A British citizen is seen waving and giving the "V for Victory" sign to trucks passing by carrying British troops during World War 2. View of British fliers assembled on the tarmac in front of a Vickers Wellington twin engine bomber, as a string of trolleys carrying bombs moves along the ground near them. Closeup of the bombs on the trolleys. British RAF officers at telephones discussing a night's planned mission involving 10 aircraft. Glimpse of Vickers Wellington bombers and trolleys of bombs on an airfield. RAF officer and assistants (including 2 women) discussing targeting. Officer mentions photographs of submarine yards and they study them. Scene shifts to the targeting officer briefing air crews about their night's mission, to bomb the German submarine and ship building yards at Bremen. View of photographs. View of aircrew members in briefing room. Views of aircrew boarding their Welllington bomber; engine running; and pilot in cockpit. Other Wellington bombers cranking up. The bombers takeoff at dusk. Pilot in one checking with his rear gunner, and radio operator, while they are in flight. Two bombers silhouetted against sky while in flight. Crew member annotating navigation log. Scene shifts to German pilots on the ground, being scrambled to their Messerschitt Bf 109 aircraft. German searchlights scan the sky and soldiers run to man their 12.8 cm Flak 40 antiaircraft guns. Flashes from these guns are seen in the darkness. Some British Wellington bombers flying through clouds with Flak bursts around them. Pilot in a bomber tells his crew they are entering a glide. View of bomber in sharp decent. Antiaircraft batteries firing rapidly. Bombardier at station in a bomber. View of bomb in bomb bay. Bombardier presses button releasing several bombs. Explosions on the ground. Antiaircraft batteries firing furiously. Pilot in cockpit illuminated by flare of bombs and fires. Camera pans across burning buildings on the ground. Closeup of Adolf Hitler vowing revenge. Slate reads: "November 14th, 1940." Views of German bomber aircraft in night raid over Britain during Battle of Britain. Bombs bursting and antiaircraft fire during blitz. View of Coventry, England, in the dawn after the raids. Destroyed and severely damaged buildings, some still burning. Aerial views of some of the destruction. People walking past rubble. Camera captures image as remains of one building collapse. Skeletons of buildings silhouetted against the foggy sky. Survivors on the streets huddle at a bulletin board to read news posted there. Teams of firefighters and others trying to deal with the destruction and pulling victims from the rubble and carrying them for burial in a common grave. Survivors placing garlands of flowers on the graves.
Animated maps show locations in Russia. Cold and snow force Spanish Blue Division troops under German Army (250. Infanterie-Division) use dynamite for digging defensive positions near Leningrad. They explode dynamite and make room for gun emplacements. Blue Division soldiers fashion trenches in the snow and erect crude shelters of wood. After firing artillery, an officer looks through periscopic sighting binoculars. The troops engage in battle over snow covered field, pulling artillery piece. Chimney of Soviet blockhouse is hit. Spanish troops are decorated by German officials. German cavalry General Georg Lindemann presents Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to Spanish commander, General Agustín Muñoz Grandes. (World War II period).
United Kingdom Member of Parliament and President of the National Seamen's and Firemen's Union Havelock Wilson argues against pacificism and calls for "Peace with Victory," at a public meeting at Trafalgar Square in London, England (Trafalgar Sq, London WC2N 5DN, United Kingdom) He stands near statue of lion at base of Nelson's Column and addresses a seated audience of men and women. In change of scene, Mr. Wilson poses, using two canes for support, as he speaks in front of a building. Men hold up a sign reading: "Sailors and Soldiers, Don't forget to declare yourselves in favour of the Seamen's Boycott of the Huns." (The Seamen pledged to boycott German maritime activities, following the war as reprisal for German attacks during World War I) Closeup of Havelock Wilson.
America enters World War I. President Woodrow Wilson looks out from a window in his office. He speaks over a phone. Sheep graze on a grazing ground. The White House in the background. President Wilson at his desk as he signs a note. Officers and the President at the drawing of drafts. An officer blind folds the President and he draws a draft number.
The German attack on Poland, at Danzig (Gdansk) triggering World War 2. Views of German artillery firing at fort and buildings across a stretch of water. German artilleryman looking through periscopic binoculars. Smoke rising from the shelling. German troops firing machine guns. German battleship Schleswig-Holstein is seen bombarding Polish army defenses at Westerplatte. (The battleship had entered the harbor and anchored off Westerplatte, in August, under the false pretense of a friendly visit.) Columns of smoke rising from fires started by the shelling. German troops advancing toward Gdynia in armored cars and trucks. A German officer on horseback. A German soldier on a motorcycle. Two German Panzer II tanks moving down a muddy slope as invasion begins. Army vehicles on wet roads and infantry making their way across a shallow streams. Infantry marching along a road. Closeups of the German soldiers as they pass the camera. Officers in a staff car. View from a height of smoke rising from fires on the ground in distance, mixing with cumulus clouds above. (Note: some English narrative begins late in the film, around TC: 00:58)
American and French soldiers return to camp after armistice brings end to fighting in World War I. Soldiers return to camps from the battle field. Soldiers gather and cheer. American and French forces hug and shake hands at the end of the war. U.S. Army troops exchange caps with the French soldiers. Soldiers hold each other in celebration. Soldiers smile and dance together. Soldiers play music and dance at the celebration.
CRITICALPAST.COM: About Us | Contact Us | FAQs - How to Order | License Agreement | My Account | My Lightboxes | Shopping Cart | Advanced Search | Featured Collections | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy ©2026 CriticalPast LLC.
License Agreement |
Terms & Conditions |
Privacy Policy
©2026 CriticalPast LLC.