WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 52 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 52 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 52
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'RUSSIA.' The commentary points out that in Russia entertainment is an important part of the war effort and that even front-line troops have the opportunity to enjoy an hour or two at the theatre. A happy contingent of mixed male and female infantry walk along a snow covered Moscow street on their way to the theatre, still carrying Pistolet Pulemyot Shpagina obr 1941g (PPSh) 7.62mm sub-machine guns. Various internal views of the theatre's mixed civilian and military audience are shown as the curtain is raised on stage and the orchestra starts to play. A Napoleonic period drama follows. After the performance, the actors mingle with their audience and soldiers in the crowd explain the workings of their PPSh sub-machine guns to interested onlookers. II. 'EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS OF WAR.' The commentary outlines the processes involved in the exchange of prisoners of war between the Italians and the British and the role of the International Red Cross in monitoring the proceedings. Italian prisoners of war march to embarkation points in order to board ships that will take them to Smyrna. Italian infantry prisoners have their identification papers checked by Red Cross officials prior to boarding. Italian prisoners, watched by Red Cross nurses, walk up a gangplank to board a clearly marked Red Cross ship. British medical corps personnel carry wounded on board ship by stretcher. The British hospital ship Llandovery Castle docks in Alexandria carrying released British prisoners. Dishevelled British troops walk down a gangplank from the Llandovery Castle smoking cigarettes, cheered by waiting crowds on the quayside. Released British prisoners say goodbye to nursing staff by leaning out of train carriage windows at an undisclosed railway station. The commentary stresses the smoothness of the exchange operation and the reasonable nature of the Italian negotiators as opposed to the failure of similar negotiations with the stubborn German exchange authorities. Freed British prisoners enjoy the scenery and smoke cigarettes during a train journey to an undisclosed location. III. 'WHERE NEXT ?.' An account of the raid made by British paratroopers against the radio location station at Bruneval, using footage of training in Britain. The commentary stresses that "Invasion practice" is an essential preparation for a successful raid on enemy territory. Soldiers of a Highland regiment board LCA's (Landing Craft Assault) carrying Lee-Enfield .303-in Mk III rifles, Sten 9mm Mk 2 sub-machine guns and Bren .303-in light machine guns. Various landing craft deliver infantry onto a shingle beach during assault exercises. The troops run up the beach and then take up perimeter defence positions to forestall any attack on the vulnerable beach head. The commentary stresses that during a real assault every man must know what to expect and what to do whether he is attacking by LCA or by parachute. RAF Armstrong Whitworth Whitley aircraft drop paratroopers on an exercise over a dropping zone. The commentary states that during the Bruneval raid the RAF dropped paratroopers with unerring precision. Various stock shots of infantry in training follow with a reconstruction of the Bruneval raid complete with British troops playing the part of German sentries. A "German" sentry carrying a Lee-Enfield rifle is surprised by club wielding British troops. The commentary outlines the main events of the raid on Bruneval. Footage stated to be authentic of the return of troops from Bruneval is shown, with wounded British soldiers disembarking from LCA's onto larger vessels for the homeward journey. German prisoners are pushed up a gangplank by zealous members of the Parachute Regiment. A brief synopsis of previous raids is shown including the Commando raids on the Norwegian islands of Lofoten and Vaagso. The commentary states that a new spirit of attack is sweeping through the Allied forces, leaving the Germans to wonder "Where next ?"
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 52
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-04-27
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Red Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: recreation, Russian military - theatre (object name) prisoners of war, Italian - repatriation (object name) prisoners of war, British - repatriation (object name) ships, British civilian - assistance: SS Llandovery Castle (object name) combat [simulated], British (object name) training, British - combat (object name) Bruneval Raid 1942, Commando Raids, Second World War (event) Egypt & Alexandria (geography) Norway & Vaagso (geography) Norway & Lofoten Islands (geography) Norway & Spitzbergen (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: Sound Title language: None Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 857 ft; Running time: 9 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 52

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