This film is from a series called ‘Army Navy Screen Magazine” which ran from 1943 to 1946. These were bi-weekly shorts shown to American military personnel during WW2. They often included a newsreel and, on occasion, a cartoon. This one, issue #38 from 1944, features ‘Private Snafu in Target for Tonight’ which depicts the issues experienced by Snafu when he fails to use proper anti-malarial procedures. Newsreels then show the liberation of France from German occupation in 1944.

The Private Snafu cartoon shows the war between man and mosquito, and begins as mosquitos wait in line at an Induction Center (:49) to depict the drafting of mosquito troops. Mosquitos move to the X-Ray Department to ensure only the mosquitos with malaria were to join the war effort (1:08). The mosquitos take part in basic training (1:27) including bayonet practice (1:49), and target practice (1:50). Obstacle courses (1:52) include GI repellant, aerosol cans (2:03), fly swatters (2:30), and fly paper (2:32). The Mosquitos go over photos from an air reconnaissance mission to find a hole in the enemy’s defenses (2:59). The final flier returns from his mission with a photo of Private Snafu with his buttocks exposed through a hole in his netting which was to protect him from mosquitos carrying malaria (3:28). He is made the target (3:34). The mosquitos load up on high octane malaria and hit Snafu who lands in the hospital (4:24). Next, the film turns to the Eiffel Tower in France (4:54). A U.S. Army tank sits below it (5:04) and a massive crowd gathers in the streets as Paris, France is liberated on August 25th 1944 (5:14). Celebrations ensue as the people of France had been under Nazi occupation for four years (5:35). French women are seen kissing American G.I.s (6:15). A look back at what Paris was prior to the invasion follows including the cafes in the artist sections (7:13), night clubs and cabarets (7:20), the Champs-Elysees (7:43) and the Notre Dame Cathedral (7:49). Paris’s history is of the oldest in the continents with deeply entrenched in the ideas of human freedom (8:06). The French Revolution is pointed to which took place in 1789 (8:21) and overthrew the monarchy, thus establishing a republic (8:21). A Nazi flag is sent up a French flagpole (8:35), Hitler stands among Nazi officers (8:45) and the Arc du Triomphe with the Unknown Soldier from WW1 laid to rest under is seen surrounded by Nazi vehicles (8:51). A Frenchmen tears down a Nazi poster and begins scrawling on the wall. The underground resistance was born (9:04). Citizens listened to the radio as Eisenhower broadcasts to France from London (9:11). Naval guns fire towards beaches as the Normandy landings began on June 6th, 1944 (9:21). In the secret headquarters of the Paris underground (9:28), French Forces of the Interior conducted hide and seek missions for four years (9:28). The FFI are then seen preparing plans for resistance (9:43) and women fighters have the FFI badges sewn onto their shirt sleeves (9:44). The German 7th army was trapped in Falaise and the streets of Paris are seen quiet briefly (9:52) before the underground forces began heading out to construct barricades (10:02). Bullet holes in buildings nearby were over 150 years old and many of the fighter’s fathers and grandfathers had taken part in WW1 when Germany had first invaded the country (10:20). FFI forces cut down trees for roadblocks (10:28) and even small children took part in the effort (10:31). Rifles are aimed over the barricades (10:43) as guerilla street fighting broke out (11:24). Weapons were of modest degree and bombs were often cooked up by corner druggists (11:38). Women and children duck for cover (11:44) and German troops are seen pressed forward at gunpoint by French civilians (12:03). Combat continued for five days until on the sixth day, forces whom had followed the French General Charles de Gaulle in England and Africa four years prior moved to the fringes of Paris alongside US forces (12:23). They broke through Nazi lines and entered the city to aide in the civilian uprising (12:35). FFI removed barricades to allow the French and US armored forces through (12:50). The Nazi’s threw out a desperate final attempt (13:06). German soldiers are seen surrendering shorty after (14:12). Proud French citizens stand nearby as Nazi’s are herded off to prison camps (14:49). General de Gualle heads to the Arc du Triomphe (15:14) to pay tribute to the Unknown Soldier for the first time in four years (15:19). Scenes of liberation ensue and Eisenhower and Omar Bradley are pictured together (16:02) as the French flag is again raised (16:10).

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