SURRENDER OF GERMAN FORCES IN CARINTHIA [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: SURRENDER OF GERMAN FORCES IN CARINTHIA [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: AAY 245
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Unedited film of various groups of surrendered German Army and Luftwaffe personnel after their surrender to British Army 5th Corps in Southern Austria, and unarmed Yugoslav partisans.
  • Description: I. Large column of surrendered German soldiers and airmen, including some Alpenjäger, walk through outskirts of village in bright summer sunshine. Background scenery is mountainous. Prisoners appear relaxed and well nourished, if slightly shabby, as they pass through British Army transport. II. British military police in distinctive red caps man frontier check post between Italy and Austria, probably at Croce Pass on road to Tarvisio. 5th Corps sign is visible, and car with Eighth Army sign. Camera pans from Italian flag on Italian side of frontier to sign "Italian military or civilians not permitted to cross frontier". British jeep passes. III. Soldiers of the London Irish Rifles, with distinctive green hackles on berets, stand outside an Austrian Inn as German wagon driven by mounted soldiers wearing white surrender armbands passes by. Luftwaffe officer marches smart company of airmen into the village, then some of together with woman go into and emerge from churchyard. British soldiers salute passing Luftwaffe, who form up and march off with precision. IV. At village identified by part of sign as Wintersportsplatz Gommera---?, men in a range of uniforms from British khaki to German Army late issue wait in trucks. One holds a red flag with five-pointed white star in corner. Trucks pull away. (These men are presumably Yugoslav partisans, possibly Tito's soldiers ordered by their leader on May 20 to leave Carinthia by May 21). V. camera pans round Alpine valley filled with early morning mist and gives distant view of encampment of trucks and tents, possibly for surrendered forces. VI. Long line of German Army officers and men ride two abreast down mountain road. Some wear white surrender armbands, and others wear Iron Cross ribbons. One wears the Schwedter Adler, or Dragoon eagle, on his forage cap indicating unit as the 6th Reiter Regiment, either regimental staff or 2nd or 4th Squadron. British still photographer appears briefly in frame.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: AAY 245
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945-05
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: RAF Film Production Unit No 2 (Production company) Coop, Eric W (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, 8th Army (regiment/service) British Army, Corps 5 (regiment/service) British Army, Irish Rifles, London (regiment/service) British Army, Military Police (regiment/service) German Army, Alpenjager (regiment/service) German Army, Reiter Regt, 5 (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: operations, British military - routine (object name) prisoners of war, German - surrender (object name) prisoners of war, German - movement (object name) Austria & <Southern Austria> (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 288 ft; Running time: 8 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    AAY 245

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