Made in 1944 after the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, "Brief for Invasion" is a rousing war incentive film designed to encourage factory workers and others critical to the war effort, to keep working and win the war. The film begins with images of Allied troops landing at Normandy, and paratroops enplaning in England. It then shows war workers raising questions about how much material will be needed to win the battle to liberate Occupied France.
At 7:18, the failed Dieppe Raid aftermath is shown, with Canadian and British tanks and dead seen on the beach. Rommel is shown and his Atlantic Wall of defense.
At 7:55, the day of the invasion is shown using German footage, including a captured German newsreel at 8:35. The film describes how information about German defenses is gained. The film then diagrams the various invasion defenses; showing railway guns, pillboxes, rocket launchers, and a fortified town.
At 15:43, D-day is seen again with a naval barrage. Aircraft down enemy fighters and bomb and strafe targets. General Hap Arnold describes the materiel needed for aerial warfare. Air-to-air combat is shown, and Allied wounded from the air campaign are seen at 21:00.
At 23:54 General Leslie J McNair, director of War Production, speaks about production. Reel 4, Gen. Somervell urges increased production {as miscellaneous industrial and war scenes are shown. At 37:30, U.S. forces are seen in England prior to the invasion, praying at a church. At 29:00, an incredible montage of war equipment is seen from aircraft to locomotives, bombs to graders to trucks and tractors. Lt. General Brehon Somervell, commanding general of the Army Service Corps, speaks directly to the American worker about united effort.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."
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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com