This circa 1945 War Department film titled “Rolling to the Rhine” details the experience of WWII “Red Ball Express” drivers delivering cargo to Allied troops in the European Theater.
Opening title: (0:06) The War Department Presents Rolling to the Rhine (0:21) produced by Army Pictorial Service, Signal Corps (0:29). The Bronze Star is displayed on the screen and shown being placed on the breast pocket of a soldier (0:45). A pilot is seen in the cockpit of an aircraft with shots of soldiers in the field (0:57). The gloved hand of a truck driver is seen shifting gears (1:00). A military truck is leaving the military compound and driving on the street. (1:27) Shots of civilian life are depicted at a bus station, with footage of two boxers fighting, a train is moving across elevated train-tracks. At (1:42) a street shot is displayed of Chicago buildings, a crowd of men are eating food at a restaurant. (1:48) Trucks in the city and civilian life. (2:10) Men seen maintaining the Army trucks. (2:25) A locomotive with smoke billowing as it pulls a train (2:36) A Red Ball truck moving down the dock to be shipped to Paris, France via the English Channel. (2:44) A truck with a U.S. Army white star painted on the passenger door is taking a right turn. (2:53) A sign that says “One Way” (2:55) Trucks kicking up dust on the street. (3:04) A sign showing “Red Ball Convoys” is displayed. (3:07) 3 men standing by a truck that reads “We Deliver”. (3:11) Men walking in a French township with trucks following. (3:15) Military tanks driving on the street.(3:34) Sherman tanks on the move (3.54) A convoy seen moving resources and hardware. (4:02) Again a convoy moving through townships in Liberated France; showing trucks moving through various highways and roads. (4:36) Red Ball Express trucks moving throw floods and through the night with lights shinning and back to day. (4:53) Wheels churning on the street as the trucks move about the streets. (5:15) Men seen repairing and removing a malfunctioning truck off the street. (05:22) A very large and long truck moving slowly throughout the various environments with tremendous payloads attached. (05:36) Red Ball trucks displayed with heavy duty tires. (6:00) A Red Ball truck being pulled by another truck. (6:03) Stacks of worn down tires for retreading. (6:12) Makeshift rest stations are displayed with trucks scattered about.(06:18) A sign that reads “Clean air Cleaner” is shown. “Check Wiring” sign is displayed, “Clean Spark Plugs” sign is displayed, “Check Battery” sign is displayed, “Check Tires sign is displayed, “Check Fuel Filters” sign is displayed“, Tighten Bolts” and “Clean Win-shields” sign is displayed. (06:40) African-American soldiers seen waiting for coffee and socializing with coffee and cigarettes. (06:53) A truck is moving out from the rest station. (7:00)Trucks being loaded with cargo and being directed by MPs.(07:12) Radio trucks are displayed men continuing to load and ship materials.(07:36) Aerial footage of oil refineries.(07:42) Cases of “human blood plasma” shown stacked very high.(07:49) Men loading ammo in distribution lines. (07:56) Trucks in line waiting to move with stacks lumber. (7:59) More trucks moving about on the road with men riding bicycles on the side of the street, trucks continuing to move about various roads and environments. (08:23) Newspaper that read “Red Ball Line Ends”. (08:57) Map of Europe is displayed . (09:02) Map of Asia is displayed and trucks moving in the CBI Theater, with another map displayed with Burma being highlighted and truck on a mountainside road. (09:10) A map of the United States is shown with a line of parked trucks being immediately displayed afterwards. (09:20) A sign is shown that says “Port of Embarkation”. (09:22) A parking lot of trucks (09:31). Most are GMC CCKW 2.5 ton 6×6.
The Red Ball Express was a truck convoy system that supplied Allied forces in Europe after breaking out from the D-Day beaches in Normandy in 1944. The route, marked with red balls, was closed to civilian traffic; trucks were marked with the same red balls and also given priority on regular roads. The system began operating on August 25, 1944. It ran until Nov. 16, when the port facilities at Antwerp, Belgium opened, some French rail lines were repaired, and portable gasoline pipelines deployed. The Red Ball Express was primarily operated by African-American soldiers.
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
