Visions of War: World War II - The Beginning

The bombing of Pearl Harbor, cavalry and tank battles in Russia, and Panzer and Luftwaffe operations in western Europe. Footage also shows military demonstrations in the Axis countries, German slave labor, Alfred Rosenberg's denunciation of the church in Germany and reenactments of political assassinations. Secretary of State Frank Billings Kellogg hands the 1929 Peace Pact to President Hoover.

German assault troops land on river edge and advance rapidly through city streets. Bombed buildings explode as soldiers move forward along streets. Adolph Hitler in car rides through streets and is saluted by German soldiers. German soldiers rush forward, surround car and greet Hitler and high command. Goering looks over map at conference table. Animated map battle positions in Poland.

Animated map shows battle positions of German Army as it goes deeper into the heart of Poland. Adolph Hitler stands at side of road as German soldiers march past in their advance into Poland. Troops on horse-drawn wagons advance into city. Smoke from burning buildings lies heavy along street as infantrymen make their way forward. German general congratulates troops upon their entry into Poland.

Destroyed bridges over Wisla River. Reconstruction and crossing of bridges by German cavalry. Wheel of plane as it touches down on grass runway. Film is removed from plane, taken to mobile processing laboratory where prints are examined for bombing raids. Pan, airfield as men unload bombs from crates and rush them to fighter planes. View from tail gunner position as plane strafes ground.

German troops march through Poland. Polish civilians greet German troops along country roads, and in city streets of Sadgrodzki. German troops march through burned out area. Polish nationalist prisoners are taken by Germans. Man is marched before Polish Nationalists and asked to point out men who murdered his brother. Animated map pinpoints advance into Poland.

1940 Europe's Total War. Holland and Belgium fall. France surrenders. Britain stands alone. London blitz King and Queen tour bombing ruins Lend lease. America builds Air Force and Navy First peacetime draft.

Captured German films. Armored columns assemble for the assault. A building in Danzig is shelled, sprayed with gasoline, and burned. Machine gunners advance on motorcycles. A bridge over the Vistula is repaired. A ship shells Gdynia. Bombers and Stukas hit targets. Artillery and infantry attack Warsaw. The city is taken; prisoners and captured weapons are assembled. Troops parade in Warsaw.

Captured German film of the attack on Holland, May 1940. Paratroopers assemble the planes and head for Moerdijk, Holland, and drop the troops. A field fortification is stormed and a Dutch bunker defending the Moerdijk Bridge is attacked and captured. Mines are removed from the bridge. The bridge is shelled by Dutch artillery. German planes are directed to targets by signal panels.

This episode covers the growth of German aggression, 1934-1940. Contains animated maps explaining German tactics. A large Nazi rally and Axis-inspired riots in Belgium and France. Also shows a Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden. Included is footage of Joachim von Ribbentrop and Fritz Kuhn. The Rhineland invaded and the Siegfried Line constructed and manned.