This 1945 black-and-white combat bulletin highlighting the European Theater of Operations has multiple segments. A formation of Douglas DC-3 (Dakota in the RAF) flies over Belgium. A damaged plane slowly descends and crashes; it’s crew parachuting down. Tanks pass over bridges. The convoy approaches Nijmegan, Netherlands. The bridge over the Waal River remains intact as British engineers remove the charges Germans left behind (:15-2:31). British and American air forces in North Africa plan bombing Rome. Circles are drawn on city maps to designate churches and holy places to avoid bombing. Footage is shown of the bombs being dropped (2:32-4:25). President Roosevelt demands unconditional surrender (4:26-4:58). Cassino, Italy is shown from above. An animated map shows the movement of troops. The Attenzione! Leaflets, warning the locals to evacuate, are sealed into cartridges and shot from 105 howitzers. Douglas A-20 Havoc and other bombers depart. Footage shows the bombing (4:59-8:27). Stop action animation on maps show the advancement of troops, followed by live footage. A 240 howitzer is craned into place. Sound plotting equipment is placed in dug holes. Receiving stations will plot any sounds of gunfire and locate their positions. B-24s and B-17s drop bombs. The Nazi return fire flashes on the hillside (8:28-13:09). The New York World Telegram headline says “Big Drive On In Italy.” A tank sets fires. Live footage from a gun camera shows the ground results on enemy planes, trains, and buildings. Multiple planes are shown being shot down (13:10-17:21). U.S. troops construct a floating bridge over the Seine. French General Philippe Leclerc rounds up German occupation forces who surrendered. The scared faces of the German soldiers are shown (17:22-19:11). General Charles de Gaulle places flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe and approaches the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Snipers fire from different locations. The crowd runs in panic and crouches in the street. The troops fire back. Civilian wounded are carried on stretchers. General Eisenhower speaks with Sir Arthur Tedder and Lieutenant General Omar Bradley in Paris. American troops march through liberated Paris (19:12 -21:52). The 79th Fighter Group at Capodichino Airfield, Italy listen to an officer who explained the battle on giant maps. Stop action animation shows this. While he speaks, actual footage is interspersed that shows what he’s talking about, including troops on the move and loaded into boats in various military vehicles. Troops board ships. Foot troops march single file through cities (22:53-27:36). Footage is shown from the gun camera as the plane strafes the ground. Allied anti-aircraft guns shoot at enemy planes. Night footage shows the gun fire action as bright lights (27:37-28:47). President Roosevelt is shown onboard at the Suez Canal. He individually meets with Egyptian King Farouk, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, and Saudi Arabian King Saud (28:48-31:27). RAF Coastal Command Bullfighters and Mosquitoes strafe German ships and ground targets, as shown from the gunner’s POV. Bombs are dropped and explode below. A captured German pillbox and cross-channel gun position with its 305 millimeter gun are shown (31:28-34:58).
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