VE Day in Paris
Creator(s)
- United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Motion Picture Reference
- United States. Army Air Forces. Combat Camera Unit, 4th. (Producer)
- Arthur J. Mainzer (Camera Operator)
Biographical History
Arthur Mainzer (1923-) was a cameraman in the 4th Combat Camera Unit of the 9th Air Force. The Combat Camera Unit was tasked with creating Air Force training films at Hal Roach Studios. After completing training at the Air Force Photo Technical School in Denver, CO and the First Motion Picture Unit in Culver, City, CA, Mainzer was deployed to Europe. He was filming bomb damage by the Allied Air Forces with Captain Ellis Carter when they heard about Buchenwald and drove there by jeep on April 13, 1945. Mainzer and Carter filmed conditions at the camp on Kodak color film stock using two handheld 16mm film cameras. The footage was then sent to headquarters in London for processing.
Scope and Content
Slate: "VE Day / Mainzer / Roll 1 / May 8". Scenes of massive VE day celebration in Paris. French civilians. American soldiers and WACs parading in the streets. Crowds of people, especially women and soldiers. Medium shot of soldier with film camera hugging French woman, standing on military vehicle. More crowds, celebrating, with flags. Slate: "VE Day / Mainzer / Roll 2 / May 8". High angle view of celebration in the streets. GIs pose with French women. Riding in military vehicle. "VE Day / Mainzer / Roll 3 / May 8". Children waving American flag. Crowds parading in military vehicles. Brief view of a different soldier with a film camera in the passenger seat of a military jeep. In high spirits, GIs plunge in the fountain at Place de la Concorde. Closeups of French women, dog, "Margie" (actress?).
Note(s)
See also Story 3544 and 3545, Film ID 2513 for similar footage.
Mainzer was filming bomb damage by the Allied Air Forces with Captain Ellis Carter when they heard about Buchenwald and drove there by jeep on April 13, 1945. Mainzer and Carter filmed conditions at the camp on Kodak color film stock using two handheld 16mm film cameras. The footage was then sent to headquarters in London for processing.
Subjects
- SOLDIERS/MILITARY (AMERICAN)
- FRANCE
- MILITARY VEHICLES
- LIBERATION
- PARADES
- STREETS
- V-E DAY
- WOMEN
- CIVILIANS
- CROWDS
Places
- Paris, France
Genre
- Unedited.
- Film