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keywords: wwii, united states, england, germany, france, european theater, d-day invasion, battle of the bulge, operation market garden

Synopsis: A thorough overview of WWII Europe touching on all aspects the land, sea and air campaigns, V-E Day celebrations, the damage and destruction of Europe after the surrender of Germany and Italy...(read more)

  • Date: 1940's
  • Duration: 01:22:12
  • Sound: Yes
  • Color: Monochrome
  • Type: Public Domain
  • Language: English
  • Location: Europe
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Lest We Forget Reel-1

Low aerial views and street scenes of war-damaged of Berlin Germany, total damage and destruction after WWII. Crowds of thousands celebrate the Allied victory and end of war in Europe. People rejoicing on VE-Day in Paris and London. Flashback to scenes of U.S. soldiers training in England for the Normandy invasion of France, D-Day invasion. Soldiers in England training for invasion, marching, hitting the beach from landing craft, running across the beachhead. B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in flight through flak dropping bomb load over German occupied France, view of bombs falling from aircraft, ground explosions as bombs strike target, Allied plane shot down and in death spiral. B-24 Liberator bombers, excellent views of bomb ground explosions.

Masses of war materiel arriving at staging area in England by truck transport, railway, and ship. Row of planes. Gun camera footage of German plane shot down, pilot in parachute. Gun camera footage of Allied planes strafing ground targets. massive explosions. War ships in English harbor, barrage balloons deployed. Trucks and half-tracks being loaded onto LST. Troops march onto land crafts for transport to amphibious assault ships. Soldiers relax aboard ship playing music, playing cards. Groups of soldiers at briefing. Shows airborne paratroopers preparing for D-day invasion, being issued French Francs paper money. Gliders being towed into position. Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower talk with U.S. troops of 101st Airborne.

Shot List:

R1:00:00:49;10

Massive damage of Berlin Germany at end of WWII

R1:00:01:25;08

People rejoicing and celebrating VE-Day, end of war in Europe

R1:00:04:14;10

LS, Germans shoot down Allied bomber over Normandy

R1:00:04:36;04

Massive amounts of war materiel arriving in England for Normandy invasion

R1:00:05:29;05

German plane shot down by Allied fighter plane

R1:00:06:14;03

Loading men and equipment onto invasion ships in England

R1:00:10:07;03

General Dwight D. Eisenhower speaking with 101st Airborne Division troops at Greenham Common Airfield in England

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Lest We Forget Reel-2

Allied airborne and amphibious invasion of Normandy on D-Day, Operation Overlord, and the Allied advance into France. Early morning low ground scene of paratroopers of the 101st or 82nd Airborne Infantry loading into aircraft with barbwire in foreground, closer shot as paratrooper march by. Excellent scenes of the Normandy invasion fleet underway. Close-up of C-47 troop carrier aircraft with nose art "Lady Lillian" painted (written) on nose. Early morning scenes of planes and gliders, scenes of C-47 planes taking off, in flight. CG-4 Waco Gliders being being pulled aloft by C-47 aircraft. Ground-to-air scene of C-47 planes with gliders in tow, Point of view (POV) of glider pilot as glider is in flight.

Various scenes of soldiers aboard ship of invasion fleet, flights of gliders overhead. The naval bombardment of the coast of France, naval gunfire from all types of ships. Soldiers climbing down cargo nets from troopships into landing craft as naval bombardment continues, rocket ship firing rockets. Landing craft on way to beachhead, a landing craft sinking. Landing craft hitting the beach and beachhead after landing. Army corpsmen caring for wounded troops. Soldiers cross beachhead, More wounded troops being treated on beachhead, plasma bottle being held over wounded soldier. Dead Allied soldiers in surf. LCI landing craft or amphibious assault ship as soldiers wade toward beachhead under fire, dead Allied soldiers floating in water. Behind German lines troops of the 101st Allied Airborne Infantry move into the Normandy village of Saint Marcouf, German prisoners, a couple of children in the village, and a group of soldiers displaying a captured German or Nazi flag. On the beachhead more soldiers and supplies pour ashore. Large number of German prisoners (POWs) being marched to landing ship for transport to England as prisoners of war. Aerial view of destruction of cities and towns as the Allied advance continued across France toward Cherbourg. French people greeting the Allied troops, artillery bombardments and German prisoners of war (POWs). Close-up of American soldier with bandaged head and face wounds still fighting. Street fighting, close-up of soldiers firing rifles, tanks moving down street, Germans surrendering and the battle for Cherbourg France ends.

Shot List:

R2:00:00:23;06

Normandy invasion fleet underway

R2:00:00:43;10

CU of C-47 troop carrier aircraft with nose art "Lady Lillian" painted on nose

R2:00:01:27;02

Waco CG-4 gliders being being pulled aloft by C-47 aircraft

R2:00:03:46;01

Naval bombardment Normandy invasion, including rocket ship firing rockets

R2:00:06:18;02

D-Day invasion Normandy invasion U.S. troops landing on Omaha Beach

R2:00:06:37;10

Medics treating the wounded on Omaha Beach

R2:00:06:56;06

Beachhead scene from LCI, U.S. soldiers wading ashore under fire

R2:00:08:11;06

German POWs being loaded onto LCI for transport to POW camp in England

R2:00:09:24;09

Battle and capture of seaport of Cherbourg

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Lest We Forget Reel-3

German General Karl von Schlieben surrender to General "Lightning Joe" Collins at Cherbourg France. Allied artillery shell with message "Happy 4th Adolph" is loaded into artillery gun or howitzer. Artillery and tanks firing. French civilians and Allied Soldiers dancing in the streets, images of G.I. boots and civilian shoes only, as French civilians and American soldiers dance in celebration of Bastille Day July 14, 1944, followed by scenes of marching G.I. boots.

CU of advancing American soldiers, one soldier wearing British Bowler hat. The battle of the hedgerows in France. Allied infantry fight to clear hedgerows of German troops using rifles, machine gun, mortar fire, bazooka or rocket launcher, rifle fired grenade and tanks. Army Medics caring for the wounded. Allied battle casualties laying on battlefield. Shows soldiers taking a break from battle, sleeping, chasing a chicken, reading a newspaper, letter from home, taking a bath as a posted guard keeps watch, or at church services on the front lines. Soldiers at briefing and preparation for attack on Saint-Lo. Artillery guns are uncovered, barrel elevated, CU scene looking directly into muzzle or barrel of artillery gun, shells are fused, loaded into breech of artillery guns, tanks move into battle position, followed by lines of infantry soldiers. Tanks slowly move past road sign that reads Saint-Lo. Battle for Saint-Lo begins with artillery barrage. Allied planes attack Saint-Lo. Tanks and infantry fight their way into Saint-Lo, house-to-house street fighting. Shows aftermath of the battle of Saint-Lo. General George S. Patton riding standing up in jeep as tanks of Patton's Third Army advances across France. Images of feet in G.I. boots marching across France to Paris. Allied troops parade in Paris with the Arc de Triomphe in the background, French civilians waving and cheering. General Charles de Gaulle saluting U.S. troops as they parade through Paris.

Operation Dragoon. Shows Allied Mediterranean invasion fleet and U.S. Seventh Army troops landing on the Southern coast of France. Newspaper Headlines Lyon Liberated. Battle scenes as Allied troops moved across France, infantry firing rifles, tanks firing.

Shot List:

R3:00:01:26;03

Battle of the hedgerows in France

R3:00:02:18;05

U.S. tanks moving (advancing) across open field in France

R3:00:03:22;05

Soldiers at church or religious services on the front lines

R3:00:04:10;07

CU scene looking directly into muzzle or barrel of artillery gun, shells are fused, shell loaded into breech of artillery guns

R3:00:04:29;08

Tanks and troops advancing

R3:00:04:59;07

Battle for Saint-Lo starts with heavy artillery barrage and aerial attacks

R3:00:06:11;05

General George S. Patton riding standing up in jeep as 3rd Army tanks moves through French villages

R3:00:07:40;07

Allied troops parade in Paris with the Arc de Triomphe in the background

R3:00:08:50;04

Operation Dragoon, invasion of southern France by the U.S. 7th Army followed by the French 1st Army

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Lest We Forget Reel-4

As the Allied Army advanced toward Belgium and the Netherlands, and the Holland region of the Netherlands, the German Army began surrendering in larger numbers. Burning and destroyed German military vehicles. German troops are marched along roadway under guard past body of dead German soldier. Aerial view of 20,000 Germans that surrendered along with their equipment. Crowds in Belgium, Luxemburg, and Holland cheer, wave, and greet the American soldiers. USO Camp Show with female singers and Bing Crosby entertaining the troops.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery looking at map. Thousands of parachutes fill the sky and hundreds of gliders land in Operation Market Garden. Rescue of trapped glider pilot. Nijmegen Bridge. Battle for Aachen Germany. Artillery shelling and air attacks on the German City of Aachen. Tanks and street fighting in Aachen. Close-up American solider firing .45 Caliber Thompson Submachine gun. Tank fires 50 caliber machine gun strafing buildings. American flag raised in German City of Aachen after battle, first Germany city captured by American forces. German refugees in Aachen. Front page of Stars And Stripes reads "Patton Seizes Metz Fort". Low aerial view of the Siegfried Line, Siegfried Line of tank barriers ,bunkers and tunnels blasted with rocket fire, tanks, artillery, and flame throwing tanks. The Allied Army drives deeper into Germany.

Shot List:

R4:00:00:24;08

Burning and destroyed German military vehicles

R4:00:01:05;10

People of Belgium, Luxemburg, and Holland cheering the U.S. troops

R4:00:02:20;09

Bing Crosby with USO Camp Show entertaining the troops

R4:00:02:44;10

Operation Market Garden, thousands of parachutes fill the sky

R4:00:03:57;09

Operation Market Garden, CU gliders landing

R4:00:04:33;02

Bridge at Nijmegen

R4:00:05:11;11

Battle for Aachen, Artillery shelling and air attacks by P-38 planes

R4:00:05:53;07

Tanks and street fighting in Aachen Germany, American flag is raised

R4:00:07:16;08

German refugees in Aachen Germany

R4:00:07:56;02

Siegfried Line of tank barriers, bunkers and tunnels blasted with rocket fire, tanks, artillery, and flame throwing tanks

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Lest We Forget Reel-5

Allied tanks and jeeps moving through a German city and along German roads and deeper into Germany. American troops, tanks, Jeeps and other vehicles try to cope with the rain and deep mud. General Dwight D. Eisenhower visits the troops and walks through the mud. Flooded areas after dams were blown-up by the Germans. More street fighting in a German town. American soldiers hang sign out of building window that reads "Off Limits To All M.Ps, Too Hot Yet". Soldiers firing rifles and bazooka out of building window, German soldiers surrender under white flag carried by women.

Soldiers cross open field under fire. Soldiers try on winter coats as rain turns to snow. Soldier holds sign that reads "26 Yankee Inf. Division, Happy Thanksgiving, Europe 1944". Soldiers in chow line. Soldiers playing football on snow covered field in Germany. Soldier using land- mine detector in the Hurtgen Forest, Soldiers digging foxholes in frozen ground in the Hurtgen Forest. Germans launch their Ardennes Offensive, Americans under constant attack were overrun or push back by this surprise German attack, refugees fled over snowy roads. Burning and destroyed American military vehicles and bodies of dead American soldiers. Germans captured wearing American uniforms were treated as war criminals, executed by a firing squad. Americans on offensive on snow covered battlefield, later named Battle of the Bulge.

Shot List:

R5:00:00:36;05

Rain and deep mud hinders U.S. troops and equipment in Germany

R5:00:01:16;08

General Dwight D. Eisenhower visits the troops despite the rain and mud in Germany

R5:00:01:50;05

Building by building street fighting in German town

R5:00:02:26;09

German soldiers surrender under white flag carried by a German woman

R5:00:03:21;11

U.S. nurses walk in snow and mud near front-lines in Germany

R5:00:04:10;05

Soldier holds sign, "26 Yankee Inf. Division, Happy Thanksgiving, Europe 1944"

R5:00:04:21;10

Soldiers in Thanksgiving chow line in Germany 1944

R5:00:04:56;00

Soldier using land-mine detector on snow covered road in the Hurtgen Forest

R5:00:05:12;10

U.S. soldiers digging foxholes in snow covered frozen ground

R5:00:07:11;08

Germans launch their Ardennes Offensive, U.S. troops under constant attack

R5:00:07:52;06

Burning and destroyed American equipment, jeep with rear end on fire flashes by as U.S. soldier ducks behind a tree

R5:00:08:47;07

Captured German soldier wearing American uniform, three Germans executed by firing squad

R5:00:09:14;01

Start of American Offensive, Battle of the Bulge

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Lest We Forget Reel-6

Battle of Bulge, U.S. troops counterattack over snow covered ground, soldiers kneel and fire. Close-up soldier aiming and firing M-1 Garand rifle, rare footage of ejection of ammunition clip as last bullet is fired. U.S. troops fighting in winter weather of snow, ice, and fog. U.S. troops march forward along foggy snow covered road and cleared snow bound vehicles. Troops moving through snow covered German town. U.S. artillery guns under camouflaged nets loaded and fired at German positions. Tracked vehicles towing artillery guns along snow covered road, followed by infantry soldiers.

Heavy rain turns the roads into a sea of mud. Infantry soldiers moving along muddy road. Captured German POWs waking through the mud. Vehicles stuck in mud unable to deliver ammunition and other supplies. Low flying C-47 planes dropped supplies by parachute. Surrender of more German soldiers. Nazi crosses on the graves of German soldiers.

American soldiers look at aircraft contrails of high flying bombers on way to German targets. Bomb ground explosions and gun camera footage as American fighter planes fire rockets and strafe ground targets. View of night bombing raid on a German target. Soldiers in foxholes waiting for orders and sleeping. Flashes of artillery firing at night, flashes from artillery fire. Troops advance covered by a smoke screen, launch boats, and paddle across the Ruhr River.

Shot List:

R6:00:00:16;00

U.S. troops counterattack over snow covered ground, soldiers kneel and fire weapons. Sights and sounds of combat

R6:00:00:44;11

CU of soldier firing M1 rifle, rare footage of ammunition (bullet) clip being ejected when last round (bullet) is fired from M1 Garand rifle

R6:00:03:00;04

U.S. Infantry soldiers walking in mud, vehicles stuck in mud

R6:00:05:51;09

Bomb ground explosions, gun camera footage as fighter planes fire rockets and strafe ground targets. View of night bombing raid on a German target

R6:00:07:25;01

Soldiers in foxholes waiting for orders to attack (advance)

R6:00:08:43;09

U.S. soldiers lay smoke screen, infantry soldiers advance under cover of smoke screen, launch boats, and paddle across the Ruhr River

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Lest We Forget Reel-7

U.S. 29th Infantry Troops crossing Ruhr River on foot pontoon bridge while under fire. American Troops captured Julich Germany. Sign reads "This is Julich Germany, Sorry it is so messed up but we were in a hurry, 29th Blue and Grey Div". War damage of Julich. Tanks crossing Ruhr River on bridge built by 554 Engineer Battalion. M3 Half-Track armored vehicle approaching camera at high speed followed by a tank.

American tanks spread out on the plains before Cologne, tanks and Infantry advance. German refugees. Sign reads "Hitler ist Kaput". Trucks loaded with German prisoners. Capture of Cologne Germany. Americans bring up large artillery guns to soften-up Cologne. Artillery guns loaded and fired. Tanks and infantry house-to-house street fighting in Cologne.

American forces crossing the Rhine River on the Bridge at Remagen. Medics or Corpsmen treating and caring for wounded. Wounded being placed into Red Cross vehicle. Time for a little fun at the "Rhine Rodeo", soldiers riding bucking broncos.

Shot List:

R7:00:00:23;06

Engineers building pontoon bridge across Ruhr River, U.S. 29th Infantry Troops crossing Ruhr River on foot pontoon bridge

R7:00:01:22;03

Sign reads "This is Julich Germany, Sorry it is so messed up but we were in a hurry, 29th Blue and Grey Div"

R7:00:01:31;11

U.S. tanks crossing Ruhr River on bridge built by 554 Eng BN

R7:00:01:45;01

M3 Half-Track armored vehicle approaching camera at high speed followed by a tank

R7:00:01:57;08

Tanks and infantry advancing across open plains in Germany

R7:00:03:16;01

Battle of Cologne., U.S. troops bring up large artillery guns to soften-up Cologne, artillery guns loaded and fired

R7:00:04:03;00

U.S. tanks and infantry building-to-building street fighting in Cologne, Cologne captured

R7:00:05:39;01

American forces crossing the Rhine River on the Bridge at Remagen

R7:00:08:21;10

Soldiers on R&R watch the Rhine Cowboy Rodeo

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Lest We Forget Reel-8

Operation Market Garden. Airborne operation at Nijmegen involving more than 3100 tow planes and gliders. Ground to air view of single tow plane towing two gliders. Allied troops cross flooded areas of Holland in boats. Navy landing craft ferrying troops across the Rhine River. CU image of C-46 Commando plane that has a jump door on each side of the plane. Interior shot of C-46 showing paratroopers jumping from both sides of aircraft. Great footage of 82nd airborne troops jumping from aircraft, thousands of parachutes fill the sky. Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne jumping at Nijmegan. Tanks and other vehicles crossing Rhine River on pontoon bridge.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower confers with other generals. More German Soldiers surrender, close-up of prisoners. Hundreds of German POWs guarded by U.S. soldiers. Allied Army moves through German towns that have white flags extended from windows. Towns where the German Army resisted were destroyed.

German women crying over destruction of their homes. Flashback to burning buildings in London, destruction in Warsaw, Rotterdam, and Stalingrad. Crashed German planes, destroyed German equipment and bodies of dead German Soldiers. Thousands of German prisoners of war (POW's). Liberated Allied soldiers cheering as American troops roll by. Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, General George S. Patton, and others view the horror of a Nazi concentration camp and see German atrocities and war crimes first-hand. Liberated concentration camp inmates are loaded aboard ambulances.

German civilians looting stores and homes and fighting over dwindling goods. Allied soldiers and tanks fight their way through a German city, fighting the Nazi die-hards and fanatics who refuse to surrender. German civilians waving white flags and smiling. U.S. and Russian soldiers greet each other in a iconic event at the Elbe River in Germany. American and Russian Officers and troops. Flashbacks of German Dictator Adolf Hitler at a Nazi rally in Berlin. Giant stone Nazi Swastika symbol at the Zeppelin Grandstand in Nuemberg is blown up in a massive explosion as stunning visual that Nazism has been defeated.

Shot List:

R8:00:00:13;01

Single tow plane tows two gliders

R8:00:01:21;00

Navy landing craft ferrying troops across the Rhine River

R8:00:02:38;02

CU air-to-air shot of C-46 Commando aircraft, interior shot of C-46 showing paratroopers jumping from both sides of aircraft, sky filled with parachute canopies

R8:00:06:48;04

Flashback to burning buildings in London, destruction in Warsaw, Rotterdam, and Stalingrad

R8:00:07:29;00

Crashed German planes, destroyed German equipment and bodies of dead German Soldiers

R8:00:08:12;07

Thousands of German prisoners of war (POW's)

R8:00:08:43;10

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, General George S. Patton, and others visit a concentration camp and see German atrocities and war crimes first-hand

R8:00:00:11;05

German civilians looting stores and homes and fighting over dwindling goods

R8:00:01:20;09

Allied soldiers and tanks fighting the Nazi die-hards and fanatics who refuse surrender in each city

R8:00:02:04;03

U.S. and Russian soldiers greet each other in a historic event at the Elbe River in Germany

R8:00:03:27;05

CU of a giant stone Nazi Swastika symbol at the Zeppelin Grandstand in Nuemberg, Flashbacks shows LS of Hitler at a Nazi rally, Nazi Swastika symbol destroyed in a massive explosion marking the defeat of Nazism

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