Description
Object description
An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
Full description
I. 'EAST MEETS WEST.' Major-General Emil Reinhardt, Commander of the US 69th Infantry Division, is rowed across the Elbe River in the vicinity of Torgau. Members of the US 69th Infantry Division shake hands with their Russian counterparts in the 58th Guards Rifle Division on a partially destroyed bridge over the Elbe. Russian and US troops shake hands in Torgau. US Major-General Reinhardt stands with the Commander of the Russian 58th Guards Rifle Division, Major-General Rusakov. A Russian infantryman plays an accordion as US and Russian troops sing together. Male and female Russian soldiers dance together during the impromptu link-up celebrations held in Torgau. A painted sign depicts a US soldier shaking hands with his Russian counterpart as they stand on a swastika flag. The sign bears the legend "East meets West" and displays the US 69th Infantry Divisional insignia.
Full description
II. 'ITALY- GERMANS CAPITULATE.' Italian Bersaglieri troops (Legnano Group ?) armed with Lee-Enfield Mk III .303-inch rifles and Bren light-machine guns march past cheering civilians in the environs of Bologna. British Eighth Army M4 Sherman tanks with three piece noses and extra track links on their hulls, drive past cheering Italian civilians in Bologna. A British Sherman Firefly tank drives past a branch office of the Banco di Roma in Bologna. An unidentified German Colonel and Major, dressed in civilian clothes, act as representatives of General Heinrich-Gottfried von Vietinghoff (Commander Army Group C) as they sign documents pertaining to the unconditional surrender of the German forces in Italy (La Reggia, Palazzo Reale, Caserta). Brief footage shows British Field Marshal Harold R L G Alexander (Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Forces) getting into a Humber Snipe open-tourer.
Full description
III. 'MASS GERMAN SURRENDER.' Thousands of German Heer, and Waffen SS troops march into captivity following surrender, some wear the 1944-issue camouflage suits. Their progress is watched by small knots of German civilians. German Army prisoners climb into the back of waiting United States (US) Army soft-skinned vehicles.
Full description
IV. 'THIS IS THE MOMENT- (MONTGOMERY).' Lüneburg Heath - two British Army officers read a letter brought to them by a German Army Colonel acting as an envoy. The German colonel is driven under escort (British XII Corps ?) in a Mercedes Benz tourer through British lines. The German peace delegation arrives at British 21st Army Group Headquarters, Lüneburg Heath (May 4 1945). The German delegates include Generaladmiral von Friedeburg, Rear-Admiral Gerhard Wagner and General Eberhard Kinzel. British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery leaves his caravan at Lüneburg Heath and salutes the German delegation. Extended footage Shows Montgomery reading the terms of surrender to the German delegation (Live). The German delegation each signs the document of unconditional surrender pertaining to German forces in Holland, North West Germany and Denmark.
Physical description
35mm