Customer Reviews

Embedded '45: Shooting War in Germany

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This DVD is based on multiple reels of film shot by US Army Signal Corps camermen in 1945 during the drive into Germany. The material is all black and white, well exposed and well reproduced. The story starts with the crossing of the Roer River and moves through the end of the war. For the mlitary equipment buff there are many scenes of tanks in action, of artillery, and a lot of footage of the infantryman in combat. There are many scenes of the German death camps and of the suffering and destruction that the Nazis brought to Germany, but the real value to many of us are the scenes of the American GI in action. No glory, just a dirty, nasty job that was done by a generation now in their eighties. It is fascinating to look back at the young men, the average infantry, carrying heavy loads, always in danger, but working towards the victory.

This is an interesting film, although those expecting a lot of combat will be disappointed. This film is more concerned with the combat cameramen than battles. There are very few scenes of actual combat, although they include the famous scene of the Panther knocked out in Cologne by a Pershing. While the narration has a taint of bias and can get repetitious on some themes (i.e. cameramen were ordered not to film dead Americans) it is generally well done. They are also fairly good at pointing out when a scene was staged for the camera. There are a few shots of the rarely pictured Pershing heavy tank rumbling down streets or roads. All-in-all, worth a look.