America and Britain conduct Berlin Airlift operations, flying supplies to blockaded East Berlin during the Soviet Berlin Blockade. Blockade lifted. Refugees flee East Germany and move to West Germany.
Former West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer dies as a man writes a condolence letter. The German Embassy in Washington DC (4645 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA). The German flag in half-mast in front of the embassy building. President Johnson announces he will attend Adenauer's funeral in Cologne. Adenauer at a public meeting with Soviet leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin.
The Germans sign unconditional surrender in Berlin, Germany on May 8, 1945 during World War II, signing a document similar to the one signed at Reims the day before. People gathered outside a German Army Engineering School. Soviet General Georgi Zhukov and British Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder at a desk as they represent the Allies. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel and other officers representing Germany arrive. Keitel puts his signature on the document of unconditional surrender. Zhukov and Tedder also put their signatures as they take over Germany. The two officers shake hands. Allied officers tour the city of Berlin. Damaged buildings in the city due to Allied bombings. The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The heavilly damaged Hotel Adlon. Aerial views of the damage caused due to Allied bombings in Hamburg. Damaged buildings and shipyards in Hamburg.
Film begins with nighttime bombardments of rockets and artillery. Then at one minute after midnight, on May 9th, 1945, the guns stop. Next, a day earlier, German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel enters a conference room on May 8th, accompanied by German staff officers. He salutes with his Marshal's baton and takes a seat. He signs surrender document. Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov stands before being seated. British Air Marshal, Sir Arthur Tedder, is seen signing the document along with Marshal Zhukov. General Carl Spaatz, Commander of Strategic Air Forces in Europe, shakes hands with Marshal Zhukov. Several scenes of battlefield cemeteries are seen next. German officer prisoners are seen from the back as they walk with hands behind their heads. Views of Surrendered German senior military officers, including: German Admiral Erich Raeder; German Marshal Walter Model; German Marshal Wilhelm Keitel; and Marshal Hermann Goering (being disarmed).
Russian and American soldiers and officers greet each other at banks of Elbe River in Torgau, Germany during World War II; an event referred to as East Meets West. U.S. 69th Infantry Division Commander Major General Emil F. Reinhardt shakes hands with Soviet officer. General Reinhardt introduces his staff to Russian officer. General Reinhardt and his staff poses. British and American flag in the background. Russian cameraman prepares to take pictures of assembled dignitaries. Russian officer shakes hands with American officer. Two Russian Red Army women. Large group of Russian and American soldiers. Russian and American officers with their staff march by. Cameramen record the event. General Reinhardt and Russian General Baronov shake hands. Group walks ahead.
Animated map shows direction of Allied forces converging on Germany, Western Powers from the West, and Soviets from the East during final phase of World War 2, in Europe. Newspaper headline reads: "Russians strike for Berlin."The New York World-Telegram newspaper headline reads: "Yanks Cross the Rhine!."U.S. Army troops seen in house-to-house fighting in Germany.American troops standing at Rhine River viewing Cologne, Germany. The cathedral at Cologne. Film of Hitler's troops crossing the Rhine in 1936 contrasted with views of many German prisoners of war being marched under Allied guard, in 1945. USAAF P-38 lightning aircraft taking off on mission against German targets. View from Allied aircraft strafing German target which explodes. A P-38 landing on a snowy airfield. USAAF P-47 of the 388th Fighter Squadron (C4), 365th Fighter Group, landing and skidding sideways off the runway. It slides in the snow and strikes another P-47 aircraft with engine running, on the ramp. B-24 Liberator bombers taxing for takeoff. Formation of USAAF B-17 bombers dropping bombs all over Germany. Formation of B-17s at very high altitude, leaving contrails behind them. U.S. infantry and armor fighting in snow-covered streets of German city. Allied troops, including Polish soldiers, fighting in the snow. Allied wounded being carried while under fire from German forces. U.S. Sergeant Peter Di Guiseppi and Private Pat Brady being interviewed. De Guiseppi remarks that the war seems like it will never end. Brady recounts being in a tank that hit a mine or something that exploded and abandoning the tank faster than he could ever imagine. He hunkered down in a ditch while bullets flew all around him, including the ammunition from the destroyed tank.
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