After his 1953 death, a look at Joseph Stalin's tenure as leader of the Soviet Union

During WWII, footage shows paratroopers falling through the sky. At a military camp, Red Army soldiers stand at attention as Premier of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin walks while being followed by other Soviet Union leaders, Russia, 1942. Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1922 to 1952 and Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1941 until his death.

This Soviet propaganda film recounts the events of 1945, as the Red Army resumed the offensive against the Fascist Wehrmacht, pushing the Germans out of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Poland. The film ends before the final battles in Germany, with a gaunt-looking President Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin meeting at Yalta. Notably, the film contains rare footage (at 10:06) of FDR smoking a cigarette. This was the type of material that would never have appeared in an American newsreel of the era!<p><p>Narrator: The Red Army chased the enemy off our land. The great liberating operation began in Europe, which was enslaved by the Fascists. Taking over others’ territories was not our goal. The government of the USSR stated, ‘We are not guided by revenge. Our aim is to destroy German Fascism, to rid nations of Hitler’s occupation, to provide them with freedom.’ (01.04) <p>On August 31, Soviet forces and Romanian Volunteer Division entered Bucharest that had been liberated. They had to fight cruel battles and eliminate a powerful group of German soldiers. (01.39)<p>The Red Army is entering Bulgaria. The Soviet Army had no battles on Bulgarian territory. The Bulgarian operation turned out to be a triumphant liberating campaign. Sofia, Bulgaria is celebrating. (02.22)<p>Our divisions joined the Czechoslovak Corps after fierce fighting and came to the border of Czechoslovakia. In the beginning of 1945, Slovakia was liberated. The Red Army was of great help to the Yugoslav liberation movement. Fulfilling a request of Marshall Tito, Soviet forces entered Yugoslavia and began an offensive on Belgrade. Having defeated the enemy, the Red Army entered Belgrade together with the Yugoslav national liberation army. (03.53) Soviet people gave away hundreds of thousands of lives of its sons for the liberation of the European nations. Axis powers fell apart. Fascist Hungary was remaining the last ally of Germany. Hungary was a powerful stronghold at the doorstep of Germany, that is why the enemy was fighting back so fiercely. A 200,000 Fascist military group was encircled in Budapest after sanguinary battles. The battle for the Hungarian capital lasted for 49 days. Finally, Budapest was taken over. (05.40) The war was approaching the German border. The Soviet army was preparing for a winter attack. In the beginning of 1945, German army launched a powerful offensive on English-American forces near Ardennes. Churchill asked the Soviet government for help, ‘I shall be grateful if you can tell me whether we can count on a major Russian offensive on the Vistula front’. Stalin replied, ‘In view of our Allies' position on the Western Front, GHQ of the Supreme Command have decided to complete preparations at a rapid rate and, regardless of weather, to launch large-scale offensive operations along the entire Central Front.’ The offensive began a week earlier than planned. (07.05) English-American forces were saved from a defeat. Fascists transferred large military groups from the Eastern Front to the Western. In January 1945, Soviet forces were passing by Warsaw in the north and south. The tank army hit the enemy from the back. The enemy began leaving its positions due to the threat of enclosure. (08.08) Parts of the first Belorussian front and Polish forces liberated Warsaw. Our forces came out to maneuver room. The major Vistula–Oder Offensive was developing successfully. Poland was liberated. Soviet forces approached Oder. As the result of the winter operation of 1945, they moved a few hundred kilometers forward. In February, the Crimea Conference of the heads of government of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States took place in Yalta. The plan of the final destruction of German forces was outlined, as well as conditions of its capitulation and the principles of the post-war settlement. The decisions of the conference were directed against Fascism, not against the German nation. <p><p>The Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference and codenamed the Argonaut Conference, held from February 4 to 11, 1945, was the World War II meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, represented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Premier Joseph Stalin, respectively, for the purpose of discussing Europe's post-war reorganization. The conference convened in the Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea, USSR.<p><p>We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."<p><p>This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

Unused / unissued material - dates and locations unclear or unknown. <br/> <br/>Red Army Day - Berlin. Germany. <br/> <br/>LS Elevated shot of platz and memorial in the Russian sector of Berlin, where the celebrations were held. LS The memorial with people standing on steps. LS Elevated Russian troops marching up to the memorial. MS Soviet troops standing on steps of memorial. Large wreath in foreground. MS Part of memorial. Soldiers marching in background. MS Soldiers and civilians carrying wreaths up steps of memorial. LS Elevated GV of the scene. LS Ground shot troops. Memorial in background. Statue in foreground. <br/> <br/>MS Wreaths. CU Ribbons on wreaths with messages on. LS Memorial. MS Wreaths at base of memorial on which is written 1941 - 1945. MS Two soldiers placing wreath on memorial. Pan down to another wreath. MS Tank on standing foreground. Brandenburger Tor in background (Brandenberg Gate). LS Soldiers marching along carrying wreaths. LS Soldiers marching. along carrying wreaths. MS Soldiers carrying wreaths up to and placing them at foot of memorial. CU Ribbons on wreaths. <br/> <br/>Cataloguer's note: German newsreel item.

End of World War II. Soviet Army officers lined up at a ceremony in Soviet Union. Officers decorated with a number of medals at a ceremony. Location: Soviet Union. Date: 1945.

b&w WWII newsreel w/ audio - Allied nations leaders meet 1945 - Yalta Conference - Crimea, U.S.S.R. - Big Three - world leaders - meeting w/ British Prime Minister Winston Churchill - U.S. President Franklin D.Roosevelt - Soviet Union Premier Joseph Stalin - Soviet Ambassador to U.S. Andrei Gromyko, American Secretary of War, Henry Lewis Stimson and U.S. Secretary of the Navy James Vincent Forrestal - Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Allied armies in Germany - Russian and American soldiers greet each other after battle - New York newspaper headlines of WWII ending War Ends - celebration in street - over - ending - end - Italian Fascist leader and dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress dead - hanged upside down in Milan 1945 - German shot by American firing squad - execution - cyanide pellets, German Nazi leader, Heinrich Himmler dead on the floor after committing suicide - American General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General George S. Patton and U.S. General Omar Nelson Bradley - war dead - concentration camp - skeleton in oven at Auschwitz, skin lampshades made from Jewish bodies, shrunken heads - atrocities - Shoah - holocaust - genocide

Soviet leaders on the tribune of Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow include, Semyon Budyonny, Georgy Zhukov, Kliment Voroshilov, and Joseph Stalin. Spirit transferred from film to D-5, available in all HD and SD formats.

RUSSIAN WWII FOOTAGE (1945), RL. 6

HISTORICAL B/W VIDEO OF UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL MATERIAL RELATING TO THE MEETING AT YALTA WITH CHURCHILL ROOSEVELT AND STALIN RUSSIAN / SOVIET TANKS WWII - WAR ENDS IN EUROPE - 1945 - STALINGRAD FIGHTING. BERLIN ATWAR - ALLIED TRIUMPH. GERMAN ARMY - TROOPS AND DESTRUCTION.

13:00:47:00,War planes on United States aircraft carrier prepare for takeoff, Deck crewman gestures (repeat), CU pilot in cockpit, CU men watch, Deck crewman gives thumbs-up sign, Plane taxis (repeat), Takeoff (repeat), Rear view POV from plane of carrier during takeoff, Aerial of plane over carrier, Planes in formation, Aerial of wing, ocean in background, Aerial of planes in formation (repeat), Pilot in cockpit, Planes peel off (dive into action), Plane lands on carrier (phone narration indicating the war is over), Pilot's POV as plane lands on carrier, White House, Crowds wave at passing camera, White House in background, MP's control White House crowd, President Harry Truman tells news conference of Japan's acceptance of surrender terms, unconditional surrender, words on soundtrack, Reporters run from conference, Reporters on phones, Boy with newspaper ("EXTRA! IT'S PEACE!"), Soldier jumps, WAC jumps, Women run, cheer, Crowds wild in street, TImes Square mobbed, United States flag waved, Man holds baby, baby holds small United States flag, Radio announcer above crowd, Dancing in street, Servicemen on lamppost, CU people mug, Man wears Japanese battle flag as hula skirt, does hula, Men lift pretty girl, People lift man, Pretty girl on sailor's shoulders, Sailor kisses girl, almost on ground, Woman slugs beer, Hand points to soldier's stripes, Soldier drinks, Man shampoos self with champagne, Soldier, girl kiss (repeat), Sailor, girl kiss, Soldier, woman dance, Revelers in car, flags, Ticker tape, Big United States flag, People drown each other in ticker tape, Huge mess, Church steeple, United States flag, Small town street, Empty sidewalk, trees, Dad home from work, child runs to him, Kids play under sprinkler, Kids' jumping feet, Kid in mud, Boy drinks from hose, Girl drinks from hose, Hose squirts boy in face (CU), Hose squirts girl in face, Boy helps dad mow lawn, Boys fix wagon, Little girl helps mom hang wash, CU girl shakes clothes (CUTE), Bored boys sit on curb, Small town Main Street, Men talk on street, Boys hang out, Women talk on street, Woman writes in notebook, Sign: NOTICE THE POINTS ARE MARKED ON THE ARTICLE & SHELF OF ALL RATIONED FOOD, Grocer, customer, Store window ("NO MILK, NO EGGS, NO LARD, NO BUTTER"), Half-empty shelves, Sign on shelf: SORRY NO MORE PINEAPPLE, Sign: PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR BUTTER TODAY, Sign: NO BEEF TODAY, Women buy food, CU ration stamps, Grocer counts stamps, CU hands count stamps, Butcher sharpens large knife, Butchers cut meat, Crowded meat market, Smiling butcher holds up chicken, Steak on scale, Smiling woman takes bag (repeat), Price tags changed, 78c to 95c, 59c to 74c, etc, Gas station, sign: GAS RATIONING OFF NO STAMPS REQUIRED, Men fill up tank, Pump ("THIS SALE $2.33"), Man tears up card, CU hand scrapes "A" decal off windshield, Aerial of aircraft carrier, deck crowded with men, Soldiers in foreground see lower Manhattan skyline, Soldiers look, New York City pier, banner reads "WELCOME HOME", Troops on ship wave, CU smiling woman waves, Soldier waves from porthole, Grandma waves, woman hugs her, Women wave to aircraft carrier, Servicemen run off ship, Man, woman hug, kiss (famous shots), Woman runs to hug man, Sailor picks up little boy, Aerial of troop ship, War brides, babies wave, CU brides, babies (NICE, repeat), Women off ship, luxury liner at sea, Men kiss babies, Statue of Liberty, People on ship see Statue, Crowd at pier waves, Refugees on ship, CU women show concentration camp tattoos, just barely visible, Refugees leave ship, People kiss, hug (VERY TOUCHING, MOVING), Army camp, sign: SEPARATION CENTER, Group of soldiers, one steps forward at a time, gets discharge in front of United States flag, Soldiers wave hats, Soldiers wave discharges, Rows of quonset huts (military buildings), Man takes bedding into quonset hut, Child, man take belongings from car, Women hang laundry, Tethered child plays, man reads paper in front of quonset hut, Young men leave school, meet wives, kids, Couples walk with babies, People walk home to tiny trailers, Rows of hundreds of warplanes (repeat), Rows of plane engines, Bomber ("DEADEYE II"), Bomber ("CALAMITY JANE", nose art), Bomber with kill markings, Bomber ("OUR BABY"), Bomber ("DRAGON LADY"), Bomber ("EVASIVE ACTION"), Bomber ("FOREVER AMBER"), Crane stacks planes on end, Welders dismantle plane, Molten steel poured, steelworkers shovel, Men, machines make cars, Car engine hoisted along, Men weld cars (car manufacturing), Men put door on car, Men paint car (repeat), Car body hoisted along, Car finished, Car driven out of factory, Cars drive, Textile bobbins spin, Nylons being made, Women mob "Sultana Hosiery" store, Woman inspects nylons as crowds watch, Man buys nylons, Crowds run through street, Women mob man under sign: WE ARE GIVING AWAY NYLONS, People scramble, Man throws nylons to crowd, Crowd dives, fights for nylons, Person, stretcher loaded into ambulance, Crowd of women don nylons on street, CU legs, "Cheesecake", Models parade, nylons emphasized, Women raise skirts (a little), drop them (a little), "New look" long skirts, Models at lunch, CU Christian Dior, Legs, skirts, Line of models in bikinis, Bikini babes parade, Crowd watches Henry Ford's funeral procession, Woman cries (repeat), Onlookers, Sad boy in baseball uniform, New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's funeral procession, LaGuardia, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello on steps of New York City City Hall, LaGuardia, Abbott, Costello up steps, Costello trips on purpose, LaGuardia with fire chief, Firemen spray hoses, CU LaGuardia, LaGuardia runs steam shovel, with Casey Stengel (I think), Steam shovel, Walks in parade with General Dwight Eisenhower, With Eisenhower in motorcade, man in weird costume runs up, hands unofficial key to city to Ike, Speaks on radio (WNYC), Reads, dramatizes funnies on radio (SOT, very long version), LaGuardia waves, Original Yankee Stadium, United States flag at half mast in foreground, Game at stadium, Ruth walks on field past uniformed boys, CU Ruth grips bat, Ruth homers, Ruth signs autographs for crowd of kids, CU older Ruth, Ruth waves goodbye to kids, Sickly Ruth at Yankee Stadium for his farewell speech, Crowd, Kids watch, Ruth applauded at microphones, Mel Allen in background, CU Ruth says farewell in pitiful, raspy voice, Mel Allen on verge of tears, Crowd, Ruth smiles (CU), Stadium, United States flags at half mast, Crowd enters Ebbets Field, Man sells programs, wears hat lettered ("BROOKLYN"), Crowd cheers, jeers, calls players "bums", fan gets hat pulled down over his face, CU Jackie Robinson smiles, Fan Hilda Chester with sign "HILDA", CU Robinson (repeat), Robinson gets hit, Fans cheer, Robinson greeted after homer, Crowded street, pushcarts, CU fish put on scale, Fish market, Signs: KNISH 10C, KNOCKWURST 10C, Man eats hot dog, items taken off scale, Strollers, Street scene, Engineer's POV as train passes train, Engineer, Train crosses bridge, POV from train as fields pass, United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill leaves train, Churchill, President Harry Truman into car, Car moves, secret service on fenders, Two leaders in motorcade, Churchill makes famous Iron Curtain speech at Fulton, Missouri (SPEAKS NICE, long version), Audience, Flags at United Nations headquarters, United Nations headquarters, "NEW YORK CITY BUILDING AT FLUSHING MEADOW PARK, NOW AN ICE RINK!!", Marines guard building, VIP's enter, Cars pull up, exit Soviet Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov, United Nations Security Council session, Soviet representatives, including Andrei Gromyko, Soviets walk out of session, CU Soviet seats empty, Parade, Marchers carry sign: WAKE UP AMERICA PEEKSKILL DID, Poster advertising concert by Paul Robeson, Protesters, Cops control crowd, Enter more cops, Crowd, Sign: OUST THE COMMIES, Cops search man, Cops confiscate baseball bats, Cops, crowd push each other, Man arrested, CU Gary Cooper testifies at HUAC congressional session, Coop says he doesn't like Communism (speaks), Crowd (repeat), Crowd, press, Women knit, Reporters (repeat), CU Ronald Reagan testifies, says no Communist ever used films for ideology, stands up for movie industry, Chairman raps gavel, Herbert Biberman testifies, is asked whether he is a Communist, defies committee, criticizes committee's purpose, refuses to cooperate, Photographers, Hostile witness, don't know who (Hollywood 10 member), CU Congressman Richard Nixon, Committee, Alger Hiss sworn in, Hiss speaks, no sound, Whittaker Chambers testifies, accuses Hiss, speaks, CU Hiss, CU Chambers, Astor Theatre in New York City, huge sign for premiere of "THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES", CU Myrna Loy, CU Virginia Mayo (at opening of movie), CU Dana Andrews, Photographers flash bulbs (VERY NICE), Shirley Temple weds John Agar, CU couple, Fans wild, Fans rush Rita Hayworth-Aly Khan wedding, French cops, crowd, Couple in car (CU), Fans, CU couple CU, Photographers, Couple, violinists, Ingrid Bergman, Roberto Rosselini walk on street, Couple drink in cafe, CU Bergman smiles, Princess Elizabeth marries Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, couple in carriage, crowds watch, Crowds rush palace gates, Multitude, Couple, family wave from balcony, Crowd, Extended royal family, CU King George VI, Queen Mary, CU Elizabeth, Philip, Ext. United States Capitol Dome, Newspapers on printing press, Secretary of State George Marshall at committee hearing, speaks of Marshall plan committee, Street scene, Woman hangs out wash, Women talk, Men talk, Men talk in diner, Crowd, announcer at microphone, Woman says Joe Louis and Joe Walcott should fight again, Black man expresses opinion on fight, Crowd on golf course, Enter Bob Hope, Hope jokes, words on soundtrack, Hope gets set to drive, Crowd, Hope drives, hams it up, Future President Dwight Eisenhower on golf course, tries to hit out of sand trap, CU Ike, Ike, press, Ike refuses once again to run for president, CU Ike (NICE), Truman leaves White House with bodyguard, Truman, bodyguard walk (repeat), Truman's legs, cane, Shakes hands with woman, Shakes hands with man, Photographers, Shakes hands with black man, others, House Speaker Joe Martin bangs gavel at 1948 Republican Convention, Indian chief, South Dakota sign, Men, Kansas sign, Aged Herbert Hoover waves, Signs for Taft, CU Robert Taft, Confetti, Balloons, Drum majorette, Man wears goofy-looking mask, Photos of Dewey, Signs for Dewey, New York Governor Thomas Dewey waves (repeat), Papier mache donkey head, Democratic Convention, "ILLINOIS" sign, Delegates fan themselves, Man, towel around head (FUNNY), Sign: WE ARE MILD ABOUT HARRY, Sign: THE WORLD'S HOPE TRUMAN, Delegates, Sign: TRUMAN FOR PRESIDENT, Delegates make noise, Man looks like beardless Gabby Hayes, Fat lady dances, Signs, delegates (repeat), Truman on dais, Truman, Vice President candidate Alben Barkley hold hands aloft, Seal of the President, Truman waves from train observation car, Kids cheer, Truman leaves on train, People wave, POV from train town passes, CU Truman, Dewey writes on train, CU Dewey, CU from train as countryside passes (repeat), Crowd hears Dewey speak, Crowd, CU Truman speaks at microphones, Old man watches, Old couple watch, Old lady with funny hat, CU Dewey speaks at microphone, Truman holds bouquet, Boy holds flag, Dewey gets stick of fish, Dewey waves, POV from train of crowd waving, Reporters work on train, Truman in motorcade, People go to town hall, Sign: TOWN HALL, People enter building, Voters line up, Workers help voters, Couple with baby vote, Voter at machine, X for Dewey, Man casts ballot, X for Truman, Woman casts ballot into ballot box, Truman votes, People vote, Dewey votes, NBC news room, Sign: POPULAR VOTE TABULATORS, Bob Trout broadcasts (repeat), Worker marks STATE CHART (repeat), H.V. Kaltenborn speaks (repeat), Operators at switchboards, Workers use adding machines (repeat), Tote board, Reporters type various broadcasters broadcast, Times Square (NIGHT), Times Building news ticker: TRUMAN TAKES LEAD AWAY FROM DEWEY (SIC), Banquet crowd applauds, Couple hug, celebrate, Empty Dewey headquarters, Glum group (four people look very disappointed), CU sad woman, CU sad man (repeat), Political cartoon of man with ass marked "ALL US POLITICAL EXPERTS" says "KICK ME", Banquet, Truman on dais, Crowd rises, applauds, Truman speaks, makes fun of, does accurate, mocking impression of Kaltenborn and his predictions of Truman's defeat, Nuclear bomb tests, Flashing sign ("DANGER"), Men in bizarre safety suits work with hazardous materials, Flashing sign ("RADIATION AREA"), Robot hands handle chemical in beaker, Worker moves radioactive material, Glow, Scientist works equipment, Man looks through eyepiece, Men work with radioactive chemicals (repeat), Chemical bubbles, Man smokes pipe, Instrument lights flash, Instruments operate, Blindfolded man in G-Force test, face horribly distorted (WEIRD!), Rocket sled speeds (repeat), Man in sled under G-Force, almost as weird, People look at sky with binoculars (repeat), Cat looks up (CUTE), Soldiers look at sky, Soldier on microphone, People talk to Air Force investigators, CU airline pilot, Pilots talk near jet fighter (trying to find flying saucers), CU Air Force pilot, People on sidewalk look into "Today" show window, CU men smoke, People look in store window, Early TV screen, wavy lines (repeat), Bartender, CU mug of beer, Men drink in bar, Horse race on TV, Man laughs, Bartender consoles patron, TV antennas all over roofs, People watch TV, Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca do skit, CU Dave Garroway, Faye Emerson, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, Milton Berle dances with Carmen Miranda (guess which network made this film), TV studio, Microphone boom operator, Camera WNBT NBC, CU Albert Einstein speaks of danger of nuclear suicide, Thermometer reads 97 degrees, Crowded beach, People on beach blanket, Kids run on beach, Woman, child with bare ass (the child, not the woman) on beach, Girl plays in surf, Crowds on Coney Island beach, People descend on parachute jump, People on revolving swing ride at Steeplechase Park, POV from front seat as people ride roller coaster, Starter waves flag at auto race, Autos race, Race accidents, End of horse race, Crowd, Bob Richards does pole vault, People at fair, CU balloons, Carnival rides, Barker barks, Man hits bell with mallet, People watch, Cotton candy made, Kid with cotton candy, Man holds son, Rides, CU clown, CU boy with father, Goats on leash, Truman says goodbye to wife at plane, Plane engine starts, Truman onto plane (repeat), People wave, Airliner taxis, Aerial of airliner in air, Aerial of Washington, DC, CU landing gear goes down (NICE), POV from plane as it lands, Plane taxis ("INDEPENDENCE"), Secretary of State Dean Acheson in parking lot (A COUPLE OF FRAMES ONLY), Truman exits plane, Truman's car leaves, Men raise flags at United Nations, Sign: COUNCIL IN SESSION, United Nations Security Council session, Soviet seat empty, Korean representative, empty USSR chair, Korean refugees flee battle (repeat), Refugees, building burns in background, Burned buildings, Naked baby cries, Legs of marching soldiers, Troops march to ship, Troops board ship, Dog watches, Troops up gangway ("SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION"), Hand beats drum ("SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION"), Navy band plays, Crane removes gangway, Men untie ship, Smoke from funnel, Ship leaves, People wave, Men wave from portholes, Troops wave (repeat), Woman waves, CU baby waves, Aircraft carrier at dock, Ship in harbor, View from ship, Soldier on ship, CU sailor, CU soldiers, sailors, Aircraft carrier at sea

This Soviet-produced documentary film shows the Red Army's long offensive of 1944 that led to victory against the Fascist Wehrmacht. It contains fascinating footage, rarely seen in the west. (The film covers early 1944 through January of 1945.)<p><p>Narrator: "Soviet military forces fully obtained strategic initiative by 1944. The final victorious period of the war between the Soviet Union and Fascist Germany began. Military leaders planned to start a large offensive campaign from White Sea to Black Sea in 1944 since the political background was favorable. Winter campaigns of 1944 were supposed to defeat the enemy near Leningrad and Novgorod, in Ukraine and Crimea. (01.39) The attack near Leningrad was the first. The Red Army defeated the enemy and finally put an end to the siege of Leningrad. 900 days of suffering were over. (02.37) In winter and spring of 1944, Soviet forces launched an offensive in the Right-Bank Ukraine. 93 divisions of the enemy were located there, the biggest strategic force. 10 divisions were destroyed during the most important operation of the first stage, the enemy lost access to Dnepr. Our forces reached the border of Romania on March 26, all the military action moved outside of our motherland. (04.34) The Right-Bank Ukrainian campaign lasted for 3.5 months, many tank divisions were involved. Its success provided suitable conditions for the liberation of Crimea. On April 8, 1944, our forces began the Crimean operation. The enemy was unprepared for a forceful attack. It took Soviet forces only five days to retake Sevastopol, while Hitler’s army had spent 250 days on taking it over. (07.01) <p>The success of USSR’s military campaigns proved that our country alone could fight the Fascists, which forced the Allies to open a second front in Europe. (07.33) On June 6, 1944, English-American forces landed in northern France. Nevertheless, the Soviet-German front remained the most important one. In summer 1944, the Soviet Army launched an offensive in Belorussia. The enemy was surrounded by four fronts. By June 27, a 30,000 division near Vitebsk was eliminated. (12.15) By June 29, a 40,000 group of German soldiers was defeated near Bobruisk. On July 3, the capital of Soviet Belorussia, Minsk, was liberated. (14.50) By July 4, a 100,000 group of the enemy forces was surrounded to the east of Minsk. By July 11, it was completely destroyed. (15.40) <p>Our forces kept moving in the western direction during the second half of July and in August. (17.09) They reached Poland and the border of East Prussia. As a result of a campaign in Belorussia, it was fully liberated, as well as parts of the Baltic states and eastern regions of Poland. (18.08) Overall, 4 million people, 60,000 weapons and mortars, 7,500 tanks, and more than 9,000 planes took part in it. (18.40) The new attack was launched in Moldova and Romania. From 25 to 29 of August, Soviet military destroyed 17 divisions of the enemy that had been surrounded, and simultaneously kept moving in the direction of Bucharest. (21.16) <p>On August 31, Soviet forces entered Bucharest. Soon, Soviet soldiers would be welcomed in many European cities, welcomed as good news of freedom, as friends and brothers. Many nations and countries gained access to freedom, independence, and social progress thanks to the success of the Soviet military campaigns. In general, by the beginning of 1945, the political situation was very favorable for the USSR and Soviet forces, and very disadvantageous for Fascist Germany, which was experiencing a crisis symbolizing a near catastrophe. (23.21) During the summer and autumn of 1944, Germany lost 1,600,000 soldiers at our front. Italy, Romania, and Bulgaria ended their allegiance with Germany and launched military campaigns against it. (23.52) English and American forces freed the Netherlands and Belgium from the Fascist forces. On January 17, 1945, Warsaw was liberated. On February 13, attack on Budapest was finished. In two more months, one more European capital, Vienna, was liberated by the Soviet army. (29.30) <p><p>This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

Full title reads: "BIG THREE CONFERENCE AT YALTA". <br/> <br/>Yalta, Crimea Soviet Union (USSR). <br/> <br/>Several shots of the ship carrying members of the British delegation for the Big Three Conference approaches Crimea. Soviet sea pilot boards the ship to take over the bridge. Long shot of the Sebastopol harbour. Long shot of the town of Yalta in the Crimea. <br/> <br/>Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea, scene of the Big Three Conference 1945. Close up shot of the sign reading 'Palace' in Russian and English. Several more shots of the Palace with famous 'Potemkin lion' seen in close up. Close up shot of the flags of UK, USA and USSR flying together. <br/> <br/>Several shots of Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov greeting Field Marshal Alexander. Close up shot of the Russian sailor on guard. Molotov, U.S. Secretary of State Stettinius and Britain's Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden posing to press photographers. Red Army guardsmen marching past. <br/> <br/>Close up shot of the American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Close up shot of the Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Delegates leaving for the Palace. <br/> <br/>Delegates arriving to Livadia Palace. Close up shot of the Soviet President Joseph Visarionovich Stalin arriving at Livadia Palace. Close up shot of Churchill in Russian hat arriving at Livadia Palace. Several shots of the Big Three conference room. Various shots of Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill, at the conference. Battery of cameramen taking pictures of the Big Three. Close up shot of a cameraman taking pictures with Eyemo camera. <br/> <br/>(Mute & Track Negs.)

During the Battle of Berlin, a wide shot shows a view from above the city's buildings, including the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. Followed by Red Army soldiers firing several 122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30) artillery towards buildings. A building explodes after a shell makes impact. Germany, 1945. The Battle of Berlin, designated as the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, and also known as the Fall of Berlin, was one of the last major offensives of the European theatre of World War II.

Demobilization of Red Army at the end of World War II in Soviet Union. Soviet Army cavalry unit returning home in a mountainous region. One soldier being greeted by well-wishers upon his return to village. Location: Soviet Union. Date: 1945.

On April 20, 1945, the Soviet army launches an attack on Berlin. Residents flee as Soviet soldiers enter the streets and buildings. Master in Apple Pro Res 422 HQ 29.97fps 1080p.

b&w newsreel - documentary short about Kremlin - pre and post-revolutionary Russian leaders 1916 - Czar Nicholas II, Czarina Alexandra with army personnel, soldiers, officers - w/s soldiers march in street - 1917 - Bolsheviks - massive crowd in streets, revolutionary pamphlets handed out to people, peasants in street - female revolutionary speaker on platform, speaks to masses - c/u male speaker, wears heavy coat and fur hat, winter time - army officers revolt - Leon Trotsky talks to people as he stands on train at station - revolt in street - h/a down to cavalry soldiers charge through street on horseback - c/u people, civilians, rush to camera - 1924 - death of Vladimir I. Lenin (founder of Bolshevism & Soviet Communism) - people march past Lenin's Tomb in Red Square - winter - h/a down to people march in street - zoom to Joseph Stalin marches w/ people - c/u Stalin speaks to people via radio transmission - c/u Stalin & other Soviet officials raise hands at Kremlin platform - h/a down to w/s state function at Red Square - St. Basil's Cathedral visible - c/u Stalin wears military uniform - with one hand in jacket - Russian election - c/u register w/ list of voters names - Stalin votes at polls - puts ballot into box - c/u and h/a to soldiers march past camera w/ machine guns - show might - h/a w/s tanks in parade in Red Square - 1945 Yalta Conference, Crimea, U.S.S.R. - c/u Stalin at Conference w/ British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt seated together - Big Three - c/u Stalin applauds - walks w/ various officials - funeral of Mikhail Kalinin - pallbearers carry coffin - men march in funeral procession, hold floral wreaths - Malenkov at funeral - 1948 - interior Communist State funeral - Moscow - c/u Soviet leader V. Molotov, vice premier Georgi Malenkov - Beria - interior assembly - Russian politicians applaud - Malenkov takes over - c/u Stalin waves goodbye - 1953 - w/s Kremlin buildings - Russian government - h/a down to Red Square - massive funeral procession for death of Stalin - c/u still of Malenkov named premier - 1955 - c/u Nikita Khrushchev, Nicolai Bulganin - various shots with others - Khrushcev holds bouquet of flowers - Csar - Tsar

[Interview w 2 Red Army Ex-POW's Who Served Germans]

Austrians celebrate Soviet liberation of Vienna in 1945

HISTORICAL B/W NEWSREEL CUT STORIES. 00:00 AMERICAN PATHE NEWSREEL. BIG THREE YALTA CONFERENCE. VS THE CRIMEA AND LIVADIA CASTLE, FORMER SUMMER RESIDENCE OF CZAR NICHOLAS II AND SITE OF YALTA CONFERENCE. MILITARY CONVOY BRINGS IN SUPPLIES. COMMUNICATION LINES ARE STRUNG TO CASTLE. AT AIR FIELD, SOVIET FOREIGN SECRETARY MOLOTOV GREETS: BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER ANTHONY EATON; US SECRETARY OF STATE EDWARD STETTINIUS; HARRY HOPKINS, ADVISOR TO FDR; AVERELL HARRIMAN, US AMBASSADOR TO BRITISH PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL; AND US PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT. SOVIET PREMIER JOSEF STALIN ARRIVES AT CASTLE. VS IN CONFERENCE ROOM. PHOTO OP FOR CHURCHILL, FDR AND STALIN. 1945. 06:15 UNITED NEWSREEL. LIBERATION OF PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA FROM THE NAZIS. GERMAN SIGNS BEING TORN OFF BUILDINGS. PEOPLE OF PRAGUE REVOLT AGAINST NAZI SOLDIERS STILL PRESENT AFTER GERMAN SURRENDER. VS FIGHTING IN STREETS, BURNING BUILDINGS. SOVIET TROOPS AND CZECHOSLOVAK ARMY ENTER CITY. EDUARD BENES, PRES OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA, RETURNS. 1945. 08:50 UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL. FREIGHT TRAIN OF US BUSES AND PATTON TANKS IS STOPPED AT A CHECKPOINT JUST OUTSIDE BERLIN IN WHAT US VIEWS AS A COLD WAR INCIDENT AND A POSSIBLE SECOND BERLIN BLOCKADE. 09:45 UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL. AERIAL OF WARSAW. FIRST POST WAR ELECTION IN POLAND. PRES BOLESLAW BIERUT, HEAD OF COMMUNIST PARTY, AND STANISLAW MIKOLAJCZYK, LEADER OF PEASANT PARTY AND VICE PREMIER, CAST BALLOTS. VS PEOPLE ON LINES, DROPPING BALLOTS IN BALLOT BOX. PEASANTS IN THE PROVINCES TRAVEL BY HORSE AND WAGON TO VOTE. VS MASSIVE CROWDS. 1947. 11:00 UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL. HUNGARIAN REFUGEES CROSS BORDER INTO AUSTRIA. HUNGARIAN SOLDIERS. 12:00 UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL. VS FIGHTING BETWEEN SOVIET ARMY AND CIVILIANS OF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY. VS SHOOTING IN STREETS, FLAGS BURNING. REFUGEES CROSS BORDER INTO AUSTRIA, CARRYING THEIR POSSESSIONS.

Germany in 1945 during World War 2

Austrians celebrate at the Parliament building after Soviets liberate Vienna in 1945

This episode of "The Big Picture" focuses on the armies of the United States, with a special focus on the First Army and the eight states that are included in its territory. At this time First Army operated to induct, train and support soldiers including the National Guard. The episode begins with a tour of Fort Jay, located on Governors Island near New York City. Fort Jay is the oldest defensive structure on the island. It was built to defend Upper New York Bay, but has served other purposes. The National Park Service administers Fort Jay together with Castle Williams as the Governors Island National Monument.<p><p>The First Army is the oldest and longest established field army of the United States Army. It now serves as a mobilization, readiness and training command. First Army was established on 10 August 1918 as a field army when sufficient American military manpower had arrived in France during World War I. As an element of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in the latter stages of World War I it was the first of three field armies established under the AEF. Serving in its ranks were many figures who later played important roles in World War II. First Army was inactivated in April 1919.<p><p>First Army's entry into World War II began in October 1943 as Bradley returned to Washington, D.C. to receive his command and began to assemble a staff and headquarters to prepare for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. Headquarters, First Army was activated In January 1944 at Bristol, England.<p><p>Upon going ashore on 6 June 1944, D-Day, First Army came under 21st Army Group and commanded all American ground forces during the invasion. <p><p>When the Germans attacked during the Battle of the Bulge, First Army found itself on the north side of the salient, and thus isolated from 12th Army Group, its commanding authority. It was, therefore, transferred, along with Ninth Army, to 21st Army Group on 20 December.[3] The salient was reduced by early February 1945. Following the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland Campaign began, and First Army was transferred back to 12th Army Group. In Operation Lumberjack, First Army closed up to the lower Rhine by 5 March, and the higher parts of the river five days later.<p><p>On 7 March, in a stroke of luck, Company A, 27th Armored Infantry Battalion (AIB), part of Combat Command B, found the Ludendorff Bridge across the Rhine at Remagen was still standing. It quickly captured the bridge and established a secure bridgehead. in the next 15 days over 25,000 troops and their equipment crossed the river. By 4 April, an enormous pocket had been created by First Army and Ninth Army, which contained the German Army Group B under Field Marshal Model, the last significant combat force in the north west of Germany. Whilst some elements of First Army concentrated upon reducing the Ruhr pocket, others headed further east, creating another pocket containing the German Eleventh Army. First Army reached the Elbe by 18 April. There the advance halted, as that was the agreed demarcation zone between the American and Soviet forces. First Army and Soviet forces met on 25 April.<p><p>In May 1945, advance elements of First Army headquarters had returned to New York City and were preparing to redeploy to the Pacific theater of the war to prepare for Operation Coronet, the planned second phase of Operation Downfall the proposed invasion of Honshu, the main island of Japan in the spring of 1946, but the Japanese surrender in August 1945 thanks to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki terminated that effort.<p><p>First Army returned to the United States in late 1945; first to Fort Jackson (South Carolina), then to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, returning to Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York in the spring of 1946. Twenty years later, in 1966, First Army relocated to Fort Meade, Maryland and took over the responsibilities of Second Army, which was inactivated. In 1973, First Army's mission changed from training and preparation of active units to Army Reserve units.<p><p>We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."<p><p>This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com