BELGA NIEUWS NR 73 [Main Title]

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  • Title: BELGA NIEUWS NR 73 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: GWY 254
  • Other titles: UFA AUSLANDSTONWOCHE NR 673 [Alternative Title]
  • Summary:
  • Description: I. Belgian athletics meeting for juniors and students in Brussels, 23 July 1944. Scenes from the men's discus (athlete Dechief), long jump (De Valkeneer), high jump (Wessels), pole vault (Van Mullem), hurdles (Van der Auwera) and relay race events (won by the Beerschot team) in an almost empty stadium. Close-ups of the winners, including two men wearing ASCA and BAC team shirts. II. German scientific research in Poland. Woman scientist Professor Dr Möller (see Item II of DW Nr 717/24/1944) takes water sample from River Vistula then examines it in laboratory. Graph marked Weichsel - Thorn indicates water density and ebb at Torun. III. In Brussels on 18 July 1944, in the presence of leaders of the German services, General Alexander von Falkenhausen hands the executive powers over Belgium and Northern France to Joseph Grohé, appointed Reich Commissioner (Reichskommissar) by Adolf Hitler, marking the transition from military to civil rule (ordered on 13 July 1944). General der Infanterie Grase takes over the military command. Inside swastika-bedecked hall of the Belgian Senate, with wall panelling adorned with full length portraits of ancient kings, Grohé declares that Germany is the only European force that can save this part of the world (Europe ) from Bolshevist-Capitalist chaos, and states that the reich will not give up the fight until final victory is won. Seats are upholstered with rampant lions of Belgium. IV. Bulgarians commemorate 1876 war of liberation in Pangyurishte. Elderly veterans of Bulgarian struggle for independence wearing medals and fezes watch as ceremonial flag is paraded in centre of small town surrounded by snow-capped hills. Poster of partisan bears date in Cyrillic 20 April 1876 (2 May 1876 in new style calendar). Bulgarian soldiers line square. General followed by officer with Italian-style cap inspects small group of saluting girls and soldiers and variously armed civilians. Girls in traditional costume look on. Procession of people led by brass band makes its way through vernal woods to memorial plaque honouring heroes of First Bulgarian Great National Struggle (of 1876), where Orthodox priest officiates at wreath laying. Afterwards people dance in main square. V. Slovak forces commemorate anniversary of death of General Milan Stefanik (1880-1919) in April 1944. Hilltop memorial tomb to First World War Czechoslovak general and minister is setting for ceremony attended by high-ranking officers of Slovak Army and Air Force and by civilian minister who delivers address. Slovak soldiers wearing German paratroop helmets marked with Slovak cross and bearing MP 40s form guard of honour. Spectators include women in traditional costume. Three planes fly over in salute, then item fades out over portrait of Stefanik. VI. German reinforcements join fighting in Caen area. Animated map of English Channel coast from Brest to Antwerp. German reinforcements pass by in foliage-camouflaged trucks, waving cheerily. German one-way-road sign. Soldier distributes copies of Front Heimat newspaper to passing comrades on cycles; one headline reads "Eisenhower did not surprise us. Calm and prudence on the German side". German sign cautions against traffic drawing fire upon itself by raising dust. Camouflaged trucks pass by wrecked vehicles by roadside (apparently French cars), Kübelwagen drives past and soldier on motorbike scans sky for enemy aircraft. Cyclist company takes cover by roadside (1943 film). Heavy flak fires against planes overhead. (End of Reel 1) Camera pans over battlefield wreckage smouldering. German sign to Vire and Avranches in ruined town. Soldier on motorcycle with pillion passenger and goggled soldier on front of commandeered Citroën pass through ruins. Truck tows heavy Pak. Camera tilts down externally undamaged church, where bespectacled German soldier sits playing organ, then shows internal damage caused by (enemy) gunfire. Waffen SS crew of SPG are briefed in sunlit village. Preparations for counterattack continue with other SS troops moving up armour. Battery of Nebelwerfers at edge of field are uncovered, loaded and fired. Troops crouched in dugout smile happily while eating, small boar is captured and cyclist delivers food to lookout; another soldier releases terrier from dugout. View across hedge-divided fields shows small scale of battle area. Soldiers trudge through mud. Patrol sets out on foot; SS sniper waits in tree top with binoculars. Other SS in combat smocks advance crouching, through water and past a surprised cow in field. Artillery opens up. Item fades to trucks and Pzkpfw V passing by. VII. On the Italian front, clouds of white smoke rise in distance. Paratroops are briefed on road, Pak is loaded and fired and successful operation implied by slow pan over about twenty captured US soldiers. Heavy artillery opens fire in area of high hills. 2cm Flakzwilling fires at Spitfire; long-held pan catches burning plane crashing in distance, causing German jubilation.
  • Alternative Title: UFA AUSLANDSTONWOCHE NR 673 [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: GWY 254
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM-GERMAN Attribution: IWM – GWY 254
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-07-28
  • Production Country: Belgium
  • Production Details: UFA (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Štefánik, Milan Rastislav (person) Bulgarian Army (regiment/service) Czechoslovak Army, Slovak Army (regiment/service) Czechoslovak Air Force, Slovak Air Force (regiment/service) German Army (regiment/service) German Army (Third Reich), Schutzstaffel (SS) (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: recreation, Belgian civilian - sport: athletics (object name) sciences, German - chemistry (object name) ceremonies, German - event-related (?) (object name) ceremonies, Bulgarian - event-related: wreath-laying (object name) ceremonies, Bulgarian - event-related: commemoration of 1876 war of liberation (object name) ceremonies, Slovak - event-related: memorial service for General Stefanik (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Supermarine Spitfire & [wrecked] (object name) combat, German - anti-aircraft (object name) destruction, French military - aimed: artillery (object name) journalism and record, German - press: newspaper (Front Heimat) (object name) operations, German military - movement: road (object name) society, German - sustenance (object name) transport, German military - 2/3 wheel: bicycle (object name) transport, German military - 2/3 wheel: motorcycle (object name) transport, German military - truck: [camouflaged] (object name) transport, German military - utility: Kübelwagen (object name) weapons, German - gun [AA]: 2cm Flakzwilling (object name) weapons, German - gun: Pak (object name) weapons, German - projector: Nebelwerfer (object name) Belgium (geography) Poland & Vistula (River) (geography) Bulgaria (geography) Czechoslovakia & Slovakia (geography) Normandy, France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: Flemish Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 1252 ft; Running time: 14 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    GWY 254

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