'When the war entered Germany' Docu film

Posted this topic some time ago on WW2talk :

Stumbled on to this German Documentary on 'You Tube' the other day. It deals with the American offensive into Germany 1945. It contains shots of Operation Grenade, the fighting in Cologne and Koblenz, Bridge at Remagen and Rhine Crossings and the advance further into Germany mainly south of the Ruhr industrial area.

Though German spoken, it is very worthwhile. Good camera work, sober, slow going - very unlike other 'dazzling' docu's - some really gripping shots.

There are images in it which were unknown to me (at the top the proto-type of a manned V1). Link to both parts:

Als der Krieg nach Deutschland kam Teil.1 - YouTube

Als der Krieg nach Deutschland kamTeil.2 - YouTube

 

An excerpt of the above German documentary dealing with the street fighting in Cologne - but now with English voice over: The Americans capture Cologne - YouTube

Some further (rare) shots of the street fighting in Cologne: Street Fighting In Cologne. - YouTube
(At 02:37 - a bit lost - shots of 'C' Company of the 5th Black Watch, 51st Highland Division in the Dutch town of Gennep, south of the Reichswald).

http://www.ww2talk.c...58&d=1325803779

A pictorial analysis of the knocking out of a Panther near the Cologne Dome: Tank duel in Cologne: Battle for Cologne - tank duel - YouTube
Superb video - but how sad is the fate of the hapless U.S. tank commander and part of his crew ...


The knocked-out culprit in front of the mighty Dome ...



... and the same tank in colour.

 

More pictures of Cologne from You Tube:

U.S. soldiers capture Cologne 1945, U.S. soldiers capture Cologne 1945 1-7.avi - YouTube

Pathe link Roer crossing: INVASION SCENES EUROPE - British Pathé

Another You Tube film on the Roer River Crossing WWII Dramatic footage of River Crossing, 29th Crosses Roer, Germany, 1945, Jülich - YouTube

 

Another You Tube film on the battle on German soil - Oct - Dec 1944.

Link: AMERICAN NINTH ARMY - AACHEN TO THE ROER RIVER - YouTube

Again some fragments of the sad and almost constant, procession of badly mutilated mine-casualties.

It also contains images of the 43rd Wessex Div at Geilenkirchen.

 

Link to film on First U.S. Army's operations Oct - Dec 44

AMERICAN FIRST ARMY - AACHEN TO THE ROER RIVER - YouTube

Emphasis is on the big First Army offensive of 16 November 44

 

Excellent stuff here. I've never even seen that picture of that Panther in color before... what would have been its original color scheme I'm wondering? (Guess that gives rise to the question of which Panzer division would have been in Köln during the battle - research time!)

Also, where is the muzzle break in the color picture? It's on all the b/w ones/...?

 

The Panther belonged to the 9. Pz Div

 

Other than the Pershing-Panther duel this is all new to me and totally captivating. I was going to sit at my drafting board but decided to take a quick glimpse, 45 minutes later I am about to watch Part 2.

Gripping and fascinating stuff. What a real war looks like by combat camera men, not Hollywood. Some many civilians and extremely young German soldiers, so many medics and casualties. Great vehicle shots, all varieties of combat weapons.

This is probably old hat to many of you but not me. Pistol, many thanks for posting all of this. Now I must get to work!!!

Gaines

 

Oh, the brake is there, just a difficult angle. The side slots read dark and render it difficult to see. I have bad eyes but a great monitor and blew it up 200%.

 

Also very young were the US soldiers ... sometimes 18 and 19 year old 'boys' who should be 'dating' girls instead of fighting ...

 

The muzzle brake was removed from the Panther, you can see the screw thread.
See lots of pics of it in 'After The Battle'' Number 104

 

Thanks, never trust anything I saw where my eyes are involved !! When I blew it up I think I read the screw threads as the brake itself. Wonder why it was removed ? Great souvenir?

 

Each captured/killed panzer was cleared of ordnance by engineers once the fighting was over. They removed the brake as a sign that the vehicle was "clear" (safe). You'll often see "combat" photos of soldiers engaging panzers without a muzzle brake, and when you see that you know it is a staged photo taken some days after the event.

 

Thanks, One learns something new here every day.

 

Spent time right there at the cathedral and other parts of Cologne in '85. Never knew.

 

Climbed up the stairs in 82 or 83...Great view of the perfume factories...Oh and the Rhine...

 

Thanks KB, I was re-checking the photo and I didn't remember seeing it...

 

Tank duel in Cologne



Aerial with the locations of the filmshots/pictures taken of the tank duel. The red line indicates the route followed by the Pershing tank, which eventually knocked the Panther out.

Clicking on the pictures in the map links you to a web-site with many more details of the tank duel (please note it consists of two pages)..