Normandy Invasion, 1944

Tape 18 - 10:51:08:00 - Normandy landing - supplies landed on the beaches - German bombing of large harbours in Europe Tape 41 - 14:39:19:00 - British troops in action in Normandy against the city of Caen Tape 114: NORMANDY INVASION – b/w – 51 min The story of the invasion of Normandy, starting as far back as January 1944, when US forces were training in America, before shipping out. It then carries on through the build-up of men and materiel in England to the invasion itself on 6th June, to conclude after beachheads were established, breakthroughs achieved and the drive to Paris concluded. Landing craft approaches beach Beach in Normandy - ruined village - tank obstacles - destroyed material US troops train for the Normandy invasion US troops embark troop ship - troop convoy at sea - leisure at sea Invasion training off the coast of England - landing craft at sea then troops rush beach Invasion fleet during their training Bombing mission over France - aerial views of bombs falling and hitting targets Materiel loaded onto ships - minor repairs to ships carried out - K-rations craned onboard US troops embark on LCVPs - US troops embark invasion fleet US troops onboard invasion fleet - Allied bombers in air over France - aerial view of targets hit Religious service in embarkation port - coastguard officer briefs his men Invasion fleet leave English ports - invasion fleet at sea MG ammo being prepared - naval lookouts with binoculars - invasion fleet at sea US officers study map of Normandy beaches Night bombing raid over France - aerial view of targets hit - paratroopers jump Naval bombardment of French coast - US troops embark landing craft Landing craft head for beach - continuous naval bombardment Allied forces hit the beaches under heavy fire - new troops constantly arriving Motorised equipment have arrived - - more troops ferried to the beaches Trucks transferred from larger to smaller vessels - Rhino Ferries (barges) Further troops are landed - vehicles driven ashore - amphibian and trucks arrive German POWs - Coast Guard rescue boat at sea picking up survivors - hospital ship waiting Wounded taken off the beaches - wounded transferred from ship to ship View over invasion beaches - damaged materiel Allied troops move inland - trucks and other materiel still arriving on the beaches Sherman tank on beach - barge on loaded - at night German bombers attack invasion fleet View of invasion beach - bad weather with heavy waves - crews rescued between ships Damaged ships after the storm - German POWs onboard landing craft German POWs disembark in England - aerial view of troop ship at sea - German POWs onboard Allied troops land on Normandy beaches Rural scenes from England - aircraft and glider in air - glider taken out of shipping crate Transport crates become housing for US troops - gliders on ground being prepared German fortifications on the French Atlantic coast - German gunner in training Allied HQ in England Troop movements in southern England in, a.o., buses - paratroopers arrive at airport US soldiers in jazz band - training/play - reading letters - invasion markings painted on aircraft US troops receive French currency - soldiers preparing their weapons - religious service Eisenhower visits paratroopers before mission Paratroopers embark - parachute fitted - Indian soldiers with war paint Aircraft (C-$&) with paratroopers take off at night - in air - paratroopers prepare to jump Paratroopers jump over France - aircraft dragging gliders in air - gliders land in the dark Troops disembark gliders at speed - naval bombardment at night Aerial view of airfield filled with aircraft and gliders prepared for invasion - they take off Aircraft and gliders in air - aerial view as aircraft/gliders pass English Lighthouse Aerial view of Normandy beach - gliders in air - flooded landscape - gliders on ground seen from air Cockpit of glider as it cuts lose - gliders come in to land - landing - some damage Troops disembark from gliders at speed - damaged gliders on ground - troops on ground US troops in French town War Bond propaganda 01:36:06:00 - The French Campaign Roosevelt and Churchill meet in Quebec Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill meet in Tehran German fortification on French Atlantic coast Field Marshal Rommel visits the 'Atlantic Wall' Bristol Blenheim Bombing raid on German targets - German 190 fighter attack bomber - bombs dropped Aerial view of bombs hitting targets Equipment for invasion collected in southern England Eisenhower and staff in conference. Montgomery attends - airfield as US fighters take off Trains attacked by Allied aircraft - road junction hit Scenes of the invasion fleet - naval bombardment Allied forces land on Normandy beaches against heavy German defence - mortar and bazooka Allied tanks and other vehicles landed in Normandy - view over beach with barrage balloons US troops en route towards Cherbourg - artillery fire - US tanks through town General battle scenes around Cherbourg - German POWs - the port of Cherbourg Repairs in Cherbourg - train rolling again Eisenhower and Bradley in Jeep - General Patton - B-17 bombers overhead - bombes dropped St. Lo Sherman tank/tracks - tank with infantry support - armoured vehicles at speed - Sherman tank German panzers on road - low flying fighter - British radio operators in field south of Caen Allied artillery fire - burning material - destroyed Tiger panzer - German POWs Large column of Allied trucks bringing up supplies C-47 aircraft with paratroopers in air - paratroopers jump - Allied landing in southern France Eiffel Tower - scenes of resistance from Paris, fighting in streets etc - Tigers and other panzers French 2nd Armoured Div. on road to Paris - General Leclerc - Allied troops greeted in Paris Fighting in Paris incl. tanks - Germans surrender - celebrations in Paris - De Gaulle walks through! Victory parade in Paris - Arc de Triumph - Notre Dame - L'Opera - street life in Paris