[WWII BIG THREE YALTA CONFERENCE, POTSDAM CONFERENCE & 1955 BIG FOUR GENEVA SUMMIT]

Year Published: 1955

Description: This compilation of silent newsreel footage presents three important conferences involving the ‘Big Three’ and “Big Four’ superpowers; the US, UK, Soviet Union and later France. FDR, Churchill and Stalin meet amid bourgeois palaces plotting the fate of a postwar Europe at the 1945 Yalta Conference. The conference, held at a point of the war during which there was little question of German surrender, aimed to unite the countries. It continues to the 1945 Potsdam Conference involving Truman, Churchill and Stalin including stirring scenes of a war ravaged Germany. Germans wander through ruination; bombed out buildings litter rubble over the streets, youth play with abandoned anti-aircraft guns as playground structures and cafe patrons sip coffee within a fallen city. It tours the Pacific Theater featuring combat scenes and wounded locals filing out of the city with their belongings. As Germany surrendered, Allied leaders focused on a conclusion to the Pacific War. It continues to the 1955 Geneva Summit; a Cold War era meeting. Footage shows the politics behind the close of WW2 including shots of various players of world power as well the fallout from the war as Nikita Khrushchev and JFK meet for the 1961 Vienna summit amid Cold War tensions. It highlights global turmoil spilling from WW2, through the Cold War and into Vietnam.

0:00 Shots show the Crimean Mountains The Voronstov Palace (:18) was fabricated from local stones in an effort to blend the structure with it’s background. Churchill stayed here during the conference. Close shots (:21-:30) pay homage to it’s architecture style comprised of elements of Scottish Baronial, Indo-Saracenic and Gothic Revival. Soviet guards man the entrance (:41). Livadia Palace (:38) hosted the Yalta Conference. A waiter sets the table for global leaders (:46). A cameraman adjusts a Newman Sinclair 35 mm (:55). A delegation navigates the Dardanelles’ Strait to Crimea (1:06-1:13). Churchill puffs his cigar (2:25) next to Molotov (2:25). FDR appears in poor health. Molotov enters (2:57). Anthony Eden, Alexander Cadogan (3:10), Sir Charles Portal (3:20) and his wife follow. Delegates head in Packard 6’s (3:29) for another meeting (3:29). Edward Stettinius Jr. leads (3:35), Churchill (3:44) and Stalin follow (3:54). FDR sits center view (3:57). Stalin chats with Andrei Gromyko (4:14). They pose for the press (4:14-4:40). Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy stands behind President Franklin Roosevelt (4:44). The Potsdam Conference (4:47) coverage begins with the ruined Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (4:59). Delegates arrivals (5:06) including Truman (5:42). Brandenburg Gate (5:54). Armored vehicles parade in front of the Reichstag (6:11-7:09). The Berlin Victory column (7:17) and British troops under Berlin’s “Big Three’ mural (7:27). Churchill and Truman shake hands (7:42). The Reichsbank (7:47); responsible for handling the assets of concentration camp victims and cafe patrons amid a ruined city (7:55) follow. Night scenes show a city ablaze (8:31-8:58). Footage highlights the chaos locals were experiencing as they move in and out of fog (9:15). German’s clear rubble (9:33). Delegates tour destruction (10:32). Nauener Tor (10:50) and Cecilienhof Palace (10:55) follow. Stalin, Churchill and Truman pose together (11:13). Pacific War scenes (11:26) show troops surrendering (11:40), buildings burning (12:05-12:17) and civilians fleeing (12:19). Footage of the 1955 Geneva Summit (12:40) features the Palace of Nations (12:34), Mont Blanc Bridge (12:45) and delegates arrivals (12:29). A Vickers Viscount (13:02) delivers Anthony Eden (13:12). Dwight Eisenhower (14:02) Nikolai Bulganin (14:30) address the press. Frances Edgar sits at the center (15:05). JFK and Jackie Onassis land for the 1961 Vienna Summit (17:04) greeted by Harold Macmillan (17:44). Press photograph JFK and Nikita Khrushchev (18:31). The pair meet (19:01). Delegates make addresses (21:09-22:33).

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAonZapwyQs

Metadata Source:YouTube