Watch The Big Picture - U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group

Experience the American Journey through our country's visual heritage in this historical recording provided by the National Archives of the United States. From the U.S. Army's "The Big Picture" television series, 1950-1975. "You are the first soldiers of the new German Army. The German people now belong to a partnership of the free nations of the world. Without this mutual cooperation between all free nations, the defense of one nation would be impossible." So spoke Dr. Konrad Adenauer at the opening of Germany's new military defense system. In the time which has passed since the contingent of 1000 recruits arrived in 1956, the new German Army has grown to a well-trained, well-equipped force of 175,000 men. The fact that they are both well-trained and well-equipped is due in no small part to the few hundred specialists attached to the staff of the United States Military Assistance Advisory groups, or MAAG. This week's THE BIG PICTURE is the story of MAAG's efforts in helping to creat a powerful allied force from the ruins of a war-torn land. In doing so, it also produced a strong comaradarie between the men of this organization and their American advisors. The United States, in its own interest--and other free nations in their interest--have joined a system of collective security in which the efforts of each nation sustains all. The German people, who have experienced tyranny at first hand, can be expected to remain a keystone of that system.

This historical recording from the National Archives may contain variations in audio and video quality based on the limitations of the original source material.

The content summary for this video is adapted from an historical description provided by the government agency or donor at the time of production release.