Collection search - Huge Masses of Men and Materiel Concentrated as Canadians and British Strike Against Nazis

Record information – Brief

1

Huge Masses of Men and Materiel Concentrated as Canadians and British Strike Against Nazis

Item number (ISN):

21097

Hierarchical level:

Item (Accession level)

Date:

1945-02-06/1945-02-08

Item number (ISN):

21097

Type of material:

Moving images

Found in:

Archives / Film, Video and Sound

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Record information – Details

Fonds/collection:

TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION

Accession:

1980-0175

Media:

Film

Part:

1 of 1

Production date:

1945-02-06/1945-02-08

Production company:

Canadian Edition
Fox Movietone News

Production credit:

photography, Harry Clements; Hugh C. McCaughney; Gordon Petty; Lionel Clarke; Lew Weekes; Barney Barnett; W.R. Sherwood

Description:

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First films of preparations immediately prior to Canadian and British artillery curtain launching great offensive against German positions, filmed by Canadian Army Film Unit cameramen in the area of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Great concentrations of men and materiel preceded the terrific artillery barrage that marked the great offensive of the Canadian and British units of the Canadian First Army against Nazi positions at the north anchor of the western front. It's the "big push" into Germany, timed to work the "squeeze play" as Russians pound the Nazis on the eastern front. Units of General Crerar's Canadian First Army and General Sir Miles Dempsey's Second British Army bereak through the Siegfried Line as a flanking movement threatens Cologne. Long lines of tanks, Bren carriers and supply convoys pour through Nijmegen toward the front. Corduroy roads are hurriedly built as a thaw makes roads hub-deep in slimy mud. Ammunition is stacked along the roads, as preparations speed up for opening of the great offensive. At zero hour the artillery barrage gets under way. Manned by English crews, the 5.5 guns start the attack and anti-tank guns used as field pieces join in the attack. Heavier guns join in the attack as the 7.2 artillery opens fire. Then the super veais add to the weight of the offensive. As the first phases reach the peak, a Canadian tank regiment loads into Alligators as the amphibious advance continues and the first German prisoners come in. The sequence of the scenes is: Footage filmed on February 6: activity in Nijmegen as lines of tanks, trucks and carriers start rolling toward the front. Signs are hurriedly placed to keep traffic moving. Bren carriers lining up on street in Nijmegen. Allied transports moving toward the front. Sherman flail tanks for exploding buried mines are readied for the advance. Ammunition is stacked in long, high piles. British Tommies pile smoke grenades. Footage filmed on February 8: A great thaw makes roads muddy and slows traffic so Canadian engineers hurriedly build corduroy roads toward the front lines. Trucks slip through heavy mud while road construction continues. The artillery barrage gets under way as 5.5 guns manned by British Tommies start pounding the enemy lines. Medium long shots of 17-pounder anti-tank guns, pressed into service as field pieces, join in the attack. Additional shots of 5.5 guns in action. Heavier artillery join in the attack as the 7.2 guns are fired and the barrage gains in intensity. High explosives and smoke shells are heaved at the enemy by the 26-pounders. British Tommies move up under cover of the heavy barrage as tanks, flame throwers and carriers line the road to support the offensive against German positions. Alligators are loaded with Canadian troops for amphibious phases of the advance over flooded Dutch terrain. Life belts are issued to the men and the Alligators move on, ready to storm enemy positions. The first prisoners begin to come in as the Allied offensive smashed toward Kleve and Goch, focal points of the Canadian First Army and the British Second Army attack.

Language:

Mute with English intertitles

Original number:

54-156

Notes:

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1. Subject description based on NFB dope sheet.

Detailed holdings information:

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Vault ISN:

26937

Format:

FILM

Location number:

N-3847

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

SIL

Stock:

NITRATE

Technical description:

POS

Made from:

DEPOSIT

Status:

MASTER

Vault ISN:

28169

Format:

FILM

Location number:

8101-0054

Vault code:

GAT

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

SIL

Stock:

DUPE

Technical description:

NEG

Made from:

N-3847

Status:

PRT.ELEM

Vault ISN:

28170

Format:

FILM

Location number:

8101-0055

Vault code:

GAT

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

SIL

Stock:

ANS PRT

Made from:

8101-0054

Status:

REF

Vault ISN:

28171

Format:

FILM

Location number:

8101-0056

Vault code:

GAT

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

SIL

Stock:

DUPE

Technical description:

POS

Made from:

8101-0054

Status:

MASTER
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Date modified:: 2024-07-24