Invasion Of Fortress Europe, Etc (1940s)

tens of thousands plaza Saint Peter's Pope Pius the 12th a Thanksgiving mass Catholic throughout look at the holy city of Christians peace be with Have a riser. Signal for the beginning of the The skies over American bombers sound a thundering of Far behind German lines My airfield railroad communication It is hours before D-Day. Troopers, men without fear The army leaves nothing Listen. Listen. Commanding the airborne forces Troops are first Fighting equipment of every description The balance of the half of the battle Every British force packed with mighty The month of is the real thing. They gather for the assault. Blimps help to guard the invasion fleet as it moves across American and English warships firing The army gets across under the greatest allied air umbrella ever assembled for combat. Now the first Normandy beaches under the enemy crossfire and mortars Fortifications the Nazis spent 4 years in building They actually storm These are the warriors who avenge the enemy. Greatest amphibious warfare is a success. by the treacherous surf, underwater obstacles constant hail of bullets from enemy pillboxes The invading army lands on the shores of the Cherbourg Peninsula. The naval barrage is lifting now and thousands of fearless determined assault troops storm beachheads along several miles of coast. Shores soon swarm with Americans, Canadians, and British who achieve what Napoleon dared not try, nor Hitler. They cross the English Channel while millions pray for their safety. Daring cameraman records the tragedy of battle. The unending stream of waiting troops wades waist-deep in the fortified waters to gain their beachhead objective. Sands run red, but not a man falters. The German air force, or what is left of it, is conspicuous by its almost total absence. Shellfire and underwater mines stop some of our tanks, but losses are quickly replaced. Our armor gets ashore and goes into action. Close to the Normandy cliffs, one of our first waves of men dig in until nearby enemy batteries are silenced. >> [music] >> Exhausted men pause for a brief rest as reinforcements pour into the battle area. Hospital corpsman immediately cares for the wounded. Inland troops advance under the continuing barrage from big guns of American and British ships, and battle is taken to the enemy behind the now shattered walls of Fortress Europe. As French towns are taken, Frenchmen warn Americans of enemy snipers. >> [music] >> Medical men care for the wounded, friend and foe alike. Prisoners are disarmed, questioned, and prepared for internment. >> [music] >> This happens thousands of times. Soldiers of the master race meet their masters. Now they will soon be sailing for England, not as conquerors, but as the conquered. The wounded who can be transported are quickly carried offshore [music] to waiting hospital ships. Our air power proves its mastery. The enemy flying fields throughout France are paralyzed and demolished. Inland waterways of the enemy are strafed. Every possible artery for moving up Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley reports to his supreme commander, General Eisenhower, off the beachhead. Allied field commander, General Montgomery, reports initial success as the long-awaited battle for Fortress Europe becomes a fighting and flaming reality. >> [music] >> ocean Next, of course, it is essential that you have ships. Say, we'll need more ships than that. Now, that's more like it. Since the navy requires trained men, a training station is necessary, such as this. >> [music] >> Each recruit, upon entering the service, is given a physical examination. >> [music] [bell and music] [music] >> Recruits are taught the art of wigwagging. >> [music] >> Daily exercises keep the recruit physically fit, also the officers. >> [music] >> Round and round the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel. Hey, what am I saying? After months of intensive training, recruits are sent to naval bases. Some go to first base, some to second base, and some to third base. Others are left at home. >> [music] >> Fleet consists of many types of ships. There are battleships, cruisers, and gunboats. In reserve are the overage destroyers. Of course, they only carry a skeleton crew. >> [music] >> This must be the mosquito fleet. Hey, bud, what are you doing? Oh, I'm a mine sweeper. >> [music] >> Here is a mothership for submarines. The listening device in a submarine is so sensitive, it can detect the slightest sound. Say, it looks like he's located something. >> [music] >> One pretty can grunt. My, my, where these fellows won't go for a nickel. Battleships are the backbone of the fleet. Let's go aboard and see what a battleship is like. This is the ship's storeroom. Note the great variety of choice foods. >> [music] >> Meals are served to enlisted men in this room. This is the officers' mess. Hey, what are you fellows doing? Your laundry? Nah, we're scrubbing the deck. These are just a few of the pets sailors keep as mascots. This fellow is fond of monkeys. This one likes dogs. While this sailor prefers blondes. Now, for the first time, we will show you actual naval maneuvers. The battleships steam in column formation, followed by light cruisers, with the destroyers on the end. Airplanes take off for observation. >> [music] >> The signal is given to clear the decks for action. Clear the decks for action. Clear the decks, he says. With the aid of a range finder, an officer locates the range. >> [music] >> The gun crew works with clock-like precision. The order to fire is given. Okay, Stinky. A rear-view mirror protects the ship from surprise attack. And high aircraft guns go into action against enemy planes. Now the 6-in guns, just listen to them bark. These big guns fire from any position. >> [music] >> The admiral will cease firing. Cease firing. Last one home's a rotten egg. Get over here. Step on the gas. Boss ends a day with the Navy. What [music] a day.