This black & white educational film is about the formation of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between countries to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means. Collective defense is at the heart of the Alliance and creates a spirit of solidarity and cohesion among its members. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949. Copyright of this film is 1951. This film was written by Lambton Burn and edited by Arthur Michelin.
Opening: British Information Services presents “Keeping the Peace” (:06-:37). A man leaves a farm and walks on city streets to a British Royal Army recruiting station. He swears an oath to his country. Anglo-French Treaty signed at Dunkirk in 1947. Five nations pledges cooperation for the future in peace and war (France, Luxembourg, Holland, Great Britain, Belgium). Europe rebuilds from the ruins (:38-2:15), some of the images shown appear to be in Greece, with artisans rebuilding a shattered church and creating new statuary. Field Marshall Montgomery of Great Britain sets up command. Machines in factories are up and running. Defense factories. Britain’s new plane – the English Electric Canberra — is wheeled out of a hangar. Canberra flies in the sky. Countries work together. Gloster Meteor jet planes take off. Countries partake in Operation Bulldog, a mock battle to make sure the countries are ready to co-ordinate their battle and defense plans. Planes dive bomb. French paratroopers make a jump (2:16-4:13). Parachutes fill the sky. USAF (United States Air Force) B-29 strategic bombers fly over Europe. Tanks fire and move. Troops advance. Field Marshall William Slim, a British Military Commander, watches as well as a French general. Live fire exercise. Belgian warships are shown at sea along with those of other countries in the pact, including French and Royal Navy elements. Field Marshall Montgomery and Admirals of the western union fleet (4:14-6:05). At 5:47, HMS Cleopatra, a Dido-class cruiser and the French destroyer Le Fantasque (“The capricious one”). Planes take off from HMS Theseus, a Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carrier and at 5:55, the French Navy’s Arromanches (R95) aircraft carrier. Planes in the air. Admirals confer at sea. Planes perform maneuvers in the sky and over the sea. April 4, 1949 – formation of NATO by the nations of Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, Iceland, Canada, and the United States. Paris – Hotel Astoria, military leaders of NATO meet and discuss (6:06-8:09). United States General Eisenhower signs and then speaks. Tanks. Soldiers march. Troops run through the snow. Troops of Norway in the snow, climb up a mountain. A man makes an oath to his country. Children at play. Soldiers watch (8:10-10:08). End credits (10:09-10:14).
The English Electric Canberra is a British first-generation, jet-powered medium bomber. It was developed by English Electric during the mid- to late 1940s in response to a 1944 Air Ministry requirement for a successor to the wartime de Havilland Mosquito fast bomber.
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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
