Operation Varsity Airborne Invasion East of the Rhine, March 24th, 1945, Part 1

Part 1 of the film starts with Allied troops and armor advancing through Germany and stopping at the west bank of the River Rhine, where they face the challenge of how and where to cross the river. The commentary describes the difficulties involved and the strategic significance of crossing into the German heartland as soon as possible, aided by relief models.

The plan for breaching the Rhine involved coordinated ground and air assaults, including Operations Flounder, Plunder, and Varsity, as explained over stock shots of Eisenhower and his staff, including Tedder, Ramsey, Leigh-Mallory, Bedell-Smith, Bradley, and Montgomery. Shots of Montgomery reading a memo with Eisenhower and Coningham, commander of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, and General James Doolittle, commander of the US 8th Air Force, are intercut with shots of other USAAF officers doing the same.

The film reconstructs a briefing by Major-General Eric Bols, commander of the British Army's 6th Airborne Division, that details the various objectives of both Plunder and Varsity. In preparation for the operation, all airborne troops undergo an extensive period of training and refresher courses, including troops from the Parachute Regiment, Lancashire Regiment, and Royal Army Medical Corps. The film includes scenes of troops being briefed in the open air, vintage pre-D-Day footage, gliders landing, and a spectacular Horsa crash. A review of the required material and logistics follows, including a good shot of the unusual M22 Locust airborne tank with a Long John adaptor fitted to its gun.

The film also highlights the work of the 2nd Tactical Air Force Typhoons and Tempest Vs in preparing the area of operations, with visual effects rather than contemporary accuracy. RAF 80 Squadron Tempests peel off and "destroy" an Arado Ar-96b and attack German airfields, shooting up parked Junkers Ju-88s.

The reel closes with ground troops eagerly awaiting the start of the operation.

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