphibious vehicle at a beach in Normandy. Allied troops riding armored vehicles into a French town. U.S. Air Forces P-38 fighters in flight overhead. Formation of British aircraft. Closeup of British De Havilland Mosquito bomber. Gun camera footage of Allied aircraft in close support, flying low and strafing German ships, flak towers, and fortifications. British Hawker Typhoon aircraft in action.
V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) celebrations in Paris, France at the end of World War II. Crowd of Parisians as they parade on streets on V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day). People with French flag along the street.
Liberated French returnees arrive to Paris, France. Child in a carriage. Carriage being loaded into a trolley. Returned Frenchmen after disembarking from U.S. Army Air Forces C-47 Skytrain transport plane. Returnees enter reception building. French honor band plays. Returnees enter into a building.
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