Endgame in North Africa
The Final Defeat of Rommel's Afrika Corps
Two features on one DVD Brief scenes from these dramatic films are often shown in World War II documentaries on the cable history channels -- see the full length original films here!
1.) News From the Front in North Africa 1942 (1942,COLOR,43 minutes) Shot In Technicolor by US Army, Navy and O.S.S. cameraman in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, November-December 1942. A new Archival release with color correction. Hands down some of the best color footage we have seen from World War 2.
This was tough "on the job training" for the brand new American Army and Air Corps.
Highlights include
The Battle of
Taboura, Tunisia unfolds in broad valley in a panoramic tableau right out of a scene from "Patton" -- and you get an armchair view of the action. German tanks and infantry advance in the open and are turned back by withering Allied gun fire. These are some of the first, and possibly only, color shots of Tiger 1 tanks in combat, taking and returning fire. (Tigers were so new in the fall of '42 that they are misidentified as "Mark IVs" by the narrator). Not a recreation from stock footage -- this
is the real tank battle as seen from a unique perspective.
Very low level Luftwaffe bombing and staffing runs against shipping, towns, troops and and airfields by JU 88s. He 111's and very rare shots of ME 210s flying right overhead. The Allies didn't have air superiority and paid a heavy price
A treasure trove of early war color footage of Allied forces, including Grant medium and Stewart light takes, half tracks, jeeps, and US and British soldiers in combat kit both at rest and in fierce fighting. Tanks and transport are seen in transit through the mountainous North African countryside, then artfully camouflaged for the night before going into combat.Captured Italian paratroopers in dress uniforms with full capes are one of the many other vivid color images in the film. You'll also see Allied commanders, including Gen Mark Clark with soon to be assassinated Vichy puppet Admiral Darlan, reviewing colorful colonial troops. Grant tanks are unloaded from LSTs bathed in sunset. Troopers celebrate Thanksgiving with a scrounged up chicken roast -- and much more.
See a low altitude dogfight between P-38s. Spitfires and Messerschmidts, as photographed from the ground. Footage of actual tactical combat maneuvering between fighters is extremely rare!
2.) Tunisian Victory (1944, B&W, 116
minutes)
An American-British feature length co production in very good black and
white film, reminiscent of the Academy Award Winner, "The True Glory."
Told through a combination of striking footage, high powered narration
by Burgess Meridith and others, extensive captured German film and
first hand accounts from the participants. This is the final climactic
chapter in the defeat of Rommel's Africa Corps told in an epic, wide
ranging presentation full of memorable scenes.
American, British, and Free French forces under Patton strike
from the West in Operation Torch,
landing in Morocco and Algeria, the first major amphibious strike of
World War 2. British and Commonwealth forces continue their drive from
Egypt, through the Mareth Line
in Southern Tunisia. Ike,
Monty, Rommel, Kesselring, Patton and thousands of GIs, Tommys, airmen
and sailors all play their part in this memorable documentary. "Action
packed" is an understatement here! You'll see
all aspects of Allied air, sea, parachute
and ground operations from beach landings through the final mass
surrender of the Africa Korps, including a mountain of dramatic combat
footage ranging across the North African campaign. There's a wide variety of Allied and Axis
tanks and armored vehicles featured too, along with many aircraft like
the A-20, B-25, B-17, B-24, Spitfire, Hurricane, Beaufighter, P-38,
P-39, P-40 and more in action. The film has plenty of animated
strategic and tactical maps too that make this complex operation easy
to grasp.
|
