Dead soldiers around a German bunker and scenes of ruined town of Wesel-Duisburg Xanten.
This video has no sound
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Short Summary
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Description
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Data
- Film ID:
- 1994.05
- Media URN:
- 62171
- Group:
- Unissued unused
- Archive:
- British Pathé
- Issue Date:
- Sound:
- Mute
- HD Format:
- Available on request
- Stock:
- Black & White
- Duration:
- 00:01:52:00
- Time in/Out:
- 01:18:20:00 / 01:20:12:00
- Canister:
- UN 1149 D
jamied says
"Civilians carrying suitcases walk past ruins of town - Wesel-Duisburg Xanten" - this is simply a sign showing the direction towards those places.
Janweijma says
The city shown is Kalkar, then also known as Calcar. The town square with the heavily damaged town hall is shown, as well as the Kessel Strasse and the Monre Strasse.
Janweijma says
The film was probably made on the evening of Februray 27th, 1945. On this day the Wiltshire regiment of the 43rd Division took control of Calcar, without combat. The German troops under command of Major Witzig had left the city one day before. German civilians notified the British of this, after which they entered the city.
In the film it can be seen that civilians are led away. Right after the city was under allied control, all civilians that still were left in Calcar had to gather on the main square. They could return to their homes but were evacuated the day after.
The destruction of the buildings was from the air bombing on Feb 21.
Source: Book "Niederrheinisches Land im Krieg" by Wilhelm Michels and Peter Sliepenbeek, 1964. Boss-Druck und Verlag, Kleve.
I am interested if there is more footage on Calcar available. Who knows the name of film maker of the above film ? Is more material known from him that might include scenes from Kalkar or the area around it ?