G.I. Stories 1941-1945

10/05/2026

April 12, 1945 – The 272nd Infantry Regiment - nicknamed "Battle Axe Regiment" - of the 69th Infantry Division pushes toward Naumburg, Germany approximately 35 miles west of Leipzig. This footage of a M1917A1 HMG crew from M Company was likely filmed in Bad Kösen, just outside of Naumburg.

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-3989

09/05/2026

"May 2, 1945 was the last day of tactical operation for the 13th Infantry in World War II. On that date, having crossed the Elbe River during the preceding night, the Regiment, then in Eighth Division reserve, followed the 28th and 121st Infantry Regiments on their move toward the Baltic Sea. It was a rapid move, for the attacking echelons encountered no oppositions and for the 13th Infantry it was nothing more than a road march. Throughout May 2, hundreds and then thousands of German military personnel surrendered.

During the night of May 2-3, the main roads south of Schwerin were jammed, not only with military personnel and vehicles, but also with civilians. Apparently all were fleeing toward the Elbe River in an attempt to cross and escape from what they thought was to be an area dominated by the Russians. It was not until May 3, however, that everyone was aware of the huge problem which confronted American Military personnel. In the 13th Infantry area alone, there were over 54,000 military prisoners in addition to tens of thousands of migratory German civilians and displaced persons from all over Europe. Slave laborers from Russia, Poland, Belgium, Holland, and France comprised the bulk of them." From "Eighth Infantry Division: A Combat History by Regiments and Special Units, 13th Infantry Regiment."

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-2046

09/05/2026

Original caption: "Company, Second Battalion. Back row, left to right - T/Sgt. Victor W. Peterson, Nebraska City; T/Sgt. Eugene A. Schmitz, Roseland; Capt. Charles E. Hake, North Platte; T/Sgt. Frend B. Witler, Humboldt; 1st Sgt. C. A. Felthauser, Nebraska City; Front row, left to right-Robert W. Divine, Ceresco; S/Sgt. Dale O. Steckel, Fullerton; 2nd Lt. Don V. Knoechel, Seward; S/Sgt. Robert E. Baker, York; and S/Sgt. Virgil H. Meinke, Norfolk." Nebraska men from H Company, 134th Infantry. The regimental motto was "All Hell Can't Stop Us."

Photo from "134th Infantry Regiment: Combat History of World War II" by Butler B. Miltonberger

08/05/2026

A quick trip over to the New Guinea for the jump on Noemfoor Island. Two battalions of the 503rd PIR sustained close for 130 non-battle casualties from this jump alone between July 3-4, 1944.

July 3-4, 1944 - 3rd and 1st Battalions of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment jumped to support US forces on Noemfoor Island. The battle for the island la...

08/05/2026

May 2, 1945 - German prisoners in Hagenow (near Scherwin), Germany are processed by soldiers of the 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. The women in the beginning of the clip appear to be "Helferinnen" (auxiliaries) of the Luftwaffe. It is possible that there are also DRK nurses or other female personnel from other services as well.

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-2046

07/05/2026

May 3, 1945 - The footage in this clip was filmed at Gorleben, Germany along the Elbe days before the official end of the war in Europe.

This portion of the film shows German prisoners near Gorleben, a few kilometers from Schnackenburg. There is no further information besides that the estimated number of prisoners was 5000. In the last days of the war in the ETO, many German soldiers were crossing the Elbe from east to west in the hopes that they could surrender to Western Allies

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-2046

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07/05/2026

Normandy illustration in "85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized" drawn by S/Sgt. Joe A. Sylvester of the S-2 section of the 85th Sqn HQ.

The 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was part of the 5th Armored Division.



PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

06/05/2026

Photo of Gen. Patton from the unit history, "Through France with the G-3 Section, Third U.S. Army Headquarters" printed by the 652d Engineer Battalion (Topographic), 1945.

05/05/2026

May 3, 1945 - The footage in this clip was filmed at Schnackenburg, Germany on the Elbe just days before the official end of the war in Europe.

Men of the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division (L Company, if the original caption is correct) welcoming a Red Army soldier who came across the Elbe from Lütkenwisch to the Schnackenburg area. The US Colonel is identified as Alexander George, who commanded the 175th Infantry previously, during the Normandy Campaign. He was wounded in July 1944, but returned to the 29th ID after recuperation.

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-2046

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04/05/2026

Cover art and title page of "85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized" drawn by S/Sgt. Joe A. Sylvester of the S-2 section of the 85th Sqn HQ. There are many amazing illustrations in this book; I'll share more as time allows.

The 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was part of the 5th Armored Division.



PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

30/04/2026

April 18, 1945 - 1st Armored Division units drive on near Susano, Vergato, Italy during the Po Valley Campaign.

"THE END OF THE WAR - The final campaign in Italy began for the 1st Armored Division at dawn on April 14, 1945. The German bastion of Vergato fell that day to the 81st Reconnaissance Squadron and the attack was pushed north on Highway 64 toward Bologna. The division fought three days, gaining 10 miles to the north, before being relieved by an infantry division.

Recommitted 10 miles west, on narrow roads and mule trails the division scaled peak after peak before breaking into the fertile flatlands of the Po Valley on April 21. Combat Command 'A' reached Highway 9, important lateral valley route, in the early morning and Combat Command 'B' at last light had closed up on the left. Prisoners had been trickling into the division cages since the opening day, and the 257 Germans captured on April 21 raised the division's total for the operation to 874.

The hard-pressed German forces fell back before an armored spearhead pushed out by CC 'A' on the morning of April 22. By dark the combat command had plunged 25 miles northwest into enemy territory. Modena was bypassed, to the right and left, then cleared by a special force on the following day." (Excerpt from "The Story of the First Armored Division")

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-4078

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