The first phase of German assault on France and the Low Countries during World War II. Vehicles move on an autobahn (freeway). In England: British troops parade and drill. British recruits in civilian clothing are seen with baggage as they join military during recruitment for war effort. German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler reviews German troops. War materiel rolls from German factories, including views of artillery, tanks, and aircraft for German war effort rolling off of production lines. Hitler rides through Vienna Austria and across the Czechoslovakian border. Large group of people gathered on the streets greet him and give the Nazi salute. Hitler in his car as it makes its way across the border. Soldiers give the Nazi salute.
Fragment of speech by Fuhrer Adolf Hitler as he addresses the Reichstag, meeting in Kroll Opera House, on April 28, 1939, in Berlin. The German Reich national Eagle insignia in the background, and Nazi Swastikas on either side. Reichstag members respond with cheers and Nazi salutes. Next scene is unrelated: Adolf Hitler on podium, preparing to speak at a huge outdoor gathering at the Heldenplatz in Vienna, Austria, on March 15, 1938, following the Anschluss. The crowd chants 'Heil'. Civilians give Nazi salute during the gathering in city square.
Newspaper headline declares Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Countess Sophie's assassination by a Bosnian youth in Sarajevo. The Archduke's bullet ridden uniform. The caskets carrying the bodies of the Archduke and his wife are taken to Vienna. The caskets wrapped in the Austrian flag at the port. Officers and soldiers salute in their honor. Priests lead the funeral procession followed by the caskets brought in horse carriages. Various New York newspaper headlines depicting beginning of World War I: Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia mobilizes against Austria, Germany declares war on Russia, France and England declare war on the Central Powers. Berlin: A large crowd gathered on the streets of Berlin. Mobilized German troops and band march on the streets. Crowd greets the German soldiers.
The opening scene depicts Heldengedenktag (Heroes' memorial day) in Berlin, March 13,1938. It shows the spartan interior of the Neue Wache (New Guard) World War One memorial on Unter den Linden. A cross stands above masses of flowers and a flame burns next to it. A sentry stands outside the building. View of the equestrian statue of Frederick the Great, nearby in the center of Unter den Linden. Camera pans back across the front of the New Guard building showing soldiers in formation on either side. Accompanied by two officers, Hermann Goering in uniform, including steel helmet, walks behind soldiers as they carry a large floral wreath across the square and into the New Guard building. View from inside as they enter and place the wreath. Closeup of the wreath shows a ribbon with words: "Adolf Hitler." The two officers render a Nazi salute and Goering salutes with his Luftwaffe Field Marshal's baton. Throughout the sequence,the war song, "Ich hatt' einen Kameraden," is softly played as a slow dirge in the background. Scene shifts completely to a hall at night, in Vienna, Austria, as Goering gives a speech referring to Adolf Hitler. View of St. Stephen's cathedral and scenes from several days prior, as crowd of German people cheer in Heldenplatz about the Anschluss (annexation of Austria by Germany). Animated map showing the territorial annexation. Slate displaying the slogan: "Ein Volk; Ein Reich; Ein Fuhrer" (One people; one nation; one leader.) (Note: Regarding the New Guard, in Berlin: Since 1993, it has been the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany for the victims of war and tyranny. The eternal flame was replaced by a Four- times-enlarged copy of the bronze sculpture, "Mother with Dead Son,"by Kaethe Kollwitz, on a slab of black granite in the center of the room underneath the oculus. Her original small bronze made in 1937, resides in the Kaethe Kollwitz Museum in Charlottenburg.)
Internees at a concentration camp in Buchenwald, Germany. Kurt Gatner, a former Chief of Prime Minister Schuschingg's body guard from Vienna, Austria. He says that he was arrested in 1938 soon after the occupation of Austria by Germans. He states how he was badly treated at various concentration camps. He talks about the harsh punishments being given at these camps. He thanks the American and other Allied forces for liberating him and many others from the camp. Other internees in the background. (World War II period).
During time of German occupation of Austria, or Anschluss, prior to World War II. A large crowd gathers on a street in Berlin, Germany. Buildings along the sides. Soldiers march in formation. People cheer. German flags on flag poles. An airplane lands. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler deplanes at Tempelhof Airport on his return from Vienna Austria. He rides in a motorcade through Berlin. People cheer as the motorcade moves along the streets. People salute and cheer. People stand in the balcony of a building and sing. Soldiers stand at attention. Hitler walks. People cheer. He stands in the balcony of a building and waves towards the large crowd gathered in the Wilhelmplatz.. German citizens hold a banner. They sing. Hitler stands in the balcony with German politician Hermann Wilhelm Göring. Hitler waves towards the crowd.