Original subtitles

Oh, shit! Go fuck yourself!

You crafty bugger!

It's my lucky day.

Bruno!

Bruno!

Give it a rest, we're off duty.

Come and play with us!

I can't help it, I love the sound of an engine purring.

So what?

It's like when your sister sleeps on my shoulder.

Bruno and his cars...

Last one.

Bruno!

Bruno!

Giacomo, give me a hand!

There are more!

Come on!

Come on!

Combes and Lassalle, left. Dronne, straight ahead.

Cassard, right.

Right, Marcel, see you tomorrow.

Bye.

Where are the promised arms?

Where's the promised money?

Nothing.

I had 1,000 tonnes of arms and 6 million francs delivered.

It's all the General could get.

Let's be clear: driving out the Boches, of course,

but Vichy and the cowards too.

The parliamentarians won't hijack the Resistance. They betrayed us.

- Of course. - But the Resistance must unite.

The Spanish Republicans failed

because they couldn't coordinate.

Rex, I agree to the Secret Army.

Who'll lead it?

The General.

Which one?

Can you be serious?

Are you following what's happening in Casablanca?

History is being written there.

Casablanca is becoming the centre

of Anglo-American power.

It is at the Anfa Hotel

that Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt, aided by their chiefs of staff,

are preparing the next offensive.

Here is the General who will lead the French Forces into battle.

General Giraud will replace Admiral Darlan at the head of the French.

At least Roosevelt didn't choose

a man who shakes Hitler's hand.

They've found a useful idiot to make France a vassal.

How very subtle.

But, General, France's fate is being decided there,

in Casablanca.

You're here for...?

Securing the perimeter.

Against French dissidents. General Giraud's orders.

- Let's bag some Gaullists! - It's an ants' nest.

I want them all.

Gendarmerie.

Get up.

Against the wall.

- Hands on your head. - Lambert, bring me the kid.

Move.

No!

If you don't answer me, I'll kill your family, then you.

Is that what you want? Where's your dad?

Don't do that. Stop.

- Where's his father? - I'm begging you.

Move.

Faster.

- Name? - Reynaud.

Name?

- Pennacchioni. - Hurry up, get in.

- Move. - Name?

- Giacalone. - Get in.

- Clean this up. - Yes, sir.

Lock these Gaullists up.

- Come on, move along. - Come on, hurry up. Hurry.

Come on.

General Giraud...

I'll say it again, Churchill has a plane ready for you.

I won't go to Casablanca by plane or by canoe, Pleven.

General...

The fate of the world is at stake. And Churchill's inviting you.

One doesn't invite de Gaulle to France.

It's a trap.

If de Gaulle doesn't go to Casablanca,

for us, it'll be Giraud.

I heard.

Livia, code a telegram for the General.

We have to deal with this Casablanca business.

Understood.

- Prisoners in the hangar. - Yes, Captain.

Message for de Gaulle: "Mission accomplished in Libya.

"Joining the British in Tripoli.

"Signed, Leclerc."

Received, Colonel.

General...

What, Blaise?

General,

there's talk of a fake General

who claims to lead the Free French.

He's not a fake General, he's a real one!

You're the hero of France.

Her knight without fear or reproach.

Not any more, Blaise!

- Have you gone mad? - The world admires you.

You're in the newspapers.

The Americans are even making a film about you.

Maybe Chaplin will play you.

I don't give a damn, Blaise!

Pleven.

Ah.

Tell him I'm going to Casablanca.

Yes, General.

Let's go!

We're taking precautions to keep your arrival secret.

Is that a French decision?

Absolutely.

Stand back!

Simplest thing: create a binational army corps.

Harold, can I help you?

- Hello, gentlemen. - I'm looking for "Admiral Q".

Churchill?

He's with "Commodore Frankland".

Mr President...

There we are!

General de Gaulle has landed.

Here comes the bride!

Congratulations, you did it.

Eisenhower, is the groom ready?

General Giraud is downstairs.

We must celebrate!

The end of the French shambles.

Tomorrow we'll have a single French army.

One leader, one subordinate:

order at last!

Giraud's Army of Africa is large,

but de Gaulle's men have the sacred fire, that's what matters.

Perfect,

they'll pass that fire on to Giraud's men.

It's not that simple.

The groom, as you put it,

is surrounded by ex-Vichyites.

To de Gaulle and his men, they're traitors.

Remind me of one thing:

who pays for de Gaulle's army?

I won't fund his little war against Vichy.

We'll smother him in a committee.

You go all funny whenever the French come up.

You're like Frankenstein, terrified of his monster.

- Oh, please! - You know what?

I'll see him first.

Be my guest...

The heaviest cross I have to bear in this war...

is the Cross of Lorraine.

General, the President wished to see you alone.

Follow me.

General de Gaulle,

at last!

It's such a pleasure

to meet you.

The pleasure is all mine, Mr President.

I can't say "welcome".

This is your home.

The collapse of your country under the German invasion

was a real shock: six weeks?

We'll get you out of this.

If you see a child attacked by savages,

you step in, don't you?

France is not a child, Mr President.

She has never stopped fighting.

- The troops... - Your troops?

Tell me, how many are we talking?

10,000 men?

A battalion in the desert?

General Giraud's army is taking over.

- General Giraud is a good soldier. - He'll make a decent military leader.

But war is a moral matter.

Soldiers who will die must fight for a moral cause.

France needs a moral authority,

- not an office manager. - As long as France is occupied,

no one has moral authority.

You chose our side,

the side of freedom.

But you remain a lone general,

with no backing from parties or deputies, and you've never been elected:

- a rebel! - Nor was Joan of Arc.

She simply fought for France.

General, Winston and I are asking you

to come to terms with Giraud.

You understand?

To help you,

we've drafted a memorandum

proposing a memorandum of understanding between you two.

If it serves France's interests.

Yes...

The conference ends tomorrow,

you'll exercise your legendary wisdom.

Mr President.

Until tomorrow, General.

- What a character. - Stark raving mad.

He knows nothing about politics.

I expected him to be harder.

Don't leave without his signature.

I hope you thoroughly enjoyed the tête-à-tête.

Harold Macmillan.

I'm the special envoy of Prime Minister

Churchill, and I...

It's an agreement that fully respects your rank, General.

I'll stay in case

- you have any quest... - Save them

for your enemies.

Oh, my plane...

crashed.

Did I ask a question?

To put me

on a committee with Marcel Peyrouton,

- a Vichyite from day one... - General, they hold the cards.

And Giraud brings them 400,000 men. We're

barely 13,000, drivers and secretaries included.

It's a done deal.

We're more than ready...

Mr President,

all I need is equipment for my troops.

- You promised tanks... - Don't worry, my friend.

He says you'll get the tanks.

Does your creature know we have other fish to fry,

do you think?

Ah!

Barely two brigades and he walks in like Stalin!

Morning, Gaulle.

Sleep well, General?

Regrettably, we cannot accept the proposed agreement,

but we shall discuss all that with General Giraud...

Among Frenchmen.

You cannot obstacle the war, General de Gaulle!

If you don't sign, I'll denounce you to Parliament

and to the press, and we'll carry on

without you.

You are perfectly free to dishonour yourself,

- Prime Minister. - Calm down.

General, perhaps you're right,

it's a little premature.

For now, it will be enough to confirm our commitment

to finding a solution that suits everyone

and simply to shake hands.

If you like...

Very good!

Please.

Let's not waste time.

Come, gentlemen...

follow me!

The closing press conference will begin in 15 minutes.

Ah, at last.

My friends...

You may come closer.

Ta-da.

- All set to break camp? - Colonel!

- Are you done? - Almost.

- Hurry up. - I'm doing what I can.

Colonel.

Colonel.

Colonel.

- Congratulations. - You've been made general.

- Cut the crap. - The General signed the promotion.

Combes, what is Force L's first duty?

Never obey a stupid order, General.

Exactly.

- We break camp. - Colonel, message from the Americans:

"Stand by and await Giraud's instructions."

What?

Yeah, that's it.

De Gaulle has apparently made a deal with Giraud.

- What do we do, General? - De Gaulle, with a Vichyite?

Congratulations!

Coming from you, Peyrouton?

- The grassroots and the top. - The city's rid of Gaullist scum.

Their master has bowed his head.

Checkmate.

I like them more and more, your American friends.

France will be rid of the Germans,

but not of the Vichyites.

Giraud?

But...

The Resistance with him?

Free France is about to disappear.

No, no, we can't

- sign with Giraud. - We don't even know what we'd sign.

So, how was the holiday?

DE GAULLE ACCEPTS GIRAUD'S TERMS

We're studying our options.

There's no point staying in London now.

Here.

We've received a note from Downing Street.

Churchill intends to keep you in London.

He won't make a single plane available to you.

Except to Algiers.

To go and come to terms with Giraud.

So, Pleven, I'm a prisoner.

Giraud is purely a soldier.

You must sign with him to neutralise him.

Catroux is working on an agreement

- that leaves you a free hand. - Free?

You understand nothing about politics.

Giraud is the Americans' puppet.

A free hand...

Rex.

At your service!

You're not down for this transport.

- I must get to London. - By the next moon,

it'll be too late.

Listen to me, it's vital for the General.

If it were, I'd have received an order.

He doesn't know it.

He needs my help.

- Yes, Colonel? - Break camp.

What do we answer?

That we never obey a stupid order.

We carry on. The General needs us.

Received, General.

Break camp!

- He's given up? - No, he's given up on Giraud.

To join our troops in Tripoli.

That's a good thing, isn't it?

Perhaps.

The French!

BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY

Well done, lads!

Now for a good shower!

- General Leclerc. - General Montgomery.

Mmm...

Very good.

To be frank,

when I was told you'd be crossing the Sahara,

I doubted I'd see you alive again, and here you are!

General Giraud must be proud.

We want to fight.

I understand.

I'm grateful, but it's a complex operation...

If you insist.

The US 1st Division is holding Gafsa.

It'll catch Rommel in a pincer.

My men will push him from the south

to trap him in Tunis.

If he gets past the Mareth Line, he'll hit you from the rear.

No, a battalion will cover my left flank.

You'll only have two divisions, he has three.

That's correct.

We may look like tramps,

but we're fast and we know the desert.

We'll cover your left flank.

- How many of you? - 1,000.

We'll supply boots and rifles,

and clean clothes!

If one day our children

Should ask their mothers

Where we were

- Why we're here no more - Come on!

Tell them that their fathers

Were Leclerc's lads

And that we never once surrendered

Tremble, enemies of France

Tyrants drunk on blood and hate

Those who know how to die will give the world

Peace and liberty

And when France calls upon us

Let us conquer or let us perish

A Frenchman must live for her

For her, a Frenchman must die

Yeah!

Go north.

Ammo!

- All right, Mirloin? - Yeah.

About time.

Here, for your trouble.

What's this thing?

Wait.

Two more Stukas.

So 18.

Plus one, 19.

A Panzer division.

They're regrouping.

Reconnaissance vehicles.

- Heavy enemy presence. - You're not equipped for this.

Fall back towards the sea.

Against a Panzer division?

- Without a single tank. - Oh!

Dronne, Raynal,

what's going on?

Next skirmish, you send them packing.

A Panzer division,

at full strength!

Officers of Force L!

- Come on, fall in. - Quick, quick, quick!

Our friends the Boches want to cross the Mareth Line.

Our line.

- How many Boches? - We counted

19 planes.

So there should be 90 tanks.

The 15th.

There are two passes.

They'll go into both, simultaneously.

We'll let them in.

They'll roll right over us.

Dio,

you'll hide your men

on the northern one.

Dronne,

you'll take this one. Combes,

with me on the high ground,

- at the epicentre. - But will we have

air support?

I don't think so.

The RAF has been assigned

- to priority missions in the east. - General,

we've won every battle so far.

You want us to get hammered by a Panzer division?

It's not coming for us.

Have you seen Montgomery's order?

Avoid all contact and fall back 90 kilometres towards the sea.

Take cover!

General, get down!

General, don't stay there!

Has anyone forgotten

Force L's first duty?

But this isn't a stupid order.

Some people have understood nothing about Fighting France.

Back home, kids are fighting with nothing in their hands.

True, we get no news.

But we all have a brother,

a sister,

a cousin,

who, leaning against a cellar wall, fights off sleep

to send intelligence to London.

We all have a friend

who, sent to sabotage, comes out of a wood, crosses a mountain,

finds a boat on a beach with no sail, no oars, no mast, no rigging

and climbs aboard without a qualm.

Over there, each one is alone and in constant danger of death.

And not a single one of them would give up,

without even knowing if their mission will make a difference.

They all trust that sooner or later

the enemy will be drowned by all these anonymous acts.

So we,

who are lucky enough to fight together, armed,

and in broad daylight,

let us prove ourselves worthy.

Does anyone here still want to retreat?

Dismissed.

Leave with the logistics.

No, I'm doing my job and I know the risks.

This isn't about risks any more, it's a suicide mission.

Leave with this...

Hey, Mademba!

Jerries!

The Boches are coming!

12 tanks.

No infantry in sight.

No infantry support in sight.

12 tanks. That doesn't add up.

- They want us to show ourselves. - Everyone in position!

You'll fire on my command,

and on my command only!

- Two seconds! - What are we waiting for?

- We've got to fire! - Fire, fire.

What are we waiting for?

Two seconds!

That's the 12th tank.

12th tank!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

Load.

Right-hand charge, fire!

Fire!

Fire right!

You, stay. You, take him

to get treated. Come back, we hold the position.

Roger.

At least 15 more tanks!

The Secret Army is taking shape.

We'll be able to strike hard.

Hold back your blows and keep your losses down.

For now, we are alone.

I stand alone against America, and only America counts.

Don't misunderstand me.

Roosevelt is a Francophile. He speaks French as well as we do.

Then what's his problem?

In 1940, we were the bulwark against Hitler.

When Paris fell,

after we had fought so badly and so little,

he was shocked.

As we all were.

Exactly.

So he ought to support Free France.

To him, France no longer exists.

And for a quiet life, he puts a pawn in the centre of the board:

Giraud.

For a quiet life?

So as not to face

someone who intends to make France a nation again.

Prefect,

I have no support from parliamentarians.

They voted full powers to Pétain.

I have few soldiers, and they are dissidents from a defeated army.

In other words,

I embody everything the Americans loathe.

I am weak.

And I stand my ground.

And Churchill?

Ah, Churchill...

I swear allegiance to Giraud or he cuts off our supplies.

Then the Resistance is dead.

It may be that I am an obstacle to France's future.

I saw the Boches repositioning to the south-east.

We're going to get a right pasting.

General,

we've got to evacuate the wounded, it's now or never.

Evacuate immediately!

Wounded into the ambulances!

You're going with them, Davis.

Listen carefully.

We may all die here.

But I need you to stay alive.

So people know we are undefeated, we, the Free French.

The Boches never beat us.

We do not retreat, we do not submit.

Our children won't be able to reproach us when we return.

Do you understand?

Take the rest of the artillery for a defensive line.

Roger, General.

Troops to the south-east!

Troops moving to the south-east, confirm.

Sometimes one card turns everything.

The parliamentarians.

The parliamentarians?

Why not the political parties?

- Why not, indeed. - Because they betrayed

France.

They're still elected, legitimate to the Allies. We're not.

No Free Frenchman will accept that.

Without Allied support, who will fund them?

What are you proposing?

To gamble the fate of Free France at cards?

Draw parliamentarians at random,

watched by the Germans night and day?

Gather them in one room

with Resistance fighters hunted by the Gestapo?

And on top of that, you hope

to get them to agree when they cordially loathe each other?

If you trust me, yes.

That's not trust, that's the faith of the early Christians.

It took that to create Free France

with one aide-de-camp.

I must go back.

Don't go to Algiers unless you're in a position of strength.

Give me time to act,

without believing any report, any telegram,

any rumour. I need time.

Sign no agreement with Giraud.

If you approve my plan, have a phrase broadcast on the BBC.

- "The jack of diamonds is on the table." - I can't afford to lose you.

And if not,

broadcast: "The ace of spades is in my hand."

Fire!

Fire!

They're everywhere!

General!

Leclerc hasn't fallen back.

He's only evacuated his wounded.

He's done for, General.

"In a few hours, we will give you victory."

They don't make them like him any more.

Have our planes finished their mission in the east?

Not yet, General.

No, General!

It's over, General.

With me!

For honour.

To the end.

- He's mad! - Come on.

The British...

- They're coming! - General!

We've won!

Look, he's chasing them!

Let's give him a hand!

- General? - Leave me alone, Passy.

General, Leclerc is alive!

Well done, General.

Leclerc held off a Panzer division.

With what tanks?

- No tanks, General. - Just him and his men.

- 3 submachine guns and a few rifles. - Incredible.

Churchill congratulates you.

- Long live Free France! - Long live Free France!

- Long live Free France! - Long live Free France!

To Free France!

GAULLIST WARRIOR HUNTS DOWN THE GERMANS

ROOSEVELT ASSEMBLES AN UNPRECEDENTED MILITARY COALITION

Leclerc! Leclerc!

Leclerc! Leclerc! Leclerc! Leclerc! Leclerc!

Leclerc!

- Leclerc! Leclerc! - De Gaulle!

Leclerc! Leclerc! Leclerc! Leclerc!

Shout "Long live de Gaulle!"

- Leclerc! - Long live de Gaulle!

- Long live de Gaulle! - Leclerc! Leclerc!

De Gaulle! De Gaulle! De Gaulle! De Gaulle!

For the BBC.

Personal message.

Praise is pouring in from every Allied capital.

A journalist who secured an interview with General Leclerc

on the battlefield quotes him:

"We are undefeated, we, the Free French.

"The Boches have never beaten us.

"We do not retreat. We do not submit.

"Our children won't be able to reproach us when we return."

And now, please listen to some personal messages.

"The jack of diamonds is on the table."

I repeat.

"The jack of diamonds is on the table."

"The sun rises every day."

I say it twice:

"The sun rises every day."

End of personal messages.

In the La Fontaine drop.

The Resistance can't have gone easy on you.

They want more money.

For weapons, for everything.

And they're right.

The General's doing all he can.

I missed one.

Something under a table.

"On" the table?

The jack of diamonds?

Livia?

I don't know, boss.

Let's go.

We'll bring in the parliamentarians.

You're either mad or a fool.

We had an agreement, Rex.

You're destroying the Resistance because you can't control it.

Not only will we never accept it,

we'll tell de Gaulle it's us or you.

- That's the last straw! - We need them.

Oh, sure.

The General needs that legitimacy.

And do you have them, the MPs?

I'm working on it.

Oh, really?

Which ones?

All those who reject Vichy.

Even the Communists?

- I'm working on it. - Ah...

Good luck.

- Deputy... - You want my endorsement

while telling me my party doesn't count.

I'm not asking for your endorsement, I'm asking for your support.

- I'll be with you. - I trust you.

The priority is to set up in Algiers.

Catroux has got the concessions needed to sign.

Your plane is waiting.

You'll be on French soil by tonight.

Page 3.

General?

We won't get any more out of Gir...

Page 3?

Patience.

Patience, Blaise.

I will not give up the presidency

nor accept Peyrouton's resignation.

The rest is up for discussion.

A new proposal from General Giraud.

Very well.

Peyrouton.

Er, General...

Pétain's police minister, the man who did the dirty work.

- Once we're there... - Peyrouton.

Yes, yes, it suits him fine, but...

the make-up of the committee needs reworking.

And the preambles.

I can't stand being caught between an ass and a madman.

I'll make one last attempt. Then, I'm telling you, I resign.

Trust,

- that means nothing. - Our country's future is at stake.

What you're asking of us is impossible.

I can't see

a good outcome.

We'll meet again, Deputy.

I doubt my Communist Party will be in favour.

I'll manage it.

I'll organise the founding of the Council of the Resistance in Paris.

- Easier for the parliamentarians. - You like taking risks.

You set our meeting next to Milice headquarters.

G...

"Network blown."

Look out!

Wait three minutes.

Shut up!

- Galibier and Suzette have been arrested. - I was warned in time.

- You're blown. - We must move fast.

Have the agents cancel

their meetings. Change the dead drops

and the identity papers.

Alert London and tell Mercure to disappear.

Meet in two hours.

No change of plan, we carry on.

Livia, if you're caught,

try to hold out 48 hours without talking.

If I'm caught, you'll put yourself at Mr Bidault's service.

Happy birthday.

Come on.

I have nothing more to add.

This agreement is take it or leave it.

My respects, gentlemen.

Florence Conrad.

I've bought 19 new ambulances.

I've recruited 14 Frenchwomen in New York City,

trained in first aid and able to drive.

We want to fight.

Very good.

Very good. General, would you...

We want Leclerc.

Wait, do you know how they live?

No washrooms, hundreds of kilometres a day

with dogs, hens, fennec foxes...

We have a genuine admiration

for General Leclerc.

Fine. I'll raise it with him when he pauses between two raids.

Ladies.

The ambulances have arrived, there are women with them.

- They want to stay. - Sort it out with them.

This is a joke, isn't it?

General Giraud's here.

General.

Last time, you were the young Captain de Hauteclocque.

You've made a name for yourself since.

You're the one who trained me in arms.

- That doesn't explain your successes. - No.

That's down to having no telephone and no top brass nearby.

First, I came to thank you.

When I was taken prisoner in Germany,

my wife and children were in danger,

with no help and no means in occupied France.

Until a family took them in.

Yours.

Your wife took them in.

She's well.

She's heard talk of a certain Leclerc,

without knowing who he was.

Philippe,

today I'm in charge of this immense battle for France.

This war is bigger than us and our petty convictions.

I'll give Gaulle a prominent place at my side.

So let's stop the politics and join forces.

Not while you're surrounded by criminals.

What are you saying?

Peyrouton.

He's backed by the Supreme Commander, Roosevelt.

- You know what you can tell him? - Philippe!

Hitler's arse-lickers will end up in the dustbin of history.

Mind you don't join them there.

Stop, or you'll answer for your words before a court.

French or American?

Pff... Being quoted Trotsky, too...

No pasarán!

- Attention! - No pasarán!

Death to the bastards!

- What the hell is this? - We send them back.

They're anarchists.

No.

Dronne, you'll handle them just fine.

And that?

Let it be.

There'll never be enough ammo.

- Attention! - Viva!

- Knees up! - Come on!

Come on, let's go.

No, that won't do.

Come in!

Not enough. Call me back in 20 minutes.

No way my men and I are parading in Tunis with Giraud.

You helped win this victory, you must parade!

Then may we parade with your men?

Do you hate Giraud that much?

I'm very fond of him, alas.

It would seem

that being French today

is a complicated thing.

No, Catroux.

We'll have to talk again.

Goodbye, Catroux.

- Ah! - General.

Delighted to see you in France, Monnet.

Do you know Marcel Peyrouton?

Pleased to meet you.

To what do I owe the pleasure?

- Getting bored in Washington? - General,

President Roosevelt himself sent me.

To remove our friend in London from the picture for good...

Oh, Gaulle? But he's finished.

He took himself out of the picture.

Apart from Catroux, left here to negotiate

some puppet agreement or other with us,

nobody backs him any more.

Except public opinion.

Yes...

- Here, take a look. - Mm?

This. DE GAULLE BACKED IN AMERICA

GIRAUD'S MEASURES: A HARD BLOW FOR THE JEWS

And then this.

Yes.

- For example. - We're not going back

to letting opinion run our lives, to falling back

into the dithering that did France so much harm.

If you want to keep Roosevelt's support,

you'll have to spare him this sort of thing.

Mr Monnet, the American papers

are run by the Jews.

It's up to them to fix it.

I'm a soldier, I don't do politics.

There's nothing for you to worry about.

Show that you embody French values...

and American ones.

It's the speech Giraud gave in Algiers.

You should read it.

- In tribute to Pétain? - No, but it was a big success.

A democratic programme, compatible with the Americans.

- Monnet did a good job. - Ah.

And in his speech,

does Giraud restore French nationality to the Jews of Algiers?

No. But General,

he's tightening his grip on Algiers while...

we wait for the British to cut off our funds.

Speaking of which, Churchill has just left for Washington.

And in case you mistake it for the fireplace,

the other file contains a message

from the three main Resistance networks.

They're demanding Rex be dismissed.

Patience.

ACTION OF THE DAY Must break with de Gaulle. Churchill.

Gentlemen, de Gaulle

is leading us on.

He was meant to go to Algiers to make peace with Giraud.

Instead, he's stirring up trouble in London,

refusing any possible agreement.

How much longer will we tolerate this?

It's written here: break with de Gaulle.

Let's vote.

Thank you.

I know it's written,

but we must think twice about it.

Have you read Montgomery's report?

Leclerc refused to parade with Giraud's troops in Tunis.

Break with de Gaulle, and we lose Leclerc.

That would be absurd!

If we don't break, let's force him to go to Algiers.

Now!

But how?

Listen to me.

I have an idea.

- First take a look... - General,

the BBC has just announced you're leaving for Algiers.

What?

Well played. If you don't go, you'll look weak.

If I go to Algiers, it's to tell Giraud to his face

that there will never be any agreement between him and me.

General, first take a look at what General Catroux proposes.

This is London.

It's disastrous.

It's all fucked. He's going to crash.

It's all I have.

Code this for me and send it immediately.

"National Council of the Resistance formed."

But... it's not true!

The Republic is well worth a forgery, Livia.

"All networks and parties request swift installation.

"Provisional Government in Algiers under de Gaulle's presidency."

- Boss... - Arrange a meeting with everyone.

Even the communists?

And if you don't succeed?

You're putting the General at enormous risk.

And the Resistance.

Giraud still has the presidency.

Peyrouton is still there.

Whatever you do, don't tell me it was better a month ago. It's true.

Perfect.

I'll discuss the details in Algiers.

Gentlemen.

What's going on?

Here we go.

Gentlemen,

here is a message from General de Gaulle addressed to us.

"The terrible upheaval into which disaster,

"betrayal and usurpation

"have plunged our country will not end

"merely because the German forces have been crushed.

"The nation must emerge from its liberation independent.

"It is up to you to assert the rights

"and interests of France."

I propose the following motion.

Repudiating the Vichy dictatorship, its men,

its symbols and its offshoots,

a National Council of the Resistance is created

and made up of the members present.

It intends that a provisional government be installed in Algiers

and entrusted to General de Gaulle, who was the soul of the Resistance

in the darkest days

and who has never stopped preparing the rebirth of republican freedoms.

- This is impossible. - We'll never accept it.

- He has no legitimacy. - He wants power.

Not a word

about this Resistance Council, General.

I have my doubts. I'm looking into it.

If it's a forgery, it'll put him out of his misery.

Indeed.

Peyrouton.

Are you going straight to meet General Eisenhower?

- We'll meet at his HQ. - I beg your pardon?

It's for Eisenhower to come to me, not the other way round.

We are in France.

Let's go by the war memorial.

The Communist Party

doesn't endorse pipe dreams. We know the Allies

handed power to Giraud, not to de Gaulle.

It seems to me it's up to us to express our will

- on the future French government. - The will of the parliamentarians?

Not long ago, that was to hand France to Pétain.

You reject the parliamentarians

and the political parties?

You want to make the Resistance a single party.

What mandate from the people do you claim?

The Resistance rose up against those fascist practices.

No, the fascists have turned up here.

Gentlemen!

Every one of us is wanted by the Gestapo.

We have very little time left.

France's interest must come before that of the parties.

"We are undefeated, we, the Free French."

We all know

what that means.

It's now or never.

Who votes against the proposed motion?

Who is in favour?

So it is decided. Thank you, gentlemen.

"Let it be known to all that we are undefeated,

"we, the Free French."

This Committee... Council of Resisters, where is it at?

It has been created.

Right...

Oh!

Here comes the diva.

Good.

General, as future president, it's for you to open

this meeting to create a provisional government:

the French Committee of National Liberation.

Yes, yes. So, well...

- Does anyone have anything to say? - Yes.

I do.

The French people

have expressed their will.

The French people?

The National Council of the Resistance

brings together all political parties

as well as all the Resistance movements.

Here is the motion that was adopted.

- Unanimously. - Thank you, Pleven. I've read it.

Their will, indeed, cannot be ignored.

Ah.

In that case,

I propose a de Gaulle-Giraud co-presidency,

with General Giraud remaining head of the armed forces.

Let's vote by hands.

Good.

The Provisional Government of France is born.

I demand the retirement of the Governor of Algiers.

- You demand nothing at all. - Peyrouton is an excellent governor.

A collaborator from the very start?

- The cars are waiting. - We'll discuss it at the next meeting.

"I demand..."

"I demand..."

["Le Père la Victoire"]

He pulled through.

Take my glass.

Surprise!

Gentlemen,

don't take my presence amiss.

You know the love

I've had for France since childhood.

She's going through hard times.

I have always supported her

and I always will.

I'm sure that General Giraud

and General de Gaulle

will give her back a destiny.

It's a great day for me.

So,

I shall now inflict upon you

my favourite song.

When I see our soldiers

Marching merrily behind the band

Ah, I say, marking time:

"As in days of old, France is fair"

As in times gone by

Soldiers, I see again

Carnot decreeing victory

March on to glory

My dear children

Come home triumphant

- Bravo! Bravo. - Thank you.

To victorious France!

Vive la France!

Vive la France!

What a jackal!

Sometimes it takes a jackal to lead a country.

Mr President...

This is unacceptable, Ike!

Deal with the de Gaulle problem.

Of course.

If I may,

with all due respect, Mr President, we have a war to fight.

That's not a suggestion, General.

I will not accept this putsch.

Sort it out!

Set up a meeting with Generals Giraud and de Gaulle...

Let go of me!

- Ow, you're hurting me! - Let go of me.

Move!

The address.

Which one?

Talk!

Let it be known that we are undefeated, we, the Free French.

Undefeated.

Say that again, please.

Undefeated.

"Undefeated"?

What does that mean?

Ah.

Your interpreter.

For him.

Generals,

as you know,

we are preparing a huge military operation.

It will require a strict chain of command

and a perfect division of tasks.

Of course.

I thought that was clear.

General Giraud is the military leader of the French,

he must lead the army.

Yes, yes.

And also in charge of political affairs

as co-president.

A small question:

as military leader of the Allies,

are you also in charge of American policy?

But I am also the guarantor

of the Provisional Government Roosevelt helped to establish.

- Where's the problem? - I read your speech.

I thought you were a committed republican.

Separating civil and military power is the ABC of it.

You command an army of mercenaries, wogs and communists,

generals promoted by a deserter.

- I never deserted. - Nor did I.

Your 15,000 mercenaries

and your fascist methods, we can do without them.

I'm called a fascist

because I demand respect for republican rules.

You create problems where there are none.

I won't work with this madman.

Let me be very clear, General de Gaulle,

we will change nothing in the current arrangement.

The man I deal with is Giraud,

him alone,

and on every matter. Full stop.

Thank you, General.

Like any...

great war leader,

you follow the instructions of your President.

I understand and respect that.

I wish you victory

in the difficult operations ahead.

General.

Gentlemen...

- Right. - Gentlemen, it's time to settle

the matter of the separation of powers.

Didn't you hear General Eisenhower?

I'm glad you mention it.

Could you tell us briefly, here, what has just happened?

General Eisenhower summoned us

and decided that I would retain civil and military powers,

which Gaulle wanted to dispute.

As you've just said, we are dealing with

a clear case of foreign interference

against French sovereignty.

I propose we consider, here and now, the proper way

to reassert our sovereignty.

Oh yes, and would we be here without the Allies?

I propose an immediate vote.

Stop your act.

Does what happened constitute interference by the American army

against the French Provisional Government?

No, that...

Right, now let's vote on...

the question

before us.

In the French Republic we are rebuilding right here,

can one person hold both civil and military power?

In that case, General, I see no other solution

than you resigning from this committee.

Monnet, give notice of the three decisions just taken

by France.

Issue the necessary decrees here and now.

Very well.

General.

Rex...

Where?

At Gestapo headquarters.

We can't do anything.

Let's carry on.

Livia!

We got your message in time.

Thank you.

We don't know who talked.

But you were on the list.

You must disappear to another town.

All right?

"My friend,

"The end is near.

"Here comes the reward.

"Soon, together, we shall weep for joy.

"Charles de Gaulle."

We won't meet again.

Good luck.

Perfect!

- Must I get involved? - You must talk to him.

I'll see to it.

Do it before noon.

Ah, McSherry!

Come and show us.

Yes, Mr President.

Remove "French Republic". Just the flag.

Let's put "France" instead.

No.

Not a country,

not any more.

Just the flag.

Mr President...

Our men are ready to administer France.

Each will take a département.

Perfect.

Eisenhower says he's counting on the Free French,

from the landings onwards.

Let him say what he likes,

de Gaulle will be kept away from the theatre of operations.

Next item?

Military Government of Occupied Territories

"New Wallonia"?

This is unreal.

And yet...

Perhaps we should talk to Roosevelt.

No... Anthony.

We must win this war.

We'll lance that boil in due course.

Let's at least inform de Gaulle.

Discreetly, through his secret service.

General,

I ask you to form as soon as possible

an armoured division

combining the Free French Forces

at your disposal

and the troops of the African armies.

You will take command of it.

Where my arm is pointing.

Roosevelt intends to occupy France,

cut off a third of it,

and turn what's left into a condominium.

Perhaps even keeping Pétain.

- General? - Leclerc,

I know what I'm saying.

If we don't assert ourselves, there will be no France.

A single battle will decide everything.

And I entrust it to you.

These instructions override any order, wherever it comes from.

Past or future,

they are secret and irrevocable.

Philippe...

No more absurd risks.

If you fall before succeeding...

I have no other option.

I entrust you with the supreme battle that will decide everything:

Paris.

My hands in yours. Charles de Gaulle.

And so,

after three years

of unspeakable ordeals,

the French people

reappear.

It has a Council of the Resistance

that unites all those

who fight in secret against the invader.

It has a Provisional Government.

It needs a great army.

It is in the desert

that, at this very moment, there is re-emerging

the force we lacked

in 1940.

Fast, modern, built entirely for attack.

The force that will unite all the French,

since it is born of their union.

Bravo!

You are assigned

to the 2nd Armoured Division under my command.

It is the first great force in which

Frenchmen are brought together who, for three years, were divided.

Even enemies.

I ask you to reflect

on the importance of this reunion.

Around the world,

certain minds, supposedly realistic,

may have believed that for the French,

and for the French alone,

the war effort could exist

outside of morality.

Our country is in a situation

it has never known.

It has become

a second-rate nation.

Our elites have failed.

Tomorrow, when you see a dignitary, you may well ask yourselves

whether he was incompetent before '40

or a coward since.

But we cannot afford the luxury of internal divisions.

Theorists may have

imagined

that our soldiers, our sailors, our airmen,

unlike all the soldiers, all the sailors,

all the airmen in the world,

would go into battle without caring why

they were facing death.

From the moment

you set foot on French soil,

you'll be thrown into battle,

with no transition.

France

is a tortured captive

who, under the blows,

in her dungeon,

has grasped once and for all

the causes of her misfortunes

and the infamy of her tyrants.

No time to get to know the terrain or the enemy.

You'll have to take the initiative

- quickly. - Without claiming

the gift of prophecy,

we need only listen

to our hearts beating

to say this:

In life,

you only succeed if you're obsessed with an idea.

Recheck the inventory and load the crates.

I thought armoured divisions were off-limits to Negroes.

- Have you got a problem? - Captain, Captain...

Captain, it's not worth it.

Let it go.

Because of them, we lost our 4,000 Senegalese Tirailleurs.

Three quarters of the division.

Think of the men instead of the division.

They fought like lions

and were sent home like the defeated.

The Americans have rules for everything.

One day they'll lecture the whole world.

Still, they're impressive.

This way.

Captain!

- Ariane? - We're completely lost.

So are we.

Up on the ridge.

We haven't the faintest idea what we're supposed to do.

We don't even know where Leclerc is.

- Or when. - Or where we're meant to do it.

How long did it take them to build that?

We won't find him any time soon.

Look, their General.

General, Mr Churchill on the line.

Between you and me, do we need de Gaulle?

How many casualties are we prepared to accept?

That's the question.

Be specific.

The more the Resistance deploys,

the fewer men we'll lose.

Every act of sabotage,

every Secret Army operation

against German logistics will relieve us.

And we really need it.

De Gaulle's men could make all the difference.

And I trust him.

- Have you told Roosevelt? - More than once.

I'm not even allowed to speak to de Gaulle.

How will we tell the British that their children

died because we didn't talk to de Gaulle?

I know, Anthony!

Can we avoid breaking up his armoured division?

Leclerc's division isn't up to standard,

it's short 253 vehicles.

Yes, I've read the file.

But...

could you step in?

Is your line secure?

Yes.

Well...

I might be able to find some other vehicles.

And tell my men to turn a blind eye.

- Would that help with de Gaulle? - Yes.

Very well.

If we want our children to think

we acted like adults on the eve of this historic moment,

we must bring de Gaulle over at once.

We can't land in France behind his back!

What's that?

Eisenhower's message if we succeed, and this...

is for the opposite.

Where's Mr Weather?

Sorry.

If we must brush with hell, let us be brave and dignified.

That idiot said the storm would stop, I want him to say it again.

De Gaulle!

The prefect is head of the police, the Gendarmerie,

the fire brigade and the school.

- All together. - The prefect is head of the police,

the Gendarmerie, the fire brigade and the school.

All right, boys.

This is Mr McSherry, who's in charge.

Go ahead, introduce yourselves.

Who's first?

What's your name?

- John Boivin. - Lansing, Michigan, 39.

Posted to Limoges.

Bill Abella, from Tucson, Arizona.

Married, three kids.

I'm a winegrower, I can't wait to get to Bordeaux!

Perfect.

Carry on.

From the top.

The Vichy government...

General.

This, on future military spending.

Ah!

General.

Prime Minister.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you, gentlemen.

I am taking it upon myself

to inform you that we will

launch a landing in Normandy

within the next few hours, weather permitting.

Thank you for inviting me.

A few hours after

the operation is launched,

Eisenhower will give a radio address.

It is essential

to show our unity

to spread fear among the enemy.

I hope you will agree

to speak after him.

By what right would Eisenhower give orders

to the French people?

By what right

to the French Provisional Government?

Do you think I don't know the Americans are about to land

carrying currency printed in the United States?

I think

you should go and see Roosevelt in Washington.

What for?

I've asked him ten times to go and see him.

- He never saw fit to answer me. - General,

the battle will be long.

You can still convince him.

Convince him of what, Mr Eden?

- The President... - Sir,

if you don't publicly support the Allied soldiers

who are coming to free your country,

we shall take it as an insult, I and the entire Labour Party.

An insult?

I lived as a prisoner in London.

I had to face systematic opposition in Algiers.

I sent proposals

that neither you nor Roosevelt ever answered.

And now the Labour Party would feel insulted by me.

I will not endorse Eisenhower's statements by speaking

after him.

Go on, wage your war with your counterfeit money.

General de Gaulle, know this

once and for all:

every time we have to choose between you and Roosevelt,

we shall choose Roosevelt.

Between Europe and America, we shall choose America.

I duly note it, Prime Minister.

No way is he going to France.

Put him in chains.

A crucial day in world history,

the day free people had hoped for.

It's D-Day.

These pictures from France

reveal the Allied victory.

An assault led

by General Eisenhower's American troops.

The operations were carefully planned

to drive back a determined enemy.

Here, Prime Minister Churchill comes ashore.

He has followed the operations with justifiable pride.

Four years ago, the British, defeated in the Battle of France,

were evacuated.

Now they return,

cheered as heroes.

Some are asking:

where is General de Gaulle?

General,

the White House is announcing your immediate visit to Washington.

Have you received an invitation?

- No. - So?

You could ask for recognition of the Government.

I will not go and apply for the post with Roosevelt.

But if Eisenhower were allowed to talk to us,

it would make operations easier for the Resistance fighters,

for Leclerc and for the Allied forces.

Eisenhower wants to be able to make contact with you.

I have an idea.

Welcome to Washington, General.

Get back!

Don't stand there!

My country made a mistake,

General.

We thought we could cut ourselves off from the world's chaos.

It's now clear that we must take charge of it.

That chaos includes some 150 countries.

Some must do their share: Great Britain, the USSR.

The others will enjoy our protection.

We'll set up permanent military bases around the world,

including in France.

On that subject, no doubt you have some requests for me.

Not that I know of, Mr President.

I believe we still haven't recognised your...

Committee.

Is it the CFLN? I struggle with acronyms.

It is now called "the French Government",

which, incidentally, offers you a small gift.

A symbol of French resilience,

it was made in 1942

while we waited for the parts to repair the real submarine.

Well, I never!

Thank you very much.

And...

- Harry? - Here, sir.

For you.

Thank you, Mr President.

Yeah...

We're three weeks behind.

The President wants us in Germany,

he has doubts about the Paris strategy.

But in fact...

The Germans control all the key positions in Paris.

They're preparing to hold out.

It would take a very long time, with heavy losses,

to retake the city.

ROOSEVELT RECOGNISES DE GAULLE

General?

Mm.

General Eisenhower has asked to see you when you arrive.

The Allies won't be long!

If they don't come, there won't be enough of us.

At Port-Royal, the Germans got there

before they'd had time to finish.

- Inside, children. - Why?

- It's dangerous, come on! - Come here.

Welcome to France, General.

Uprising in Paris. They've put up barricades.

- Who ordered them to? - No one.

It was spontaneous.

We must get there before the Germans slaughter them.

Go, go, go!

The Paris Mint, with us!

Positions!

Hurry up.

Unload the sacks, block the main entrance.

Gentlemen,

the Council orders us to retake control of the Mint,

in the name of our sovereignty.

We need you.

It's the Mint of France.

Thank you.

Right, nearly done.

Get ready for what's next.

- Dronne, Porte d'Italie. - Received.

Strauss, go round by the north and come in through Asnières.

- Yes. - I'll take the Porte d'Orléans.

General,

the supply lines have been attacked.

Three fuel lorries have been burnt.

Get me the Allied commander!

Cherbourg: 6.

Angoulême: 4.

Lisieux: 8.

8,000 francs, General.

Where are you going?

It's hotting up at the Hôtel de Ville. I'm going to help.

Go, go!

Shit.

Oh shit, shit, shit.

Come on, hurry up.

Paul, faster.

Faster!

General.

General Gerow here, go ahead.

This is General Leclerc.

Resuming our advance on Paris. Urgently need fuel.

- Negative, General. - Third Army will head north.

You'll go on reconnaissance with the First

and be under its command.

But the plan is to go to Paris!

I repeat:

the plan has changed.

General Leclerc...

Do you read me?

General Leclerc...

Please.

General de Gaulle.

General.

General Eisenhower,

an uprising is taking place in Paris at this very moment.

Paris is too dangerous, I won't risk it.

Then let's send Leclerc's division alone.

It takes more than one division to take Paris. Impossible.

If we don't step in, it will be a bloodbath.

We will never forgive ourselves.

I'm sorry, General.

I have orders.

They're warming up the engines.

Save your fuel.

Or give it to the others!

General, me and my Spaniards, we've got enough

to make it to Paris.

What is Force L's first duty?

Dronne, take all your men.

Go whichever way you like. Go for it!

Let's go!

- Tell the Parisians to hold on! - We'll be there tomorrow.

General,

Leclerc has sent a company to Paris.

He has disregarded our instructions.

This is unacceptable!

I intend to redeploy his division

and relieve him of his command.

He's only doing his duty to his country, General.

General...

This is a direct order to Leclerc.

And give his whole division

what it needs to reach Paris.

Yes, sir.

Paul!

- You OK? - No!

He's bleeding out. We've got to get him out of here!

- Try to cover us! - We'll catch you up.

Here! There's almost nothing left.

Surrender!

Let it be known that we are undefeated, we, the Free French.

We do not submit, we do not retreat.

Our children won't reproach us for anything.

Here's the back-up, make room!

They're at the end of the street!

The Germans are dead ahead, 300 metres!

- A platoon over there, 300 metres. - Be ready.

On my school exercise books

On my desk and on the trees

On the sand, on the snow

I write your name

On every page I've read

On every blank page

Stone, blood

Paper or ash

I write your name

On the gilded images

On the weapons of warriors

On the crown of kings

I write your name

On the jungle and the desert

On the nests, on the broom

On the echo of my childhood

I write your name

On my shattered refuges

On my crumbled lighthouses

On the walls of my boredom

I write your name

On absence without desire

On naked solitude

On the steps of death

I write your name

On health restored

On danger gone away

On hope without memory

I write your name

And by the power of a word

I begin my life again

I was born to know you

To name you

Liberty

- Bravo! - We fought too!

Hey, General!

- Carry on. - That'll make kindling for the winter.

General,

it's time to proclaim the restoration of the Republic.

France

never stopped fighting.

The Republic never ceased to exist.

Mr President.

Prime Minister.

We've come a long way

since I received you

alone,

in my office.

That day, you alone decided the fate of France.

Well, you make

a better host

than guest.

Prime Minister,

today,

I propose an alliance to you.

To the east and to the west,

two great powers

are going to rule the world,

but our two nations can

guarantee their independence together

if their friendship comes above all else.

Mr President...

Er...

In politics, as in my strategy,

I prefer to win over the strongest

rather than stand in their way.

I make a point of being involved in all the world's affairs.

I agree to nothing for nothing.

And I always collect a few dividends for my country.

That's the way of the world.

I see.

Let's walk on.

When I see our soldiers

Marching gaily, band in front

Ah, I say, marking time:

"As of old, France is beautiful"

As in days gone by

Soldiers, I see again

- For you. - Carnot celebrating victory

March on to glory

My dear children

Come back triumphant

Subtitles: Émilie Nicolas

Subtitling: TransPerfect Media France