German troops seen casually advancing during their invasion of Poland in World War 2. View inside Hitler's traveling railroad Headquarters, known as the Leader's Special Train (Führersonderzug), where General Franz Halder, Chief of the German General Staff, is seen briefing Hitler over a map. Other senior officers join the planning discussions. Brief view of German soldiers in the communications center of the Sonderzug, preparing orders and sending and receiving messages. Hitler is seen stepping from his Pullman car (Number 10206 in which his personal military assistants and a valet were also quartered). He is followed by military officers. A large cadre of German officers greet him and his entourage at the station. They all walk across several railroad tracks to a parked 1939 Mercedes G4 car, into which Hitler climbs. He renders a half-Nazi salute as they drive away. Glimpse of the vehicle steering wheel. (Note: In 1940, Hitler's train was re-named "Amerika", after a Belgian village, where his regiment found temporary respite on November 1, 1914, following the battle of Geluveld, during World War I. Later, the Sonderzug was finally re-named "Brandenburg.")
German battleships fire shells in Poland during Battle of Westerplatte of World War II. German battleship fires shells at Westerplatte. Shells explodes. Smoke column rises up. Commander looks through binoculars. Bridge of battleship. (Start of invasion of Poland, WW2)
Smoke rises from bombed aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) off Luzon in World War 2. Time code 00:29,shows F6F-5 #7 "Paper Doll," of VF-27, (mount of Ensign Bob Burnell who painted most of the famous "cat mouths" on the cowls of VF-27 Hellcats).Pilots walk across flight deck of USS Essex (CV-9). TC:01:04, F6F-5 #47 (VF-15) is seen with Horizontal stripe near rudder tip identifying it as an Air Group 15 aircraft. Further along is F6F-3 #8 (VF-15) Late production -3 with superseded tri-color paint scheme and 7 Japanese victory flag emblems under cockpit. F6F-3 #F-11 (VF-27) Late production -3, "F-11" lettered prefix to aircraft number (unusual on an operational fighter probably indicating a recent replacement). Plane captain is cleaning windshield on the "Minzi III" when Captain David S. McCampbell, the top U.S. Navy ace, approaches and climbs aboard the aircraft. Thirty Japanese flags are painted on the fuselage below the cockpit. McCampbell straps in and starts his engine. He gives a "thumbs up" sign. "Airedales" push empty Hellcat belly tanks across Essex flight deck. A Destroyer fires antiaircraft guns. Japanese aircraft seen in flight over water. Fire from 40 mm guns. (Note: Some planes of Squadron VF-27 on the Princeton, were recovered on the Essex.)
United states 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, comprising Americans of Japanese ancestry, marches in formation to be decorated by Lieutenant General Mark Clark, Commander of the 5th Army, at Vada, Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War 2. They march onto a large open field where their color guard dips the regimental colors to which General Clark affixes the unit citation. He and his officer aide then salute and move on decorate an individual soldier of the 100th battalion. General Clark pins the Distinguished Service Cross on the soldier, speaks briefly with him, and shakes hands. They exchange salutes. Closeup of the soldier wearing the Distinguished Service Cross pinned above his combat infantryman's badge. General Clark then speaks to all the soldiers, addressing them as "Americans of Japanese descent,"and praising their performance and patriotism. Views of individual soldiers. Closeups of General Clark as he states that, "The 34th Division is proud of you; the 5th Army is proud of you; America is proud of you."
On November 7, 1944, during World War 2, citizens of Marblehead, Massachusetts, United States, are seen entering the Old Town House (built in 1727) to cast ballots in 40th quadrennial presidential election (in which incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt is running for an unprecedented 3th term). Scene shifts to inside a polling place, where voters stand in booths to privately mark their ballots. Others are seen depositing their marked, folded paper ballots in a collection box, as they finish voting. Closeups of several aged voters. One, an African American man, the narrator says is old enough that he was sold as a slave early in his life. Scene shifts to a full-blooded Native American Indian voter in Maryland, entering his polling place to cast a ballot. An old man who is a United States Civil War veteran, is shown sitting on a bench in a park in Los Angeles California, with friends. He holds a newspaper and wears a Civil War Union cap. A U.S. soldier wearing field uniform and steel helmet, looks at a bulletin board containing State-by-State voting information. A Technical Sergeant marks his paper ballot and leaves to mail it. A soldier takes an oath confirming legitimacy of his ballot as he turns it in at a military collection site. Sign in commercial establishment window of a U.S. town declares "Election Today." A bank window sign reads: "this Bank will observe Election Day, Tuesday, November 7th, a Legal Holiday." Sign in Bar window reads: "Bar Closed during Election Hours, Tuesday, Nov.7, 1944. Will Open at 9 PM." Republican political party workers advertise for their Presidential candidate, Thomas E. Dewey. Democratic political party workers drive a truck towing a trailer office plastered with advertisements for their candidate, Franklin Roosevelt. Republican and Democratic party voter information booths are seen next to one another where advertise their respective candidates to passersby on the sidewalk. A voting place identified by white wash sign on a window, and another, in a rural setting, by a sign pointing to it on a fence post. More signs and voters showing sentiments for their candidates. One displays a picture of Dewey on his car. A woman wears a large Roosevelt button on her sweater. Views of more imaginative signs for candidates and for ballot issues. People discussing ballot issues on the streets.
On Election Day, November 7, 1944, in World War 2, Americans are seen waiting patiently to vote. They stand in a long line extending down a city sidewalk next to brick and stone buildings. Views of several persons in the line. Scene shifts in flashback to the election of Woodrow Wilson, in 1912. Four men on horseback arrive at a polling place. Another travels to vote, in his 1910 Ford Model T truck. Change of time and place shows farmer arriving by horse-drawn wagon and walking to polling place past 1930s car and truck. A fully laden truck stops at a rural gasoline station, temporarily serving as polling place. American town residential street scene in the 1930s. Citizens gathering to vote at a polling place set up at a laundry shop, in the Bronx Borough of New York City. Views of various places in the United States, serving as polling places. Americans seen waiting to vote at various places, in the 1944 national election. Among the sites shown is Bridgeport Central High School, built in 1916, (which later became Bridgeport City Hall), at 45 Lyon Terrace in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Persons in various places, registering to vote, including actor Lewis Stone, actress Esther Williams, and USO entertainer, Bob Hope. Voter closing curtain behind him as he votes in a voting booth. Views of voters' feet, below curtains, as they vote. Various types of boxes. Newspaper headline speaks of the large voter turnout in millions during the 1944 election. Shipyard workers at end of their shift, are seen heading to the polls to vote.
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.