- A new video shows troops as they headed to France for the Normandy Landings
- Cameraman Jack Lieb captured the footage in Plymouth in June 1944
- The snapshots include one soldier’s mocking impression of Adolf Hilter
Rare colour footage of British and American troops making their final preparations ahead of the D-Day invasion of France has resurfaced this week.
The video records the soldiers in Plymouth as they boarded boats to France in June 1944 ahead of what was to become a landmark moment in the Allied victory in World War II.
It was captured by Jack Lieb, a news cameraman who accompanied troops as they made the crossing.
New colour footage captured by cameraman Jack Lieb shows some of the final moments before UK and US troops prepared for D-Day
Mr Lieb made the crossing with the men and recorded them as they explained their plans for the attack on the enemy in Normandy
The footage shows the men preparing the boats and setting out on the water, as well as speaking to Mr Lieb ahead of their journey towards the enemy.
The compilation lasts more than three minutes and also shows the men laughing and joking.
In one scene, a soldier can be seen doing his best Adolf Hitler impression with a fake moustache held under his nose, much to his peers’ amusement. It is thought that the man was later killed while fighting in France.
One man was seen bringing some light relief and motivating soldier by doing an impression of Adolf Hitler
Two men posed with one of the ship’s mascots, a tiny puppy, who was there to entertain the troops
The men decided to dress the puppy in a miniature life jacket before posing with it for photos
In another, two men laugh while dressing one of the ship’s mascots, a puppy, in a tiny life jacket.
The footage also shows the men planning their attack on the Normandy coastline.
Later footage then shows the men out at sea as they crossed the channel on 6 June 1944.
The footage gives an insight into the experiences of the men who fought for freedom against the Nazis
One man looks out over the channel as the ships made their crossing to Normandy on 6 June 1944
Though colour film was first experimented with in the early twentieth century, it was still fairly uncommon in the 1940s, particularly in war footage.
The discovery this week gives further insight into the mindsets of the men who fought for freedom from fascism during the war.