[WORLD WAR II NEWSREEL DEPTH CHARGE PRODUCTION, LANCASTER BOMBER, FDR FIRESIDE CHAT, RUSSIA ]

This black and white World War II-era short newsreel film is a compilation of five newsreels on an array of wartime topics. This particular film opens with "Ashcans for Adolph," a newsreel by Canadian Paramount News and with voice over by Winston Barron. This segment offers insight into wartime mobilization and artillery production on the home front with both men and women coming together to produce depth charges or "ashcans" as they were called by U.S. Navy servicemen. The film includes two other segments by Canadian Paramount News discussing Canadian R-5727 Lancaster Bombers as well as Russia on the Eastern Front. Amidst these clips is a segment of one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wartime fireside chats addressing the American people. Lastly, the film also includes a segment from Paramount News with voice over by Vincent Connolly on Winston Churchill’s 69th birthday celebration in Tehran, Iran. Opening credits (0:15). Factory workers at a mass production center for depth charges or "ashcans" in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada inspect a piece of sheet metal (0:23). Factory worker operates a pressing machine (0:34). Close-up of a machine shaping a depth charge (0:43). Completed parts of depth charges stacked in the factory (0:45). Metalworkers welding completed parts together while voice-over describes the characteristics of the depth charge (0:56-1:30). Female factory worker packs a complete depth charge with explosive material (1:05). Footage of depth charges being shot off the decks of U.S. Navy American Flower-class corvette ships and destroyers (1:33). Explosions as seen from above water (1:42). Roosevelt Reports (1:53). President Roosevelt gives an on-air address with updates on fighting across Europe and Africa - the Red Army’s offensive on Germany’s Eastern Front, the Allied powers in Africa and Italy, and American and British forces in other parts of Europe (1:56). Roosevelt discusses the plans of the United Nations for post-war punishment of Germany (2:22). Air Power: Canada Keeps ‘Em Flying (3:05). Spectators watch as Canadian R-5727 Lancaster Bombers take-off from Malton Airport (today Lester B. Pearson International Airport) in Ontario, Canada for their trip to England (3:10). R-5727 Lancasters flying above the clouds (3:25). R-5727 Lancasters fly next to the Peace Tower/ Tower of Victory in Ottawa, Canada (3:36). Good News: Churchill Back On Job (3:54). Winston Churchill stands amongst British and Indian soldiers as he receives gifts in Tehran, Iran to celebrate his 69th birthday on December 1, 1943 (4:02). Russia: Winter Drive Opens (4:40). Red Army soldiers march through snow and ride on battle tanks (4:48). Story of the recapture of Novorossiysk (5:05). Red Army soldiers and their equipment move into the city (5:17). Red Army soldiers operating stationary big guns and rocket guns (5:26). At daybreak Red Army soldiers charge every part of Novorossiysk, destroyed homes and buildings in the foreground (5:47). Footage surveying destroyed Nazi artillery, pillboxes, and dead soldiers (6:05). The Red Army and Marines leave Novorossiysk after liberating the city (6:17). Flag of the Soviet Union raised over the city gates of Novorossiysk (6:32). Firework celebration over Moscow (6:35). A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating. Depth charges were used heavily in world war II to, as the film says, "beat the U-boat menace" Germany. During wartime, depth charges were referred to as "ashcans" because of their cylindrical shape.

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Transcription

When the break Manitoba mass production center for depth charges better known as ash cans. They are the deadly missiles that have been beating the U-boat menace. Produced here by the most modern presses, blanking and forming machines ash cans are one of the most deadly weapons used in modern warfare. Ugly duckling of the ammunition family, the depth charge is a plain cylindrical piece of steel. Sealed at both ends with a hollow tube in the center, the depth charge is packed with explosives. These ash cans, which cost only $90, have sunk German U-boats that cost $5 million. Ash cans, shot from the decks of our corvettes and destroyers, are playing havoc with the wolf packs. The Russian army will continue its stern offensive on Germany's eastern front. The Allied armies in Africa and Italy will bring relentless pressure on Germany from the south. And now the encirclement will be complete as great American and British forces attack from other points of the compass. The United Nations have no intention to enslave the German people. We wish them to have a normal chance to develop. To develop in peace as useful and respectable members of the European family. But we most certainly emphasize that word respectable. For we intend to rid them once and for all of Nazism and Prussian militarism and the fantastic and disastrous notion that they constitute the master race. At Malton Airport, Ontario, spectators watch more of the huge Canadian-built Lancaster bombers take off on the first leg of their trip to England. The four-engine giants receive an enthusiastic send-off from cheering crowds of workers. These bombers mean more Canadian air might in the great new blows planned against Germany. The Lancasters made a surprise visit to the capital, dipping low in salute over the Peace Tower. They have a much different salute in mind for Berlin. Winston Churchill is well again and back on the job. Cheering news for all of us. An amazing recovery for the 69-year-old British leader, shown here receiving gifts as he celebrated his recent birthday at Tehran, surrounded by British and Indian soldiers. It was the old warrior's second attack of pneumonia this year. But his fighting spirit brought him through to a speedy recovery. He's known danger all his life and thrives on it. We need him and all the allies say, "We're glad you are with us again." Russia's long-awaited winter drive against the Nazis is now really on. This is the eastern segment of the ring around Germany, pledged in the Churchill-Roosevelt-Stalin conference. Preceding the winter drive, the film story of the recapture of Novorossiysk, city of 100,000 and doorway to the Caucasian oil fields. More than 300 barges of Red Marines and their equipment are moved in to support the land army. The big guns go into action. Rocket guns. As daybreak comes the command forward at every point around Novorossiysk. From a wrecked factory, the drive against snipers. Smashed Nazi tanks and guns, concrete Nazi pillboxes, dead Nazis. Now five days of bitter battling are over for the Red Army and the Red Marines. This is homecoming for one Russian boy from Novorossiysk. Homecoming to embers. The last Nazi is gone and the red flag goes up. Both Moscow and the Black Sea Fleets stage new victory celebrations saluting Novorossiysk.

Sources

YouTube channel: PeriscopeFilm · video ↗ — title, year, format, description, catalog record, video

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