PeriscopeFilm
Published 14 May 202s

Produced by NATO and the Signal Photographic Service of the U.S. Army, this black & white film is about the formation of NATO and its importance in the defense of the free world. Copyright 1951. The film features a score by William Alwyn. The film dates from the time when Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was supreme commander of NATO (1950-52), a post he left in order to run for President of the United States.

Opening: NATO presents Alliance for Peace (:07-:47). Edward R. Murrow narrates. On a road near Paris, the flags of twelve nations can be seen. Men enter the NATO headquarters building. Flashback to WWII: Soviet and U.S. Army troops meet up and shake hands with one another. The War in Europe is over. V-E Day celebrations. Wrecked buildings and images of destruction. Men return home. A soldier returns to civilian life and tries on a hat. Europe rebuilds. Farmers in the field (:48-2:52). Meanwhile, Soviet Russia retains its vast military and enhances it. Joseph Stalin and his cronies watch the annual military parade in Red Square. Map of U.S.S.R. and the countries under the Iron Curtain. Polish government under Soviet control. At Yalta, Stalin agreed that free elections should be held. Polish election is held but it was not fair: Polish officials were disqualified, arrested, and five died (2:53- 5:20). Stanisław Mikołajczyk went back to exile during these elections and a Soviet Marshall took over as Polish commander in chief. In Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, Russia ran the countries as well. Stalin applauds. Surplus WWII airplanes sit in a field, possibly at Kingman Army Air Field. In Czechoslovakia, they had independence. People cheer. President Edvard Benes. Stalin stands. Russian troops on the march; Benes “retired” to the country. Jan Garrigue Masaryk, a Czech diplomat who served as the Foreign Minister from 1940 to 1948, died under mysterious circumstances. He lies in state. Poople line up to pay respect (5:21-8:20). March 1945, Turkey. Turkish fishing village. Turkish flag flies. Greece. Civil War in Greece. Children cross railroad tracks. March 1947, President Truman asked Congress to send aid to Greece and Turkey. Congress applauds. Equipment and supplies are sent as part of what will become known as the Marshall Plan. Refugees line up for food. General George Marshall, U.S. Secretary of State speaks (8:21-11:00). Cargo is hoisted. France has Communist inspired riots. French workers on strike. Communist rioters in Italy. Trouble in the UK and the USA from communists. Victims shown after railroad tracks blown up (11:01-12:53). Nations of the West discuss. In March 1948, a treaty was signed in Brussel bringing together Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, & Luxembourg. Diplomats shake hands. Joint exercises. Discussion of the Berlin Blockade and Berlin Air Lift (12:54-14:56). American cargo planes land in Berlin. A crashed U.S. plane is shown aflame.. Winter 1948/1949. In May 1949, the blockade was lifted (14:57-17:20). April 4, 1949. NATO treaty signed was between Great Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Iceland, Canada, and the USA. Stalin claims NATO is an attempt at world domination. Outbreak of Korean War. United Nations Army sent to Korea (17:21-19:52). Surplus planes from WW2 sit in a boneyard awaiting re-activation. NATO emergency session. September 26, 1950, a NATO Supreme Commander is needed. The Council requested President Truman to designate General Eisenhower. Truman and Eisenhower at a press conference. (19:53-21:57). Aerial shots of France. Children play in the streets near the Eiffel Tower. Eisenhower tours the NATO nations from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway and England (21:58-24:57). Big Ben. Eisenhower visits Portugal, Italy, Luxembourg, Germany and Iceland before he returns home. Statue of Liberty. Children make a snowman. ‘Go Home Ike’ signs in Europe from Communist supporters. (24:58-27:43). Pentagon. Eisenhower speaks. Paris. Hotel Astoria. Countries send military advisors (27:44-29:33). Commanders at a conference. April 2, 1951, Eisenhower speaks about NATO. Map of Europe and USSR. (29:34-32:51). The NATO countries and their diverse forces are shown on land, sea and air (32:52-34:31).. April 2, 1951, Eisenhower speaks with other officers. (34:32-36:33). NATO flags fly. Soviets forces remain a threat. Images of refugees. Eisenhower salutes. Flags of NATO including new members Greece and Turkey (36:34-38:55).End (38:56-39:03).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com