DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 706 - part [Main Title]

I. Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Heinkel He 111s on Eastern Front. Animated map from Nevel to Nikopol. Difficult conditions on Eastern Front have not affected support given to Army by Luftwaffe. On a muddy airfield lined with Messerschmitt Bf 109s a tractor pulls one of the fighters through sludge; another is manhandled free by groundcrew. Bf 109 with auxiliary fuel tank takes off for reconnaissance mission to observe enemy troop concentrations. Heinkel He 111 taxies towards bombs on ground and waiting truck loaded with bombs for bombing up. Stab commander Major Höfer, wearing Knights Cross and German Cross, stands on airfield with binoculars and looks up into sky. Junkers Ju 88s and six Heinkel He 111s pass overhead; aerial views show He 111s releasing bombs above cloud base against Bolshevik concentrations before they join battle with German grenadiers and gunners. Explosions on ground below and cockpit views. He 111 gunner beats off enemy fighter and formation continues bombing.

II. Transport of supplies through snow in Vitebsk sector. Winter on Eastern Front has been less cold than in previous years but nevertheless still impedes movement of supplies. Column of supply trucks stands halted as men shovel deep snow from road in Vitebsk battle area. Supplies including boxes of shells marked 7.5cm KwK for use by tanks are loaded from barn onto horse-drawn carts and sledges, which then set off struggling across country covered in deep snow.

III. German unit takes up new position on Eastern Front. Long line of grenadiers in snowsuits cross snow in single file; one pauses to take warming drink from bottle which is passed round to comrades who are all heavily armed, some with MG42s. Signboard points to Gruppe Müller, 3 Kompanie which is situated in wood; humorous signboard drawings indicate entrances to log hut administrative office (cross-legged secretary) and shelter dug-out "constantly on the move". Look-out climbs tall ladder to top of tree to reach observation post from where he is able to scan plain for enemy. Meanwhile other soldiers lay barbed wire round wood and holder of Oak Leaves to Knights Cross Oberfeldwebel Schreiber talks to men of his platoon in trench covered in snow. Soviet battle group is spotted and 21cm Mörser 18 is loaded, elevated and fired, causing explosions in distance.

IV. German artillery shells Anzio bridgehead. Animated map of Italy, including Aprilia and Nettuno. Poor weather and terrain conditions of Eastern Front prevail too in Italy, where soldiers pass along flooded road and ammunition cases are loaded onto pack mules, part of the reinforcements for the ring around the Nettuno (Anzio) bridgehead. Soldiers wear mud-covered helmets; commentary and camera dwell on the determined look on the faces of Germans fighting in Italy, seen eating and smoking. Soldiers load and fire 8cm GrW 34 from hollow against group of houses on horizon reportedly occupied by enemy. Short barrelled StuG III and StuG III Ausf G assault guns pass by; Ferdinand Sdkfz 184 opens fire and crewman throws expended shell case out through rear hatch in armour. British and American forces on bridgehead are under constant fire; 8.8cm Flak fires in ground role, German paratroops scan distance through binoculars, ammunition is brought up and heavy artillery opens fire. Paratroops move forward and take cover behind cactus, then communicate back to base by telephone. Night is pierced by flashes from Nebelwerfer and artillery barrage.

35mm