WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 92 (8/2/1943)

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: WPN 92).

Synopsis

I. 'RUSSIA.' Russian infantry officers use binoculars to scan the horizon from the cover of a wooden dugout. Russian anti-tank crews fire a 184(r) Protivotankovaya Pushka obr 1930g 45mm anti-tank gun at unseen targets as Russian T34/76B tanks carrying infantry break cover from a wooded area and drive across a country track. Vision slit views shows a T34/76B driving past a knocked-out German StuG III self propelled gun and an early production PzKpfw III tank with a 3.7cm gun. Vision slit views show a German PzKpfw III tank being hit by a Russian armour piercing shell, its crew abandon their stations rapidly, coming under machine gun fire as they run from their stricken tank. One crew member lies slumped across the tank's entry hatch. Russian partisans use woods for cover as they advance towards enemy held Isbas (Russian lodge houses). The partisans advance through a hamlet of burning Isbas, supported by fire from a Pulemyot Degtyarova Pekhotnii obr 1928g 7.62mm light machine gun. A partisan collects a Maschinenpistole (MP)40 9mm sub-machine gun from a dead German infantryman. A Russian partisan leader gives a patriotic talk to assembled villagers, using a knocked-out PzKpfw III tank as a podium. A male civilian, described by the commentary as being a Nazi spy, is attacked by women wielding spades and sticks as he is led through a Russian hamlet on his way to being executed by partisan firing squad. Partisans are welcomed into a village as the commentary states "The deeds of these simple country folk will rank high in the roll of honour when the full story of the war comes to be written."

II. 'NEW GUINEA.' Unshaven emaciated Australian troops line up for a parade after the tough campaign in the forests of Papua New Guinea. The commentary outlines the difficulties in fighting in such a inhospitable environment over scenes of Papuan native bearers carrying a wounded Australian infantryman on a improvised stretcher over harsh terrain and a fast flowing watercourse. The arrival of United States (US) forces is illustrated by US Jeeps (General Purpose Utility) being driven at speed along a rutted jungle track and across a pontoon bridge. The commentary points out that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) dropped much of the supplies needed by the Allied ground forces during the campaigns in Papua New Guinea. RAAF Douglas C-47 Dakota transport aircraft flies low over a Papuan village prior to beginning its supply drop. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft drops supplies by parachute over jungle terrain. Australian infantry file through a Papuan village armed with Lee-Enfield Mk III .303-in rifles and Bren .303-in light machine guns. Australian infantry advance across jungle terrain supported by mortar and sustained fire from a water-cooled Vickers heavy machine gun.

III. 'SPECIAL-CHURCHILL MEETS INN. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's personal communications aircraft "Commando" (Consolidated B-24 Liberator) taxies to a halt at an aerodrome in Turkey. Churchill, accompanied by General Sir Harold R L G Alexander is met at Adana by the British Ambassador to Turkey, Sir Hugh Knatchbull-Hugessen. Churchill chats to Knatchbull-Hugessen as Alexander looks on wearing an RAF Irvin jacket. The commentary states that Churchill is visiting Adana on behalf of the United Nations for discussions with President Ismet Inn of Turkey. At a railway siding a Turkish infantryman guards the railway carriages in which the political discussions will take place. |interior views show Churchill, Inn and others settling down for a meal in the dining car. Following the conclusion of discussions described by the commentary as being useful in strengthening Turkey's resolve and consolidating her general defensive security, Churchill and Inn pose for photographs at the railway sidings.

 

Titles

  • WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 92 (8/2/1943)
 

Technical Data

Year:
1943
Running Time:
10 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Sound
Footage:
859 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
Ministry of Information, Middle East
commentary
Keating, Rex
film editor
Martin, Charles
Production company
War Pictorial News