Children gather at the grave of Franz Gruber in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. Austrian children sing his immortal Christmas song, 'Silent Night, Holy Night' inside the Silent Night Chapel (Stille Nacht-Platz 1, 5110 Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria). Picture of Franz Gruber next to the small organ he used. Original sheet music for Stille Nacht or Silent Night. Bas relief of the Nativity Scene. As the children sing, views of a stained-glass window commemorating Franz Gruber are seen.
German occupation of Austria prior to World War 2. A seated German soldier talks to a young Austrian boy. Scene shifts to a parade scene in an Austrian town as German forces crossing the border into Austria are welcomed and cheered. Soldiers aboard motorcycles, tanks and other military vehicles moving along the street. People cheer and wave towards the soldiers. Children hand out flowers. Ambient sound of crowd cheering.
Avalanche occurs in Austria. Rescuers search for group of students and teachers trapped in avalanche in Dachstein Peak area. Snow covered Alps in Austria. Snow covered bodies of German teenage students and their teachers being recovered by the rescuers. Bodies being pulled on sleds. A still photograph recovered from film in a camera found with the dead shows the group of students in a huddle for prayer hours before their death. Snow covered bodies being carried on sleds. Austrian flag at half mast to mourn the loss.
The Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. A sign reads: 'US Coast Guard Ruley C.Pho.M.'. Coast Guard Cutter, Task Force and barrage balloons in the background. Men working on a ship. They hold up canned Vienna sausages on the main deck of the ship. Vienna sausages are taken out of can and put onto tray. Deep cliff that drops down to the sea. Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) underway in the background. Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) loaded with troops. Sunken ships in the background. Sunken boat with Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) alongside. British trawler with two barges behind it. Patrol boat, sunken ships and another patrol boat in the background. LCI washed upon the beach at Normandy.
Ski-flyers at a ski leap or ski jumping competition in Kulm Austria. Competitors climb atop a hill in the Austrian Alps. The competition begins. The ski-flyers take a long start and jump over the slope. Spectators watch the event. Officials monitor the weather and wind conditions. Some competitors like Roy Sheerwood of Connecticut fail to execute a successful jump. Photographers click pictures. Sepp Bradl of Austria executes a 400-foot leap on his third try to set a new world record.
Opening scene shows Tyrolean town of Kufstein nestled in Brandenberg Alps in Austria. A young Austrian woman and a soldier in uniform sit on a hillside with part of the Kufstein Fortress in the background (Festung 2, 6330 Kufstein, Austria). A Music professor named "Butler" sits at the famous organ (Heldenorgel), the world's largest open-air organ, in the Kufstein Kaiser turm (Imperial tower). He plays music as a wedding party stands, listening, outside. View through the building window shows the bride and her new husband, a German officer in uniform, surrounded by family and friends in a courtyard, outside. Scene shifts to the courtyard in sunlight and shadow, where townsfolk, including many children, are assembled. A large military style German Cross of stone dominates the foreground. Closeups of wounded German soldiers attended by a nurse. A German sailor in uniform stands with several girls. The organ music permeates the scene. View from behind spectators leaning over a railing shows the courtyard to be somewhat oval. Locals in traditional Tyrolean costumes are part of the crowd. Closeups of various persons in attendance. Glimpse of the organ pipes showing this to be an impressive instrument. Camera pans from the pipes to an opening in a tower, where they are located, revealing a panoramic view of the town and landscape below. Among things seen below are Saint Vitus Church and other significant buildings. View from afar of Kufstein Fortress and Brandenberg Alps with clouds behind. View framed by fruit tree blossoms across a field being plowed by farmer and team of oxen. The town in the background. More scenic views.