Lieutenant General George Patton, Commander of the U.S. Third Army, rides, standing up in a jeep, as he arrives in Coutances, France during World War II. He appears to say something as he passes some soldiers standing atop a Sherman tank. He then salutes in the direction of the camera. His jeep passes an M3 half-track carrying soldiers. Closeup of Patton as he passes them, and they smile. His jeep continues along the dirt road, past soldiers waving salutes from atop a Sherman M4A1 tank. View of a Sherman tank equipped with plow blades and camouflaged with foliage. Another Sherman tank (M4A3) with foliage camouflage. Closeup as it passes. Several more Sherman tanks followed by trucks and jeeps carrying infantrymen. Closeups as they pass. An M3 half-track, towing a field piece, is directed at an intersection by an MP (military policeman). More armor and trucks are seen including a Sherman tank equipped with a bulldozer blade, followed by an M3 Lee tank. A spire of the Église Saint-Pierre (Rue de l'Église, 50570 Marigny-le-Lozon, France) at Marigny-le-Lozon is seen in the background as vehicles pass it. A truck and a wheeled vehicle equipped with an A-Frame are parked at the side of the road. An M8 Light Armored Car passes. A jeep carrying medics, displaying red cross emblems, passes a truck towing a field piece.
A Dewoitine D.520 belonging to the French Air Force after it was shot down by German forces in Dunkirk during World War II. Destroyed French and British aircraft and military vehicles in the aftermath of the Battle of Dunkirk. Town sign reads “Dunkerque” (“Dunkirk” in French). Aftermath of Dunkirk after German occupation. The Belfry of Saint-Eloi (Rue Clemenceau, Dunkerque) with a flag waving. The town of Dunkirk is devastated. Military vehicles, guns and equipment left behind after the Battle of Dunkirk are scattered all over the town. Devastated ships in flames at the Dunkirk Harbor, emitting dark smoke.
Austro-Hungarian Emperor Karl I and wife, Empress Zita of Bourbon-Parma, meets military officials and commoners in Vienna shortly after their coronation. Empress Zita receives flowers, shakes hands with children. Austro-Hungarian citizens welcome the new emperor and his wife. Empress Zita and Emperor Karl receive more flowers from adoring children. Emperor Karl I meets Austro-Hungarian generals and infantry. Emperor Karl I speak to soldiers fighting for Austria-Hungary during World War 1, giving them reassuring pat on the back. Emperor Karl I rides a horse with retinue. View of Italian prisoners-of-war in Austria. Emperor Karl I onboard SMS Szent István, also known as His Majesty's Ship Saint Stephen (the last of four Tegetthoff-class dreadnought battleships built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy).
Anglo-Canadian soldiers holding the city sign saying “CAEN” after a successful capture from German forces in World War 2. Debris from houses damaged from bombings. Caen almost completely wrecked. Bulldozer clears out debris in the city center. The Abbey of Saint-Étienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes ("Men's Abbey"), is seen from the background. A Nazi propaganda poster written in French, depicting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a vulnerable woman. “Aurai-je assez” (“Will I have more”) is written on the poster. Debris and a road sign showing the direction to “Paris Rouen Le Mans Laval” in front of a pharmacy. Anglo-Canadian soldiers perform a mop-up operation near the pharmacy. French locals gathered to raise the flag of Free France (France Libre et les Forces françaises libres) in front of the Lycée Malherbe (building is now the Caen City Council 9 Place Mgr. des Hameaux).
French men and women watch truck loaded with German prisoners in front of the Hotel de la Gare in Granville, France (135 Rue Couraye, 50400 Granville, France ) during World War 2. German prisoners on truck are taken away from Granville, located in the Normandy region. Frenchmen riding their bicycles on the streets after the captured German soldiers are taken as prisoners by the Allied forces. A woman walking with her bicycle as her daughter leads on the street. Storefronts are boarded-up. Signs of storefront are written in French. An Allied Jeep drives past on the street. A dog lazes in front of a store with sign saying “WE SELL BEER BIERE”. A French woman crosses the street. Frenchmen stand near a road sign for the direction and distance to towns of Saint-Pierre-Langers and Avranches.
Free French 1st Armored Division tanks pass through Périers, Manche during World War 2. French civilians cheer as an M4 Sherman tank pass by. The ruins of Église de Périers (Église Saint-Pierre Place du Général de Gaulle, 50190 Périers, France) is seen on the right. M4 Sherman tanks and Red Cross ambulances pass by each other as they take opposite directions. A M3 Lee tank passes through thick smoke. An M3 half-track pulling a wagon passes by a crowd of French civilians. Three French women watch the arrival of Free French military vehicles in their town.