All language subtitles for Film 3 eng

IMAGE AND SOUND DIGITALLY RESTORED
BY MOSFILM CINEMA CONCERN

MAY WE FOREVER HONOR THE HEROES
SLAIN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR

MOSFILM

TEHRAN
NOVEMBER 30, 1943

Gentlemen,

I have some good news
for Marshal Stalin.

Today, the Allied Staffs,

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

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

in May, 1944.

I'm satisfied with that decision.

In turn,

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

that... as landing operations
commence in France,

the Russians will launch a massive
offensive against the Germans.

To our victory!

To our victory!

ANKARA
DECEMBER 15, 1943

Ambassador Hughe,
the Tehran conference papers.

The Prime Minister
asked me to tell you

that you might need this information

in connection with the talks
on Turkey's entry into the war.

President Inonu
is already so inclined.

Yes, the PM also asked me to tell
you not to hurry President Inonu.

If I understood the PM correctly,

we shall need the
Turkish Army of one million men

when the Russians
approach the Balkans.

- Shall we have dinner?
- Certainly.

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

REICH CHANCELLERY. JANUARY 6, 1944
- Where did you get these?

The British Ambassador's valet
in Ankara is our agent.

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

My Fuhrer, the minutes of the Tehran
Conference specify a timeframe

for an Anglo-American landing
in Northern France.

They are opening a second front.

You don't know Churchill.

He's an old master of disinformation.

These documents were
slipped to you deliberately.

My Fuhrer,
my findings say otherwise.

Himmler.

Your gullibility
has cost me dearly!

We almost lost Italy!

You missed the plot against the Duce.

I don't trust
these fake documents.

Churchill would never dare
to land in Normandy!

LIBERATION

The battle that proved
decisive in World War II

was the great Battle of Kursk.

Here, in the summer of 1943,

hordes of Nazi tanks
sustained defeat.

From here, the German army,
which had enslaved Europe,

began to retreat.

Our troops launched a broad offensive

in Right-Bank Ukraine

and headed towards
the border of the USSR.

FILM THREE

THE DIRECTION OF THE MAIN BLOW

Screenwriters: YURI BONDAREV,
OSKAR KURGANOV, YURI OZEROV

Director:
YURI OZEROV

Director of Photography:
IGOR SLABNEVICH

Production Designer:
ALEKSANDR MYAGKOV

Composer: Y. LEVITIN
Sound: E. KASHKEVICH

Conductor: E. KHACHATURYAN

Unit Manager:
J. KUN

Story Editor:
G. MARIAMOV

Costume Designer: D. OZEROVA
Makeup: V. YAKOVLEV

Editor: E. KARPOVA
Pyrotechnician: V. SUKHORETSKY

Camera Operators:
V. GUSEV, A. AKHMETOVA

Set Designers:
I. FYODOROV, T. LAPSHINA

Gaffer V. NEVOLIN

COMPOSITING
Camera Operators: E. SHTYRTSKOBER

Set Designers: F. KRASNY
Modelmaker: V. SMIRNOV

Assistant Directors: E. AVAKOVA,
L. BUSHAROVA, D. KUZNETSOV, А. MALYUKOV

Assistant Camera Operators: Yu. BAZAROV,
А. DZHIRKVELOV, L. KOROKH, G. PANASOV

Assistant Designers: V. GLASS

Assistant Managers: S. POZDNYAKOV,
G. KRYLOV, V. TSEYTLYN

Lead Military Consultant:
General of the Army S. SHTEMENKO

Military Consultants:
Colonel General G. ORIOL

Vice Admiral V. ALEXEYEV
Lieutenant General S. SINIAKOV

Colonel (GDR) J. WITZLEBEN
Colonel (Poland) Z. ZALUSSKI

Production Manager:
LIDIA KANAREYKINA

CAST

Tsvetayev: N. OLYALIN
Zoya: L. GOLUBKINA

Orlov: B. SEIDENBERG

Zhukov: M. ULYANOV
Rokossovsky: V. DAVYDOV

Vasilevsky: Y. BURENKOV
Antonov: V. STRZHELCHIK

Konev: V. SHUKSHIN
Vatutin: S. KHARCHENKO

Chernyakhovsky: Y. KOLCHINSKY

Meretskov: V. KOSTENKO
Bagramyan: V. KAREN

Shtemenko: K. PROTASOV
Batov: V. ZAMANSKY

Panov: N. RYBNIKOV

Stalin: BUKHUTI ZAKARIADZE

Roosevelt: S. JAŚKIEVICZ
Churchill: Y. DUROV

Hitler: F. DIEZ
Himmler: E. THIEDE

Goebbels: H. GIESE
Keitel: G. M. HENNEBERG

Kluge: H. HASSE
Model: P. STURM

Fromm: H. SCHELTZKE
Remer: H. KÖHN

Stauffenberg: A. STRUWE
Olbricht: W. ORTMANN

Haeften: E. STECHER
Beck: W. WIELAND

Witzleben: O. DIERICHS

PARTISANS
Father: E. SHUTOV, Son: V. VAKHLIN

PILOTS

Jacques: L. PRYGUNOV,
Zaitsev: V. RAZUMOVSKY

Participating in Polish scenes:

W. GLIŃSKI,
M. NOWAKOWSKI, T. SCHMIDT

Pilots of the French
Normandie-Niemen Regiment

A. BARTOLI, J-P. HIGEGEN,
В. RAFFALI, A. CENTONZE

British Ambassador: B. WHITE
Narrator: A. KARAPETYAN

WITH TROOPS OF
THE BELORUSSIAN MILITARY DISTRICT

THE GROUP OF
SOVIET FORCES IN GERMANY,

THE BALTIC FLEET
AND THE POLISH ARMED FORCES

VREMYA
CREATIVE ASSOCIATION

FIRST UKRAINIAN FRONT
FEBRUARY 29, 1944

COMMANDER OF THE 1ST UKRAINIAN FRONT
GENERAL OF THE ARMY VATUTIN

How do you say "butter" in Polish?

Butter, General.

And "meat"?

Meat.

And "bread"?

Bread, General!

It's such a similar language
there's no need to even learn it.

And what's "life" in Polish?

Życie.

Życie?

That does differ.

But it's basically the same.

Turn around.
Germans!

Return fire!

Comrade Vatutin.

Bad timing.

I never got the chance to start.

Who will command the front?

I've taken the command, Comrade.

Good luck to you.

Get well soon.

We'll meet in Poland yet.

- Życie.
- What?

He keeps repeating that word,
Marshal.

Życie...

means "life" in Polish.

On March 4, 1944

an offensive was launched

by 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
General of the Army Malinovsky.

In the winter campaign of 1943-1944,

the Red Army won the battle for
the Dnieper and Right-Bank Ukraine.

It crushed the strong fortifications
outside of Leningrad

and in the Crimea,

breached the river-line defenses on
the Southern Bug, Dniester, and Prut,

and now continues to advance in the
harsh muddy conditions of the spring.

But our strategically
advantageous situation

remains difficult to maintain.

The German resistance
keeps intensifying.

Our troops are tired,

and need serious reinforcements
of both men and equipment.

It's time to take defensive actions.

We've gathered here,
Comrade Zhukov,

to talk about...
offensive,

not defensive actions.

I'm talking about essential
defensive measures, Comrade Stalin.

They will allow us
to better prepare for the offensive.

We understand that, Comrade Zhukov,

but today,
we must determine

where to direct the main blow
of the summer campaign.

Let us hear the thoughts...

of the front commanders.

Let's begin with the North.

Comrade Bagramyan.

We propose to strike in the Baltics

and cut off the Army Group North
from Germany.

To this end, the 1st Baltic Front
will advance along the Western Dvina

towards Polotsk, Dvinsk,
and on to Riga.

What does Headquarters
say on the matter?

We believe that
the element of surprise will be lost

if we prepare
for an offensive in the Baltics.

The enemy in that sector of the front

holds the advantage
of maneuvering along interior lines,

a well-developed railway
and highway network.

And for our tanks
the terrain would be unfavorable -

too many lakes and marshes.

It's a serious consideration.

For the tank armies to advance
in the direction of the main blow,

we need wide expanses.

But the Germans think the same way,
Comrade Stalin.

What do you mean?

I mean
the German military doctrine.

Using tank troops on flat terrain.

That's what they expect from us, too.

So what do you propose?

I propose to strike the main blow
where they least expect us.

In the swampy
and wooded areas of Belorussia.

As Suvorov said,
"Where a deer cannot cross,

the Russian soldier will."

This is no Devil's Bridge.

This is modern warfare.

But modern warfare demands surprise,
Comrade Stalin.

And HQ supports
a major assault in Belorussia.

Go to Belorussia.

Review the situation on the ground...

Comrade Zhukov.

Yes sir.

Go!
Forward! Go!

Put me through
to the Regiment Commander, now!

Captain,
there are wounded by the road.

- Captain!
- Well?

The Commander's on the line.

I can't take the high point!

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

I know my orders.

What?

What did he say?

It's not for a woman's ears.

Sir, your wounded are by the road.
Can't you hear me?

Give me two men
to help carry them away!

Are you looking
for a glorious death, Zoya?

I need every man here.

- Captain!
- We'll get them at night.

I demand you carry them away now!

Move along, Orderly!

Captain!

- What is it?
- Look.

That girl has gone crazy.

Guys, that looks like Zoya!

Oh, that damn girl
will get herself captured!

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

Move over!

We ought to attack, Captain.
Or our girl will be done for.

Company commanders!

Well, boys, we only die once.

Get ready to attack!
To your posts!

Let's go, guys!
Move it!

Communists, follow me!

Go!
Go!

Attack, follow me!
Go!

You alive?
Good girl!

Marshal, I'm doing recon by fire
in the direction of Parichi.

2nd Battalion of the 36th Regiment
took the height of 217 m.

Further advance was halted
by heavy enemy fire.

And heavy casualties.

- Call off the offensive.
- Yes sir.

Alert them to stop the offensive.

Comrade Batov, tell me...

can we advance to Parichi?

What do you think of it as a target?

It's certainly tempting.

Dry terrain, no water barriers.
But the enemy is no fool, either.

They seized the high ground,
built up a strong layered defense.

An advance on Parichi
would bring great losses.

Indeed you are right.

A Parichi offensive
would not be unexpected.

They're waiting for us there.

How are things
at your left flank?

It's difficult terrain for maneuvers.

Many small rivers with wide
floodplains and marshy swamps.

- When were you there last?
- Last night.

Can we drive to it?

I don't recommend it.

It's covered by enemy artillery.
Better go at night.

We'll go now.

Comrade Batov,

where are the German positions?

There's no solid
defensive front, only...

a number of independent
strongholds on dry elevations.

I see.

What are you having?

The... second front, General.

Come again?

Just American canned meat.

We call it "the second front",
amongst ourselves.

How long before
they open the front, General?

Can't manage by yourselves?

Sure we can,
but as they say in our village,

"He who joins a fight last,
ends up boasting the most."

What are those?

Swamp shoes, General.

- Swamp shoes?
- They're made of bast.

They stop your feet
sinking into the swamp.

Crafty idea.

If people can walk over a swamp,

then we can find a way
to get the machinery over, too.

- Anything's possible.
- Tanks, too?

We'll try.

What a surprise it would be
for the Germans!

Right over there,
Comrade Zhukov.

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW, MAY 23
- Intel confirms our assumptions.

First, the enemy
has ruled out the possibility

of our offensive in this direction,

and left the defenses in this sector
weaker than in others.

Second...

men can pass through the swamps.

And if we lay log roads,
so can the machinery.

That's why I propose
to strike the main blow...

with our right flank,

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

towards Bobruisk.

So you... and Zhukov

insist on dragging us
into the swamp, Comrade Rokossovsky.

It's not an easy route.

But it does... promise success.

We thought everything out,
Comrade Stalin.

It doesn't seem like
you "thought everything out".

Go into the next room...

and think over your proposal
some more, Comrade Rokossovsky.

In the meantime,

let us hear from Comrade Vasilevsky.

As you know,

Comrade Vasilevsky

led the successful operation

to liberate Crimea.

After that, Comrade Vasilevsky,
together with Zhukov,

drew up a plan

for the entire summer campaign.

In planning the summer campaign,
Comrade Stalin,

we took into account the suggestions

of the front commanders
present here.

The summer campaign of 1944

will be a network of major operations

spanning a vast territory
from the Baltics to the Carpathians.

The plan of the summer campaign

will be executed as follows.

The Leningrad Front will strike
the first blow in early June,

followed by the Karelian Front,
in the direction of Vyborg.

These operations
should lead to the defeat

and withdrawal
of Finland from the war.

I wish you luck,

Comrade Meretskov.

Thank you, Comrade Stalin.

Then, HQ proposes
to deliver the main blow

in Belorussia.

Moving in this direction offers
a host of significant advantages.

First, the shortest way to Berlin

is through Belorussia.

Second,
Belorussian partisans will help us.

As you know, Comrade Stalin,

there are 270,000 partisans
operating in Belorussia.

And third,
after the liberation of Belorussia,

when our troops
step onto Polish soil,

they will be welcomed
by their friends, the Poles,

who have been fighting
the Nazi occupation for 5 years.

All of this
reassures us of our decision.

Participating in the
main blow will be

the 3rd Belorussian Front
under General Chernyakhovsky,

and the 1st Belorussian Front
under General Rokossovsky.

I propose we name...

the Belorussian operation

Operation Bagration.

In honor of our fellow countryman,

the commander
who brought glory to Russian arms

in 1812.

Go on, Comrade Vasilevsky.

After the start of
Operation Bagration,

when German High Command
realizes that Belorussia

will be a decisive theater in the war

and deploys
its reserves from the South,

Marshal Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front

will launch an assault toward Lvov.

And when the enemy is defeated
as a result of these strikes,

we can go on the offensive
in the Balkans -

in Romania, Bulgaria,
Yugoslavia, and Hungary.

Would Comrade Zhukov
like to add anything?

Before the war, I served
in the Belorussian Military District.

I'm very familiar
with the theater of operations.

The marshy and wooded terrain there

does not lend itself
to large-scale use of tanks.

That's why I propose

to only send
tank corps into the breach,

and leave the four tank armies -
the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th -

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

First of all,
this will mislead the enemy.

Knowing the location of those armies,

they'll expect the main assault
in Ukraine, not Belorussia.

Second, we will have a strong reserve
for the 2nd stage of the offensive.

And third,

we'll provide support
for the left flank

of General Rokossovsky's
advancing armies.

I agree.

And now...

call Rokossovsky back in.

So where are you
going to strike the main blow,

Comrade Rokossovsky?

Through the swamps?

Yes, Comrade Stalin.

The main blow will be delivered...
by the right flank towards Bobruisk.

I'm confident...
in my decision, Comrade Stalin.

The Front Commander's
persistence proves

that the offensive
has been well thought out.

Give me your map,
Comrade Rokossovsky.

APPROVED
J. STALIN.

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'd done,

my life
would still have been worth it.

No doubt there will still be
much debate about the second front,

but the important thing is...

we have opened it now.

Do you mean
much debate with Churchill?

Why was he so insistent
on invasion through the Balkans?

You see, Eleanor,

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

to keep the Russians
out of Austria and Romania,

and maybe even Hungary.

Stalin realized this, as did I.

And all the rest of us.

Maybe he was right,

and we should have
dealt a blow in the Balkans?

No, Eleanor.

This time we have chosen
the shortest way to victory.

That's all there is to it.

Churchill is busy worrying about
what's going to happen after the war

and, naturally,
Britain's position after.

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

for Britain's interests in Europe.

By the way, could you read me
the telegram from Mr. Stalin again?

I didn't quite understand it.

The Soviet troops' summer offensive,

planned according to our agreement
at the Tehran Conference,

will begin by mid-June
in one important sector of the front.

"Important sector of the front"?

Sounds like Asiatic cunning.

He doesn't believe anyone.

Not even his allies.

BERLIN, REICH CHANCELLERY
JUNE 12

What's this?

Stalin's telegram to Churchill.

A radio intercept,
deciphered using a code

provided by our agent in Turkey.

His information about
a second front proved true.

Yes, I remember.

Stalin writes to Churchill
that the Russian summer offensive

will begin in
one sector of the front.

Which one?

Keitel, what do you think?

My Fuhrer, presumably,
he means Northern Ukraine.

General Model thinks so, too.

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

against the Army Group North Ukraine.

Then, they will try to penetrate
Poland, or turn to the Balkans.

Do you agree,
Field Marshal von Kluge?

I do not rule out a Russian offensive
through the Baltics, either.

But four Russian tank armies
have concentrated on my front.

That's 3,000 tanks.

There's no doubt
they will attack here.

That's right, my Fuhrer.

We should expect the Russian
offensive in Northern Ukraine.

In Northern Ukraine.

BELORUSSIA

Where's Kozlov?

Going along the shore.

All clear, Comrade Kozlov.
Our guys are up ahead.

SECRETARY KOZLOV OF THE MINSK
UNDERGROUND COMMITTEE

OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

FIRST SECRETARY PONOMARENKO,
COMMUNIST PARTY OF BELORUSSIA

Come on in, Comrade Kozlov.

How was your journey?

Uneventful, Comrade Ponomarenko.

Let's begin, comrades.

Gathered here we have...

Belorussia's underground
committee secretaries

and commanders of major
Belorussian partisan units.

It was not easy
to get you all together.

Nor was it easy for you
to come...

from enemy territory.

But...

we made it.

A long-awaited day...

draws near, my friends.

The Red Army

will launch an offensive...
in Belorussia.

JUNE 20

On June 20,

two days before
the start of Operation Bagration,

the partisans of Belorussia

attacked the enemy's rail network

all the way from the front line
to the national border.

3RD BELORUSSIAN FRONT
JUNE 23

The long-range aircraft
are in the air.

Good.

The 2nd Air Army
is at full readiness.

The 3rd Air Army
is at full readiness.

The Front Artillery is
ready for action, Marshal.

MARSHAL ROTMISTROV
- The 5th Tank Army is in position.

- Put me through to Bagramyan.
- Yes sir.

GENERAL BAGRAMYAN
- The 1st Baltic Front is ready.

Operation Bagration starts now.

Proceed, General.

It seems a pity
to disturb such silence.

And yet, disturb it we will.

COMMANDER, 3RD BELORUSSIAN FRONT,
COLONEL GENERAL CHERNYAKHOVSKY

Well, good luck.

Start, Generals.

COMMANDER, 303RD
FIGHTER AVIATION DIVISION

MAJOR GENERAL ZAKHAROV

General, Colonel Golubov
reporting as ordered.

Come on in, Colonel.

- Summon the Normandie Commander.
- Yes sir!

Tulip, Tulip.

Tulip.

From me to you, Tanya.
A daisy.

Tulip, Tulip.
Tulip?

Normandie Commander
to the General.

COMMANDER, NORMANDIE REGIMENT,
LIEUTENANT COLONEL POUYADE

Still nothing?

Nothing for three days.

Roll up his bedding.

When will we fly?

Soon.

You're shaving again, Baron?

I always shave before battle.

I'd rather shave myself than
get shaved by the Messerschmitts.

You like her?

Not bad.

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

I need you, Jacques.

Hello, hello!

My pilots keep asking
if we've come here for a holiday.

Tell him not to worry, there's
plenty of fighting to go around.

Here's your mission,
Comrade Pouyade.

Your regiment,
together with Golubov's regiment,

will cut off Vitebsk
from the air. Look...

Why not?

Smoking would suit
such a charming blonde.

I've often noticed the cute
and mysterious way blondes smoke.

They hold the cigarette
between their thumb and index finger.

Like this.

Isn't it obvious
that the girl does not smoke?

Well?

I meant no offense
to the lovely mademoiselle.

The Soviet pilot mistakenly
wants to play the role of Othello.

Listen, Normandie.

You better forget Othello.
This is war, not theater.

Lieutenant,

there's no need to fight.
He's very nice.

I didn't mean to offend you.
My name is Jacques. What's yours?

Ivan? Sasha? Pasha?

Not Sasha-Pasha,
but Senior Lieutenant Zaitsev.

Anton, you'll fly with Normandie.
Maintain communications with me.

Yes sir.

For luck.

Four Messerschmitts on my right.
I'm on the attack.

Othello!

A Messer behind you!

Jacques!
Try to clear the forest!

Jacques!

Jacques, get up, quick!

Hurry!

Hurry, come on!

Thanks, Othello.

Come on!

There we go.

PART TWO

JUNE 24, 03:00
- Over the past day,

Operation Bagration
has made good headway.

Bagramyan breached the German front,

crossed the Western Dvina,
and surrounded Vitebsk.

Chernyakhovsky's right flank
keeps advancing rapidly

to the Berezina, toward Borisov.

Zakharov's 2nd Belorussian Front
also broke through

and is headed to Mogilev.

The Belorussian partisans
have performed magnificently.

Last night they swiftly paralyzed
all the railways behind enemy lines.

Well, now we come to you.

The direction of the main blow.

All reports say the Germans still
do not expect us to strike here.

Everything's ready,
we just have to lay a log road.

Why haven't you?

We decided to hammer the piles
during artillery preparation,

so the Germans would not hear us,
catch on, and open fire.

You'll finish in time?

We must.

Well...

As Bonaparte would say...

artillery, forward!

Come on, swamp army, follow me!

Go!
Medals for everyone!

Go!
Follow me!

Forward!

Send out Panov's corps.

MAJOR GENERAL PANOV
- Storm five! Five!

Well, good luck, boys.

Storm!
Storm!

First gear,
100-meters apart, keep up.

Panov's tank corps

plowed through
enemy battle formations

and is advancing on Bobruisk.

The rifle corps
of the 65th and 28th Armies,

along with Pliyev's group,

are building on Panov's success
and pushing North.

Under threat of encirclement,
the enemy wavered

and withdrew, according to air recon,
to the other side of Berezina.

What do you intend to do?

I want to throw all reserves
at the right flank

and fight our way
to Bobruisk from the East.

And at the same time
bring in the Dnieper Flotilla.

It will strike at the enemy
crossing points...

and secure them.

THE BEREZINA RIVER
JUNE 25, 08:00

BRIGADE COMMANDER,
DNIEPER FLOTILLA, CAPTAIN LYALKO

All ships,
prepare for assault landing!

FIELD MARSHAL MODEL

COMMANDER, ARMY GROUP CENTER,
FIELD MARSHAL BUSCH

Field Marshal,
the Fuhrer gave me a tough mission

to inform you
that I will be taking over your post.

I already know that.

You're in for
an even tougher mission.

To stop the Russian offensive.

What's the current situation?

The armies of Bagramyan
and Chernyakhovsky

have occupied Polotsk,
Vitebsk, Orsha,

and are pushing towards
Vilnius and Minsk.

They are bypassing the left flank
of Army Group Center's main forces.

Rokossovsky's troops
have made their way to Bobruisk

and trapped 40,000
of our soldiers there.

How could the Russians
be so successful?

By acting contrary
to any military logic.

There's only one logic at war -
knowing how to win!

Who commands the surrounded
troops in Bobruisk?

General Hamann.

Let me talk to him.

We'll break through, Field Marshal.
Yes sir.

Through the encirclement!

Give the soldiers all of our vodka!

There's no way back to the city!

Set fire to it!

All of it!

BOBRUISK
JUNE 28, 02:00

What?
What are you doing?

You're my wife.

I'm not afraid of anyone.

I'm your army wife, only in wartime.

You will stop loving me
afterwards, and forget.

Stop it, Zoya.

I'm glad I found you at war.

I'd never have found you otherwise.

I love you.

Artillery, volley fire!

Fire!

ALL GERMAN COUNTERATTACKS FROM THE
BOBRUISK CAULDRON WERE REPULSED

ON JUNE 29 OUR TROOPS
LIBERATED THE CITY OF BOBRUISK

Our sincere gratitude,

Your Excellency the General.

Thank you.

But why "Excellency"?

You're a general,
so you are excellent.

It's they who are excellent -
our soldiers.

Seems you figured out how to win.

Yes we have, old timer.
We have.

After their defeat at Vitebsk,

and Bobruisk,

the Germans, instead of retreating,

engaged in prolonged
frontal battles.

And this, I believe,
was a big mistake.

That's why you, Comrade Rokossovsky,
now have a new objective.

Panov's 1st Tank Corps
must advance to Minsk

and your main forces
to Slutsk and Baranavichy

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

Chernyakhovsky is headed there, too.

We must complete the encirclement
as soon as possible.

By completely surrounding them

and eliminating
their Minsk contingent,

we'll wrap up stage one
of Operation Bagration.

Then, we can proceed to stage two.

Which entails, comrades...

the 1st Belorussian Front
advancing towards Kovel and Brest,

and arriving at the Polish border.

Thus commencing
the liberation of Poland.

We invited you to update us on
the actions of the 1st Polish Army.

What news from the Polish resistance?

[With a Polish accent]
- We got a cipher from Comrade Duniak

that five partisan brigades
have moved out to the Vistula

to help the Red Army
capture the crossings.

What about the Polish Army?

[With a Polish accent]
- We, sir,

would like to advance
in the first echelon.

GENERAL BERLING, 1ST POLISH ARMY
- Well, General,

shall we show the Germans
that Poland lives on?

We shall indeed, Marshal!

But before that,
I still have to capture Minsk.

Tell Panov to head towards Minsk.

SOUTHWEST OF MINSK
1ST GUARDS TANK CORPS

Turn Northwest immediately,

cut off the German retreat routes

and join the 3rd Belorussian Front.

Complete the encirclement
and keep the enemy contained.

Copy that.
I'm 50 kms ahead of the infantry.

Turning Northwest.

Storm, we're turning Northwest.

Toward Minsk.
Forward!

Who are you?

Partisans from Kozlov's brigade.

Jump aboard.

Get on the tanks.
I need an infantry anyway.

Hey boys, get on the tanks!
Move it!

Come on, liven up!

MINSK
TOVARNAYA STATION

Over here!

- How was the attack?
- Great.

- What's this?
- A pillow, General.

Took it from a train car.
It's rough up here.

Were you expecting first class?

Forward!

Go, forward!

Stop!
Those are ours!

Any longer
and we would have lit each other up.

- 3rd Belorussian?
- That's right.

- Burdeinei, 2nd Guards Corps.
- Panov, 1st Guards Corps.

- We got the Germans in a ring, eh?
- More like a cauldron!

- Let's hug it out, 1st Belorussian.
- Let's, 3rd Belorussian.

Comrade Stalin,
a German force of 105,000 men,

surrounded East of Minsk,

has been eliminated by the armies
of Chernyakhovsky and Rokossovsky.

57,000 have been taken prisoner.

Our troops keep advancing
to the Polish border.

According to our intelligence,

German High Command has deployed
a great number of troops

from the South
to close the breach,

thereby weakening the force
ahead of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

Marshal Konev proposes

to take advantage of the situation

and strike towards
Lvov and Sandomierz,

as planned.

Let Konev begin.

Comrade Antonov,

what do the Germans say

in their official reports
regarding operations in Belorussia?

They claim to have planned
their withdrawal from Belorussia.

You're taking prisoners.

Yet neither the enemy
nor the allies believe you.

Do not hide your prisoners.

Show them off.
Let everyone see.

MOSCOW

BERLIN

Come get me in an hour.

Herr von Kluge,
if I'm not mistaken?

That's right,
Field Marshal von Witzleben.

We've been expecting you.

Is your deployment to the West...
a punishment?

Does it really matter?

The Fuhrer still thinks that
a change of command will save us.

I think otherwise.

Is your mind completely made up?

Are any of your men strong minded?
Men of action?

Yes.

Willing to take extreme measures?

Certainly.

I'd like to meet them.

Pardon me, I'll be right back.

This way, please.

Good to see you,
Colonel General Beck.

Let me introduce
our friends.

Doctor Carl Goerdeler.

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.

Field Marshal, may I introduce

Oberleutnant Werner von Haeften.

Adjutant to the Chief of Staff
and a most diligent officer.

Please be seated, gentlemen.

You've come at the right time,
Field Marshal.

We were trying to figure out what's
happening on the Eastern Front.

It has been breached in many places.

The Russians
keep making giant strides.

In Belorussia,
they advance 40 kilometers a day.

And now, they are
approaching the Polish border.

In short...

the Russian armies
have reached the gates of Europe.

Gentlemen.

There's only one thing left to do -

remove Hitler
and make peace with the West.

Then we can
join forces against Russia

and fulfill our historic mission -

stop communism
from entering Germany.

Your thinking is outdated,
Dr. Goerdeler.

The communists
entered Germany long ago.

You think the Communist Party
does not operate in Germany,

but they do, in full force.

I cannot picture a new Germany
without socialists or 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 go over the details
of Operation Valkyrie.

Please, Count Stauffenberg.

Gentlemen,
please make no written notes.

The signal "Valkyrie"

will be sent to the troops
via all channels.

It will transfer
all executive power to the army.

In the capital,
once the signal is given,

we must seal off
the government quarter,

seize all
government and party offices,

the radio station and the telegraph,

and arrest Goebbels.

Pardon me, Stauffenberg.

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

will Hitler still be alive...
when you give the Valkyrie signal?

I will take care of that myself.

On July 20th,
I'll be at the Fuhrer's Headquarters

to report on our reserves.

JULY 20

- Good morning, Countess.
- Morning! Claus is in his study.

- Would you like some breakfast?
- No, thanks.

- Good morning, Colonel.
- Good morning.

Which briefcase is mine?

In brief, the cases are the same.

You're in good spirits,
always putting me at ease.

Why wouldn't I be?
We're going to visit the Fuhrer.

I'll take this one.

Here's the capsule.

And the pliers to crush it.

Remember, you have 10 minutes,
not a second more.

Don't you think
I want to go on living?

May God help us.

RASTENBURG
July 20, 12:00

Your passes, please.

Your special passes.

Go ahead.

The Fuhrer has changed the schedule.

You'll deliver your report
at 12:30 now instead of 14:00.

And not at the bunker,
but at the HQ barracks.

Yes sir.

Come along.

Excuse me, Field Marshal,
I forgot my cap.

Go quickly.

Come on, Stauffenberg,
we're already late.

Sorry, Field Marshal.

...at Brest, Field Marshal Model

keeps fending off
attacks by Russian tanks.

Model was in dire straits,

but he shortened the front
and pulled his forces together.

Heusinger!

Why not mention the 21 generals
who surrendered to the Russians?

You think I'm going to mourn them?

They saved their skins,
but those cowards are dead to us.

They were paraded through Moscow,
like wild animals.

And I'm glad they were!

They deserve it.

Go on, Heusinger.

Russian troops crossed the
Western Bug, sustaining heavy losses,

and have approached
the General Governorate.

The Bolsheviks will never
see the General Governorate!

I believe in Model!

But we must send him reserves.

Maybe Colonel Stauffenberg can report
on the status of the reserve units?

No.
Wait until the end.

How are things in the North,
Heusinger?

I have to make a call to Berlin.

I have to make a call to Berlin.

Brandt, bring us the maps.

- How long will it take?
- Just seconds.

To the airfield.

Let us out.
Fuhrer's orders!

No one may leave,
by order of the Commandant.

Get me Field Marshal Keitel!

It's Stauffenberg.
They're not letting me out.

I must fly to Berlin,
on Fuhrer's orders.

Thank you.
Open up!

BERLIN
16:40

The bomb exploded.

It was right at Hitler's feet.
He couldn't have survived.

Lieutenant Roehrig,

call Leipzig and Munich.

Operation Valkyrie has begun.

Now, let's see Fromm.

COMMANDER OF THE RESERVE ARMY
COLONEL GENERAL FROMM

General Fromm,

Hitler has been assassinated.

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

He told me about the explosion at HQ,

but Hitler was not injured

Keitel is lying, as usual.

Hitler is dead.

I planted a bomb under him.

You must shoot yourself now.
You hear me? Right now!

General Beck, what's going on?

Operation Valkyrie.

It's a plot!

General,
we're fighting for a 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 a critical time.

You've gone too far.
You will regret it.

To the basement!

See if Goebbels was arrested.

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

I need to see Dr. Goebbels.

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

- What's this regarding?
- I'll report.

I've got orders
to arrest Dr. Goebbels.

Orders from whom?

Berlin's Military Commandant.

I'm a Reich Minister.
Only the Fuhrer can order my arrest.

He's dead.
The Military Commandant said...

a new Chancellor will now take over.

No, Major, the Fuhrer is alive.

Let me put you through to him.
Come.

Wait here.

It's Goebbels.
Let me speak to the Fuhrer.

This oak table
saved me from the blast.

I take this as divine intervention,

directing me to continue
the pursuit of my life goal.

It's a real miracle, my Fuhrer.

It was a plot by the generals.
I've never trusted them.

When I win victories,
they take credit for them

but when failures occur,
they blame me.

These treacherous criminals
must be ruthlessly exterminated.

My Fuhrer, you have an urgent call
from Reich Minister Goebbels.

Yes, Goebbels.

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

who has been ordered to arrest me
by Berlin's Military Commandant.

Put Major Remer on the phone.

Major Remer speaking.

I'm countermanding the arrest order.
Is that understood?

I'm promoting you to Colonel

and naming you
Commander of the Berlin Garrison.

Immediately arrest
all traitors and betrayers

who tried to stab
the Reich in the back.

If anyone resists,
shoot them on the spot, spare no one.

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?

By now, probably.

How are things?

Reinforced SS units
are guarding the radio station.

Storm the station.

As the new head of state
Ludwig Beck must go on the air.

It's Paris.

Get me Field Marshal von Kluge.

Beck speaking.

Hitler has been killed.

I got news to the contrary from HQ.

Kluge, make up your mind!

The fate of Germany and Europe
depends on you now.

I'll call you back after dinner.

That's Kluge for you.

Hands up!

Claus, are you alright?

Your revolt has failed.

It was not a revolt.

It was for the future
of Germany, Major.

I'm Colonel Remer.

Oh, you're a Colonel.
If you have any honor left...

Honor you say?
You betrayed the Fuhrer!

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

You'll be executed.

Take them outside.

Leave General Beck here.

Beck, you were my teacher once.

I had bad students, too.

We have no time for puns.

This is all I can do for you.

Anything I can tell your family?

No, nothing.

My wife knows everything.

Help the old man.

The verdict of the court martial:

For undertaking activities
constituting high treason,

and inflicting harm on the Fuhrer...

the following are sentenced
to death by firing squad:

Colonel Mertz von Quirnheim,

General of the Infantry Olbricht,

that Colonel and that Lieutenant,
whose names I want to forget.

Germany will remember our names.

Carry out the verdict immediately.

Lieutenant Schade, execute.

My Fuhrer,

all the conspirators against
your life have been executed.

Retribution has been served.

Too bad Stauffenberg
escaped the noose.

Stauffenberg! How much
longer must I hear that name?

I sent his wife
and children to a camp.

Good!

Everyone, everyone must forget him.

Himmler, dig him up,
burn him and scatter the ashes.

He must have neither name nor grave.

My Fuhrer, you once mentioned
the Stauffenberg family.

Ah, yes. The ancient Germans
had a fine custom of blood feuds.

We should apply it
to the entire Stauffenberg family.

They must be destroyed, Himmler!

Yes, my Fuhrer.

Let me introduce
the new Chief of the General Staff,

Colonel General Guderian.

Our most prominent
theorist on tank troops.

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

He, more than anyone,
knows about the Red Army's tactics.

Well, Guderian,
proceed with your report.

My Fuhrer,
the time has come for you to receive

only accurate information.

Any attempt to tone down the truth
may lead to tragic consequences.

First, the losses.

In just the last three months
we have lost 1,200,000 men.

I have 5.5 million in arms!

And 2 million
on reserve in the rear!

That's a great force.

I will stop the Russian offensive.

I will not let them into Europe!

LONDON

For Prime Minister
Churchill, by hand.

The latest news from Germany, sir.

Unfortunately, the plot
against Hitler failed.

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

Did you say "unfortunately"?

Yes, sir.

Don't you think a successful
conspiracy would have made headway?

"Headway"?
You mean peace, perhaps?

Maybe so, sir.

If the conspirators
actually had killed Hitler,

it wouldn't have been any good to us.

And I suspect
Stalin would not want that, either.

Only a fool would accept peace

when the air smells of victory.

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

and Stalin -
somewhere at Poland's border.

By the way, about Poland.

Is there any news?

Russian troops
are still advancing to the border.

Now here you can say "unfortunately."

I foresaw such a situation in Tehran.

Now we are faced
with a most serious situation.

From Marshal Stalin to you, sir.

Wasn't there any 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 this.

Somehow,
he's got the better of me.

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

THE WESTERN BUG

Quite frankly,
I'm overcome with emotion.

For five years
I thought about the day

when we would
arrive at the Polish border.

We arrived at 15:36.
Let's remember that, General.

I'll remember that, too, Generals.

Forward!
To Poland!

The army of the Soviet people,

together with the soldiers
of the Polish Army,

stepped onto
the long-suffering Polish land.

The liberation of
enslaved Europe had begun.

Still ahead lay the cities of

Warsaw and Budapest,

Belgrade and Sofia,

Vienna and Bucharest,

Bratislava and Prague.

Berlin lay ahead!

Restoration Producer:
KAREN SHAKHNAZAROV

© MOSFILM CINEMA CONCERN, 2020

END OF FILM THREE