Surrendering Italian troops passing through Udine, Italy, after the battle of Caporetto, in World War 1. They are unarmed and accompanied by several armed Austro-Hungarian soldiers, wearing white armbands. They pause for refreshments at a wooden building. View from rear of open truck as it drives out of town. Many pieces of damaged and destroyed guns and vehicles at sides of road. Austro-Hungarian troops moving along a road while Italian refugees with ox carts loaded with hay and other belongings, move in opposite direction. Abandoned heavy guns and mortars in a town square. Armed Austrian Guard on duty, approached by several Austrian soldiers who hesitate so as not to interfere with cinematographer. Long line of Italian prisoners of war marching along a mountainous road in snow, with tall mountains of the Alps in background. Austrian troops along the Italian-Austrian border, with snow-covered mountains in the background. Austrian soldiers moving along roads lined with debris of war, including heavy equipment and artillery pieces, and what appears to be a steam powered artillery tractor. Austrian troops on horseback and with horse-drawn wagons arriving at rest stop.
Film begins showing an area in Italy in which some buildings and houses are being rebuilt after WWII. Clothes are drying on lines between the houses. A man stands outside a house after completing rebuilding. The new house is built inside the opening of a tunnel. A woman occupant looks out her window. The house number: 526A is painted on the wall of the original tunnel structure. View from a height of this section of Rome. Men converse as they stand next to their bicycles near a building. A gathering of men. Closeup of one holding a sleeping infant. Men walk out the gate of an aviation-related factory. The gate is closed as they leave. Closeup of a sign on factory gate reading: Closed. Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi speaks about unemployment and land reform. A poster announces (in Italian): Applications for land assignments and formation of farmers' lists. A man with an application in his hand. Men gathered discussing the land reform applications. A farmer driving his tractor pulling a piece of farm equipment. A map delineates the path of a pipeline. Irrigation canals fed by the pipeline. A truck is seen carrying farm produce. An man operates levers on a fuel storage facility.
Discussion of advances in Italy's transportation system. Hundreds of bridges have been built. Also seen is the Port of Trieste and advances in shipping and shipbuilding.
Views of Financial institutions in Italy, during oversight by the Allied Military Government (AMG) in World War 2. Seen are buildings of the National Bank of Lavoro and The Bank of Sicily, that were undamaged by bombing. Inside a financial building, American soldiers are lined up to obtain "scrip" (special currency issued by the Allied Military Government). Sign at the cashier window reads: "currency exchange." A soldier holds a piece of Scrip. American soldiers making purchases from street vendors. One eating and apple he just purchased. Men working under AMG auspices to bring a damaged electric power plant back on line again. A steam locomotive begins pulling a train out of a station, as Italian railroad operations resume again under administration of the AMG. Passengers look out the windows as the train passes the camera. On a street corner, a man obtains a copy of a newspaper (Sicilia Liberata) as a free press reappears under the AMG. Churches are seen including one with a large gathering of persons outside. Red Cross workers are seen among others making their way across a makeshift passageway near a destroyed bridge. Other general scenes of Italian citizens living under the administration of the AMG.
First European Recovery Program shipments under the Marshall Plan reach Italy and are unloaded. Priests read out prayer from scriptures. Pope Pius XII along with American officials welcome the shipments.
View of a campaign map of Italy during World War 2 . Destruction of town of Cassino after Allied bombings. Street sign of Cassino is shown. German soldiers ride motorcycle with side car. German sign warns of enemy and indicates to proceed without lights. General Albert Kesselring confers with German troops in streets of Cassino. German sign warns against parking due to artillery fire. United States Army Air Force bombers drop bombs over the city. German troops take cover in remains of destroyed buildings. Artillery fire starts. Military tanks on the streets. Views of heavy blasts and huge clouds of smoke rise in streets. American General Mark Clark seen in tank and British and American allied troops seen firing artillery and small arms, and battling building-to-building against German forces in Cassino.
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