ANTWERP FALLS TO THE BRITISH 2ND ARMY [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: ANTWERP FALLS TO THE BRITISH 2ND ARMY [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: A70 170-3
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Footage taken by a Belgian (Flemish) cameraman showing the retreat of German mobile units through Antwerp and its liberation by British troops serving with the 11th Armoured Division.
  • Description: German soldiers ride through the city on vehicles (many of non-German origin) camouflaged with branches, a measure designed to protect them from detection by Allied fighter-bombers; Belgian civilians impassively watch their occupiers flee from their city. Once the British have arrived in Antwerp the cameraman is able to film in the open; troops from the city's German garrison are rounded up by British infantrymen (8th Battalion Rifle Brigade and 4th Battalion KSLI) and L'Armee Blanche volunteers while, as the citizens of Antwerp celebrate their freedom by greeting the British, producing long-hidden Belgian flags and tearing down German signs and notices, fighting will continues between British tanks (3rd RTR) and the remaining German defenders.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-09-04
  • Production Country: Belgium
  • Production Details: Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords: Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 666 ft; Running time: 7 mins
  • Notes: Summary: See with A70 150-10, 153-2 and 3, 156-3 and 170-1 for footage showing the liberation of Antwerp. The cameramen who took this and other clandestine footage possibly had access to ciné equipment given over to the 'Eenheidsbeweging Vlaamsch National Verbond' (The Flemish Nazi party) and its propaganda organisation - See A70 170-2 in this connection. Remarks: As the material seen here was reproduced by the AFPU onto a 35mm print from 16mm and because of the peculiar circumstances in which it was shot, much of this footage is of poor quality. On the other hand, the tense atmosphere in Antwerp as the Germans evacuate the city and its sudden transformation as the British 2nd Army arrive is well conveyed. Production Credits: Anonymous ex-VNV cameramen whose material was copied by the AFPU. Documentation/associated material: see A70 143-4 and 145-11 for a bibliography.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    A70 170-3

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