Dating to 1945, this silent 8mm home movie was shot by a member of the American military. We believe he worked either as a pilot or crew chief for the Army Air Forces. The film shows some views the end of the war in Europe as it was experienced by men on the ground, and concludes with an R&R trip into Switzerland.

This film begins with aerial footage before showing a G.I. holding up a newspaper with a headline “Nazi Armies in Italy Surrender”. This datest to 29 April 1945, and the Surrender at Caserta, which was the written agreement that formalized the surrender of German and Italian Fascist forces in Italy, ending the Italian Campaign of World War II. At 1:55, a row of C-47 cargo airplanes are seen on the tarmac along with a C-46 Commando at 2:23. At 2:56, a C-47 flies over the Italian Alps. At 3:28, footage of ruined buildings, location unknown. At 3:57, more footage shot flying over the Alps. At 4:05, an airman poses in a captured German uniform. At 4:10, a huge cloud of smoke is shown on the horizon, possibly from a plane crash. At 4:55, lunch is served at an outdoor mess and parts of a tent camp are shown. At 6:44 a flight of aircraft flies overhead. At 7:03, aerial shots of a city, possibly Rome as there are many bridges evident and a large domed building which may be St. Peter’s. At 7:39, a P-51 Mustang taxis on the tarmac at the airbase. At 7:44, large formations of bombers fly overhead. At 7:53 a P-51 races past camera. At 9:10, images of a policeman giving traffic signals, as well as scenes in an Italian city — note at 10:03 the American Red Cross Officer’s Club. At 10:11, men take a break from a truck ride, one of them peeing on the side of the highway. “Red Army in Berlin” Stars & Stripes newspaper headline from April 22, 1945. At 10:47, an aircrewman shows how to unzip his leather heated flying suit, with the fur lining visible. At 11:01, a Piper L-4 Grasshopper is shown. At 11:38, men pose with various newspaper headlines including “Peace at Last”. At 11:56, a baseball game as the men relax. At 12:28, wonderful nose art on C-47 airplane — the “Leading Lady” #349901. At 13:14, brief shot of a train — probably headed to Switzerland. At 13:43, shots of a town in Switzerland. At 14:25, a sign for Simplon, earlier known as Simpeln, or Brig, Switzerland and the Hotel Muller. At 17:47, an airman poses high in the Alps, and smokes his pipe. At 18:01 the Swiss flag followed by shots in Montreux, Switzerland at 18:33. At 20:34, a man poses with his St. Bernard dog.

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. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com