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Allied air attacks on Germany; Rhine offensive

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 1994.119.1 | RG Number: RG-60.0956 | Film ID: 912

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    Allied air attacks on Germany; Rhine offensive
    Transcript
    [MUSIC PLAYING]
    On 13th February at dusk, RAF Lancasters
    wing their way toward Dresden in a massive blow involving
    more than 800 heavy bombers.
    A new type German scarecrow bomb explodes in midair
    simulating a direct hit on a bomber.
    Pathfinder flares and incendiaries
    mark the immediate targets.
    [EXPLOSIONS]
    Another scarecrow bomb, the attack
    is in support of Russian armies moving toward this rail center
    on a front 50 miles away.
    2,650 tons of bombs are dropped during the night attack.
    Two days later, AAF flying fortresses
    follow up with a second assault on this German communication
    center.
    225 tons of explosives are aimed at what
    remains of the freight yards.
    Prior to the war, Dresden was a city of 625,000 population.
    The double blow is estimated to have virtually destroyed
    the entire city.
    RAF planes over enemy territory on 22nd February,
    a typical day of all out Allied bombing.
    The RAF bombs highways and viaducts.
    Every type of RAF combat plane is
    used in this onslaught on German transport, troops,
    and communications.
    1,900 heavy bombers from the 8th and 15th Air Force groups
    strike at rail targets.
    Rocket firing typhoons peel off to strike at enemy
    installations and supplies.
    [EXPLOSIONS]
    More than 7,500 sorties are made and more than 6,600 tons
    of explosives have dropped during this single day of all
    out bombing and strafing.
    On 23rd February, the following night,
    the German industrial city of Pforzheim
    is hit by more than 400 RAF bombers.
    Using a new bombing technique, the Lancasters lay some 10,000
    4-pound incendiaries to mark the target,
    then they drop everything from 500-
    to 12,000-pound blockbusters.
    In 20 minutes, the raid is over.
    The town of Pforzheim is completely destroyed.
    On 2nd March, 700 Lancaster and Halifax bombers
    roar over Cologne to block roads and railroads leading
    across the Rhine and to destroy concentrations of German troops
    fleeing the city as the American 1st Army smashes into it.
    3,000 tons of bombs hit the city once fourth the largest
    in Germany, now a pile of rubble and shattered buildings.
    A German scarecrow bomb demolishes a Lancaster.
    Strategic targets are hit without destroying
    the Cologne cathedral which still stands amid the ruins.
    [MUSIC PLAYING]
    The American drive to the Rhine is
    launched on 23rd February with assaults against the Ruhr River
    line.
    [EXPLOSIONS]
    Troops of the 1st and 9th armies await the signal
    to follow platoons which negotiated the swollen Ruhr
    in the hours before dawn.
    Tanks give protective fire at the river's edge.
    [EXPLOSIONS]
    An early morning mist hangs over the west bank
    as elements of the 104th Infantry Division
    move up assault craft for a crossing
    to the Duhren area east of Aachen.
    Despite enemy fire from the east bank
    and the swift current of the Ruhr,
    the bridge head operations go forward almost
    without interruption.
    Once across the river, assault units
    of the 104th's 415th regiment moved on initial objectives
    in and around Duhren.
    They attacked the factory section
    of the German industrial town, which had
    a normal population of 35,000.
    A building by building Nazi defense is overcome.
    [GUNFIRE]
    Except for slight delays at surrounded strong points,
    our troops complete the capture of Duhren
    without encountering formidable opposition.
    Simultaneous with the opening of the 1st Army's Ruhr
    offensive, 9th Army units are ready to jump off
    in the vicinity of Lennik, 16 miles northwest down the river.
    Early in February, the Ruhr had risen from its normal width
    of 20 to 40 yards to 300 yards.
    By the 23rd, it is down to a maximum width of 50 yards
    but still running six to seven miles an hour.
    The tricky currents twist and toss light wooden boats.
    [EXPLOSIONS]
    One of the assault craft to shown
    righted again after having overturned
    and nearly drowned its occupants.
    Repetitions of such incidents are numerous.
    Rescuers save many lives.
    Thoroughly drenched and weary from their ordeal,
    they continue on to join infantry troops moving
    beyond the Ruhr's east bank.
    A footbridge to facilitate further crossings
    is constructed by combat engineers
    under intense machine gun and mortar fire.
    Troops keep under cover until the span is ready for use.
    As they cross, an American reconnaissance plane
    surveys the operation.
    Many small towns fall in the path of the rapid advance,
    and an early count of prisoners reveals 4,000
    captured in the first 24 hours.
    The 29th Infantry Division, still
    another arm of the coordinated drive across the Ruhr,
    it has the assignment of seizing the river
    fortress town of Julich.
    Veterans of the siege of Saint-Lo
    in Normandy, Major General Charles Gearhart's troops race
    across the infantry support bridge
    and on toward the objective.
    General Gearhart makes the crossing along with his troops
    and directs the advance into besieged Julich.
    The town, which had been heavily attacked by American aircraft
    prior to this attack, is quickly cleaned out by the 29th.
    Last ditch defenders are driven from cellars inside Julich.
    [GUNFIRE]
    Incidents in the bridging of the Ruhr, this footbridge
    constructed at night was knocked out early the next morning.
    A soldier killed during the attack
    still lies on the wrecked span.
    Nearby a heavy pontoon bridge is erected.
    A similar bridge was halfway finished
    when shellfire wrecked it.
    The combat engineers changed their location slightly
    and promptly resumed construction work.
    A surrender trick, supposedly bringing
    in prisoners with a white flag, a Nazi in American uniform
    seeks to expose our troops to sniper fire.
    He's immediately shot down.

    Overview

    Description
    Staff Film Report no. 46; Combat Bulletin, no. 46. (with intertitles)
    Reel 1: "E.T.O. - Allied Air Attacks on Germany" AVs of bomber planes, bombs dropping, bombs exploding, many scenes shot at night or at dusk. 13 February: RAF Lancasters and German Scarecrow bombs exploding in mid-air. Pathfinder flares and incendiaries mark immediate targets. AAF Flying Fortresses bombing German communication centers and freight yards. Attacks on Dresden; destruction. 22 February: RAF planes over enemy territory, "a typical day of all-out bombing." RAF bombs highways and viaducts, onslaught on German transport. 1900 heavy bombers from the 8th and 15th Air Force groups strike at rail targets.Rocket-firing typhoons peel off to strike at enemy installations and supplies. 23 February: German industrial city of Pforzheim hit by more than 400 RAF bombers, night sky, bombing raid, explosions. Raid lasts 20 minutes, town is destroyed. 7 March: 700 Lancaster bombers over Cologne, Germany to destroy concentrations of German troops leaving the city. German scarecrow bomb destroying a Lancaster. Narrator reports that cathedral in Cologne is not targeted and remains standing. 08:21:56 "E.T.O - Rhine Offensive" MLSs, MCUs and CUs of a ground offensive. 23 February: American drive to the Rhine launched with assaults against Ruhr riverline. Various CUs, faces of men of the troops of the 1st and 9th armies, await the signal, tanks protective fire at river's edge. Early morning mist over West bank as members of 104th Division, 415th Regiment move up assault craft. Bridge head operation move forward attack on factory segments of Dueren (German industrial town). Building by building Nazi defense is overcome. US troops complete the capture of Dueren without encountering opposition. VS, CUs, MCUs, members of the 9th Army units ready to attack Linnich, 16 miles NW, down river. MCUs, soldiers navigating in light wooden boats down the Ruhr River. Boats overturn, but are uprighted, soldiers move onto join infantry. Construction of footbridge by combat engineers under machine gun fire. Troops cross bridge, US soldiers advance, capture towns. 19th infantry division crossing infantry support bridge. Major General Gerhardt's troops (survivors of Normandy). General Gerhardt makes crossing along with his troops and makes advance into river fortress town of Juelich. Town is cleaned out by US soldiers, US soldiers shoot into cellars to route out any "last ditch defenders." Surrender tricks of Nazi soldiers in American uniform, waving white flag, seeking to expose US soldiers to enemy sniper fire, are shot down.
    Duration
    00:10:42
    Date
    Production:  1945
    Locale
    Cologne, Germany
    Dresden, Germany
    Ruhr Valley, Germany
    Credit
    Accessed at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of National Archives & Records Administration
    Contributor
    Producer: United States. Army Pictorial Service.
    Producer: United States. Army. Signal Corps.

    Physical Details

    Language
    English
    Genre/Form
    Newsreels.
    B&W / Color
    Black & White
    Image Quality
    Mixed
    Time Code
    08:16:42:00 to 08:27:24:00
    Film Format
    • Master
      • Master 912 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Master 912 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Master 912 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Master 912 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
    • Preservation
      • Preservation 912 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 912 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 912 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 912 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large

    Rights & Restrictions

    Conditions on Access
    You do not require further permission from the Museum to access this archival media.
    Copyright
    Public Domain
    Conditions on Use
    To the best of the Museum's knowledge, this material is in the public domain. You do not require further permission from the Museum to reproduce or use this material.

    Keywords & Subjects

    Administrative Notes

    Legal Status
    Permanent Collection
    Film Provenance
    The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum purchased this from the National Archives and Records Administration in September 1994.
    Copied From
    35mm; b/w; composite
    Film Source
    United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Motion Picture Reference
    File Number
    Legacy Database File: 1438
    Source Archive Number: 111 SFR 46 R1
    Record last modified:
    2022-07-28 21:56:54
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn1000813

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