PLANNING AN OFFENSIVE [Main Title]

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  • Title: PLANNING AN OFFENSIVE [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 1057-1
  • Other titles: WITH OUR FRENCH ALLY [Series Title]
  • Summary: Thematic description of the build-up and aftermath of a typical French offensive on the Western Front, late 1917.
  • Description: Four officers round a planning table decide on the offensive. A regimental colonel receives his orders outside his dugout. The bombardment starts, from rifle grenades, 58mm Crapouillot mortars, 105mm howitzers and 75mm field guns. Heavier guns join in, including the big railway howitzers, and shells fall on the German front line. Infantry run forward (training) under the cover of smoke. Smoke and gas fill up no man's land. Troops in shellholes (training) advance, throwing grenades, from cover to cover. The 75s continue to fire. The second wave of troops moves up. Prisoners are led back through the trenches and march to the counting stations and cages where they are interrogated, then given food. On the battlefield French dead remain; first-aid is given to the wounded, who are taken back to the dressing stations. Ambulances take the serious casualties further back. After the battle troops march in parade through a town square and out to the countryside. General Pétain reviews the troops and decorates men and standards. The review continues for some time. A soldier of 60th Infantry Regiment is shown with the Croix de Guerre. A regimental standard shows battle honours from Lorraine in 1914 to the Aisne in 1917. The film ends with the SCAF logo.
  • Alternative Title: WITH OUR FRENCH ALLY [Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: IWM 1057-1
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (IWM 1057-1)
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1917
  • Production Country: France
  • Production Details: Section Cinématographique de l'Armée Française (Production sponsor) Pathe Freres (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Pétain, Philippe (person) French Army (regiment/service) French Army, Infantry Regt 60 (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: combat [simulated], French (object name) training, French military - combat (object name) combat, French - artillery bombardment (object name) weapons, French - projector: rifle grenade (object name) weapons, French - mortar: 58mm Crapouillot (object name) weapons, French - gun: 75mm field gun (object name) weapons, French - gun: 105mm howitzer (object name) weapons, French - gun: (railway mounted) (object name) weapons, French - gun: 270mm (railway mounted) (object name) weapons, French - gun: 320mm (railway mounted) (object name) intelligence, military, French - briefing (object name) intelligence, military, French - interrogation (object name) prisoners of war, German - movement (object name) prisoners of war, German - custody (object name) casualties, French dead - battlefield (object name) casualties, French wounded - battlefield (object name) medical, French military - emergency (object name) transport, French military - ambulance (object name) ceremonies, French - event-related: investiture (object name) delegations, French national - military (object name) 01/3(4-15).7 (event) France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 1007 ft; Running time: 17 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 1057-1

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