Description
Object description
Record film of 1st SS-Panzerdivision and destroyed US transport at the start of the Ardennes Offensive.
Full description
Waffen SS grenadiers move along edge of country road past burning wheeled and half-tracked American vehicles abandoned in apparent jam. Grenadier wearing smock gives advance sign with fist (isolated shot for editor to cut in). Camera pans from abandoned US 76mm anti-tank gun across M5 light tank to wrecked M8 Greyhound beneath which grenadiers sit smoking cigarettes (American?); Panzerjäger IV passes round jam. Camera pans back. Elsewhere SS grenadiers pose an advance, and ostentatiously select and smoke American cigarettes. Pan over misty country, with German sitting in captured jeep. Tall officer and orderly move across field, with armour burning in background. Grenadiers move along edge of field, into which Panzerjäger IV carefully turns. Two Sdkfz 138/1 SPGs, camouflaged with fir branches, open fire from field. Three young grenadiers self-consciously receive and note down wireless signals from aerial erected in field. Elsewhere, at the Kaiserbaracke crossroads on the N23 between Malmédy and Saint-Vith, a signpost indicates the distance to these two towns (13 and 8 kilometres respectively) and supports a recently fixed US sign Ord 202 Depot Fwd; Sdkfz 251 troop carriers pass by before two SS in Schwimmwagen pause by sign and look at map (for cameraman). SS still photographer, wearing Leica round his neck and peaked cap, then removes US Army sign and corrects tilt on Malmédy sign by supporting his K98 rifle on it. From ditch on opposite side of road cameraman now films, with photographer just visible to his right, an approaching Königstiger (Schwere SS-Panzerabteilung 501), bearing four paratroopers on its turret (Obergefreiter Koos, Oberjägers Lenz, Löwe, Hess). Three SS in Schwimmwagen smoke captured cigars while one looks at map and points. Paratroopers on top of Königstiger share out captured US cigarettes. Elsewhere German transport stands halted on wet and muddy road. Shattered gun lies opposite damaged church, with horse wandering in road. US 76mm anti-tank gun. Elsewhere three grenadiers pose advance along side of road on which US vehicles stand burning, in thick mist; cameraman shares exposed (ie safe) position with still photographer colleague, briefly visible and wearing peaked cap. Camera pans to and fro over US transport jammed and burning on road (as at start).
Physical description
35mm