Original subtitles

Downloaded from YTS.BZ

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.BZ

Hello? Can you hear me?

This is Poland's last message.

Today, German forces entered Warsaw.

We send fraternal greetings to the Polish soldiers in Hel,

and to all those still fighting, wherever they are.

Poland is not yet lost!

Long live Poland!

At around 4 a.m., we learned that two Dutch airfields

had been bombed by German aviation.

A few minutes later,

from the windows of the Foreign Ministry,

we saw the first German bombers over Brussels.

No protest, no ultimatum.

This is Radio Paris, frequency 312.9 meters.

Yesterday, German panzer units bypassed the Maginot Line

and entered French territory.

Despite our soldiers' sacrifice, our defenses on the Meuse fell.

Fighting continues.

Hitler's firestorm against France seems unstoppable!

Civilians in the East and North

are being ordered to evacuate.

German troops are nearing Montcornet,

on the road to Soissons and Paris.

Colonel de Gaulle's 4th armored division is speeding to Montcornet

to halt the enemy.

Sir, the Germans have taken Montcornet.

Did you see them?

Then I'll see for myself.

We must turn back, sir.

Overtake the tanks.

Hold this speed.

How far, sir?

Until we come under fire.

The tanks are far behind. What now?

Follow my arm!

We have to limit losses! Turn back! Sir!

- It'll open fire! - Follow my arm.

Stop!

Montcornet!

Sir, we're alone amid the enemy. Why go on?

We've lost. We're fucked.

Do I look fucked?

Let's keep going.

People of France, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you

we must cease fighting.

I, Marshal Pétain,

am taking from today on

the governance of France.

I spoke to the enemy last night

to ask if they are ready to seek with me

from soldier to soldier, after the fight,

and with honor,

the means to put an end to hostilities.

Let the French unite

around my government and silence their...

A PEOPLE IS DEFEATED ONLY...

You're free, Courcel.

You may go.

Let's keep going.

Panic reigns in London since France surrendered.

That's why I'm here.

France has had ups and downs since Clovis

but she stands by her allies.

I must speak to the French.

Hey! Asshole!

- Here. - Didn't you hear the marshal?

What can 200,000 German soldiers in France do against 40 million Frenchmen?

It's over, laddy. Go home.

Monsieur.

Hey, you two!

A PEOPLE IS DEFEATED ONLY IF IT ADMITS DEFEAT

TONIGHT AT 9:00 P.M.

JUNE 18, 1940

The leaders who for many years past,

have been at the head of French armed forces

have set up a government.

This government has entered into negotiations with the enemy

to end hostilities.

But has the last word been said?

No!

I, General de Gaulle,

now in London, call on...

There has to be a sun.

There has to be hope.

Somewhere, there has to be

the bright and burning flame

of resistance.

Tomorrow, just as today...

I shall broadcast from London.

The marshal wants to see you, sir.

LIES FROM LONDON

Do you know this de Gaulle?

A petty colonel promoted to general during the rout

who spits on France's leaders from London.

And who rejects the armistice.

Men were shot for less.

Let's go.

Order arms!

Prime Minister.

The French need to hear a voice telling them to fight.

And I need the French fleet.

I was happy to let you speak on the BBC.

Indeed, I was the only one.

England must uphold her principles,

for all those who, like me,

believe in her victory.

That isn't a lot of people, even over here.

I must be able to keep on talking

with your government,

even if it shamefully capitulated.

France did not capitulate.

Pétain signed the document, General.

France did capitulate and no one can contest that.

Well, I do contest it.

You?

What Pétain signs does not commit France.

Insofar as he is constrained by the enemy.

General de Gaulle...

France is an old country,

a great country.

Unfortunately, I do not have the power

to replace her head of state.

Prime Minister,

I'll form a national committee

with all those who will join me.

The ambassadors, the governors...

Many of France's forces are still intact

from Algiers to Dakar, throughout the Empire.

Recognize me, and we'll raise the army of victory.

We?

You're alone, General.

We are alone, Winston.

London calling.

You will shortly hear an important address

to the people of France.

The commitment made today

by the British government,

recognizing me as the leader of all free French,

is extremely important

and highly meaningful.

It allows the Free French to mobilize

to keep fighting the war alongside our allies.

I have decided as follows.

Firstly,

I shall have authority over all French people

on British territory...

...or who come here.

Secondly,

we shall here and now form...

We shall here and now form

a force on land, at sea,

and in the skies.

For now, this force will be made up of volunteers.

This force will firstly work together

with any French resistance that rises up

anywhere in the Empire.

I call upon French soldiers, on land,

at sea and in the skies to come and join it.

I call for the enrollment

of all young people and all men old enough to bear arms.

Generals, high-ranking officers, governors of the Empire...

...to join our fight to resist

and save

that which is France.

Who is that?

French Embassy, London

Thank you again, Mr. Pleven.

General, delighted...

Take Foreign Affairs, ambassador.

Monnet, Finances.

Churchill has recognized us so we'll draft a response.

Careful, each word counts. It's a treaty between two states.

General, the French here in London

will follow their own convictions.

And you, ambassador?

This is my farewell party.

I see.

Monnet, I'm counting on you.

General, President Roosevelt has asked me to join him in Washington.

And Mr. Pleven is coming with me.

The ambassador has been kind enough

to gather the elite

of the French community, all of you here.

Marshal Pétain has delivered France to the enemy.

You can follow him

on the path of humiliation

or you can choose honor.

There is no third way.

Accepting the armistice inevitably means

playing into the hands of the Germans.

We must pick up the shards of the sword.

I invite those who want France to be free

to join me.

The marshal wants to protect the French.

We shouldn't sever ties with him.

We're loyal to Pétain.

He was lawfully appointed.

Sir, the ship that was to bring your family arrived without them.

We're awaiting news.

Anything else?

The French government has stripped you of your nationality.

And the court martial has sentenced you to death.

Ah.

Fascinating.

Is that all?

Yes.

No visits,

no calls.

Sir...

We can still give up.

We still have enough money to leave for Canada.

I'm a soldier, Father.

France's misfortunes...

are my responsibility.

Sin of pride, my son.

I know, Father.

Even so, I'd rather perish

than see France accept her defeat.

Without her, I am lost.

General de Gaulle?

Have many units joined you?

Not a single soldier, Father.

If you need a chaplain,

or a former naval officer...

Both.

By the grace of God, stand firm.

Hello?

Courcel?

Who are you?

You'd be a friend of Mr. Parcer, the landlord.

I am General de Gaulle.

At ease.

At ease!

Blaise, is that right?

Sit down there. You can answer the phone.

Te... le... phone.

Thank you for coming.

France needs you.

General, my mind is made up.

The disgraced Republic is still the Republic.

- My role isn't... - I know, Washington needs you.

They lack everything there,

whereas here, opulence reigns.

As head of Foreign Affairs

and Finances,

you could choose your own office.

And you are speaking as...?

We are France.

We?

- You? - Us.

If only you'd been elected,

if only in a village...

You no doubt recall a fellow by the name of Clovis.

Well, when he arrived, the set-up needed to be defended,

against everyone, just like now.

We had hit rock bottom, but Clovis showed us the way up.

And he beat the barbarians at Tolbiac.

200 years later, came Charlemagne.

And, in 200 years perhaps, we'll realize that France

began to rise again here,

with us.

I am so sorry, General.

Courcel!

Who are these men?

We're Bretons, from the Ile de Sein. We're fishermen.

We heard your call and we all came.

We will never believe in the armistice.

We don't want the Germans. We brought our boats.

- Four of them. - Absurd, they can't fight!

Yes, we can! And better than your soldiers!

How old are you, my boy?

Eighteen, sir.

Sixteen.

Welcome.

I'll be here tomorrow.

Lieutenant.

I hope it suits you.

Reporting for duty, sir.

Why are you here, Boislambert?

- To fight, if possible, sir. - That makes two of us.

- I cannot be a deserter for my family. - Neither can I.

I need an army.

You will handle recruitment. Dismissed.

Yes, sir.

Captain Koenig.

Foreign Legion.

Passy. Like the metro stop?

An alias to protect my family.

Captain Philippe de Hauteclocque reporting for duty.

- Captain of what? - Cavalry.

No family, I trust?

A wife and six young children, in France.

Find yourself an alias.

It'll be Leclerc.

You speak English? You'll set up our intelligence service.

Dismissed.

Form the first Free French brigade to take on the Germans.

Very good, sir.

Do you have ammunition?

Then find some.

Good.

All this is gobbledygook!

Blaise?

Blazej.

Not at all. Concentrate, Blaise.

How may I help, General?

Admiral Muselier.

I need

a war fleet, for example.

What you need first, de Gaulle...

is an emblem.

You are selling me like a bar of soap.

Our biggest picture house.

It would look very bad if it stayed shut.

You and your officers will have free seats.

Yes...

For all your men too.

We don't watch films during the day.

Yes, of course.

♪ The clock goes tick-tock ♪

♪ The ducks on the lake quack-quack ♪

♪ Gobble-gobble go the turkeys ♪

♪ And the pretty bell, ding-dong ♪

♪ Boom, when our hearts go boom ♪

♪ The whole world goes boom ♪

♪ And stirs up love ♪

♪ Things have changed overnight ♪

♪ With the street watched From behind curtains ♪

♪ There are Krauts and outheld hands As the sun sets on sweet France ♪

Leave him!

♪ Boom... ♪

It's understandable.

♪ The whole world goes boom ♪

And stirs up rage.

Hurry, there are jobs for grabs.

PÉTAIN FORMS A GOVERNMENT IN VICHY

Marshal, you surrendered

and yet my fleet hasn't lost one battle.

I won't give it to the Germans.

I refuse to submit.

As long as you don't send it to England.

The Germans would make us pay.

Unlike de Gaulle, I'm no traitor.

Between submitting and betraying,

there's a third way.

Reason.

Take it and you'll have a seat in my cabinet.

Send your fleet to neutral terrain.

Defense minister.

And I stay admiral of the fleet.

Reason.

A SHAMEFUL ATTACK

My poor Albert.

Shot dead at 22 by the English,

unable to defend himself.

I'm so sorry, Aunt Catherine.

A fleet that exactly one month ago

shielded the English at Dunkirk

allowing them to make their famous victorious retreat.

If you had any doubts about the traitor de Gaulle,

you have now understood.

He is unmasked.

French sailors bombed and drowned.

And their comrades locked up here.

What shall we tell them?

What can we, after this?

Fight alongside those who killed 1,300 of your comrades?

I simply can't.

Well, someone has to, Muselier.

Sailors of France,

yesterday,

an ax blow fell

on our heads.

Every single French man and woman

learned with sorrow

and with anger

that ships of the French fleet

had been sunk

by our allies.

But

those who gave our country to the enemy...

could have avoided it.

How?

By refusing the odious surrender

which sooner or later would mean

the enemy was going to use our ships

against England.

France and England

will fall

or triumph together.

We follow Darlan's orders!

All those who wish... All those who wish

to fight Germany may stay.

The others may leave.

Attention.

Soldiers of Free France,

I promise you three things.

Tough battles, no shooting among the French,

and victory.

Expect no congratulations. You are only doing your duty.

And that's it?

Who does he think he is?

Tonight's speech, sir.

Prepared by Spears.

In English?

Three pages!

Here, sir.

For God's sake, Courcel!

I won't be a clown for tight-arsed Englishmen again!

To hell with this, Blaise! Do I look like a locksmith?

Daddy!

Charles...

All is well, now that you are here.

Did Joan of Arc free Orléans wearing concrete greaves?

What do we have? I see Churchill in an hour.

Tell him we have pilots without planes

and captains of damaged ships.

And a few recruits.

Mostly civilians.

For war, you need weapons.

I know. But in Churchill's mind, I need supporters. Pleven?

Only one governor answered your call.

In the New Hebrides.

Let Free France move to the New Hebrides then.

The New what?

Further to the east, sir.

And...

what about Dakar? Algiers?

Not a word?

No, nor from Cameroon either.

The Governor of Chad was willing,

but he required help on the ground.

Let's send him our imaginary battalion,

with wooden swords.

The element of surprise.

Leclerc, you are leaving for Cameroon.

Yes, sir.

That's madness, General.

- He'll be arrested on arrival and shot. - Pleven, you'll go to Chad.

I'm sorry.

Him, to Chad?

I've never set foot in Africa, General.

Very well, General.

We shall take back Africa.

- The Chad. - Chad?

It's very simple.

It all hinges on a short-wave antenna located...

in Chad.

First, a surprise soft attack. My men are ready.

We just need to send them there.

Secondly, the news of Chad's rallying

spreads over the airwaves, causing upheaval in Cameroon.

The domino effect becomes unstoppable.

My troops recruit,

agitate, activate,

penetrate into Senegal to topple Dakar.

But...

that won't be enough. Not to take a port like Dakar.

Precisely.

At the same time,

in total secrecy, you and I will launch

a joint operation in the Bay of Dakar.

British sailors

and French infantrymen appear together one fine morning

to pluck the ripe fruit without a shot fired.

For England, the might of swords.

For France, the might of words.

If you like...

Dakar, at the crossroads of Africa, Europe and the Atlantic.

Dakar, capital of Free France.

Dakar...

the port where America can land.

What do you need?

I can get you

ten planes Saturday, twice that in a week.

One will suffice.

A seaplane will do.

A seaplane? To decide the fate of Free France?

General, I presume that, for this extraordinary undertaking,

you'll need an exceptional pilot?

- We'll give you a good pilot. - I have one.

Our crates are wonderful, but temperamental.

They need an English touch.

French pilots flew over Africa before yours.

With how many crashes?

The French must be led into battle by the French.

I feel that's obvious.

Marmier, your pilot.

Awaiting orders, sir.

Two pilots for this wreck?

CAMEROON BORDER

CHAD

Gentlemen,

in the presence of Mr. Pleven,

Free French commissioner for Africa,

I hereby proclaim Chad will rally to General de Gaulle.

Sir...

Chad.

The French Empire rises to resume the fighting.

The governor of Chad

has just proved it.

Former General de Gaulle is attacking France's Empire.

- This is only about Chad, sir. - It makes no sense.

- De Gaulle has a plan. - Is Leclerc in Cameroon?

No.

Vichy urgently dispatched border guards there.

I'm sorry.

Sir...

Turn back.

No time.

We're 15 km from the governor's palace.

France's future for the sake of two sentries? No.

Your weapon.

We can't shoot Frenchmen.

The English keep calling to cancel Dakar.

What do I tell them?

This whole idea was madness.

Sir,

forces are being sent to the border, still no news of Leclerc.

It's raining.

Thank you, Blaise.

Your weapon, Captain.

If we kill a Frenchman, Free France will forever be tainted.

Now!

Stop! Don't move!

You, don't move!

Your weapon.

- The governor? - Upstairs.

Inviting me to breakfast, governor?

General!

Victory! We have Cameroon!

Dakar lies ahead!

Before Dakar, a little shelter stop!

Barbarians.

One hundred twenty bombs today.

- I saw. - But we have cause to celebrate.

Your madcap plan for Africa seems to be working.

- Indeed. - So daring!

You're a sly one.

You fool everyone with that prim old governess manner of yours.

I didn't know today was carnival day.

This?

Not everyone wishes to dress up as the Unknown Soldier.

I'll tell you something

that you alone will know.

Do you know what my favorite song is?

No.

Well then.

Thank you, my friend.

"All afflicts me and constricts me and conspires to drag me down."

Thank you.

Dakar...

at dawn.

The sun rising over the harbor.

A glorious sun.

The people awaken

to discover our armada,

and, surprised,

they hear you speak to them from out at sea.

On the shore, my partisans cheer us.

And that evening, you celebrate together with vintage champagne

and toast the final victory.

Now, your telephone rings.

It's the president of the United States.

America is joining the war.

Hitler has lost and you have won.

♪ When I see our soldiers ♪

♪ Marching happily to the beat ♪

♪ Oh, I say let's pause ♪

♪ As in the past, France is beautiful ♪

♪ In the old days ♪

♪ As a soldier, I once saw ♪

♪ Carnot decreeing victory ♪

♪ March in glory ♪

♪ My dear children, return triumphant ♪

To daring!

We must stop the hemorrhage.

Dakar.

BAY OF DAKAR

People of Dakar,

this is General de Gaulle,

leader of Free France.

I am here

with our British allies.

We can't see in this fog.

People of Dakar,

respond to my call

and join me in the fight

to liberate France.

People of Dakar.

Who's attacking us from the open sea? Dakar has no squadron!

We just heard several French ships managed to get past Gibraltar yesterday.

The Fantasque, the Montcalm, the Gloire.

The French navy?

Darlan.

We're going to sink them.

Churchill needs Dakar.

Not at the cost of a French civil war.

Cease fire.

We don't shoot at the French.

Fine.

You keep your principles, and Darlan keeps Dakar.

You'll carry the consequences.

Congratulations, Admiral.

I did no more than my duty.

You know, if you were prepared

to get along a bit better with the Germans,

you'd make a good prime minister.

Courcel!

We're joining Leclerc in Cameroon.

It's our last option.

We're over French territory, now.

Look, Courcel. It gets greener from here.

Look at those huts, they're big villages.

There are huge herds you can't see.

This is a country like none other.

Sir, we've lost the engine.

- We'll attempt a hard landing. - No!

Hold on tight!

Hold on tight, Courcel.

"We have been born into this age of iron

so as to tilt it into what is known as a golden age."

Last Thursday, I met the Reich's chancellor.

This meeting aroused hope

and caused concern.

I owe you some degree of explanation.

Such a meeting was only possible,

four months after the defeat of our forces,

thanks to the dignity of the French in this ordeal.

Thanks also to our sailors' heroism,

to the energy of our colonial leaders...

Fernand, sit down!

Well done.

You little shit.

Straighten it.

Fernand, straighten it and sit back down.

Straighten it.

Great start to the school term.

- Which school did you come from? - This one.

Repeating the year.

Pétain's speech wasn't that bad.

You have a clandestine radio?

My sister does.

- She gets the parts from her store. - Pierre, be quiet.

It's okay, Livia, he's not one of "them."

How do you know?

Remember when France surrendered,

I wanted to launch our movement from the Arc,

and you said no one would go.

Well, he did go.

Admittedly, there weren't many of us.

Pleased to meet you. I'm Fernand.

He tilted Pétain's portrait in class.

Professor Dressen saved him from hospital.

What use is tilting a portrait?

Will that make the Germans flee?

I must be going.

- Wait! The curfew. - What curfew?

Mr. Hero.

You may be brave, but don't get yourself killed in vain.

Goodbye.

There's talk of a demonstration on November 11th.

That will annoy them.

SOMEWHERE IN EQUATORIAL AFRICA

General, sir.

Sir, there's a new message from London.

Churchill has met with a 5-star general in Downing Street

with a view to replacing you.

Churchill lent him his private plane.

He's now in Chad to take over from Pleven.

♪ Marching happily to the beat ♪

General.

He should salute me first.

Awaiting orders, General.

At ease, General.

They make me laugh.

They seem to think this is some kind of sinecure.

Welcome to Free France country, sir.

De Gaulle! De Gaulle!

You are France, sir.

You mean hope to them.

I know, Leclerc.

I can tell.

I freely accepted the Führer's invitation.

I was not subjected to any diktat

or pressure.

Collaboration with Germany was envisaged.

I approved the principle.

France no longer has a proper government!

The entity based in Vichy

that claims that name is unconstitutional

and beholden to the invader.

A new power must therefore

assume responsibility for governing France.

Recent events impose this sacred duty upon me.

I will not shy away from the task.

French officers, French soldiers,

French citizens!

Senile leaders wish to hand over to the enemy

the entirety of France's Empire. Rise up!

And take arms!

I need here, here and here.

Koenig,

you will be the first to restore France's honor

by resuming the fight against the enemy.

Are your men sufficiently trained?

In no way can France afford another surrender.

I hear you, Spears.

When should I call him?

Then, I would be truly delighted

to welcome your prime minister here, in Brazzaville,

the capital of Free France.

- If I were you... - You are not de Gaulle, Spears.

De Gaulle only answers to France.

At least try to avoid the mosquitoes.

Spears,

mosquitoes don't bite General de Gaulle.

Sir, sir...

with malaria, you have to stay in bed.

Out of the question on November 11th!

Shame on Spears.

That perfidious Brit

came to threaten me with his mosquitoes.

I'm sorry to hear that the mosquitoes won't obey you,

General de Gaulle.

Careful.

Blaise.

He wants to lock us up in the Tower of London.

Edward, it's the fever.

Not only...

It's hopeless.

General...

I've run out.

I don't have any either.

- Give it back! - Come on.

It's all crumpled now.

Will this help de Gaulle?

It depends on how many show up.

- Three. - If that.

My employer says de Gaulle doesn't exist.

Nobody's called de Gaulle.

Who's talking on the BBC then?

An actor.

- Paid by the English. - Sure.

I've heard it all. De Gaulle, the Jews' lackey, London's whore.

What if only we three show up?

There'll be four of us then.

There'll always be a War Cross WWI hero.

We'll at least have him.

Since he can't fight anymore.

My father got the War Cross.

I'm sorry...

- Was he killed? - No.

He went to live in Algiers with a woman.

He left it for me.

And I was six months away from being able to fight.

I wanted a tank division.

My uncle wouldn't let me sneak in.

Done. I'm out of paper.

I've no idea how we're going to distribute all of this.

I've figured it out.

Yes, at the Arc de Triomphe!

Hurry!

Come.

Pierre!

Freeze! You there, freeze!

Let's split up!

Professor Dressen?

Long live!

Oh, yes, they're rods.

Long live!

- Two rods, deux gaules! - What?

- Long live! - Two rods, "deux gaules."

Ah, de Gaulle!

- Long live! - De Gaulle!

Well done, sis.

Pierre!

- Well? - Livia!

Well then? Has the marshal been tilted?

We've taken back Paris.

We'll take back France.

Soon, we'll be free.

You said we'd be alone.

Give me your rods.

Make way for Free France!

Make way for Free France!

How many are we?

One, two, three...

four.

Flirting, are we, Fernand? Heart going boom?

What are you doing?

Come back here, you idiot.

Are we afraid of Krauts?

Long live!

Long live!

- Long live! - De Gaulle!

Professor Dressen! Professor!

Pierre! Pierre!

Livia!

Children...

Children...

France...

Fernand, you're going to your father's in Algiers.

What?

I got you an Ausweis pass for Marseilles.

No, no. Don't argue, Fernand.

The Germans are conducting searches,

arresting protesters in their own homes.

Fernand! Fernand!

Let go of me!

Be reasonable.

On one condition...

I couldn't get a pass for her.

She's Jewish, right?

Get in.

ADMIRAL DARLAN MEETS THE FÜHRER

Demarcation line, halt for inspection.

Prepare your passes.

Pass control.

JEWS FORBIDDEN TO CROSS OVER

Identity check.

Don't move.

Take it. They won't check the name.

Papers, please.

Jean Moulin, I live here.

Can I get through?

Okay.

Pass control. Pass, please.

ONE YEAR LATER

Algiers Daily! Two francs!

Sarah.

Still nothing?

A letter. I gave it to your father.

Thank you.

Fernand.

You've got post. It's on your bed.

Hello, Adrienne.

- Will you help her with her maths? - Of course.

When can I go back to school?

- Ask Marshal Pétain, darling. - Eugene!

Jews ordered to stay home. It'll be yellow stars next!

I want to fight, Dad.

A year ago,

students protested in Paris, risking their lives,

and you can't even get in contact with them?

What do you do all day? Passy!

I asked for one bridgehead in the south zone,

and one in the occupied area.

Simple enough, even for your brain!

We hear of Frenchmen welcomed in London by the English.

And then we hear nothing more of them.

Germany has declared war on the United States.

So...

America is entering the war.

Thank heavens!

Churchill is off to Washington.

He asks us to suspend all activity against Vichy for now.

Muselier's fleet is off Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

He must be warned immediately.

He's about to rally the overseas territories, but...

Two islets and a snow-covered village.

We can leave them to Vichy.

America's mid-size army will grow and win the war

and rule supreme over the West.

England still remains...

All other countries will be vassal states,

including England.

And in this new world, France

will remain sovereign.

How?

You're right, Pleven. We must cause a stir.

Give Muselier the go-ahead. It's a matter of sovereignty.

WASHINGTON, DC

DECEMBER 22, 1941

He's here, sir.

Mr. Moulin, I'm glad you made it to London.

What has become of last year's young protesters?

Hard to say.

Some are in prison, others have gone underground.

They accomplished in the heart of Paris what our army

was incapable of doing.

A spark has been ignited.

Vichy will have to deal with it.

Networks are springing up everywhere.

Are they strong?

They are isolated, scattered, and poorly organized.

No weapons, no communication.

No directives.

But they hunger for a fight.

They know of our operations?

Mers-El-Kebir left its mark.

So did Dakar.

Propaganda says you've sold out to the English.

But Saint Pierre and Miquelon shows otherwise.

Can we make contact?

- Do we have planes? - At each full moon.

All lights off.

When the English agree. We depend on them.

I'll leave on the next moon.

I'll need a radio.

Monsieur le Préfet, your value here is inestimable.

There, you'd be a target.

I cannot risk losing you.

I know the lay of the land.

Over there, I can serve France best.

You will know me as Rex.

General de Gaulle.

My dear general.

I invited you here...

General, I summoned you...

I understood perfectly.

I have nothing to say.

I've the privilege...

Spears had an oversized ego.

General Spears has a friend...

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

If you had waited just one week, I could've given my approval.

So, you needed to ask America's permission.

I thought Great Britain was a sovereign nation.

I do not meddle in British internal affairs.

I trust the same applies to you when it comes to France.

Return the island to Darlan? To Pétain?

You must be joking.

How can you side with Hitler's collaborators over us?

You're not at war with Hitler, but with me!

Look at yourself.

Aren't Germany, Italy and Japan enough for you?

You also want to fight England and America?

I'll consider that a joke in very poor taste.

If there is one man the English can always count on,

- it is I! - You?

You cause us more trouble than all other governments put together.

Files on you take up more space

than all the others put end-to-end.

Quite right. France is a great power.

General, I hoped that in recognizing you,

you would have helped us.

You failed.

And we will have to change our strategy.

Thus,

you put an end to the alliance between France and England.

De Gaulle and England.

Why speak with de Gaulle if he's not France?

You are not France!

I do not recognize you as France!

Always a pleasure to see you.

General.

Mrs. Churchill.

You can't be sentimental with the English.

Bang your fist,

and they fold like crêpes.

Admiral, what is all this?

Downing Street has asked me to put an end to your mess.

Let him through.

A mutiny? During a war?

You'll keep your post, Pleven.

As for you de Gaulle,

I'll appoint you Governor of Chad.

What madness!

To hell with all of you!

Present weapon!

She loves Hampstead.

- How are you? - Very well.

Don't forget, they burned Joan of Arc at the stake.

FRANCE READY TO SUPPORT GERMAN TROOPS IN AFRICA

DARLAN SPEEDS UP COLLABORATION

Fernand.

Thank you, Dad.

Christiane. Come here, darling.

Fernand...

By writing to you

I am breaking the rules I set myself.

But yesterday, I learned that Pierre was shot.

I know he'd have wanted me to tell you.

So few of us in Paris could speak together

or understand one another.

Until that most beautiful,

that most terrible day of my life.

On the station platform, I realized I had to disappear.

Farewell, Fernand.

You meant so much to him.

APRIL, 1942

London calling.

North Africa's map is changing color and becoming increasingly German.

The Free French training there fear for their future,

if the predicted English defeat happens soon.

Bir Hakeim.

Why drag our soldiers into this mess?

The English have lost Cyrenaica. They'll lose Tobruk!

The slaughter of Koenig and our one brigade won't change anything.

It is suicide.

What is a Free Frenchman, gentlemen?

Someone brave enough to face not ten Germans...

but one thousand.

Our soldiers are bound to die.

- And all to protect Churchill? - Churchill and France.

Better to die than face defeat. That's what Free France is about!

We have raised hopes.

We cannot sacrifice Free France in a single battle.

What if they're forced to surrender?

France did not surrender in 1940.

And she will not surrender now.

Tell Koenig,

all of France is watching him and his men.

And that they are...

the pride of the nation.

The last minelayer has returned.

All the mines have been laid.

Sir?

Defenses polygon ready.

The general.

This is Koenig.

- Corporal Hubert. - Major Imogène.

Corporal Duterte.

Firstly, we must expect an attack using every possible tactic.

Artillery, infantry,

tanks, planes.

And it will be powerful.

- Firstly... - Firstly, we expect an attack...

We expect an attack...

Secondly, I reaffirm my certainty

that each of you will do his duty.

Without weakening.

- Without fail. - Secondly, I reaffirm my certainty...

...you will do your duty without faltering.

- Without fail. - Without fail.

- Whether alone or not. - Alone or not.

- Alone or not. - Thirdly,

today France takes up arms again against Germany.

Our mission is to hold out to the end.

Fourthly,

good luck to you all.

Good luck to you all.

Battle stations!

DAY ONE

- Mines operational. - Fire.

- Fire. - Fire.

- Load! - Fire!

It's working.

Yes.

We'll give them a hard time.

They are falling back!

Very good.

It's a resurrection.

For the first time since 1940,

a group of French fighters

is bearing the brunt of the Axis armies.

Whatever the outcome,

Bir Hakeim has sent the world a clear message which had been forgotten.

France is not dead.

DAY TWO

Alert!

Five German tanks have crossed the defense line at 1,200 meters.

Get me the 13th.

Artillery, open fire, five rounds.

Fire!

Correction, 200 meters.

Load!

Chancellor Hitler's message is clear,

White and colored French prisoners captured at Bir Hakeim,

not serving a regular army, will be hanged.

De Gaulle's renegades are simply a band of crazed young Jewish thugs,

and desperate mercenaries.

They put France to shame.

DAY SEVEN

Sir, a breach, 2,000 meters, north-west.

- Coordinates? - 400.

Damn it. The polygon won't hold.

- 390. - We're out of shells.

The only solution.

Get me the 13th.

Imogène, Koenig here, go over the top.

Forward!

Tank approaching. Get me Hubert.

Correction, 300 meters.

Hurry!

Hubert, confirm.

THIRTEENTH NIGHT

Take cover!

- Camerini! - No.

Leave them be.

Situation report.

First, enemy strength is growing.

Second,

our defense lines are compromised but we're holding out.

Supply lines have been cut.

We no longer have our escape route.

They've held out 15 days.

Even if they have to surrender, it's an extraordinary feat, General.

The 13th's losses are huge. They must be reinforced.

The English!

They're waiting for us in Ksar el Abid.

120 kilometers away.

Gentlemen,

mission accomplished.

We held out.

Far longer than was imaginable.

I chose our fight.

You shall choose your death.

We have lost our escape route.

You know that.

If we decide to cross enemy lines,

few of us...

will reach the British.

If we surrender...

If we surrender...

most of you will probably be spared.

It's your choice.

Dear Lord, may they not surrender.

Drive on and damn the mines!

Stop!

Here! Use this!

In the back!

Go!

There! Ahead!

The English!

Where are the Pacific Battalion and the 13th?

I lost them at dawn.

Your binoculars.

They are cheering us?

Vive la France!

Gentlemen...

some decorum, please.

Let's keep going.

Chamfort once said,

"The reasonable have lasted,

the passionate have lived."

For two years now, France,

although betrayed and surrendered by Vichy,

has kept up the fight.

Over these two years, we have

lived so much

because we are passionate.

But we have also lasted.

How reasonable of us.

I say we are passionate,

but when it comes to passion,

we have only one.

France.

Soldiers killed in Keren,

Kufra,

Murzuk, Damascus.

Bir Hakeim.

Sailors from our sunken ships.

France, true France.

French women volunteers crushed at your posts,

fighters in Saint-Nazaire fallen, knives in hand,

young people shot in Nantes, Paris and Lille.

You are the cement of French unity.

It is the blood of the French who did not accept the armistice,

who did not want to suffer the shame of dying

without having fought.

The Allies?

Yes.

Be careful!

You two come with me.

Take him! Take him!

Two years I've waited!

Hands up! Against the wall!

The Germans are on their way.

We'll keep fighting.

It's de Gaulle! It's de Gaulle!

General!

General Eisenhower is my witness:

I hereby order French troops in Algeria,

Tunisia, Morocco,

and throughout Africa

to cease fire immediately.

The new king of the Gauls.

Gentlemen,

for our final meeting together,

contrary to custom, I simply want

to thank you.

The Allies have made their choice.

A choice

that is strategic, immoral,

painful.

For us, joining forces with a Vichyist

would be to lose our soul.

Therefore,

Free France

has lost its very meaning.

We have never failed our conscience.

We have ever fought with passion.

We have never compromised our beliefs.

History, which always sides with the victors,

will no doubt remember that we were

but a handful of madmen.

I'm speaking to Roosevelt on the secure line.

Fetch me in 30 minutes.

- Sir. - Hello.

Admiral.

Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle,

do you have anything to say?

Yes.

I say France is well worth my life.

At my command.

Aim!

- Long live! - Fire!

My dear old Papa,

do not grieve if I must die.

So...

be it.

What matters is that we both know this death is not in vain.

I'm sure you forgive me for all of our heated arguments,

but I ask you for forgiveness one last time.

My love to your wife and little Christiane.

If you see Uncle Fernand and Aunt Catherine again,

I trust

you to tell them how much I loved them.

If one day, a certain "Livia" asks after me...

tell her I was fond of her.

Life is full of unforeseens...

Goodbye, dear old Papa. I send you my deepest love.

Fernand.

THIS WORK OF FICTION IS INSPIRED BY HISTORICAL EVENTS

CHARACTERS, LOCATIONS, DIALOGUE, CIRCUMSTANCES WERE ALTERED

TO REFLECT THE AUTHOR'S ARTISTIC VISION.