Original subtitles

ETERNAL GLORY TO THE FALLEN IN THE BATTLES OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

MOSFILM

TEHERAN November 30, 1943.

Gentlemen.

I have some good news for Marshal Stalin.

Today, the Joint Chiefs of Staff,

with the participation of the British Prime Minister and the US President,

have decided to open a second front in the north of France

in May 1944.

I'm satisfied with that decision.

In my turn,

I'd like to inform Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill

that by the beginning of landing operations in France

the Russians will prepare a massive blow against the Germans.

To our victory!

ANKARA December 15, 1943.

Mister Ambassador, these are the protocols of the Teheran conference.

Her Majesty's Prime Minister asked me to tell you

that you may need this information

in connection with the talks on Turkey's entering the war.

The President Inonu is already thinking about it.

The Prime Minister atso asked me to tell you

that you should't really hurry up President Inonu.

If I understood the Prime Minister correctly,

we shall need the million-strong, Turkish Army

when the Russians will be approaching the Barlkans.

Let's have dinner together.

Elyas, I'll be back in about 2 hours.

BERLIN. Reich Chancellery. January 6, 1944.

Where did you get these documents?

The valet of the British ambassador in Ankara is our agent.

He's von Papen's agent. I don't trust von Papen.

In the materials of the Teheran Conference, there's the date

of the Anglo-American troops landing in the north of France.

That is the opening of a second front.

You don't know Churchill.

He's an old master of dismformation.

These documents were thrust on you deliberately.

My Fuhrer, my information is different.

Your trustfulness has cost me very dearly.

We all but lost Italy.

You overlooked the plot against the Duce.

I don't believe these false documents.

Churchill will never dare land in Normandy!

LIBERATION

The great battle at Kursk proved to be

one of the greatest battles of World War II.

Here, in the summer of 1943,

the tank hordes of Fascist Germany had been routed.

From here, the German army, which had enslaved Europe

had begun its retreat.

Our troops

mounted a wide offensive in the right-bank Ukraine

and were moving towards the state border of the USSR.

Film Three.

DIRECTION OF THE MAIN BLOW

Screenplay by Yuri BONDAREV

Oskar KURGANOV Yuri OZEROV.

Directed by Yuri OZEROV.

Directofof Photography Igor SLABNEVICH.

Production Designer Aleksandr MYAGKOV.

Music b Yu. LEVITIN.

English Subtitles by Tatiana Kameneva.

Chief Military Consultant Army General S. SHTEMENKO.

Cast.

Tsvetayev - N. OLYALIN Zoya - L. GOLUBKINA.

Orlov - B. ZAIDENBERG.

Zhukov - Mikhail ULYANOV Rokossovsky - Vladlen DAVYDOV.

Vassilevsky - Ye. BURENKOV Antonov - V. STRZHELCHIK.

Konev - Yu. LEGKOV Vatutin - S. KHARCHENKO.

Chernyakhovsky - Ye. KOLCHINSKY.

Meretskov - V. KOSTENKO Bagramyan - V. KAREN.

Shtemenko - K. PROTASOV Batov - V. ZAMANSKY.

Panov - N. RYBNIKOV

Stalin - Bukhuti ZAKARIADZE.

Rbosevelt - S. JASKIEVICZ Churchill - Yu. DUROV

Hitler - Fritz DIEZ Himmler - E. TIDE.

Goebbels - H. GIEZE Keitel - G-M. HENNEBERG.

Kluge - H. HASSE Model - P. STURM.

Fromm - H. SCHELTZKE Remer - H. KUHN.

Stauffenberg - Alfred STRUWE Olbricht - W. ORTMANN.

Haeften - E. STECHER Bek - W. WIELAND.

Witzleben - O. DIERICHS.

Partisans: Father - Ye. SHUTOV Son - V. VAKHLIN.

Pilots: Jacque - L. PRYGUNOV Zaitsev - V. RAZUMOVSKY.

Participating in Polish scenes:

W. GLINSKI, M. NOWAKOWSKI, T. SCHMIDT

Pilots of the French "Normandy-Niemen" Regiment:

A. BARTOLLI, J-P. HEGEGEN, В. RAFFALI, A. SENTONNET

British Ambassador - B. WHITE Narrator - A. KARAPETYAN.

Creative Association VREMYA.

First Ukrainian Front February 29, 1944.

Commander of the 1st Ukranian Front Arm Ganeeai Vatutin.

What is the Polish for 'butter'?

Butter, Comrade General.

And 'meat'?

Meat.

And 'bread'?

Bread, Comrade General.

See? Such a close language. No need to learn it.

And what will be 'life' in Polish?

Zycie.

Zycie?

A little different, though.

But actually, it's the same.

Turn around. The Germans!

Fire back!

Nikolai Fyodorovich.

Bad timing.

Didn't get a chance to start it.

Who will be commanding the front?

I've taken on command, Nikolai Fyodorovich.

Good luck to you.

Get well soon.

We'll meet in Poland yet.

- Zycie. - What?

He keeps repeating that word, Comrade Marshal.

Zycie...

means 'life' in Polish.

On March 4, 1944

the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front under the command of Marshal Zhukov,

the 2nd Ukrainian Front under the command of Marshal Konev

and the 3rd Ukrainian Front

under the command of Army General Malinovsky

had gone over to offensive actions.

In the course of the winter campaign of 1943-1944,

the Red Army has won a battle for the Dnieper and right-bank Ukraine,

shattered strong defensive fortification near Leningrad

and in the Crimea,

overrun the enemy on the water lines of the South Bug, Dniestr, Prut,

and is continuing the offensive in the conditions of springtime flooding.

However, our operational-strategy position, though advantageous,

remains very critical.

The German resistant is increasing.

Our troops are tired,

and they need a serious reinforcement in strength and materiel.

It's time-to go over to defensive actions.

We have gathened here, Comrade Zhukov,

to talk about offensive,

and not the deffensive actions.

I'm talking about the defease as a forced measure, Comrade Stalin.

This will allow us to better prepare are for the offensive.

We understand that, Comrade Zhukov,

but today we must define

the direction of the main blow of the summer campaign.

Let's listen to what the front commanders have to say.

Let's begin with the north.

Comrade Bagramyan.

We propose to strike a blow in the Baltic

and cut off the Army Group North from the territory of Germany.

To this end, the 1st Baltic Front

should attack alone the Western Dvina

on the direction Polotsk - Dvinsk and come out to Riga.

What does the General Staff to say to this?

The General Staff believes that in the Baltic we can't achieve suddenness

while preparing a massive offensive.

In that sector of the front, the enemy

the well-deveoped railway and highway network.

At the same time, the terrain is unfavorable for our tanks -

too many lakes and marshes.

It's a serious consideration.

For the tank armies' action on the direction of the main blow,

we need wide expanses.

But Germans think the same way, Camrade Stalin.

What do you mean?

I mean the German military doctrine.

It's more expedient to use the tank armies in flat country.

That's what they expect from us.

And what do you propose?

I propose to strike the main blow where we're not expected.

In the boggy and wooded localities of Byelorussia.

It was Suvorov who once said "Where deer cannot ass,

the Russian soldier will."

It's not the Devil's Bridge for you.

This is a modern-day war.

But the modern-day war means suddenness, Comrade Stalin.

Moreover, the General Staff supports the idea of a blow in Byelorussia.

Go to Byelorussia.

Study the situation on the spot...

Comrade Zhukov.

Yes, Comrade Stalin.

Come on! Forward! Come on!

Put me through to the regiment commander. Now!

Comrade Captain, your wounded are behind the road.

- Well? What? - The regiment commander's on the line.

I can't take the height!

One more attack like this, and I'll lose all my men.

I know the order.

What?

What did he say?

I can't repeat it in front of women.

Your wounded are behind the road. Can't you hear me?

Give me two men, and I'll carry the wounded out.

You want to die gallantly, don't you, Zoya?

Every man counts here.

- Comrade Captain! - We'll carry them out at night.

I demand that the wounded be carried out immediately!

Go away, medical instructor!

Comrade Captain!

- What is it? - Look.

That girl has gone crazy.

Guys, it's our Zoya!

Oh, she's the devil of a girl, they'll capture her!

- Cut the Germans off! - But we may hit her.

Move over!

Why not attack them, Comrade Captain? Or we'll lose the nurse.

Company commanders, come here!

Well, boys, you can only die once.

Get ready to attack! Take our places!

Come on, guys! Move it!

Communists, follow me!

Forward! Forward!

To attack, follow me! Forward!

You alive? Good girl!

Comrade Marshal, I conduct reconnaissance in force in the Parichi direction.

The 2nd Battalion of the 36th Regiment has taken height 217.

Further advance has been checked by massive enemy fire.

The battalion suffered big losses.

- Stop the offensive. - Yes, Comrade Marshal.

Transmit it - stop the offensive.

Pavel Ivanovich, tell me now.

Can we advance to Parichi?

What do you think of this direction?

Of course, it's a tempting direction.

That part of terrain is dry. But the enemy is no fool, either.

He got astride the commanding heights and created strong defenses.

Advancing to Parichi means suffering great losses.

Yes, that's the right conclusion.

A blow towards Parichi will not be unexpected.

That's where they're waiting for us.

And how are things at your left flank?

The terrain here is hard for maneuver.

A lot of small rivers with wide flood-lands and boggy marshes.

- When have you been there? - Last night.

Can we drive there?

I don't recommend it.

It's an open country covered by enemy artillery fire. Better to go at night.

We'll go now.

Pavel Ivanovich, what are the German positions here?

There're no solid defense lines here.

The defense is built on the principle of isolated strong points

on dry elevations.

I see.

What are you having?

The second front, Comrade General.

What?

Here, American Spam.

We nicknamed it second front here.

When are they going to open it, Comrade General?

Can't you cope by ourselves?

We ll cope alright, only as they say in our village,

"He who joins a fight last, will be boasting the most."

What is this you got?

These are wet shoes, Comrade General.

- What wet shoes? - Made of bast.

For your feet not to sink into quagmire.

A smart idea.

If people can walk through a bog,

then we'll find a way to get the materiel over, too.

- Anything's possible, isn't it? - You mean tanks?

We'll try.

But what a surprise it will be for the Germans!

Yes, that's the place, Georgy Konstantinovich, eh?

MOSCOW, Kremlin, May 23 And our intelligence reports confirm our assumptions.

First, the enemy rules out the possibility

of our offensive in this direction,

and doesn't have here as strong defenses as in the other sectors.

Second, the bogs are passable for people,

and if we lay roads of brushwood, for the materiel too.

That's why I propose to strike the main blow

with the right flank of the front,

with four field armies: The 3rd, 48th, 65th and 28th

in the direction of Bobruisk.

Still, you and Zhukov are dragging us into the bog, Comrade Rokossovsky.

It's not an easy way, Comrade Stalin.

But it promises success.

We have thought everything through, Comrade Stalin.

It doesn't look like you thought everything through.

Go out into the next room

and think over your proposal once more, Comrade Rokossovsky.

In the meantime,

we'll hear what Comrade Vassilevsky has to say.

As you know,

a successful operation of liberating the Crimea

had been conducted

under the command of Comrade Vassilevsky.

After that, Comrade Vassilevsky, together with Zhukov,

was elaborating the plan of the entire summer campaign.

While working on the plan of the summer campaign, Comrade Stalin,

we first of all took into account the considerations

of the front commanders present here.

The summer campaign of 1944

will be a system of major operations

taking place on a vast territory from the Baltic to the Carpathians.

The plan of the summer campaign

is drawn up in the following succession.

The first blow, in early June, well be dealt by the Leningrad,

and then Karelian Front in the direction of Vyborg.

These operations must lead th the routing of Finland

and its exit from the war.

I wish you good luck,

Comrade Meretskov.

Thank you, Comrade Stalin.

Furthermore, the General Staff proposes to strike the main blow in Byelorussia.

This direction, Comrade Stalin. Has a number of serous advantages.

First, the shortest way to Berlin lies through Byelorussia.

Secondly, we'll be supported here by Byelorussian partisans.

As you know, Comrade Stalin,

270,000 partisans are operating in Byelorussia.

And, thirdly, after the liberation of Byelorussia,

when our troops step onto the Polish land,

they'll be welcomed by our friendly Polish people

who have been struggling with the fascist occupants for 5 years.

All this convinces us that we've made the right choice.

Operating on the direction of the main blow will be

the 3rd Byelorussian Front under General Chernyakhovsky,

and the 1st Byelorussian Front under General Rokossovsky.

I suggest that we name the Byelorussian operation.

Operation Bagration

in honour of our fellow-countryman,

the military leader who brought glory to Russian arms

in 1812.

Go on, Comrade Vassilevsky.

After the start of Operation Bagration,

when the German High Command realizes that's here, in Byelorussia,

that the decisive battles take place,

and shifts here their reserves from the south,

Marshal Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front

will strike its blow in the direction of Lvov.

When, as a result of those powerful blows, the enemy suffers a defeat,

we can unfold an offensive in the Balkans -

in Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Hungary.

Does Comrade Zhukov wish to add anything?

Before the war, I served for a long time in the Byelorussian District,

and I'm very much familiar with the theatre of operations there.

On that boggy and wooded terrain,

it's impossible to use large masses of tanks.

That's why I propose

to send into a breakthrough only tank corps,

and not commit the four tank armies - the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th,

which are stationed behind the right flank of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

Thereby, first, we'll mislead the enemy.

Knowing the location of those armies,

he'll expect the main blow not in Byelorussia, but in the Ukraine.

Second, it'll be our powerful reserve in the 2nd stage of the offensive.

And, third,

we'll securely provide for the left flank

of General Rokossovsky's attacking armies.

I agree.

And now invite Rokossovsky.

Where, after all, are you going to strike the main blow,

Comrade Rokossovsky?

Through the bogs?

Yes, Comrade Stalin.

The direction of the main blow towards Bobruisk by the front's right wing.

I'm convinced that this is the right decision, Comrade Stalin.

The persistence of the Front Commander only proves

that the organization of the offensive has been well thought out.

Give me your map, Comrade Rokossovsky.

On June 6, 1944,

the Anglo-American troops landed in Northern France.

WASHINGTON

I'm happy to have lived to see this day.

Even if it were the only thing I've done,

my life would still have been justified.

Of course, there will be much discussion about the second front

but the only thing that matters

is that the second front has been opened.

Do you mean discussions with Churchill?

Why was he so insistent on the invasion through the Balkans?

It's this way, Eleanor.

To begin with, he wanted to drive a wedge into Central Europe,

so that keep the Russians out of Austria and Romania,

and, possibly, out of Hungary.

Anc this, of course, Stalin realized, and so I did.

And all the rest of us.

Maybe, he was right,

and we should have struck a blow in the Balkans?

No, Eleanor.

This time we have chosen the shortest way to victory.

And that's about all at there's to it.

Churchill is too busy thinking about

what would be after the war

and, naturally, what would the situation of Britain.

And I do not see why I should risk the lives of American soldiers

for the interests of Britain on the European continent.

By the way, could you read me again

today's telegram from Mr. Stalin?

I didn't quite understand it.

The summer offensive of the Soviet troops,

organized according to our agreement at the Teheran Conference,

will be launched by mid-June on one of the important sections of the front.

Important sections of the front?

Some kind of Asiatic cunning.

He doesn't believe anyone.

Not even his allies.

BERLIN, Reich Chancery June 12.

What's this?

Stalin's telegram to Churchill.

It's a radio intercept, deciphered with the secret code

that was passed over to us by our agent in Turkey.

His information about a second front proved true.

Yes, I remember.

Stalin writes to Churchill that the Russians' summer offensive

will begin in one of the front's sectors.

Which one?

Keitel, what do you think?

My Fuhrer, apparently, it's the northern Ukraine.

General Model thinks so, too.

Yes, I'm sure that the Russians will direct their main blow

against the Army Group North Ukraine.

Then they'll try to break through to Poland or turn to the Balkans.

Do you agree, Field Marshal Kluge?

I don't exclude the possibility

of the Russian offensive through the Baltic, either.

Four Russian tank armies are concentrated facing my front.

That's 3,000 tanks.

There's no doubt that they will attack here.

It's quite realistic, my Fuhrer.

We should first expect the Russian offensive in the northern Ukraine.

BYELORUSSIA

Where's Kozlov?

Moving by the bank.

It's all right, Vassily Ivanovich, ahead of us are ours.

Secretary of the Minsk Regional Underground Committee

of the Communist Party Kozlov.

First Secretary of the Central Committee

of the Communist Party of Byelorussia Ponomarenko.

Come in, Vassily Ivanovich.

How was your trip?

With no real difficulties, Panteleimon Kondratyevich.

Wall, let's begin, comrades.

Present here are the secretaries of Byelorussia's underground committees

and the commanders of major units of Byelorussian artisans.

We realize that it wasn't so easy to gather you all here.

Nor was it easy for you to get here from the enemy's rear.

Yet we decided to do that.

My friends, that long-awaited day is near.

The Army will launch an offensive in Byelorussia.

June 20.

On June 20,

two days before the start of Operation Bagration,

the partisans of Byelorussia

attacked the enemy's railway communications

along the whole frontline up to the state border.

3rd Byelorussian Front June 23.

The long-range aviation is in the air.

Good.

The 2nd Air Army in readiness one.

The 3rd Air Army in readiness one.

The front's artillery is ready for action, Comrade Marshal.

The 5th Tank Army has taken its initial position.

- Put me through to Bagramyan. - Yes, Comrade Marshal.

The 1st Baltic Front is ready, Comrade Marshal.

Operation Bagration is starting.

Do it, Ivan Khristoforovich.

Silence. It's a pity to break it.

But we'll break it, anyway.

Commander of the 3rd Byelorussian Front Colonel-General Chernyakhovsky.

Well, good luck.

We start, comrade generals.

Commander of the 303rd Fighter Aviation Division.

Major-General Zakharov.

Comrade General, Colonel Golubov is here af our command.

Come in, Anatoly Yemelyanovich.

Call here Commander of the "Normandy" Regiment.

"Tulip", "Tulip".

"Tulip".

To you from me, Tanechka. Here, a daisy.

"Tulip", "Tulip". "Tulip"?

Commander of "Normandy" is called to the general.

Commander of the Normandy Fighter Aviation Regiment Lieutenant-Colonel Pouillarde.

Still nothing?

Nothing for three days now.

Roll up his bedding.

When shall we fly?

Soon.

It's your second shaving today, Baron.

I always shave before a fight.

I'd rather do it myself than let the Messerschmitts shave me.

You like it?

Not bad.

I hope to meet her after the war, Lieutenant-Colonel.

I need you, Jacques.

Hello! Hello!

My pilots are wondering whether we came here for holidays.

Tell them not to worry, there'll be enough fights for everyone.

The task is like this, Comrade Pouillarde.

Your regiment, together with Golubov's regiment,

will blockade Vitebsk from air.

Why not?

Such a charming blonde would look great smoking.

I noticed that the blonde girls smoke so nicely and enigmatically.

They hold a cigarette with the big and index fingers, like this.

Didn't you understand that the girl doesn't smoke?

You got it or not?

I didn't mean to offend the lovely mademoiselle.

The Soviet pilot is wrong if he wants to play the role of Othello.

Normandy, cut out this Othello thing. It's war here, not theatre.

Comrade Senior Lieutenant,

why are you quarreling? He's very nice.

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. My name is Jacques. What's yours?

Ivan? Sasha? Pasha?

Not Sasha-Pasha, but Senior Lieutenant Zaitsev.

Anton, you'll fly with "Normandy" and maintain connection with me.

Right.

For luck.

Four Messerschmitts on my right. I attack.

Othello!

A Messer is behind you!

Jacque! Try to make it beyond the forest!

Jacque!

Jacque, get up, quick!

Hurry!

Hurry, come on!

Thanks, Othello.

Come on!

There we go.

Part Two

1st Byelorussian Front, June 24, 3 a.m. In the course of the past day, Operation Bagration

was successfully developing.

Bagramyan broke the German front,

forced the crossing of the Western Dvina and surrounded Vitebsk.

Chernyakhovsky is rapidly advancing,

with his right flank, to the Berezina in the direction of Borisov.

Zakharov's 2nd Byelorussian Front has successfully broken the defenses

and is moving to Mogilev.

The Byelorussian partisans have done a very good job.

Last night they paralyzed all the railways in the enemy's rear.

Well, now is your turn.

The direction of the main blow.

Judging by all reports, the Germans still don't expect our blow here.

I got everything ready, we only have to lay a corduroy road.

Why are you lingering?

We decided to drive in the piles during the artillery preparation,

for the Germans not to hear it spot us and open fire.

Will you be able to do it in time?

We must.

Well...

As Bonaparte said, artillery, forward!

Come on, swam army, follow me!

Forward! Everyone will get a medal!

Forward! Follow me!

Forward!

Let Panov's corps go.

"Storm-5"! Five! Five!

Commander of the 1st Guards Armoured Corps Major-General Panov.

Well, good luck, boys.

"Storm"! "Storm"!

First gear, 100-meter interval, don't lag behind.

Panov's tank corps

made a gap in the enemy battle formations,

and is rapidly moving to Bobruisk.

Exploiting Panov's success, the rifle corps

of the 65th and 28th Armies

and Pliev's group are pushing further north.

Sensing the threat of encirclement, the enemy wavered

and, according to air reconnaissance, withdraws behind the Berezina.

What are you planning to do?

I want to throw in all reserves at the right flank

and break through to Bobruisk from the east.

And simultaneously commit the Dnieper Flotilla.

It will strike at the enemy crossing points and secure them.

The Berezina River June 25, 8 a.m.

Brigade Commander of the Dnieper Military Flotilla.

Captain of the Second Rank Lyalko.

All ships get ready for a landing operation!

Field Marshal Model.

Commander of Army Group Center Field Marshal Buchs.

Field Marshal, the Fuhrer entrusted me with a difficult mission

to inform you that I have to replace you at our post.

I already know that.

You're facing a more difficult mission to stop the Russian offensive.

What is the situation at this moment?

The armies of Bagramyan and Chernyakhovsky

have occupied Polotsk, Vitebsk, Orsha,

and are pushing towards Vilnius and Minsk,

going round the left flank of the main forces of Army Group Center.

Rokossovsky's troops have broken through to Bobruisk

and trapped there 40,000 of our soldiers.

How could the Russians be so successful?

They acted against any military logic.

There's only one logic in war - knowing how to win.

Who commands the surrounded troops in Bobruisk?

- General Haman. - I want to talk with him.

We'll break through, Herr Field Marshal.

We'll break the encirclement.

Give the soldiers all our stock of schnapps!

There's no way back to the city!

Set everything on fire! Everything!

BOBRUISK June 28, 2 a.m.

What? What are you doing?

You're my wife, and I'm not afraid of anybody.

I'm your field wife, as long as the war goes on.

And then you'll fall out of love with me and forget me.

Stop it, Zoya.

I'm happy I've found you at war, I wouldn't have found you otherwise.

I love you.

Division, with a volley, fire!

Fire!

All German counterattacks from the Bobruisk cauldron had been repulsed.

On June 29, our troops had liberated the city of Bobruisk.

Please accept this with our respect,

Your Excellency Comrade General.

Thank you.

But why Excellency?

If you're a general, it means you're excellent.

No, it's they who are excellent, our soldiers.

So we've learned how to beat Germans?

It seems so, father, we've learned.

After their defeat at Vitebsk and Bobruisk,

the Germans, instead of retreating,

engaged in prolonged frontal fighting.

And thus, I believe, they made a big mistake.

That's why you have a new task to carry out.

Panov's 1st Tank Corps should advance to Minsk,

with the main forces concentrated on Slutsk and Baranovichi,

in order to cut off the routes for the enemy's retreat.

Chernyakhovsky is already advancing to Minsk.

We must completely surround them as soon as possible.

So, by completely surrounding them

and destroying their Minsk grouping,

we'll end up the first stage of Operation Bagration.

And then we'll get down to the second stage.

We're speaking, comrades,

about the 1st Byelorussian Front advancing in the direction Kovel-Brest

and approaching Poland's border.

We begin the liberation of Poland, comrades.

We invited you in order to clarify the action of the 1st Polish Army.

What's the latest information about the Polish resistance?

Yesterday we received a coded message from Comrade Duniak.

He reports that five partisan brigades are advancing to the Vistula,

to assist the Red Army in securing the crossings.

And now about the actions of the Polish Army.

We would like, Comrade Marshal,

the Polish Army to be attacking in the first echelon.

Well, General, shall we show Germans that Poland is still alive and kicking?

We'll sure show them, Comrade Marshal!

But wait, before that I'll have to capture Minsk.

Tell Panov that the direction is Minsk.

South-west of Minsk 1st Guards Armoured Corps.

Turn to north-west immediately,

cut off the routes of retreat for the Germans,

and join with the 3rd Byelorussian Front.

You have to complete the encirclement and not let the enemy out.

Roger. I got you. I'm 50 kilometers ahead of the infantry.

Am turning north-west.

Storm, we're turning north-westward.

The direction is Minsk Forward!

Who are you?

We're partisans from Kozlov's brigade.

Get on here.

Get on the tanks. The infantry is just what I need.

Hey, boys, get on the tanks! Move it!

Give it more life!

MINSK Cargo Station.

Come here!

- How was the attack? - Great.

- And what's this? - A pillow, Comrade General.

I got hold of it in a train car It's too hard here.

Want to travel in a sleeping car?

Forward!

Come on, forward!

Stop! That's ours!

A bit longer, and we would have tousled one another.

- 3rd Byelorussian? - Right.

Commander of the 2nd Guards Corps Burdeiny.

Commander of the 1st Corps Panov.

- So the Germans are in a circle? - It's not a circle, call cauldron.

Let's embrace as a sign of our meeting, 1st Byelorussian.

Let's do it, 3rd Byelorussian.

Comrade Stalin, the surrounded east of Minsk

105,000-strong Germans grouping

has been destroyed by the armies of Chernyakhovsky and Rokossovsky.

57,000 have been taken prisoner.

Our troops are advancing towards the Polish border.

According to our intelligence, Comrade Stalin,

the Germans Command has transferred a great number of troops from the south

to stop the gape,

thereby weakening its grouping facing the 1st Ukrainian Front.

Marshal Konev proposes

to take advantage of that and strike

in the direction of Lvov and Sandomir,

in accordance with the adopted plan.

Let Konev begin.

Comrade Antonov, what do the Germans report

in their official summaries of operations in Byelorussia?

They claim they're withdrawing from Byelorussia according to their plan.

You're taking prisoners.

Yet neither the enemy nor the allies believe you.

Do not hide your prisoners.

Show them, let everybody see.

MOSCOW

BERLIN

Come for me in an hour.

Herr von Kluge, if I'm not mistaken?

You're right, Herr Field Marshal von Witzleben.

Come in, we've been waiting for you.

Your transfer to the West, is that a punishment?

What difference does it make?

The Furer still believes that we can be saved by replacing commanders.

I have a different opinion.

Have you already made our decision?

Are there resolute people? Men of action?

There are.

And they're ready to resort to the extreme measures?

Certainly.

I'd like to meet with them.

Excuse me, I'll be right back.

This way, please.

I'm glad to see you, Colonel-General Bek.

Let me introduce to you our friends.

Doctor Carl Goerdeler. Well, you've met before.

General Friedrich Olbricht,

Deputy Commander of the Reserve Army.

Colonel Count Claus von Stauffenberg,

Chief of Staff of the Reserve Army.

Our army can be proud of such officers.

Herr Field Marshal, may I introduce to you.

Oberleutnant Werner von Haeften,

adjutant to the Chief of Staff of the Reserve Army.

Please, sit down, gentlemen.

You've come just in time, Herr Field Marshal.

We're trying here to understand what's happening on the Eastern Front.

The front has been broken in many places.

The Russian offensive is going on so rapidly.

In Byelorussia, they advance 40 kilometers each day.

It seems they're already approaching the Polish borders.

In short,

the Russian armies are at the gates to Europe.

Gentlemen.

There's only one thing left for us to do -

remove Hitler and make peace in the West.

Then we'll be able to throw all our forces against Russia

and fulfill our historic mission -

stop Communism at German's gates.

You're still thinking in obsolete categories, Dr. Goeldeler.

The Communists have long been operating in Germany.

You think that the Communist Party of German doesn't exist,

but they're a real force.

I don't picture the new Germany without Socialists and Communists.

That's why I insist on making peace with the West and the East.

Gentlemen, our political differences must not stand in our way.

Our objective is to save Germany from defeat.

Let's get down to discussing the details of Operation Valkyrie.

Please, Count Stauffenberg.

Gentlemen, please make no written notes.

The Valkyrie's signal will be passed to the troops by all means of communication.

It will transfer all the executive power to the army.

Following the Valkyrie signal, it is necessary to cordon off

the government quarter in the Reich's capital,

occupy government and party offices,

the radio station the telegraph,

arrest Goebbels.

Excuse me, Stauffenberg.

I agree to you proposals, but I would like to know one thing:

When you give the Valkyrie signal,

will Hitler be alive?

I'm taking this action on myself.

On July I'll be at the Wolfsschanze to report on the situation of reserves.

July 20.

Good morning, Werner. Claus is expecting you in his study.

- Would you like to have breakfast? - No, thank you.

Good morning, Herr Colonel Good morning, Werner.

Which briefcase is mine?

They'll identical, as diplomats say.

You're in a good humor, Werner, it's always easy to deal with you.

We're going to visit the Fuhrer. How can we be gloomy?

I'll take this one.

The capsule is here.

And this is pliers to crush the capsule.

And remember, you'll have only 10 minutes, not a second more.

You think I don't want to live longer?

May God help us.

RASTENBURG July 20, 12 hours.

Your passes, please.

Your special passes.

You can drive on.

The Fuhrer has changed the schedule.

Your report is not at 14 hours, but at 12:30.

And not in the bunker, but at the staff barrack.

Yes, sir.

Let's go.

Herr Field Marshal, excuse me, I forgot my cap.

Hurry up.

Hurry, Stauffenberg, we're being late.

I'm sorry, Herr Field Marshal.

At Brest, Field Marshal Model

is successfully repulsing the attacks of Russian tanks.

Model was in a desperate situation,

but he reduced the front and gathered all his forces in one fist.

Heusinger!

Why do you say nothing about my 21 generals who surrendered to Russians?

You think I'm going to bow my head in mourning?

They've saved their skins, but for us those cowards are dead.

They were paraded through Moscow's streets like wild animals.

And I'm happy about it!

They deserve it.

Go on, Heusinger.

The Russian troops forced a crossing of the Western Bug with heavy losses

and entered the Generalgouvernement.

The Bolsheviks will never be in the Generalgouvernement!

I believe Model!

But we must help him with reserves.

Maybe Colonel Stauffenberg will report now

on the situation with the reserve units?

No, only at the end of the conference.

What's the situation in the north, Heusinger?

I have to make a call to Berlin.

Brandt, bring the maps.

- How long will it take now? - Just seconds.

To the airfield.

Let us out It's the Fuhrer's order!

By the Commandant's order, the exit is forbidden.

Give me Field Marshal Keitel now!

It's Stauffenberg They don't let me out.

And I got the Fuhrer's order to fly to Berlin immediately.

Open up!

BERLIN 16 hours 40 minutes.

The bomb detonated.

The briefcase was at the Fuhrer's feet He just couldn't survive.

Lieutenant Roering, get in touch with Leipzig and Munich.

The Operation Valkyrie is on.

And now let's go to Fromm.

Commander of the Reserve Army Colonel-General Fromm.

Herr Colonel-General, Hitler has become a victim of assassination.

Hitler is alive. I've just spoken to Keitel.

He told me about the explosion at the Wolfsschanze, but Hitler wasn't killed.

Keitel is lying, as usual. Hitler is dead.

I planted a bomb under him.

You must shoot yourself now.

Colonel-General Bek, what's going on?

It's Operation Valkyrie.

But it's a plot!

Colonel-General, we begin a struggle for the new Germany.

Do you want to join us?

You're talking to the future head of state.

Future, but not present.

Hitler is alive. I'm carrying out his orders.

Gentlemen, you're under arrest.

I have to arrest you, General.

What is this?

Arrest this man.

He betrayed our nation at the most critical moment.

You've gone too far. You'll be sorry about that.

To the basement!

Check if Goebbels has been arrested.

Major Remer's guard battalion has been sent for him.

I need to see Dr. Goebbels.

- Who are you? - I'm Major Remer.

On what matter? I'll report to him.

I've got orders to arrest Dr. Goebbels.

Who wants to arrest me?

I received an order from Berlin's Military Commandant.

I'm a Reich Minister. No one can arrest me but the Fuhrer.

The Fuhrer has been killed and, as the Military Commandant told me,

the power has been transferred to a new Chancellor.

No, Major, the Fuhrer is alive.

I'll put you through to him on the phone.

Stay here.

It's Goebbels. I wish to speak to the Fuhrer.

This oak table saved me from the blast.

I take it as a manifestation of God's will

that direct me in pursuing the aim of my life.

It's a real miracle, my Fuhrer.

I know it was the generals' conspiracy. I've never trusted them.

When I gain victories, the take the credit for them,

and in case of a failure, they accuse me of it.

This criminal clique of traitors must be ruthlessly exterminated.

My Fuhrer, Reich Minister Goebbels wants to speak to you urgently.

I'm listening, Goebbels.

My Fuhrer, I have here Major Remer, commander of the guard battalion,

who got orders from Berlin's Military Commandant to arrest me.

Get Major Remer on the phone.

Major Remer is listening.

I cancel the military commandant's order. Is it understood?

I promote you to the rank of colonel

and appoint you Commander of Berlin garrison.

Immediately arrest all traitors and betrayers

who tried to stab the great German in the back.

If anyone resists, shoot them on the spot.

Act in my name, Colonel Remer!

Yes, my Fuhrer.

An appeal to the German people.

Hitler is dead.

We want to stop

this senseless war

and achieve a just peace.

Has Goebbels been arrested, Herr General?

I think he has been by now.

How are things going?

The approaches to radio stations are guarded by the fortified SS details.

Take the radio station by storm.

The new head of state Bek is to go on the air now.

It's Paris.

Put me through to Field Marshal Kluge.

Bek speaking. I'm informing you that Hitler has been killed.

I received news to the contrary from the Wolfsschanze.

Kluge, make up our mind!

The fate of Germany and Europe depends on you now.

I'll call you again after dinner.

It's just like Kluge.

Hands up!

Claus, are you all right?

Your mutiny has failed.

It's not a mutiny. We were saving the future of Germany, Major.

I'm Colonel Remer.

Oh, you're colonel. If you have at least some honor left...

It's not for you to speak of honor. You've betrayed the Fuhrer.

Even if he escaped death now, he'll be executed anyway.

It's you who will be executed.

Take everybody to the courtyard.

Leave General Bek here.

Bek, you were my teacher once.

I had poor pupils among others.

We have no time for puns.

This is all I can do for you.

Would you like me to pass anything on to your family?

No, nothing.

My wife knows everything.

Help this old man.

I announce the court martial verdict.

For activities constituting high treason

and damaging the Fuhrer...

sentenced to execution by firing squad are.

Colonel Mertz von Quirnheim,

Infantry General Olbricht,

this colonel and this lieutenant, whose names I don't even want to remember.

Germany will remember our names.

Carry out the verdict immediately.

Lieutenant Schade, do it.

My Fuhrer,

the conspirators who made an attempt at your life have been executed.

The retribution has been done.

Unfortunately, Stauffenberg has escaped the noose.

Stauffenberg! For how long I'll be hearing that name?

I ordered to send his wife and children to the camp.

Everybody, everybody must forget him.

Himmler, dig him up from his grave, burn him and scatter the ashes.

There must not be either his name or his grave.

My Fuhrer, you once mentioned Stauffenberg's family.

Yes, the ancient Germans had a fine custom of blood feud.

We should apply that custom to the Stauffenberg family.

He must be destroyed, Himmler!

Yes, my Fuhrer.

I want to introduce to you the new Chief of the General Staff,

Colonel-General Guderian.

General Guderian is a prominent theorist in panzer forces.

In the late 20s he finished a tank school in Russia.

He knows about the Red Army's tactics as no one else.

Come on, Guderian, make your report.

My Fuhrer, now is the time when you must receive

only absolutely accurate information.

Any attempt to smooth the situation will lead to tragic consequences

I'll begin with the losses.

In the last three months our losses amounted to

1 million 200 thousand men.

I have 5.5 million under arms

and 2 million reserves in the rear.

This is a great force.

I shall stop the Russian offensive.

I won't let them into Europe!

LONDON

To Prime Minister Mr. Churchill, personally.

Sir, the latest news from Germany.

Unfortunately, the plot against Hitler failed.

The conspirators have been executed. The top officers have been arrested.

Did you say "unfortunately"?

Yes, sir.

Don't you think that success of the conspiracy would have made headway?

Headway? You mean peace, perhaps?

Maybe so, sir.

If the conspirators had killed Hitler,

it wouldn't have served, our purposes.

And I trust that Stalin doesn't want it, either.

Only fools would accept peace

when the smell of victory is in the air.

Just imagine that the end of the war would see us in Normandy

and Stalin somewhere at Poland's border.

By the way, about Poland.

Is there anything new there?

Russian troops are advancing to the border.

Now here you can say "unfortunately", sir.

I foresaw a situation in Teheran.

And now we're faced with the most serious problem.

From Marshal Stalin for you, sir.

Was there no letter?

I noticed long ago that Uncle Joe adores his own portraits.

It's not as simple as all that.

There must be something behind it.

Somewhere he's got the better of me.

Oh yes, of course, be Russian troops have crossed the Polish border.

THE WESTERN BUG

Frankly speaking, I'm overcome with emotions.

For five years I've been thinking of the day

when we approach the Polish border.

We've come to the border at 15:36 Let s remember that, General.

I'll remember that hour, too, Comrade Generals.

Forward! To Poland!

The army of the Soviet people,

together with the soldiers of the Polish Army,

had stepped on the long-suffering Polish land.

The liberation of the enslaved Europe had begun.

Still ahead there were

Warsaw and Budapest,

Belgrade and Sofia,

Vienna and Bucharest,

Bratislava and Prague.

Berlin was ahead!