All language subtitles for The Last Blitzkrieg (Arthur Dreifuss, 1959).english

(DRUM ROLL)

- Ready to go, Sergeant?
- Yes, sir.

Move out.

Let's move out!

This is what is left of
Love Company

23rd Infantry, U.S. Army

my company.

I'm Sergeant Otto Ludwig.

It's December 1944.

We're in a village in the
Ardennes forest in Belgium.

We're busy with
a counterattack

which the allies are launching
against Hitler in the battle of the Bulge.

We were lucky to escape the ice and
the snow that covered most of the Bulge.

Then our luck ran out.

We did not escape one of
Hitler's secret weapons.

It all started
in the fall of 1944

near Stalag 12

somewhere in Germany.

(AIRPLANES ROARING)

Fellas, let 'em have it!

Atta boy, Joe! Atta boy!

Come on!

You! Americans! Don't try
to get away or you'll get shot!

Come on, yanks!

(SPEAKS GERMAN)

(CLAMORING)

Get under the truck before our
own planes think we're krauts!

You are prisoners of war.

I have given you an order
to stay on the truck.

Don't try to escape, or
I will have you shot.

(SCREAMS)

(GUNSHOTS)

(SPEAKS GERMAN)

You!

There!

Under there!

Come out!

Ha ha.

You are very fortunate that we
respect the Geneva convention.

Otherwise,
I would have you shot.

Right now, all of you!

All privileges are canceled.

Every morning, after roll call, you
will report to me for fatigue duty,

when you are so fatigued
you cannot stand

perhaps you'll wish I had
shot you.

(SPEAKS GERMAN)

- What was...
- Into the truck!

- Oh!
- Oh!

The American air raids
are suicidal!

The last desperate kicks
of a dying man.

Three hundred B-17s were destroyed
definitely over Frankfurt yesterday

increasing the count of 2,508 planes
destroyed in a period of one week.

On the ground, the enemy has been
stopped in his tracks and demoralized.

Thousands are
surrendering daily.

Soon, the German army will be
on the march again.

And they will not be halted until we
have pushed the enemy back into the sea.

Heil Hitler.

Keep pumping, boy.
Don't give up now.

It's like breathing in
a suitcase down there.

This isn't an air conditioning
unit, you know.

Gimme some more
oleo for this can.

Okay,
I'll give you another wick.

It was tough fight, Marv,
but I won.

- You did it, Richardson! You did it!
- Take it easy.

- If you had a shave, I'd kiss you.
- Hey, Sarge!

Richie's back! Lookie here!

Tonight, we celebrate.

You guys gimme your D bars

and I'll make you the greatest
chocolate cake you ever tasted.

I bet the mud in there tastes
better than that cake.

Gimme another crack at it,
fellers.

Last time, I didn't have no
rising. That's what my trouble was.

You haven't any now, either.

Oh, yes I do, tooth powder.

- What?
- I figured it out, tooth powder.

It's got sodium bicarbonate
in it.

I'd like to eat some cake,
not brush my teeth.

Do you think that'll help?

You said you could do it.

I couldn't let you do
everything, Sarge.

You swiped that map and
those civilian clothes.

I had to earn my keep somehow.

Didn't those characters wonder at
all why you volunteered for that detail?

I told you there was
nothing to worry about.

There's just too much rubble
to be cleaned up these days,

for them to look a gift horse
in the mouth.

Hast du eine Zigarette?

Ja, natuerlich.

(KNOCKING)

Ich habe einen Schnaps.

Schnaps?

All clear.

Excuse me.

Well, now that, uh

now that Richie gave us
this little beauty

we ought to be breaking our way
out of here in a couple of weeks.

So tonight and every night
until we're ready to go

I'm gonna sit over you guys
while you study German.

- German!
- That's right, German.

There's over 50 miles between
us and our lines.

If we get stopped along the
way, a couple of the right words

in German might save
our necks.

Sarge?

You're gonna do the
talking for us, aren't you?

He's right, Sarge.

No matter how hard we cram on that
Deutsch, we ain't gonna fool nobody.

And if I get killed,
we get separated

you may just have to be
on your own.

The time's too short now not to
take advantage of every minute.

Sarge is right.

How about that chocolate cake?
That ain't gonna hurt none.

We'll worry about celebrating
later, after we've made it out of here.

- Let's get to work, Virgil.
- I'll be right back

I'm wanted in the dispensary
for a typhus shot or something.

Virgil!

We gotta get some boards. We're
gonna be shoring up in a little while.

Aufmachen!

Danke. Lassen Sie
den Gefangenen eintreten.

Jawohl,
Herr Obergruppenfuehrer.

- Schicken Sie den Gefangenen herein.
- Jawohl.

In here.

(DOG BARKS)

- Heil Hitler.
- Heil Hitler.

Now, now, Bruno, quiet.

This is Lieutenant Von Kroner.

Once they train these dogs to hate
the smell of the American uniform

- there's no changing them.
- It's all right.

Please sit down, Lieutenant.

- Cigarette?
- No, thank you, sir.

How's the digging going?

Well, if they don't run into
rock or have a cave-in

they'll be on the other side
of the wall in two weeks.

That's earlier than
I expected.

They have a spade shovel now,
Colonel.

As a matter of fact,
I stole it for them

while I was on Steiner's
detail this morning.

- You did?
- I thought I'd better.

They weren't getting
suspicious of you, were they?

Ludwig mentioned me to those
new prisoners from the 13th Infantry

but found out that none of
them knew me.

Why should they? There's
a lot of men in a regiment.

I know, but it takes just a whiff of
something for Ludwig to start wondering.

I wanted to counteract that.

The others I can understand.

Ludwig I can't.

He's a German, one of us.

Well, not exactly, Colonel.

America is only his
place of birth.

He has German blood

the same heritage.
He even speaks German.

I know.

Perhaps he's really a Jew,
just too shrewd to admit it.

Anyhow, he'll be sorry when
he finds us waiting for him

at the other end
of that tunnel.

Forgive me, Colonel. Must we
wait for them to finish their tunnel?

Why not raid them now?

They won't get away.

- I know that.
- Then what worries you?

The radio said that 12 English
prisoners were executed

after being caught escaping
from Aachen.

(SCOFFS) No.

It couldn't be.

What couldn't be, Colonel?

Suddenly flashing before me, was
the history I learned at military school

how empires were lost

because the victors identified
themselves with the countries they occupied

and were eventually absorbed
by them.

Are you implying,
sir, that I've become...

Fond of those prisoners?

No. I said it couldn't be.

Not with your background,
with a father like yours.

But to put your mind at ease

I have no intention of
executing Ludwig or his group.

Letting them dig a tunnel is simply
a good way of keeping them busy

of keeping them from digging
a tunnel we don't know about.

I'm sorry, Colonel.

In any event, I don't imagine
the prisoners here will be of

any interest to you
from now on.

This just arrived.
Orders from the Fuhrer himself

to move all
English-speaking personnel

to Castle Freihof.

- I'm being transferred?
- A special English-speaking brigade

is being formed there by
Colonel Skorzeny.

- Skorzeny who...
- Who kidnapped Mussolini.

- When do I leave here, Colonel?
- At 23:00 tonight.

We'll come for you. Pretend we
are sending you to Stalag Zughoff.

Your old uniform will be
waiting for you in the supply room

- but take that one with you.
- I will.

You'll go by train as far as
Frankfurt. From there, by bus.

And, oh, yes, you are under
orders not to mention

- the nature of your journey to anyone.
- I won't, sir.

That's all, then.

If you write your father,
give him my personal regards.

I will, sir.

- Good luck.
- Thank you, sir.

- Heil Hitler.
- Heil Hitler.

(BRUNO BARKING)

Good dog. That smell has
gone away now, hasn't it, Bruno?

Not far from Berlin
was Castle Freihof.

Here, 150 men were to be trained
under Colonel Skorzeny's supervision.

The operation was called
"Okay Butch."

Aside from the German high
command and Hitler himself

operation Okay Butch
was a complete secret.

Not even the trainees, selected
from all branches of the German forces

had any idea of its
true nature.

Lieutenant Von Kroner was anxiously
looking forward to the part he was to play.

Good day, Sir.
You just arrived?

- Yes, this morning.
- I came in last night.

There's lots of fun in store for
us. Have you heard the rumors?

- About kidnapping Eisenhower?
- No

about us blowing up the
White House.

- Blowing up the White House?
- Yes.

We'll be landed in Washington by
submarine. Roosevelt is our target.

- I hadn't heard.
- Well, you will.

- Lieutenant Wilitz is my name.
- Von Kroner.

Von Kroner.

Not related to
General Von Kroner?

- He's my father.
- Well

isn't that something?

I followed General Von
Kroner's career for many years.

Hero at Verdun in the last
war, an iron man in Russia now.

- You should really be proud.
- Yes, I am.

Attention!

Gentlemen

may I introduce
Major Von Ruppel

who has been assigned by Colonel
Skorzeny to supervise your training

- and give you your orders.
- At ease.

Be seated.

Before I tell you why you've
been summoned here

let me read this message
from the Fuhrer.

"Defenders of the third Reich,

"I want to greet you

"and express the faith that, in the
historic role you are about to play

"you will cover yourself with
honor and glory

"and prove once again that there
is no greater soldier in the world

"than the German soldier."

We are the best soldiers in
the world

and the moment is here
to prove it

by delivering a crippling blow to
the enemy that could end the war.

Here we are at the present,
behind the west wall.

The British Second army

is here.

The American Ninth army
is here.

The American First and
Third armies

here.

However, here

in the Ardennes forest

the enemy maintains only
a token line

and they believe that
we will never strike there.

Intelligence reports it is
nothing more than a ghost sector.

A swift hammer blow here

would split the allies in half

allow us to cut off 10 to 15
divisions in a trap north of Antwerp

and throw the whole western
front into a rout.

What part do you play in it?

The moment our panzers
break through

you will infiltrate
the enemy lines

in American uniforms

and with American equipment.

Your objective:

create confusion

terror

havoc

by every means possible.

Until the moment you are
ready to move to the front

you will be trained to
look like Americans

act like Americans

eat and sleep like Americans,
even breathe like Americans.

That's all I have to say
for now

except good luck

and keep faith in our Fuhrer!

Thank you.

Attention!

- Heil Hitler.
- Heil Hitler.

We know you speak English
or you wouldn't be here

but you'll never pass as an American,
until you've mastered the letter "R."

The American does not
roll the "R."

It is "razor," "arrive,"
"beer."

Very good.

At ease.

An American does not click
his heels.

Proceed.

It was a strange sight.

Germans learning
American pronunciation

G.I. slang

intelligence methods

the use of American weapons
and equipment

and the way to sabotage them.

Don't offer everyone
a cigarette.

Ask for one.

Flip the package.

An endless stream of
instructions in every detail.

Chew gum.

Enjoy it.

Erasing stubborn accents,
though, came the hardest

and Von Ruppel realized early that
he'd have to rely on his group leaders

to do the talking
during the operation.

Leaders especially chosen
for their English fluency.

Lieutenant Von Kroner?

Lieutenant, thank you for your
assistance in training our men.

The fact that you grew up in
America has persuaded us

that you would make a good Commander
Leader, in a most important mission.

These are the three men
who will be under you.

They were each chosen for
special ability.

Wilitz

is a master of explosives,

and lived in Milwaukee for
some years.

I've met Wilitz.

Kirsch is expert with
electrical equipment.

He will handle the radio and know just
how to sabotage enemy communications

and power installations.

Hoffner, he will be
your driver.

He is a mechanic.

We want you to become a team
as quickly as possible.

I understand,
Colonel Von Ruppel.

Very good.

Very American.

No heel clicking.

Chews gum.

I don't think our trust in the
General's son has been misplaced.

Thank you, sir.

I must take a picture of
myself in this American uniform.

- Me too. Who has a camera?
- Muller next door to us has one.

You all have a complete
uniform and dog tags.

Those uniforms were taken
from prisoners of war

so make certain all markings
have been removed.

Now look at your dog tags.

The name on it from now on
will be your name.

You will learn it and everyone else's
between now and the day we shove off.

Most important

note your rank and
serial number.

Brett Barton, Corporal.

Lester B. Hyland.

- P.F.C.
- What do you know? James Aggajanian

P.F.C.

We'll call you Jim,
if you don't mind.

What's your name, Von Kroner?

Leonard S. Richardson.
Sergeant Richardson.

Isn't that the name you used
at Stalag?

I still have Richardson's uniform,
saves supply another issue.

And saves you from having to
remember a name like Aggajanian.

We fall out for inspection in 20
minutes. Let's get into the uniforms.

Von Kroner.

We must be getting ready to
push off if they're giving these out.

I haven't been told anything.

Thanksgiving would be the
time to hit those Americans

while they're eating their
turkey and dreaming.

Those gangsters would have the
warmest celebration they ever had.

I'll bet we could go clear to
Paris, kidnap Eisenhower anyway.

Look.

I hope it's a picnic for us, but I
wouldn't underestimate those Americans.

They're not stupid,
and they're not soft.

I wouldn't let General
Von Kroner hear you say that.

My father's in Russia.

I spent eight 8 months in
Stalag 12 with Americans.

That's what I mean, eight months, and
not one of them caught on you were a spy.

How smart can they be?

I was lucky.

There were other spies
who weren't

who ended up in the hospital.

All right, we'll send
a telegram to Eisenhower

- and tell him not to worry after all.
- No.

Let him worry.

- He quits?
- I'm broke.

No, wait a minute. Wait a
minute. We'll play for fun, but

just to make it interesting

the winner of each hand gets to whack
the loser across the fingers like this.

Come on, put out your finger.

It's a game we used
to play in the beer garden.

I've had enough.

Afraid?

- I'm not afraid.
- Come on, then, deal.

Look. When there's something
to win, I'll play.

Whacking you across the fingers
isn't my idea of winning anything.

I have to do something
besides sit around and wait.

Hasn't anyone even given you
a hint of when we're leaving?

Soon, that's all.

Soon. Thanksgiving
would have been the time.

- We'll get our chance. Don't worry.
- When?

Waiting can drive a man crazy.

He's not fooling.

Every day, there's a rumor we're
going, and then here we are again.

Stop listening to rumors.

Well, you don't know which
is a rumor and which isn't.

Tonight.

Tonight would be a good night
to attack also.

In that fog out there, they'd never see us.
We'd catch them while they were asleep.

- That's the way we worked in Berlin.
- What kind of work was that?

Taking care of traitors
and Jews.

You were a brown shirt?

And you should have seen the expressions
on their faces when we broke in on them.

They looked like surprised
cows at the slaughterhouse.

(LAUGHS)

It's one of the few jobs I ever
had, I would have done for nothing.

We're all out of beer.

(KNOCKING)

Come in.

Herr commandant requests Lieutenant
Von Kroner's presence immediately.

Thank you, Franz.

Orders for tomorrow, probably.

Oh, I'll, uh

I'll bring back some
beer for you.

Thanks.

Here are the orders
for group 5

7

9

11.

This must be Von Kroner.

Bring him in.

This way.

Lieutenant Von Kroner
reporting, sir.

You mean Sergeant Richardson.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Bruger.

Sergeant, these are the credentials
you and your men will carry.

They cover almost any situation that
might arise in phase one of the operation.

If asked to show your papers,
don't hesitate.

Yes, sir.

Now, these orders

you will carry alone

and they are the most
important of all.

Correct timing is essential.

On notification that phase two
of our operation has begun

you will deliver them to the
American commander at Namur.

Here

a few miles from Namur

are three bridges
crossing the river Meuse.

The American commander, we
are certain, will have them destroyed

if he is forced to withdraw
from this sector.

We cannot allow this
to happen.

Our panzers must get across
the river without breaking stride

in order to strike at Antwerp before
any resistance can be organized there.

These orders direct the
Commander to leave the bridges intact.

I understand.

You cannot fail.

The high command has promised
Antwerp to Hitler for a Christmas present.

I'll do my best.
Anything else, sir?

Yes.

Be at the lecture room at
04:00 for a final briefing.

Hitler has alerted all units
to prepare to attack.

(WEAPONS FIRING)

Roaring cannons along an 80-mile
front served as the alarm clock

for thousands of sleeping Americans in
the early-morning hours of December 16th.

The Germans call the all-out blitzkrieg
that followed "Watch on the Rhine."

It took the allies completely
by surprise.

We reeled back in confusion,
uncertainty and panic.

While most of the area was
covered with snow, the northwest route

near the river Meuse
was heavy with fog and rain.

Fourteen hours later, Skorzeny's
men began filtering through our lines.

(SPEAKS GERMAN)

Speak English.

You know the orders.
Speak English at all times.

- Where are you going?
- Special orders for Colonel Ronisson.

Okay, proceed.

We learned later that the German commandos
resorted to every trick in the book.

They'd switch our warning
signs from mined roads

barring us from
our escape routes

and sending many unsuspecting
G.I.'s to their death.

You'll have to cut through that
section. This has all been mined.

Through that section!

Systematic destruction of our
oil dumps

ammo depots

communication centers

changed a retreat into a rout.

No trouble at all. Just dropped
the package in the wastebasket.

Get in.

Where to?

We'll try to find
someplace to sleep tonight

and in the morning, we'll head
for Namur and those bridges.

You hear from headquarters?

The second phase of
our operation has begun.

We'd better check it.
Wilitz, Kirsch.

I hope there's some heat in
there. My hands are freezing.

Yeah, so are mine.

(KNOCKING AT THE DOOR)

(KNOCKING CONTINUES)

- (SPEAKS FRENCH)
- (SPEAKS FRENCH)

(KNOCKING CONTINUES)

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

Do you speak English?

Yes.

We're Americans.

My buddies and I need a place
to spend the night.

Do you have any room?

Yes.

Come in, please. Come in.

Take a look around.

I'm afraid we'd freeze if we
had to sleep out there tonight.

You're welcome.

There is plenty of room here.

- Pierre?
- Oui, Monique.

- The good wine.
- Oui, Monique.

- Please, make yourself at home.
- Thank you.

I was helping my brother
with his lessons.

You mean with all the fighting going
on outside, you still worry about lessons?

My father made me promise
to keep up Pierre's schooling.

No matter what happened.

He believed that learning
should never stop.

It's the only real weapon
we have to stop Hitler.

- Your father's a wise man.
- Yes.

- Where is your father?
- Taken by the Germans for slave labor.

- He and my older brother.
- Are they alive?

I don't know.
I never received any news.

Then you and the boy
are the only ones here.

Yes.

It could be dangerous

just you two alone with the
Germans heading this way.

Perhaps

but Pierre and I will never
give up our house.

Anyway, the Colonel said they
might not reach here.

What Colonel?

There was some American
soldiers here the other night like you.

The Colonel, he said that it's the
fog that's protecting the Germans.

As soon as it lifts, the American
planes will be able to fly again

and smash their attack.

I hope so

but did he say anything about
the Luftwaffe?

They might have something
to say about that.

The Luftwaffe has
been destroyed.

We don't see their
planes anymore.

They could be holding
them back.

No, they are finished.

And the fog must lift soon.

I have asked for few things
from God

so that when there was
something important

he would not refuse me.

I prayed all last night that
the fog would disappear

and I will pray again tonight.

Monsieur, please, your wine.

Good morning.

- Did I wake you?
- No.

I wanted to see you alone
before we left.

I watched you all last night.

I said if I didn't talk to you

I would regret it all my life.

Talk to me about what?

Well, not talk, exactly.

You're very pretty, Monique.

I dreamed of you.

- Thank you, but...
- Just a little kiss and make it come true.

- No, please, I can't.
- The others are asleep, we'll be quiet.

No!

Come on, Monique.

I'll have some coffee
ready in a few minutes.

I'm an American soldier. You said last
night you Belgians owed us a great deal.

- Not this, please.
- You have a boyfriend.

- No.
- Then what is there to worry about?

Please, if you don't stop,
I'll wake the others.

What is this?

Who are you fooling?

You probably said yes to
a dozen Americans before me.

- Is there something wrong with me?
- No!

No!

(SCREAMS IN FRENCH)

No!

No!

No!

- She was asking for it.
- Yes, I can see that.

Go get the jeep ready.

Look, Monique, I promise you
he'll be punished for this.

I'll be all right.

(AIRPLANES ROARING)

Americans.

See?

The fog has disappeared.

Looks like your prayers have
been answered.

Yes.

Monique, I want to thank
you for everything.

It's the war.
It sometimes makes...

Blame it on the war.

Well, I've never seen so many
American planes.

I am not worried, wait until
they run into the Luftwaffe.

Go straight through
the village.

Halt!

- What's the matter?
- What outfit you guys with?

- 106th division.
- What's the national league?

- What?
- The national league.

Are you kidding?
It's a baseball league.

What is this, 20 questions?

A lot of Germans have been coming
through here dressed like Americans.

Look, I told you,
we're with the 106th.

We'll show you our papers. We
had to hightail it out of Saint-Vith.

- Who is Popeye's girlfriend?
- Olive Oyl

and she looks a whole lot
better than you

- if you want a description.
- I guess you fellas are okay.

- Through there.
- What gives?

We had orders to drive to...

Your orders have been
changed. Through there.

Yes, I'm all set to go.
Thanks.

- Well, Wheeler, things are looking up.
- Good.

The airborne is holding
at Bastogne.

Captain?

Four men from the 106th, sir.
From the Saint-Vith area.

- Really rough, eh?
- Yes, sir.

- We took quite a clobbering.
- We've all had our licks.

This company is down to one rifle
platoon and half of a weapons platoon

and what you see here is
my headquarters.

- Sir, we've got orders to drive to Namur.
- Your orders are changed.

The 106th division is no
longer intact

and until we can get you back
to your outfit, stick with us.

We can use you.

- But, sir, the orders...
- As of now, you'll be attached to us.

- Love Company, 23rd infantry.
- Well, I guess there's no argument.

Where are we heading, sir?

Your platoon Sergeant
will brief you.

Corporal, take these men
to the second platoon.

Yes, sir. This way, men.

- They've got wheels, Captain.
- Oh?

Better leave that jeep.
We need it.

Yes, sir.

Well, Lieutenant, one jeep is
better than none, eh?

Wait till you meet the
Sergeant, a real good apple.

He broke out of prison camp,
and instead of hightailing it for home

he asked to be sent back into
action. I'll find him for you.

- What do we do?
- We'll sneak out of here later.

After we find out where
they're attacking.

Sergeant?
I have some more help for you.

Well, we can use it.

All right, men, over here,
around the corner.

Well, what do you know?
Hey, Sarge, look here!

Ludwig! Ennis!

I never thought I'd see
you guys again!

Richie, you old dog!
How are you?

What are you doing' here?
You're supposed to be in Zughoff.

They transferred me there, all
right, but they couldn't keep me.

I wasn't gonna get cheated
out of escaping.

I went out with a laundry
truck one night.

Inside someone's dirty
mattress cover.

Well, a lot sweeter-smelling
than our tunnel.

We ran into a cesspool
before we got out

no one would come near us
for days.

Where are the others? How's
Manning, Clark and Wilson?

- They get shipped home?
- Uh, no, we, uh...

We're the only ones
who made it.

- They got caught?
- Not that lucky.

The krauts found out about our tunnel.
They were waiting for us at the other end.

No warning, nothing, they just
opened up on us with a machine gun.

Aw, no.

Yeah, it was pretty awful.

Well, it could be some of the guys
are still alive, but I strongly doubt it.

I'll never know how we made it. We
just kept runnin', duckin' and prayin'.

It's just an excuse for murder

like those executions
at Aachen.

Yeah.

Only this way the commandant
doesn't have to worry about

being charged with a war crime.
He knew exactly what he was doing.

I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

Well, there's nothin' we can
do about it now.

Except out there.

What are our orders, Sarge?

Maybe I can show you
a little better on the map.

Now, we're right here in
this town.

At noon, we move up behind the
line of departure, that's right here.

- Yeah.
- At 08:00 hours

tomorrow morning, this company
leaves the regiment, and

we're to seize and secure
this crossroads right here.

The Germans are on this small hill
and they're controlling the crossroads

- and we're gonna have to move them off.
- When do we move?

We move out at 12:00 hours.
It's now 10:15.

You guys got just about enough time
to grab some chow before we move out.

- Thanks. Nice to see you guys again.
- See you later, Richie.

Hey, new meat!

- Welcome to lovelost company.
- Hi.

Shall we dine?

Yes, but first we'll pick
up our Sunday dishes.

- Hey, Where you fellas goin'?
- We'll be right back, Captain's orders.

Okay.

Have joined Rifle company,
Second Infantry division.

Company strength,
approximately 60 men.

Mission is to attack tomorrow

seize crossroads at
coordinates EK-2-7-5-1-0-3-9-5.

Major allied attack

to begin on seizure
of crossroads.

H hour is 08:00.

Should we return to our lines?
Over.

- Return to our lines?
- I think it'd be a good idea.

Why?

Well, it looks like our
blitzkrieg has run out of gas.

If we don't hurry back, we're
liable to find ourselves trapped here.

You don't really believe our
panzers have been stopped?

Yes, I do.

Just wait until they get
some help from the Luftwaffe.

Well, they may wait
a long time.

What do you mean?

I haven't seen the Luftwaffe in months.
I thought they were being held back

but I'm convinced now they
were only written on paper.

Oh, your father would be ashamed of
you if he heard the way you are talking.

You really get a pleasure
out of killing, don't you?

- Killing Americans.
- Killing.

This war's an excuse for you
to be drunk, powerful.

You're like that commandant, who
could have let those prisoners go back

but he chose to execute
them instead.

- They were trying to escape.
- They were caught.

That commandant knew
about them in advance.

I'll tell you something.

I respect what that
commandant did.

He gave an object lesson
to all the other prisoners

who might have been thinking
of escaping, too.

There are certain rules
in war.

Let the Americans follow them.

While they're bogged down in
rules and sentimentality

Germans like me are doing
what we must.

- That's why we'll win the war.
- I have a message.

Headquarters wants us to stay
with the company

and see to it they
don't take that crossroads.

Acknowledge. Then tell them
we're destroying our radio.

We'll booby-trap the jeep
as long as we're gonna lose it.

All set.

- It'll go off in an hour.
- That ought to be just about right.

- Let's take care of the weapons carrier.
- Later, one at a time.

Hey, where you guys been?

Tryin' to find some more
men from the 106th, but no luck.

We're ready to move out. The old man's
at the head of the column now. Come on!

- Ready to go, sergeant?
- Yes, sir.

Move out.

Let's move out!

Sergeant, halt the company.
Take 10.

Let's get the jeep.
I want to check the scouts.

Send back the word!
Send up the jeep!

Man: Send up the jeep!

Man #2: (IN DISTANCE)
Send up the jeep!

Man #3: (IN DISTANCE)
Send up the jeep!

Man #4: (IN DISTANCE)
Send up the jeep!

What's the matter, Corporal?

I don't know, sir. We've got
plenty of gas, I'm sure of that.

- Better check the motor.
- Yes, sir.

It may be the gas line
on the fuel pump.

Nothing simple, eh?

Well, we can't take the time to fool
around with it. We'll have to leave it.

But, captain, we just
got this jeep.

Staubern, we'll just have
to walk.

Come on, let's push
this thing out of the way.

Yes, sir.

All right, a couple of you
fellas, lend a hand.

- They're gonna leave it.
- It looks that way.

- Only one more minute!
- You got a butt?

Uh, Captain.

Maybe if I blew out the
fuel tank.

It'd only take a minute, sir.

Okay, Staubern,
make it snappy.

Good work, Staubern.

I'll be right back, sir. I
just want to get my rifle.

Never mind. I'll take it.

(BOMB EXPLODES)

It must have been one of those
teller mines they hit.

Our mine teams have been
through here, haven't they, sir?

They must have missed it.

What a lousy way to go!

There isn't any good way,
is there?

Pinwheel, this is Pinwheel 3.
How do you read me? Over.

Pinwheel, this is Pinwheel 3.
How do you read me? Over!

Pinwheel, this is Pinwheel 3. Just
checking the set. Thank you. Out.

- Well, this is all right, anyway.
- Yeah.

I think that's the captain's
map case back there.

Here you are, Lieutenant.
You're in charge now.

Detail some men to clear
the road and cover them.

Yes, sir.

Go ahead! I'll be all right.
Go ahead!

Oh, Lieutenant, they've spotted
some krauts up ahead, sir.

Charlie 2, This is Charlie. How many
Germans do you think are there? Over.

This is Charlie 2.
Maybe six or seven.

There may be a lot more,
though.

They're holed up in an old inn
controlling crossroad and canal lock. Over.

This is Charlie. Do you spot
any heavy arms? Over.

This is Charlie 2. Just
rifles and Tommy guns. Over.

This is Charlie.

Okay, stay where you are. We'll
take care of it. Out. Halt the column.

Pull the third squad and the machine-gun
section. We've got some business up ahead.

Virgil, halt the rest
of the column.

This is the chance
I've been waiting for.

It's what we've all been
waiting for.

We'll operate in pairs.
You work with me.

All right, third squad,
let's get with it!

Cover the rear!

Let's move out!

Hyland, James, follow me!

Lieutenant?

Gomez, Fielding.

Get in there. Brown,
Stockwell, go with them!

You guys cover 'em!
You five, let's move out!

Keep moving! Keep moving! Don't
give 'em a target! Don't give 'em a target!

Hit the dirt, men!

All right, let's go get 'em!

Let's go.

Keep yourself covered!

(SHOUTING IN GERMAN)

All right, all right.

Okay, Hyland, James,
frisk 'em.

How about that, Sarge?

Old men and little boys!

Hitler reached for the
bottom of the barrel.

It look like he ain't
gonna go down the drain

without takin' the
whole country with him.

All right, men, I need a
volunteer to take them to Battalion.

I'll do it, Sergeant.

Good, Richie. We'll bivouac
about a mile and a half up the road.

You can catch up
with us there.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

Well, Lieutenant Wheeler's
dead, so I guess I'm in charge now.

I, uh, know something about the
Germans. I'll try to make it work for us.

The rest depends on you.

How badly you want
to get home.

How badly you want to get this
war over with.

I'm making a speech.
It's cold, let's go.

- Hey, is Richie back yet?
- No, not yet.

Well, I guess I'll just have
to save him a piece then.

What is it?

Chocolate cake. You
boys want to try some?

No.

Come on, don't be afraid of it.
Try it. It's my own special recipe.

- Is this what you ate in the prison camp?
- Unh-unh, much better!

Couldn't get the cake to
rise over at the prison camp.

Tooth powder did the trick.

Too bad the Lieutenant and
the Captain can't enjoy none of it.

- Hey, you guys want seconds?
- No.

- No, thanks.
- See you later.

Come here, Harold!
Don't you run away now!

The weapons carrier is next as
soon as Richardson gets back.

I gotta get the taste of that
out of my mouth.

There he is.

- You, uh, deliver them all right?
- Yeah.

They're at Battalion now.

You'd better have a good story
of how they escaped.

They didn't escape.

I'm not joking.
They're at Battalion.

- What do you mean?
- They didn't want to escape.

As far as they were concerned,
the war was lost.

The blitzkrieg smashed, and the
American planes tearing them to pieces.

There was no use
fighting anymore.

Those filthy traitors!

You should have shot them.

Maybe.

They'll end up telling
Battalion about us.

I don't think so.

They were kids
and grandfathers.

They shouldn't have been called
into the army in the first place.

They were Germans! They could have pulled
a trigger! They could have helped us!

Well, we'll just have to
help ourselves

and hope there aren't
too many others like them.

I'd better report to Ludwig.

They were children and
grandfathers, not soldiers!

The panzers will be
an entirely different story!

(SNORING)

Sergeant, what are you doin'
walkin' around?

Checking the guard. What's the
matter, don't you boys need any sleep?

Too cold to sleep.

Old Virgil was sayin' this is
one time

he wouldn't mind if somebody
gave him a hotfoot.

- Hotfoot?
- Yeah.

That Ennis is a real joker.

I wouldn't mind having
a hotfoot myself.

Yeah.

Well, we're moving out at 04:00. You
better try to get some sleep, anyway.

Don't you know
what a hotfoot is?

I forgot. I don't think
he suspected anything.

I hope not.

All right, you ready?

Let's go.

- It's only us.
- Cold tonight, huh?

Yes, it is.

(CHOKES)

(SNORING)

(SNORING CONTINUES)

(SNORING CONTINUES)

Hey, Sarge!

Must have been some
German commandos.

What you lookin' for, Sarge?

They didn't sneak in here
just to kill a guard.

They may have been after this truck.
You think maybe they booby-trapped it?

Could be.

When does that bomb go off?

In about three minutes.

Get that on there.

That's it! All right,
everybody back 50 yards!

Sarge, it may go off
any minute!

- Get out of here! That's an order!
- Let's get out of here!

(GASPS)

You all right, Sarge?

Warm, for the first time,
anyway.

Give me a hand up, Virg.

Whew, thank you.

Okay, boys, back to bed.
The show's over.

- Here you are, Virgil, a present for you.
- You're too good to me, Sarge.

Sarge?

Maybe these eyes were playin'
tricks with me.

A guy can imagine a lot of
things at night.

Go on. Go on.

I might have been asleep

but I thought I saw the guys
that were foolin' around the truck.

Come on, boy, keep talkin'.
What'd they look like?

I could have sworn they
was Americans.

They was wearin' our uniforms.

Boy, you can't tell who's your
friend and who's out to slit your throat.

Don't talk like that, boy.
It's unnerving.

The truth is

I thought first they was
Richardson and that friend of his.

What's his name.

Barton, Corporal Barton.

Yeah.

It's a funny thing about him. I
was talkin' to him a little while ago

and he didn't seem to know what a hotfoot
was. At least, I don't think he did.

Oh! Come on Sarge. You don't think he
and Richie are really Germans, now, do you?

He said he was from the 13th regiment, but
nobody from the 13th seemed to know him.

He was the one man that was transferred out
just in time to miss the machine-gunning.

But, Sarge, if Richie is
a German

he would have freed them prisoners
long before they reached Battalion

now, wouldn't he?

Yeah.

Yep, you're right.

Staubern, get me the point,
will you?

Charlie 2, this is Charlie.
Over.

Charlie 2, this is Charlie.
Wait one.

Charlie 2, where are you?
Over.

This is Charlie 2.

We've reached the crossroads.
They're dug in pretty good up here. Over.

Charlie 2, this is Charlie. Any
concealment up there? Over.

This is Charlie 2.
Only on one side. Over.

Charlie 2, this is Charlie.
We'll be up to take a look. Out.

- Take a break, Bill.
- All right.

Come on, Virgil.

If only we'd got rid
of that truck!

We may have a chance
when the shooting starts.

Then if we can pick off that
Sergeant, the rest will be easy.

Is anything easy?

Richie, see that hill
up there?

I want you to take these men
and take a look around.

If there's anybody up there,
we're sittin' ducks.

We might as well sit down
and be comfortable.

- It looks like Bavaria.
- Yeah, it does.

I remember once when I was
with the Brown Shirts

I went up to Bavaria to arrest
this old school teacher.

He had his daughter with him.

She would have knocked
your eyes out.

She was the most beautiful
thing you've ever seen.

Now don't tell us she let
you get near her.

Oh, you'd be surprised
how nice she was to me.

All I had to do was hint
that I might save her father

if she showed me
the proper interest.

You hated what she
and her father stood for,

but you were willing
to make love to her.

What has one got to do
with the other?

Anyway, I heard later they both
died in a concentration camp.

(GUNSHOTS)

Waffen niederlegen!

Haende hoch! Gebt euch auf!

Wir sind Deutsche! Hoert ihr?
Wir sind Kommandos!

Nicht schiessen!
Wir sind Kommandos!

Cover 'em!

Too bad he didn't know
what a hotfoot was.

I can't believe it!
I just can't believe it!

My bunk was next to his
for six months!

I shaved next to that guy!

Boy, you guys sure don't look
like the master race now.

You look like someone hit you
right in the face with a seltzer bottle!

Grenade! Hit the dirt!

On your feet!

You won't need this anymore.

I haven't got anything.

For once, he's tellin'
the truth.

Let me see it.

Let me see it!

It's lucky for you,
it's only a flesh wound.

- Or unlucky.
- Yeah, you're lucky all right!

We could have killed you, just the
way our guys got it outside the Stalag.

Why don't you shoot me
now and get it over with?

Say the word, Sarge!

Hold it. Here, take this.

What are you waiting for?
I know the rules of war.

I'm gonna be shot as a
spy anyway.

That's what you want,
isn't it.

To die like a hero
for the third Reich?

It's not gonna be that easy.

You'll stand trial just like
any other spy.

They're zeroing in.

They must know we're coming.
You must have radioed ahead.

I'll tell you my name and
serial number, that's all.

I'm Lieutenant Hans Von Kroner

serial number 16638

and you can take me
back to Battalion now.

They're too far behind now.

Well, what are you gonna
do with me?

You're gonna come along
with us.

Well, what about the others
who were with me?

They died for Hitler.

Go ahead.

They'll be waitin' for us
at that crossroads, Sarge.

Yeah, I know.

Well, we'll just have to
take it anyway.

They got plenty of heavy
stuff up there, all right.

They'll be pourin' it
right down our throats.

I should have gone home
after we escaped.

I've done my share.
More than my share.

Nobody can call
old Virgil Ennis a shirker!

Why didn't you go home?

'Cause you were stickin'.

Doggone it, I'd have felt like
the world's biggest coward

if I'd gone off and left you
here alone.

I'll tell you what.

If somebody has to watch
our prisoner

I'll give you that job.
That ought to be safe enough.

No, you don't. My luck's been all right
so far. I'm gonna play it all the way out.

Well

that should about do it.
Let's go.

All right.

This is it.

Fielding, I want you to take
your squad, two machine guns.

I'm gonna base the fire here at
the bottom of the hill. Over there.

Now, I'll take the first and the second
squad. We'll move in from the left

through those trees.

Now, at H hour or 08:00

our artillery will give us five minutes
of preparation. Exactly five minutes.

As soon as that fire lifts

I want you boys and
the machine guns to open up.

Any questions?

Okay, we got about 20 minutes
before we

take off. You brief your men.

Here we go.

Hey, Sarge, what do you want
me to do with this joker?

You better take him with
the third squad.

Make sure he's down
out of the line of fire.

What are you tryin' to prove?

You're a prisoner of war. You're
entitled to that much protection.

Are you treating me this way
because you're a German?

No, because I'm a human being.

I'm gonna tell you something
you may not understand.

I've got friends and relatives
inside Germany.

They're good and
decent people.

They didn't want this war. They didn't
want to conquer the rest of the world.

I got a feeling there must be
millions just like 'em.

Let's go, Virgil.

Fire!

All right, fire!

All right, men, here we go!
Let's go!

You, Americans. It is no use
to go on fighting!

Put down your weapons or
we will kill the rest of you.

That's it. Dive in there!
Dive in there!

On your feet!
Let's go, on your feet!

Let me see that.

Is it over?

Yeah, it's over. There's
nobody left but those prisoners.

Help me up.

- I'll get you med...
- Help me up!

Ich bin Hans von Kroner.

Mein Vater ist
General von Kroner.

Hitlers Traum ist Wahnsinn!

Wir haben die Arbeit des
Teufels getan...

Kameraden.

Geht heim!

Geht heim,
wenn dieser Krieg zu Ende ist!

Und schwoert

nie wieder zu sagen:

"Heil."

- What'd he say, Sarge?
- He said Hitler's dream was insane.

He said they'd been doing
the work of the devil.

He said go home.

Go home and swear never to say
"Heil" again.

Pinwheel, this is Pinwheel 3.
Over.

Pinwheel, this is Pinwheel 3.

Mission accomplished.

Crossroads is now secured.

We have prisoners

and a number of casualties.

Await further orders.