Filmed in August, 1945, including on V-J Day, this home movie footage shows members of Allied armies in occupied Italy. The exact locations are unclear but at least a portion of the film appears to have been shot in Turin, and it seems likely that the film shows how total victory was celebrated by U.S. forces in that city. (Note: Turin was heavily bombed during the war, with the last raid on the city taking place on April 5, 1945).
The film begins with shots of U.S. soldiers holding up a copy of “Stars and Stripes” with the headline “Peace at Last”. This particular newspaper was issued on August 15, 1945 on V-J Day. These shots are followed by a parade of soldiers moving through the city. Some of these soldiers wear the U.S. Army North African Theater of Operation Patch (visible especially at 9:23). At (3:18), soldiers assemble in a square. At (4:27) an African American band, part of the drum and bugle corps, is shown performing. The Roman style building in the b/g at (4:38) seems very identifiable but has not yet been named. At (4:47), an officer who appears to be a colonel addresses the troops. At (5:02) the band continues to play. Troops parade through the city. At (6:15) a color guard with a U.S. Army infantry flag. At (6:56) the headquarters of the 384th Port Battalion, part of the 6th Port of Embarkation, a unit of the Transportation Corps and the Quartermaster Corps. At (7:21) — town square with an equestrian statue of Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia visible in the background. The film ends with dark shots of a U.S. soldier showing off what might be a letter at (8:27). The patch on his shoulder is from the North African Theater.
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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
