This silent 16mm newsreel from Official Films begins with footage of the German invasion of Norway. At 1:08, the American ambassador Mrs. J. Borden Harriman escapes to Sweden. At 1:42 Namsos, a North Sea port city, is bombed. At 2:50, Allied Expeditionary Force ships withdraw from Norway. At 4:30, Royal Air Force planes arrive to cover the withdrawal and prevent enemy U-boat attacks. At 5:43 the German Blitzkrieg begins as Adolf Hitler’s forces invade the lowlands of Europe. German Heinkel bombers and Stuka divebombers are seen making attack runs. At 6;14 Holland opens up its dikes to stem the invasion but to no avail. At 7:20, King Leopold takes to the battlefield with his men. At 7:45 French troops are seen joining the defense of western Europe. At 8:00 the Germans strike Belgium and at 9:00 throngs of refugees are seen on the roads. The film ends with a blind WWI vet wandering a destroyed French town, praying against all hope for victory.

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