Prepared by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) after the surrender of Italy in September, 1943, this “War Department Report” is an official report for the U.S. Army general staff. It examines Axis forces strength and assesses the difficulty of the job ahead. It begins with the Gran Sasso raid, as the SS successfully rescue Mussolini from captivity. The film details Germany’s industrial strength, the creation of new Army divisions, and the increase in war workers and foreign labor. It assesses Germany’s food situation and production capabilities, which include new U-boats and quality weapons like the Tiger tank. It highlights the use of slave labor and examines logistics and supply lines. The film then addresses the role of strategic reserves, Lend-Lease, distribution logistics, and the challenges in the Pacific. The film concludes with the strategic challenges in attacking Japan, and the heavy price paid in manpower and equipment in the Pacific. Under Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson emphasizes the importance of logistics and preparation, using the attack on Sicily as an example, and underscores the determination to match the strength of Germany and Japan in 1944, pledging to never forget the enemy’s treachery and brutality.

00:00 Film will be about the enemy’s strength and the difficulty of the job ahead.

0:47: Gran Sasso Raid. German paratroopers’ jailbreak mission in Eastern Italy on September 12, 1943.

1:25: Description of the elite guards of the SS and their successful mission.

2:12: Mussolini’s transport to Hitler’s headquarters and the implications for Nazi prestige 2:30: Introduction of Mussolini’s son and the official conference with Ribbentrop.

3:06: Brief Axis conference and the departure of the first fascist partner.

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 5:31: Japan’s swift conquests in the Far East and the resources they seized.

6:23: Germany’s continued strength despite losses, with a focus on their industrial capabilities.

7:09: Germany’s powerful army and the creation of new divisions with better weapons.

8:03: Increase in German war workers and the use of foreign labor.

9:00: Germany’s food situation and the exploitation of Europe’s natural wealth.

10:03: Industrial strength of Germany and their production capabilities.

11:01: Germany’s production of new submarines and locomotives.

2:00: Quality of German weapons, including the Tiger tank and Messerschmidt and Focke-Wulf fighter planes.

Germany’s use of slave labor for building fortifications in the Atlantic Wall. 14:06: Development of new weapons 15:01: Logistics of military operations and the importance of supply lines.

16:13: Detailed logistics for specific operations and the need for replacements.

Importance of strategic reserves and the role of Lend-Lease in supporting allies. 18:26: Distribution logistics and the flow of supplies

19:22: Navy’s role in logistical campaigns and the challenges in the Pacific.

Difficulties of supplying troops in the Pacific and the reliance on air supply.

21:22: Comparison of sea and air supply logistics. Role of air forces in achieving air superiority and supporting ground operations.

23:14: Strategic bombing of Germany and the challenges of targeting industrial sites. 24:42: Impact of strategic bombing on German war production 25:08: Germany’s defensive measures against bombing raids .

26:31: Challenges faced by Allied bombers and the need to replace lost equipment.

27:31: Strategic challenges in attacking Japan. Difficulties of establishing air bases in the Pacific and the reliance on air supply.

29:55: Slow advance in the Pacific and the capture of larger bases for strategic bombing.

• 30:56: Challenges of maintaining bases in China 32:22: Limitations of using Siberian bases for bombing Japan and strategic implications.

33:06: No easy solution for air attacks on Japan; logistical challenges.35:22: Manpower and equipment needed for amphibious operations and the heavy price paid.

37:42: Losses of equipment and lives in amphibious assaults.

38:06: Under Secretary of War’s remarks on the importance of logistics and preparation.

40:06: Heavily fortified coastlines of Axis Europe.

41:09: Determination to match the strength of Germany and Japan and the importance of 1944.

41:27: Pledge to never forget the treachery and brutality of the enemy.

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