Shows American 70th and 71st Coast Artillery troops at Saint Nazaire (France) embarking the transport vessel, SS Manchuria shortly after end of World War 1. The troops are leaving for United States. A soldier checks attendance list of the troops boarding the ship
American gunners of the 7th Field Artllery fire mustard gas shells from a French 75 field piece in a sandbagged revetment at Varmaise in Oise, France, on July 5, 1918. As they rapid fire, traces of mustard gas emerge from their gun, so they all don their personal gas masks, and continue firing the gas shells. Change of scene shows American troops at a trench in a field, donning gas masks when warned of a German gas attack. With gas masks in place, they commence firing a trench mortar. A string of explosions is seen in the distance, presumably from a number of mortars firing. Scene shifts, again, to troops wearing gas masks, firing their Springfield rifles, from their trench. It appears that they are following a reported World War I practice of loading their magazines to capacity with a 5-round stripper clip, and then firing only single rounds, with the magazine cutoff in "off," to save the reserve for emergencies.
French President Raymond Poincaré and his wife inspect St Mihiel France a few hours after its liberation from the Germans. President Poincare with his wife comes out of a building. She meets a child. World War 1 French Army officers and other officials talk with the president and his wife.
Bao Dai, King of Annam, as he takes a flying lesson with the stunt flier Michel Detroyat in Velizy-Villacoublay France. The King wears helmet and gets into a plane. Airplane in flight. King gets down from the plane with help from Michel Detroyat. King removes his helmet.
A harbor in Cherbourg, France during World War II. Two vessels anchored to the harbor, one of them the Destroyer Escort USS Donnell (DE-56) recently converted to duty as Electric Power Barge (IX-182) supplying power to shore in Cherbourg from her turbo-electric generator. A smaller ship "32" by her side. A crane in the dock in view. A man on the dock. Flags flying on the two ships. Men step from the USS Donnell to the harbor. Few officers and sailors standing and talking on the USS Donnell aka Electric Power Barge IX-182. View of shore battery anti-aircraft artillery gun beside the dock. Men unloading materials from a truck and a few men at work with a concrete mixer including German prisoners of war under guard. Several seamen beside a board with 'US Navy Boat Landing' written on it. Small boat arrives and a number of U.S. Navy sailors come ashore.
German forces engaging Allies after Normandy invasion. French firefighters use hoses on burning buildings ostensibly hit by Allied bombing during World War 2. German soldiers relaxing and talking in France. A German commanding officer congratulating several young German officers, in the courtyard of a building. German Generals meeting and consulting together. The senior General and staff depart in a camouflaged army vehicle. French road sign points to town of Saint-Lo. Camouflaged German tank moving along road. German Tank Destroyer StuG IV (Sturmgeschutz IV Sd.kfz.163) following behind, on road to Saint-Lo. Closeup of German officer riding in open top of a camouflaged armored car. German infantry soldiers walking on road. One carries an 8,8 cm RPzB.54 "Panzerschreck" rocket launcher, over his shoulder. Another behind him carries a flame thrower. The next group of German soldiers shown are very young, seemingly boy soldiers. Several smile for the camera. German soldiers digging in at side of road. One has improved version of Panzerschrek (Model 8,8 cm Raketenpanzerbüsche 54) that has a shield to protect operator. The German soldiers fire mortars. Several sit quietly as the sounds of bombardment surround them. One taps wireless message on communication equipment. Two carry a wounded SS trooper, who stands as best he can to report to his commander.
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