The Big Wheel: 35th Infantry Division (MISC 7723) is a short 1950 film about the history of the 35th Infantry Division, focusing on the unit’s campaigns in Europe during WWII. The film opens with footage of pioneer wagon trains heading west, while explaining to viewers how the unit earned the nickname the “Santa Fe Division” for taking the Santa Fe cross for its shoulder sleeve insignia. The 35th arrives in France during WWI. The film shows footage of fighting, presumably the division’s fighting at Meuse-Argonne, Alsace, and Lorraine. The division returns to New York City after the war. A photograph shows on of the returning men, future president Harry Truman (02:28). The film then jumps to WWII. Tanks are prepared for transportation (03:20). The 35th trains at Camp Robinson, AR (03:36), and the film shows some of the division’s additional training at other U.S. bases. The men of the 35th board a ship for England. General Eisenhower, General Patton, and General Paul W. Baade inspect the troops of the 35th “Santa Fe” Division (04:33). Men fire heavy guns in Normandy. The 35th breaks through a German line (06:27) and fight past Emelie, France. The soldiers sift through the ruins of St. Lo. The film shows footage of fighting at night, which is followed by the 35th receiving a warm welcome from liberated French civilians. Men cross the Moselle River (08:57) and take Nancy; they are again greeted by cheering French people. The division fights during winter at Bastogne. A few men locate German mines (10:44). The division makes it to Venlo, Holland (11:16), but continues on to Germany. They fight in woods (12:40) before crossing Herne Canal (13:20), and soon accept the surrender of German soldiers (13:50). Members of the 35th relax with a friendly swimming competition (14:14). The soldiers celebrate VJ Day in France by drinking wine and dancing. President Truman inspects his old unit (15:03). The 35th arrives by ship at New York City on 10 September 1945 (15:35).
The 35th Infantry Division (formerly known as the 35th Division) is an infantry formation of the Army National Guard commanded by Major General Victor J. Braden. It is currently headquartered at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The 35th Division was organized August 25, 1917, at Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma, as a unit of the National Guard, with troops from Missouri and Kansas. It was deactivated in 1919 but was reconstituted in 1935 and served with a brief interruption until it was deactivated again in 1963. The 35th Infantry Division was reactivated and the headquarters and headquarters company federally recognized on August 25, 1984, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
