Nazi Retreat, Civilians Sheltered in London, and Pope Pius XII Honors U.S. Troops
About This Footage
Issue 51 of the 1944 United Newsreel captures dramatic turning points in the European theater. As Rome is freed from German occupation and the Allies push through Italy and France, London prepares for V-bomb attacks with new deep air-raid shelters. The film closes with Pope Pius XII’s blessing of American liberators at the Vatican—symbolizing the spiritual and moral reawakening of a continent at war.
a) Nazi Troops Retreat From Rome, Italy
Footage taken by the Italian underground shows German forces retreating through the streets of Rome as the Allied Fifth Army closes in. American infantry move through the city to eliminate snipers and secure key crossroads. Allied tanks roll north toward Florence as the liberation of Italy gains momentum. Scenes also show the arrival of Brazilian Expeditionary Force troops—South American fighters welcomed by their American allies in a demonstration of hemispheric unity against the Axis.
b) New Deep Air Raid Shelters Opened in London, England
To protect civilians from Germany’s new “buzz” bomb offensive, London opens spacious deep underground air-raid shelters. Footage shows British men, women, and children descending into reinforced tunnels equipped with bunks, lighting, and canteens—modern sanctuaries built to endure the intensifying V-1 flying-bomb raids.
c) Allied Troops and Tanks Advance Near Cherbourg, France
British and American troops advance through hedgerows under enemy fire as Allied armor pushes toward Cherbourg in the aftermath of the Normandy landings. Bombing raids cut off German reinforcements while infantry consolidate their positions. Between skirmishes, soldiers find brief respite in liberated French villages—a reminder of civilian life returning amid battle.
d) Pope Pius XII Blesses Liberating U.S. Troops at the Vatican
This United Newsreel from 1944 Issue 51 presents a sweeping view of the Allied advance across Europe—from Italy’s liberation and London’s civil defense to the Normandy front and the Vatican’s tribute to U.S. troops. For researchers and filmmakers, it offers authentic wartime imagery that captures both the chaos and the renewal of a continent in 1944.