All language subtitles for Cross.Of.Iron.1977.REMASTERED.1080P.BLURAY.X264-WATCHABLE

This is Regimental Headquarters
calling Corporal Steiner.

Can you pick me up, Steiner?

Steiner, can you hear me?

Steiner.

-Good kill!
-Beautiful.

Look, my new weapon.

Get one for yourself. Some ammunition!

-Give him a hand.
-Rolf.

Look at that.

Nothing we haven't seen before.

Steiner.

Look what I found running around in the back.
A little Russian fledgling.

Put it down.

Quickly!

We go.

See if you can't get Meyer and tell him we'll
need transportation from checkpoint seven.

Right, sir.

Bring him with us.

Push, push, push, push, push!

Come on, come on! Quickly!

Alright, stop.

This damn country.

Once it was a new adventure, but...

I have a feeling that one of these days
this land will swallow us up.

Captain Stransky, sir.

-Colonel Brandt. You're welcome.
-Thank you, sir.

This is my adjutant, Captain Kiesel.

Captain, how are you?

Thank you for asking, Captain.
I feel terrible, I've got diarrhoea.

How are you?

You should meet your own adjutant,
Lieutenant Triebig.

He's also a new arrival.

Won't you join us in a glass of wine?

Oh, that's very kind of you, sir.
Take my coat, please.

Yes, sir.

My respects, Colonel.

A 1937 Mosel in the southernmost
corner of Russia.

Remarkable!

A bottle of Mosel is no more out of place
in this region than we are ourselves.

Your health, gentlemen.

I'm not going to drink to my health.

It's not worth drinking to.

To the end of the war?

Colonel, why does our presence here

strike you as so absurd?

Captain, why did you ask
to be relieved from duty in France?

I want to get the Iron Cross.

We could give you one of mine.

No, no, I'm just joking.

Actually it's exactly what my
commanding officer in France asked me.

"I can't stop you," he said.

"Since I'm convinced that
without you the Eastern Front

would collapse in a matter of days,

go ahead, you heroic horse's ass."

"Heroic horse's ass."
His exact words.

I withdraw my toast to the end of the war.

To heroic horse's asses everywhere.

To the patient flesh.

Colonel, I would like to make something
quite clear to Captain Kiesel.

I volunteered for this campaign because
I feel that men of quality are needed here.

It is time to destroy the myth
of Russian invincibility.

Just how do we do that?

Bolstering morale,

punishing those who are insubordinate
and rebellious.

Instilling a new respect for ranking officers.

Low morale goes hand in hand
with defeat after defeat

followed by impending defeat.

Now you are new to our Russian front,

so I don't blame you for talking like a...
horse's ass.

Of course, sir, I'm not familiar
with the Russian front yet,

but I firmly don't believe that the ideals
of the German soldier even--

The German soldier no longer has any ideals.

He's not fighting for the culture of the West,

not for one form of government that he wants,

and not for the stinking party.

He's fighting for his life, God bless him.

Well, sir, I am a soldier, and as a soldier,

I feel it is my duty to subordinate...

...my own ideas to the principles of my country,

right or wrong.

Colonel Brandt, Lieutenant Meyer, sir.

Ah.

-Yes?
-Steiner's on his way back.

-What sort of shape are they in?
-The usual!

Very well, I see.

I want a briefing as soon
as they are rested.

-Yes, sir.
-And, Meyer, Captain Stransky is here.

See that he is informed of our situation.

Yes, sir.

-Steiner's back.
-Of course.

Who is Steiner?

To you, in some ways, he could be a problem.

But he's a first-rate soldier.

So, we look the other way.

Anything to add to that, Kiesel?

Steiner is a myth.

But men like him are our last hope.

And in that sense,
he is truly a very dangerous man.

Well, I will see.

Colonel, with your permission.

Well, what do you think of our new captain?

I feel he thinks he's on
some kind of special mission,

that is, to achieve spiritual domination
of his battalion,

thereby symbolising the purity

of the great German Wehrmacht itself.

Even when going down in defeat.

If they're the last of us,
Stransky and Steiner, then God help us.

Medic!

Medic! Medic!

Stretchers!

Captain Stransky,
welcome to the second platoon.

-Lieutenant.
-Meyer, Captain.

I am to show you to your quarters

and brief you on our current situation.

-Where's my bunker?
-Down there, in front of the factory, sir.

-The second platoon is guarding your post.
-Where are they?

They're just returning from reconnaissance, sir.

-Who's in charge of it?
-Corporal Steiner, sir.

Oh.

What is so special about this Corporal Steiner?

Early in the Novorossiysk attack,
Corporal Steiner saved Colonel Brandt's life.

-Ah!
-And mine, too.

Interesting.

Corporal Steiner.

I am Captain Stransky.
I am your new commander here.

Yes, sir.

Who's this?

Corporal Schnurrbart, sir.

And the other one?

That is a Russian prisoner, sir.

You know as well as I do that there are orders
that no Russian prisoners are to be taken.

Get rid of him.

How, sir?

Well, shoot him!

You shoot him, sir.

I will.

On the spot.

And then I'll deal with you.

No need.

I'll see that it's taken care of, sir.

I want to see you in my bunker.

One hour.

-With your full report.

-Clear?
-Of course, sir.

-You already drank both the vodka.
-I'm using it for the cooking.

Where's the wine?

Shit.

-Corporal Steiner?
-I'm Lili Marleen.

Come here, son.

Steiner!

I want to show you what
our new army looks like.

-What's your name, son?
-Private Dietz, sir.

They're sending us babies now.

Hello, child.

Private Dietz.

How long have you been soldiering?

Six weeks, sir. I volunteered, sir.

Don't volunteer for anything around here.

Just keep your eye on Krüger here,
and myself.

Do exactly as we say or you'll be wearing
boots up your ass for a long time.

-Clear?
-Yes, sir!

-And don't call me sir.
-Excuse me.

Go with this foul-smelling one over here.

Put him in Schiller's bunker.

Kern.

See if you can find a jacket or a blanket,

something for the boy.

Get Schiller's jacket.
He must have something over there.

Yes, sir! Oh, excuse me.

Stand at ease.

Thank you, sir.

-My report.
-Thank you.

I regret the incident this afternoon, Corporal.

But orders are orders.

We have enough trouble with the feeding
of our own troops without taking prisoners.

Anyway, it's very bad for security.

I've read your preliminary report,

and it gives me great pleasure
to inform you that

Colonel Brandt
and I have agreed to recommend you

for promotion to Senior Sergeant,
effective at once.

Your promotion doesn't seem to have
made much of an impression.

No, it doesn't.

Alright.

I've read your report. Anything to add to this?

Russians, sir. We should be
hearing from them very soon, sir.

-An offensive?
-Yes, I should think so, sir.

-Starting when?
-Soon.

-What about your platoon?
-Two killed, one missing.

Two killed, how?

Bullets. Mortar fire. Artillery.
Heavy salvos. Bad luck.

Terminal syphilis.

Usual things, Captain.

The missing man,

did you look for him, Steiner?

-No, sir.
-Why not?

I felt that it would be irresponsible of me

to risk the safety of the entire platoon
for the sake of one man.

You felt what?

A non-commissioned officer does not permit
a missing man in such a case,

in any case!

I'll try to do better next time, sir.

-I'd like to have that in writing.
-If you wish.

You know, Corporal... Sergeant,

I have a feeling you somewhat
overestimate your importance.

At the moment,
I am free of any such illusions, sir.

Well, may I suggest to you that you do not
underestimate your present company.

Everything you are and may become

is dependent upon this present company.

No, I will not forget that, sir.

But I may add that a man is generally
what he feels himself to be.

Of course.

Of course.

You're dismissed.

I shall be back soon, sir.

Is that a salute?

Yes, sir.

-Triebig.
-Yes, sir.

You must be careful, Steiner.
He's taken a strong dislike to you.

I'll survive.

You're not dealing with
just another Nazi Party type.

This one is pure Prussian military
aristocracy and rich.

Ah!

Hey, why are you bringing in the apples?

To eat, you overgrown idiot.

You know the ruling classes.

Come now, Lieutenant,
what's left for them to rule?

Don't be naive.

Stransky will survive this war,
one way or another.

And he'll still have his land, his wealth,

and his status.

But he'll be very dangerous in defeat.
Be careful with him.

He doesn't live in the same world we live in.

Ah, no, he's living in my world now.

Yeah, sure.

-Lieutenant?
-Yeah?

Please, would you come inside for a minute?

There's something I'd like to show you.

Kern, don't just stand there
drinking, help us!

Ein!

Er lebe hoch! Er lebe hoch!

Er lebe hoch, hoch, hoch!

Thank you. I didn't realise that you knew.

You forget we are a reconnaissance platoon.

Happy birthday, Lieutenant Meyer.

-Yes!
-Happy birthday!

-Happy birthday, Lieutenant!
-Happy birthday.

Explain everything to the Captain's orderly,

so he doesn't make any mistakes, will you?

And take care of your uniform.
He's rather strict about it.

Russian vodka, German wine, chickens.

Oh, Maag, I don't know how
we have stayed alive so long!

He's the best scavenger in the entire regiment.

-Cheers to all of you.
-Cheers!

-Prost!
-Cheers! Cheers!

Here's to the last Russian bullet.

Here's to survival.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah! Yeah!

Yeah!

Here's to your wife, girlfriend, women!

Yeah! Women!

Here's to the women
of the Folies Bergeére.

To the girls of the Reeperbahn!

Ooh-la-la!

Gently, gently.

Here's to Dietz's virginity.

Play your cards right
and we'll introduce you to Triebig.

All you have to do is just bend over.

Here comes the cake.

Oh, cake!

Captain Stransky should see this.

-Captain who?
-Here's to the cake.

Here's to the cake!
Here's to the cake!

Stop it! Stop it!

What the hell are we doing here?
What do you think the hell we are doing here?

Playing birthday games?
Right in the middle of all that shit!

-Come on, drink.
-You shut up when I'm talking!

If you want a party, okay, drink.
Get drunk. Okay?

-Take it easy.
-There's a bullet for you, too.

-Be happy, Kern, be happy.
-For all of you assholes!

Have a drink! Come on!

You, asshole. You don't touch me.
You stink like a shithole!

Come on.

Let's not spoil everything.

This is Lieutenant Meyer's birthday.

Happy birthday, Lieutenant.

Have a good party.

-I'll have some more vodka.
-Here, fill it up.

Yeah, here's some vodka for everybody.

-I'm sorry.
-That's alright.

Alright, now.
Lieutenant Meyer is to have a meeting

with our illustrious new commandant,
Captain Stransky,

whom you'll all meet shortly.

This is not a funeral, gentlemen.
This is a birthday party.

Now let's drink.
We'll have a song, what the hell!

Thank you, sir.

Where were you stationed
before you joined the battalion?

In the South of France. Biarritz.

I know it well. Sit down.

Sit down. Tell me about it.
Such a beautiful country.

And being transferred
must have come hard, hmm?

I applied for it as you did, sir.

As I did?

That's interesting.

And your orderly?

-We served together.
-In the South of France!

Ah, those French girls!

Comme... Elles sont délicieux.

Those French girls, Triebig!

I did not have much time
to think about those French girls.

Really? And you, Keppler?
Did you enjoy the French girls?

On occasion.

Let me ask you a question, Triebig.
Do you like soldiering?

Certainly, I like it, sir.

But it is strange at times.

It is indeed a very different world.

A world of danger and a world of men.

A world without women, hmm, Keppler?

-Yes.
-A world without women.

Thank you.

It's an old theory of mine.

Men can get along without women easily.
Easily, I tell you.

A man's true destiny
is not just breeding children,

all this childbirth and chocolate,

but to be free, to rule and to fight.

In other words, to lead a man's existence.

Women are no more than a nuisance.

Sometimes... Sometimes necessary.

I am a soldier, sir.

If I have to, I can do without women.

Really?

And you, Keppler?

Can you do without women?

I do as I am ordered, sir.

I like that! I like that answer.

"I do as I am ordered." I like that.

What is your first name?

Josef.

Josef, Josef.

If it will help you,
I'll put your thoughts into the right words.

You prefer the society of men

to that of women at any and all situations.

Right?

I don't understand, Captain.

Come on, Triebig.

You don't have to put up a front with me.
With me of all people.

What I said was right, wasn't it?

You prefer the society of men to that of women.

Come on, we're all soldiers.
There's no harm in it.

Say yes, for heaven's sake, man, say yes!

Possibly.

You said yes.

You said yes!

He said yes, didn't he, Keppler? He said yes!

You said yes. Didn't he, Keppler?
He said yes, didn't he, Keppler?

-Yes.
-Louder!

Didn't he, Keppler? Louder! Say yes, loud!

Yes!

-Louder!
-Yes!

-Louder!
-Yes!

I can assure you of this,

if you get caught,

you will be hanged slowly,

both of you.

Together.

Now get out of here.

Ammunition supply's running low.

Sector three need more nine millimetre.

Steiner's platoon all secure.

Perimeter taking light mortar shelling.

Section Z47, no casualties.

By the way, we didn't get the mail.

-That's a big one.
-Thank you.

Oh, I see.

-Ah!
-Take your hands off my lice.

Merde!

Oh, not again!

Belch before farting,
that's the rule.

Sector seven, no activity.

Get him outside.

Kern, get yourself outside. Come on, quick.

No, no, no, the Russians
might think it's mustard gas.

The Geneva Convention
forbids the use of mustard gas.

Goddamn it, Kern!

What type of exhaust pipe do you have
and when was it broken?

I'm well organised and without problems.

Are you equally guilty?
Krüger, is that your natural smell?

Listen, idiots.

I stay dirty for a reason.

If you'd been in the field
as long as I have been, you'd know why.

Explain.

I learned after Stalingrad.

Natural body oils

combined with dirt can keep you waterproof.

Waterproof?

Sure.

How goes it?

Quiet.

Too quiet.

Yes.

They'll wait till first light.

Rolf, what are we doing here?

We are spreading the German culture
throughout a desperate world.

Didn't someone say
that war is the highest expression in life

for the truly cultured people?

Yes, a foolish wise man named...

...Friedrich von Bernhardt.

-Right!
-Yeah!

-And Von Clausewitz said...
-Von Clausewitz?

Ah, Von Clausewitz said,

"War is a continuation of state policy."

"By other means!"

Yes, by other means.

Do you ever think about your children, Rolf?

-Always.
-Where are they?

I don't know.

Take off one uniform,
there's always another one underneath.

Go!

It's all an accident.

An accident of hands.

Mine and others.

All without mind.

One extreme to another,

and neither works.

Nor will ever!

Here we stand in the middle,

in no-man's land, you and I.

Go home.

Go home!

Steiner!

-Yes, sir?
-Is it a probe, Stransky?

A probe, sir? It's an avalanche!

No, sir! It's an attack in force!

Sir, counter-fire is needed at once.

Otherwise, we'll be destroyed.

We're overrun! Move 'em out!

I need help!

Be calm, Stransky. You are not alone.

What do you mean I'm not alone, sir?

I am alone! I am alone!

Steiner has gone, Triebig has gone!
I don't know where Lieutenant Meyer is.

I don't know! Is he dead?

-Go to your second platoon...
-Is he dead?

...salient sector and find them!

And stand by and prepare the counterattack
as quickly as possible.

Yes, sir! I will be counterattacking, sir!

Stay in your positions!

Hello? I will be counterattacking.

Get some more ammunition!

-Where's my weapon?
-On the wall, sir.

Get that ammunition!

Keep down, you fool!

You, get over there!

Yes, sir!

Get back to your post!

-Get that phone fixed.
-Yes, sir.

Get back there, damn you!

Put it back.

Keep your positions!

Everybody, keep firing!

Forward, men! Forward!

I need air cover!

Fire!

We are winning! We are winning!

Fire!

Where's my air cover? Where are my tanks?

Shit!

The phone is ringing! Where's the phone?

Fire!

-Captain Stransky.
-Where is your counterattack?

We are attacking! We are defending!

We are counterattacking!

I'm wounded, sir, but I continue.

I know my duty, sir. Don't worry.

But I need ammunition!

Lieutenant Meyer!

Hollerbach! We must cover Steiner!

Look at me.

Follow the light with your eyes.

Very good.

That's it. Now look at me again.

Sergeant!

Alright.

Did you sleep well?

Reasonably.

Smell?

Nothing.

Any sense of taste?

Improving.

Quite usual in concussion.

You've been like this for a week.

They should return soon.

Your records indicate
multiple wounds over the last few years.

Any residual effects?

Headaches.

Blurred vision.

I can't urinate out of my left ear any longer,

but otherwise I feel rather well.

The doctors recommend that
you stay with us for another three weeks

until they've completed your tests.

Then they recommend home leave.

Home.

Schnurrbart? Schnurrbart?

Attention! General Von Hessel!

Js Denn heute da hort uns Deutschland
und morgen... I

Hello, soldier?
How are you? Tell me, how do you feel?

This man has
severe concussion, Sir.

He has been highly decorated.

I want 65% of these men
returned to active duty in three days.

Ah, food!

Delicious!

Take the pig, the meat,
and the wine into the private dining room.

Come! Eat! Eat, eat, everybody! Everybody!

Vegetables are good for you.

They're with the compliments
of the High Command.

[distant echoed singing of
"Hoch soll er leben"

Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!

-Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!

Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!

Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!

Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!

Please, have a carrot.

Or cauliflower?!

Everybody looks like
someone else around here.

Did I have a bad spell?

Yeah.

You were very violent.

Violent?

Violence should stop. It must stop.

You say violence must stop?

Oh, no, I'm on duty.

-Have a drink.
-No, I-I couldn't.

They'll throw me out.

Do you dance?

Hold my bottle.

I'll hold your waist.

And we dance.

Listen, this is... ridiculous.

It's nice.

Schnurrbart!

Rolf?

What the hell are you doing here? Lost?

No such luck, Rolf.

I got it in the leg
same time you got it in the head.

Schnurrbart!

My vacation's over.

It's back to the bad side of old Mother Russia.

They took us all from our hospital.

It looks like we're picking up
some of your boys as well.

You want to come along or are you doing alright?

Attention, men! Prepare to leave.

Corporal!

Hold this truck.

What the hell are you talking about?

That's an order, goddamn it!

-Rolf?
-What?

-What is it?
-What?

What's the matter?

I'm going back.

I thought you were going back home.

I have no home.

My home.

Our home.

Do you love the war so much?

Is that...
Is that what's wrong with you, Steiner?

Or are you afraid
of what you will be without it?

Long live Germany.

I said to hold it, right?

Steiner, I didn't mean it. You're crazy!

Schnurrbart.

Rolf!

Son of a bitch!

-Schnurrbart!
-Hello, Kern!

-Hello, Hartwig.
-Hello, Sergeant.

-Hartwig!
-Schnurrbart, how are you?

Caught with your pants down again, huh?

Phew!

Anselm.

Welcome back, Sergeant.

-Hollerbach.
-Rolf, hello.

Good to have you back, Schnurrbart.

Krüger!

You're back too soon.
I don't want to talk to you.

Leave me alone.

Get your ass out of there, you old pirate.

I missed you. I missed you! Yeah.

My, my, my! What is this?

-That's Zoll.
-That's, er, Party member Zoll.

With compliments of Captain Stransky.

SS Special Action Squad.

You still a Party member, Hollerbach?

Well, Rolf, I'd dance with the party
if I could find one.

Hey, silence.
The Party is convinced we are winning the war.

Yeah, sure, we're winning the war.

I hope you've memorised our serial numbers,

our mothers' maiden names correctly.

I wouldn't want the Gestapo to come
and arrest the wrong man, woman or child.

I don't care what you believe
or what you've done.

Your duty is to us, the platoon and me.

Fulfil those responsibilities
or you will have a bayonet up your ass.

-Clear?
-Yes, sir.

I am playing nursemaid
to the third squad, any volunteers?

-Not me.
-No chance.

-Go alone this time.
-Enjoy yourself.

Thanks a lot.

What have we here, a hawk and a hare, eh?
I'll take you.

Come on, have a drink.

-That's your bottle.
-Cheers, Rolf.

Ah, give me that thing. Come on.

Gentlemen.

Cheers.

Some papers for you to sign, Captain.

I'll sign them later.

Stop that!

Be careful with my J.J.

Yes, sir.

I'll have her treated correctly.

-Sergeant Steiner reporting as ordered, sir.
-Come in.

Thank you. That will be all, gentlemen.

-Welcome back, Sergeant Steiner.
-Thank you, sir.

Please, sit down.

Make yourself comfortable.

Well, now that you're back,
and I'm glad you're back,

I think we should make a fresh start together.

But the main point is

the regiment feels, or believes, that...

I deserve the Iron Cross now.

And they have asked me
to produce two witnesses to the fact

that I led the counterattack and threw
the Russians out of their positions.

I have named Lieutenant Triebig and you.

Especially you.

Lieutenant Triebig has already
submitted his signature.

Am I to believe this is a private conversation?

That would occur to you, wouldn't it?

Alright, have some wine, a '36 Mosel.

I'll have some.

Thank you, Sergeant.

But still remember that in civilian,

as well as in military life,
the distinction is made between people.

Is that what you meant when you said,
"All you are and may become

is dependent upon this present company?"

Well, the difference

is a matter of, er, ethical

and intellectual superiority which is caused,

whether you like it or not,
by blood and by class difference.

If I remember correctly,
Kant was the son of a saddle maker

and Schubert's father was a poor schoolmaster.

Perhaps talent, sensitivity
and character are no longer privileges

of the so-called upper class.

But Kant and Schubert were exceptions.

We are talking about general concepts,

-not individuals.
-But I am one and so are you.

Didn't your Führer say that
all class distinctions were to be abolished?

I'm an officer of the Wehrmacht.
I've never been a Party member.

I'm a Prussian aristocrat

and I don't want to be put
into the same category!

So we agree for once.

Good.

But he's still our Führer.

Unfortunately.

Oh...

That's a...

That's a different question, Sergeant.

That's not up to us to judge.

Why do you want it so badly?

It's just a piece of worthless metal.

Look!

It's not worthless to me.

Why is it so important to you?

Tell me, Captain, why?

Sergeant, if I go back...

without the Iron Cross...

I couldn't face my family.

Personally, sir,
I don't feel you deserve the Iron Cross.

Incoming!

Where are you going?

I'm going to point 124.
Corporal Krüger's over there.

Are you crazy?
No one could survive this kind of assault.

Get out of my way, goddamn it!
I'm going after him.

Steiner!

You get me some stretcher-bearers, damn it!

Steiner! Steiner!

The others?

Dead, all dead.

Oh, God. Listen to me.

We are going to leave now.

You're going to get up
and follow me out of here.

Alright?

Three hours.

Three hours I've been here by myself.

I don't ever want to be alone again.

I don't ever want to be alone again.

You won't, you won't.

Come on.

Why the hell wasn't I told of Steiner's return
to the battalion?

My apologies for that, sir.
There were more important things to do.

I want him here at once.

I've got a predicament of which I am sure

you don't need to be reminded.

-Clear, Stransky?
-Quite clear, sir.

Now we shall see.

I don't like the tone of his voice.

I'm fed up with the whole situation.

Well, it doesn't matter anymore.

I know from reliable sources that headquarters

have already written off the Kuban bridgehead.

And soon the whole Crimea will be a cul-de-sac.

Report to Brandt.

If you have the choice, Triebig,
between Biarritz and Siberia,

what would you choose?

Steiner.

Colonel.

Sit down, please, Steiner.

How was hospital?

Oh.

Interesting.

I recommend it.

Did, erm, Captain Stransky
lead the counterattack

the day Lieutenant Meyer was killed?

Lieutenant Meyer led the attack.

Captain Stransky was nowhere in sight.

And you're sure of that?

I saw Lieutenant Meyer die.

Fetch Triebig.

Stay, I want you to listen.

Sir?

You signed your Captain's report.

Were you present when Captain Stransky
led the counterattack?

I accompanied Captain Stransky to the field

and saw him calling several men around him.

Then he sent me back to the command post.

Then how do you know that Captain Stransky
led the counterattack?

You have signed a statement
to that effect, Triebig.

I wasn't there.

I learned of it from wounded men
who were returning.

Can you give me the name
of one of these wounded men?

They were not staff men, just company men.

I knew them only by sight.

Besides, the smoke, the battle.
They had been under fire, sir.

I want you to know, Triebig,
that I have had your statement checked.

Captain Kiesel will inform you
of the results of our investigation.

Our investigation so far has disclosed

that the men in the second company
who took part in the action

declared unanimously

the action was led by Lieutenant Meyer.

None of them saw Captain Stransky
or Lieutenant Triebig.

To my mind there is nothing more contemptible

than stealing the laurels
which properly belong to a man

who was killed in action.

If Sergeant Steiner
stands by his last testimony,

I should be compelled
to institute disciplinary proceedings

against the Captain.

And you.

Yes, sir.

Do you stand by your statement
that Captain Stransky

was not with the company?

Would it be possible for me to...

give my answer in three or four days, sir?

Did you see Stransky or not?

You may go, Triebig. You're no longer needed.

What in God's name has got into you?
This is your chance!

You are the only person
that stands between Stransky

and his Iron Cross.

And you could be called as a primary witness
against him in a court of honour.

My differences with Captain Stransky
are a personal matter.

Now listen to me.

You know that I've always shown
a great deal of understanding for you,

but I'm becoming tired
of battling with your superiors.

I never asked you to.

Didn't ask me to?

You never asked me to?
Are you out of your mind?

Steiner, why are you so ungrateful?

What do I have...

to be grateful for, Captain?

Your tolerance?

Do you think that just because
you and Colonel Brandt

are more enlightened than most officers
that I hate you any less?

I hate all officers,

all the Stranskys, all the Triebigs,

all the Iron Cross scavengers
in the whole German army.

Have you any idea what you're saying?

Do you know how much I hate this uniform

and everything it stands for?

God!

Get out.

Please, just get out.

Regimental Headquarters.

Division Headquarters, sir.
General Von Kellinshofe.

Colonel Brandt.

Yes, General.

Yes, sir. I didn't know it was as bad as that.

I am very sorry to hear it.

Well?

We're pulling back to the bridgehead at Kuban.

No rear guard. Not even Steiner's platoon.

We're not retreating. We're running.

Captain Stransky. Yes, Captain Kiesel.

-I was just about to leave.

Don't leave just yet. Now listen to me.

Regiment feels that it is unwise
and also suicidal

to leave behind any rear guard platoons,
including Steiner's.

I want them to join the evacuation immediately.

You understand that?

Yes, Captain.

Triebig?

All rear guard platoons
to join the evacuation immediately.

Shall I notify Steiner's platoon?

Yes.

Give me Steiner.

Calling Regiment.

Regimental Headquarters. Come in, please!

Regimental Headquarters! Come in, please!

Regimental Headquarters. Come in, please!

B Company, can you hear me?

Anybody come in, please!

Tanks!

Stransky, can you hear me?

Krüger!

All the lines are out.

Better get out! Down the tunnel!

Out!

Go into the factory.

Get everything!

Fire!

Zoll, grab some mines. Bring them up, quick!

On the tracks, Zoll.
Put them on the tracks.

Hurry! Move!

Heads down.

Into the factory. Over to the factory!
Move, damn it!

Maag, they're coming in from both sides.

Kern, up above!
Krüger, get up on the gang walk! Hurry.

Quick! Down the tunnel!

Anselm! The grenade!
They're coming in!

Throw it!

Shit! Jesus Christ!

Steiner, let's go!

It's clear.

Dietz, cover for us.

Hurry! Move!

-Captain Pucher reporting, sir.
-Yes, Captain.

You have your orders?

And a letter for you
to be delivered personally.

Thank you.

You can guess what this is, can't you?

-A transfer.
-Exactly.

Our Stransky is to report to Paris
within a week.

Captain Pucher,
my orderly will see to your billeting.

But don't unpack everything.
We might be going away.

Captain.

Stransky.

Without Steiner to contradict him,

he'll get his Iron Cross
and strut all around Paris,

the arrogant, unbloodied bastard.

Stransky in Paris and Steiner...

God knows where he'll be.

It seems there's,

what, 22, 23 kilometres between...

here and Anapa.

Marshland. Wilderness.

It's the same trap behind the Russian lines.

Again shit, again shit, again shit...

Here take your gun.
Again shit, again shit, again shit...

We'll try the road.

Hey, we'll...
we'll never get over this road.

Shh!

What's your hurry, kid?

We'll get out of this mess
in time for the next one.

Steiner! Steiner, it's clear now.

Let's go. Move it, move it!

Anselm, move your ass!

The cattle cars,
or whatever they are sending,

are due to arrive at 1200 hours,

provided, of course, that the Russian sappers
have not blown up the track.

-Any questions?
-No, sir.

Dismissed.

Carry on probing and aggressive actions
all along the front.

They're not listening.

You, too.

I beg your pardon?

Who needs a railroad track?

When we break out of here,

we'll push on with a blitzkrieg
through Stalingrad,

right up to the outskirts of Moscow.

What will we do when we lose the war?

Prepare for the next one.

Do you think he will get through?

Steiner?

I don't see how he can.

Anselm, go bring Zoll in.

-What is it?
-Bridge.

Just bring what you need to kill with.

-It's a game.
-A game?

It's a kid's game.
It's bad luck to step on sunlight.

I thought perhaps if I miss the beams,

we would all come through this alright.

Come on.

Come on, come on. Over there, get in the corner.

Jesus Christ!

Get these weapons out of here!

Krager, upstairs! Schnurrbart, perimeter.

Check the other buildings.

Come here. Get them in that corner.
Get in the corner!

Over there! Do as your told!

Come on, pretty rabbit.

Don't hide from me.

Check the radio,
and get that body out of here.

Anselm.

-Stay there!
-Get your hands off.

Anselm, stop it, damn it!

-Anselm! Anselm!
-Leave me, Steiner.

Wait. Stop it!

Stop your fucking silly game!
This isn't a brothel!

This is a war!

Rolf, look what I found.

I said get that body out of here.

Everything clear out here.

What is this?

It shows their basic positions
in front of Anapa.

Good.

Means we're halfway home.

Now, thank the ladies

and tell them to take their clothes off.

And what shall we do with the bodies?
Who's gonna keep them warm?

Tell them we want their tunics
and their trousers.

-Do it! Do it!
-We are going to die anyway.

Let me eat one.

Major.

Major!

She's dead.

-Dietz, Zoll, watch them.
-Yeah.

The rest of you, put these uniforms on.

Come on, go over there with the rest of them.

Pick up your weapons.

Up, up, out!

Get that uniform and take it inside.

Oh, shit.

Ah, go over there.

-Come on, pick it up.

-You want to play? Alright.

That's a nice little girl.

That's it.

Come on. I'll give you something to play with.

-I'm gonna be busy for a while.

Come on.

How would you like it, huh?

That's nice.

-Ah.

Steiner!

Oh, Dietz.

Jesus Christ.

Dietz.

Oh, God. God.

Don't...

hurt the girl.

Do you believe in God, Sergeant?

I believe...

God is a sadist.

But probably doesn't even know it.

Zoll!

Stupid man!

Steiner! God!

Take the women outside. With me.

Come along. Go!

Move out! Come on!

All of you get inside. Inside!

Steiner!

Now we're even.

God, I'm... No!

And there's one other thing
you could do for me.

There's a man here
that I would like to get out quickly.

I spoke to you about him before.

If there is a chance that he could leave
with your headquarter staff,

I would be most grateful. Thank you, sir.

They're rolling up both flanks.

It's chaos.

That need no longer concern you.

You're to report at once
to General Headquarters.

You're being evacuated.

I can't leave the command, sir.

While I'm still in a condition to issue orders,
those orders will be obeyed.

I'm prepared to disobey that order, sir.

You've been around Steiner too long.

Come, listen to me for a moment.

For many of us Germans,
the exterminator is long overdue.

But I have decided that you are worth saving.

But I'm part of all this.

There are better people than me.

Most of them are being killed out there.

There's nothing wrong with you
except that you smoke too much.

You're a brave man,
braver than you think you are.

One of these days
there will be a need for brave civilians.

Had you thought of that?

In the new Germany,
if such a thing is allowed to exist,

there will be a need for builders,
for thinkers...

For poets.

I begin to see now what your job is to be.

I will make this my final order to you.

You will search out and contact
all of these, um,

better people, you call them?

And together you will take on the responsibility
that goes with survival.

Now you must leave.

Please, leave.

Braun, take Captain Kiesel to the railhead!

Go.

Steiner, how do we get through
the Russian trenches?

It's only a matter of time.

They'll be building them for a thousand years.

-If not here, somewhere else.
-Not Germany.

Germany.

Do you think they'll ever forgive us
for what we've done?

Or forget us?

We'll make it. We will make it with your help.

To tell you the truth I'm...

I'm beginning to enjoy it.

Well, you want, er,

to be sitting in some mud hole some place,

waiting for the top of your head
to be blown off?

At least here we're free.

Steiner.

Steiner?

Sing it!

Go!

Go!

Here, Sergeant. Here's your weapon.

Then all we have to do
is hope our own artillery doesn't get us.

Or the landmines.

-Two hundred metres to go.
-Anselm.

-Yes?
-Try to raise somebody on that radio.

Tell them we're coming in at dawn.

We need a password. What's...

What's the password? Er...

Reconnaissance patrol...

with several Russian prisoners and no shooting.

Password, Krüger, goddamn it!

Demarcation.

Why not?

Demarcation.

Demarcation. Sign it "Steiner".

Captain, special password -
"demarcation", signed Steiner.

"Coming in with prisoners."

Looks like a trap.

My thoughts exactly, sir.

He may have been captured.

-Wolf.
-Sir?

Did you recognise the voice?

No, sir, it was in code.

Good code. Demarcation.

Triebig...

If in the dark,

you saw half a dozen men,
some in Russian uniforms,

advancing on you,

could anyone blame you if you opened fire?

No.

Will you check the situation for me
and, er, take care of it?

You do like Biarritz, don't you?

You do like the South of France, don't you?

Come on.

Oh, shit!

-Kern.
-Yeah.

You and I will carry the weapons.

The rest of you make sure your hands
are clearly placed behind your heads.

I'll go first, Sergeant.

No, goddamn it, Schnurrbart.

There might be some asshole
who didn't know what the message is.

No, I go.

Rolf!

You've been responsible for all of us.

This time I'm responsible for you.

Take us in.

Sir, look here.

Welcome, Sergeant Steiner.

My passage home.

Steiner!

-Demarcation!
-Steiner!

Steiner, we're coming out!

-Demarcation!
-Demarcation!

Steiner's coming in!

Demarcation!

Demarcation!

Barrage!

Russians right in front.

Schnurrbart, move out!

Standby to fire.

Go, go!

Fire!

Demarcation!

It's Steiner!

It's a trap. Fire!

No!

Goddamn it!

Sir, they look like prisoners.

Steiner!

There are German soldiers with them.

-Stop it!
-Stop it!

The fucking idiots!

We're German soldiers...

Fire!

Stop it!

Stop it!

No!

No!

-Keep firing!
-Stop, goddamn it!

Fire!

Oh, my God!

It's Steiner!

You, stop!

Go get my men, go!

Stretcher bearers!

Bloody Nazi swine!

Swine!

It's all Stransky's orders!

I had no part in it.

We are sorry.

He's dead.

I had no part in it!

I'm Private Dietz, sir.

You're on your own.

If I don't find you,
join up with another outfit, another platoon.

A deserter. I don't care.
It doesn't matter anymore.

Where are you going?

To pay my debts.

You are our platoon leader!
This thing isn't over yet.

You're the new platoon leader.

And Anselm is your platoon.

That should make you happy, you old pirate.

Steiner! Steiner!

Steiner!

Yes, Colonel Brandt?

The situation is worsening here.
You're needed.

If my orders are here,

and they are here, sir,

then my replacement is already with the company.

You may leave, Stransky.

Your Triebig is dead.

It didn't work, Captain.

I live.

You are dead.

Lieutenant Triebig has not been
under my command for several hours.

He has been transferred.

You aristocratic

pile of Prussian pig shit!

Leaving without your Iron Cross, Captain?

Just a matter of time.

Where's the rest of your platoon?

I said, where's the rest of your platoon,
Sergeant Steiner!

You are...

Captain Stransky.

You are the rest of my platoon.

-Know how to use it?
-Yes, of course.

Fine, I accept.

I'll show you how a Prussian officer can fight.

And will show you

where the Iron Crosses grow.

Now!

Hey, get out! Get out of the way!

Stop there!

Advance with me.

Okay?

Stransky, goddamn it! Get off your ass!

I have to reload.

How do I reload, Sergeant Steiner?