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Western France.
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Two months after D-Day.
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Trapped on the wrong side
of a burning tank,
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an allied tank commander goes on a rampage
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to clear the approach to Fort Montbarey.
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Out of ammo and defenseless...
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he turns back
but slides into a crater.
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And lands at the doorstep of German bunker
occupied by enemy soldiers.
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JOHN: It defies any kind of
rational explanation
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that 39 guys were going to surrender
to a guy with a pistol.
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They will put his bluff
to the ultimate test.
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On June 6th, 1944,
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allied forces finally
land troops in Normandy
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to open the western front.
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(in English) But Nazi fanatics
and diehards
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continue to fight
ruthlessly for survival.
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D-day was a battle.
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The allies still need to win the war.
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September 13th, 1944...
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Brest, France.
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Members of the American 121st
engineers battalion
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work to find a route through an area
occupied by Nazi forces since 1940.
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Captain Sidney Smith and
his men must clear
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The allies' siege of
Brest began on August 7th.
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As allied forces head north east,
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supreme allied commander,
General Dwight D. Eisenhower,
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judges the capture of Brest to be of
the highest priority.
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PATRICK: There's this
spectacular breakout
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from the Normandy beachhead.
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They're pursuing the German army
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and they're running out of supplies
very quickly.
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The port situation became critical.
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NARRATOR: The goal, to seize
the Port of Brest
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and the U-Boat bunkers
back from the Nazis.
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PATRICK: Hitler told the German troops
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that were in the ports
to hold at all costs.
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There was a, "To the last
bullet, to the last round,
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to the last life."
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These guys were going
to hold out until the end.
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Capture of the
deep-water port would allow
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men and materials to be
unloaded directly
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to feed the growing allied war effort.
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Fort Montbarey is one of the last German
strongholds outside Brest.
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But it is protected by Nazi minefields.
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(gunshots)
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For the Americans to clear the mines in
daylight could be fatal.
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JOHN: The big advantage of
clearing mines at night is
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you're not going to be as
visible to the Germans,
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uh, so you will have
that kind of, you know,
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concealment under darkness.
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But the darkness makes their
mine sweeping more dangerous.
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JOHN: It also makes for a
more confusing situation,
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it's easier to get lost.
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They're using these metal
detectors and of course
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the ground is just inundated with
all this stuff so at night,
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how are you really going
to tell the difference?
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Metal is metal is metal
down there and you,
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you're going by feel and
touch rather than sight.
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(explosion)
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Outside the Fort's walls
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Smith's men crawl forward in the dark.
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Some fan out into no man's land
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to ensure their work is not disrupted
by German raiders.
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The others work in groups of three,
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armed only with metal detectors,
engineer's tape,
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explosives and digging tools.
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While one sweeps, another
marks off the safe path.
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The unlucky third probes.
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JOHN: The true work of mine
clearing is done on your hands
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and knees usually with a bayonet.
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Not straight down.
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But a sloped angle and very gently
prodding and probing ahead.
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NARRATOR: As they work they
uncover 300 pound naval shells,
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buried as improvised mines by the Nazis.
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Each capable of destroying
a tank and killing its crew.
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Yeah the engineers are
not going to try and diffuse
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these mines at night because
it's just way too dangerous.
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You have to be able to see
what you're doing
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in order to be able to diffuse them.
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NARRATOR: They rig each
one with a pound of
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plastic explosive to detonate later.
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JOHN: That way there's no
chance that you are going to
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be trying to diffuse it
under cover of darkness
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and it blows up in your face.
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NARRATOR: The cleared paths
will allow the tanks to
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advance on the walls of the fort.
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The engineers creep back to their lines.
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Their night's work has
already proved costly.
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German snipers located one
man despite the darkness.
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And another is gravely wounded.
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(gunfire)
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Allied command believed German
troop strength at Brest
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to be 10,000 to 20,000 men
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and that the city would fall in a week.
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But the allies have under
estimated the Nazi defenses.
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They do not account for the
German soldiers who retreated
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from the American advance and provided
thousands of reinforcements.
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The troops assigned to Brest
were also among the elite.
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PETER: Nazi propaganda
often portrays and calls
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the Fallschirmjäger as the youngest
sons of the God of war.
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German paratroopers are
generally well-trained
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and well-equipped and have
got a high motivation.
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NARRATOR: Including Major
General Herman-Bernhard Ramcke,
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commandant of fortress Brest.
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Someone who firmly believed
in the Fuhrer Adolf Hitler.
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US soldier that is fighting
against us here in Brest
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will not fight in Germany
against our home country.
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NARRATOR: By the morning
of September 14th,
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the 121st engineers have
uncovered four naval shells
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and rigged them for
simultaneous detonation.
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(explosion)
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But the explosions reveal a fifth naval
shell in the tanks' path,
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still intact.
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(gunshots)
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Private John Nelson races forward
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to place an explosive charge on the shell.
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(grunts)
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(gunshots continue)
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Though struck by enemy fire,
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Nelson succeeds in setting the charge...
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then scrambles back to safety.
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(explosion)
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With a route cleared through
the minefield,
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the craters will be filled
in to create two paths,
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50 yards apart and eight yards wide.
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Major Tom Dallas of the
116th infantry regiments,
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prepares to storm Fort Montbarey.
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Major Tom Dallas he was a soldier
with a soldier's fighting heart.
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He had kind of ferocity about
him and a single mindedness
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in terms of destroying the Germans.
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He had an axe to grind against
them because of the many soldiers
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under his command
they had killed on D-Day.
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NARRATOR: It won't be easy.
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An 18th century French fort
provides German forces
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with a formidable defensive position.
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Strong masonry walls are backed by
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a massive earthen embankment
40 feet thick.
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A moat 15 feet deep and 40
feet wide surrounds the fort.
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JOHN: You basically have
these forts that are,
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that are created to withstand
almost any weapon
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that would have existed
in the 18th Century
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and were still pretty applicable
to the 20th Century.
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NARRATOR: In addition to
the existing structures,
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German troops have dug an
anti-tank ditch
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and placed bunkers and pillboxes
occupied by machine gun crews.
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It is just one of a series
of forts that ring Brest
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to protect its port.
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JOHN: Plus, the forts are sighted
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along every reasonable
route of advance.
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NARRATOR: The allies had already ruled out
attack from the sea.
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This is supposed to be the easy way in.
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JOHN: Fort Montbarey is just a nut that
you are going to have to crack.
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NARRATOR: In addition to
Sidney Smith's engineers,
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Major Dallas also commands artillery...
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MAN: Fire!
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NARRATOR: ...Along with
American and British tanks.
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Major Dallas orders a smokescreen...
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(gunshot)
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...to protect US troops
as they mobilize.
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Then sends the 116th's "C" company
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to attack German positions on
the Fort's right flank.
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Dallas must neutralize
the German's forward defenses.
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If he fails, his advance will stall.
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NARRATOR: September 14th, 1944.
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For two days American forces
have attacked Fort Montbarey,
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which guards the port city of Brest,
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without breaking through.
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Yes Sir!
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DALLAS: Get those troops moving!
Let's Go!
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NARRATOR: Major tom Dallas orders C
Company of the 116th infantry regiment
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to clear the pillboxes and trenches
on the right flank of the fort.
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(gunshots at a distance)
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You've got to take these positions first
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as a kind of stepping stone to get
physically near the fort.
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NARRATOR: In the smoky haze,
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the cratered landscape proves dangerous.
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(gunfire)
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(explosion)
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(gunfire and explosions)
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NARRATOR: The infantry moves
in with grenades and bayonets.
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JOHN: C Company is in some
very intense fighting.
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Grenade to grenade kind of fighting.
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Uh, rifle to rifle.
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Bayonet fighting, which
is exceedingly rare.
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(explosion at a distance)
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When you see that in
the reports of the time, uh,
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it tells you that it's an
extraordinarily traumatic kind of combat.
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What it meant was really intimate killing.
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While C Company has this
mission: close with the enemy
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and destroy them at that close range.
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NARRATOR: But by late afternoon C Company
achieves its objective...
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...and the Americans occupy
the west side of the fort.
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Dallas can begin to move in his tanks.
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British Churchill Mk VII tanks are
known as "crocodiles".
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They are armed with a 75mm gun,
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and turret-mounted machine guns.
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Each crocodile tows an armored trailer,
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which contains 400 gallons
of petroleum fuel
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that enables the tank to
shoot flames 80 yards,
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in 120, one second blasts.
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(gunfire)
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JOHN: Crocodile Tank is a
fearsome psychological weapon.
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Nobody wants to be burned to death.
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There are a lot of
different kinds of death.
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That's probably the worst.
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NARRATOR: Major Dallas orders
three crocodiles
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to cross the minefields
and approach the fort.
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Because the Crocodile Tanks are heavy,
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it's uh, you know, about 40 ton tank,
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they are fairly well suited to
this sort of jagged, cratered terrain.
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NARRATOR: The lead crocodile
is under the command of
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British Lieutenant Hubert Anthony Ward.
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But as the second crocodile
cuts across the minefield...
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(gunfire)
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(explosion)
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...it sets off another
undetected naval shell.
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The tank is immobilized.
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The explosion kills one man
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and badly wounds
the four other tankers.
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Major Tom Dallas' troops rush
in to deal with the wreckage.
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00:13:54,438 --> 00:13:57,496
(gunfire)
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Worse still, it holds up the other tanks.
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They stand by to cross the minefield to
provide covering fire.
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But their path is now blocked.
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JOHN: The remaining
tanks are bottle necked.
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00:14:21,431 --> 00:14:24,418
Ward is basically up there, cut off,
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00:14:24,430 --> 00:14:27,473
on his own and those five tanks are of
really no use to him.
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00:14:32,506 --> 00:14:35,479
NARRATOR: So American Captain
Sidney Smith's Combat Engineers
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00:14:35,487 --> 00:14:39,491
spring into action, to clear a new
path around the dead crocodile.
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PATRICK: These aren't just
guys that build stuff.
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They're fighting engineers.
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These men have to
maneuver, position charges,
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00:14:48,484 --> 00:14:51,431
blow things up and then
continue to fight
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00:14:51,443 --> 00:14:54,448
and then in some cases hold things
against all odds.
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00:15:01,494 --> 00:15:04,446
making them easy targets
for German snipers.
242
00:15:07,458 --> 00:15:10,475
This setback is yet more proof
that German troops
243
00:15:10,484 --> 00:15:12,501
intend to fight for every inch of ground.
244
00:15:14,472 --> 00:15:16,514
Now nearly three weeks into their siege,
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00:15:17,422 --> 00:15:20,469
the Americans still have not reached
the city walls of Brest.
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PETER: Nazi propaganda
minister, Joseph Goebbels,
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00:15:23,503 --> 00:15:26,474
makes a big story out
of the defense of Brest.
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00:15:26,499 --> 00:15:31,437
He portrays the German
Fallschirmjäger and General Ramcke
249
00:15:31,445 --> 00:15:36,458
as heroes fighting against all odds
against the Americans.
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00:15:36,509 --> 00:15:41,460
So, Brest is seen as something
like the peak
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00:15:41,469 --> 00:15:44,422
of the fighting in the fortresses
in the West.
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00:15:49,456 --> 00:15:53,445
NARRATOR: Fort Montbarey itself is held
by a unit of Fallschirmjägers,
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00:15:53,457 --> 00:15:55,487
commanded by Oberleutnant Floter.
254
00:15:56,458 --> 00:15:58,450
PATRICK: German paratroopers
or Fallschirmjägers
255
00:15:58,458 --> 00:16:00,478
were an elite unit, battle hardened.
256
00:16:01,429 --> 00:16:02,489
They had all the mental toughness.
257
00:16:02,497 --> 00:16:06,505
They had the best weapons
and they were going to fight to the death.
258
00:16:07,421 --> 00:16:08,505
(speaking in German)
259
00:16:12,498 --> 00:16:14,447
NARRATOR (in English):
Near the Fort's walls,
260
00:16:14,456 --> 00:16:16,511
Ward's Crocodile Tank
remains a sitting duck
261
00:16:17,448 --> 00:16:19,424
alone on the battlefield.
262
00:16:20,461 --> 00:16:23,420
Vulnerable to one of the
most feared Nazi weapons,
263
00:16:23,498 --> 00:16:25,428
the Panzerfaust.
264
00:16:25,466 --> 00:16:28,480
JOHN: The, the Panzerfaust
is the leading individual
265
00:16:28,487 --> 00:16:30,500
soldiers' anti-tank weapon of that time.
266
00:16:31,430 --> 00:16:33,514
In that kind of cratered
landscape around Montbarey
267
00:16:34,422 --> 00:16:35,489
these guys could be hiding anywhere.
268
00:16:36,518 --> 00:16:38,494
If he's within 30 or 40 yards,
269
00:16:38,502 --> 00:16:41,457
he's got this thing at his side
and he can fire it.
270
00:16:41,490 --> 00:16:44,456
A one shot deal and there's a very good
chance that thing is
271
00:16:44,469 --> 00:16:48,458
going to penetrate your armor and possibly
lead to a catastrophic explosion.
272
00:16:51,486 --> 00:16:54,421
NARRATOR: Lieutenant Ward
decides to take action.
273
00:16:55,450 --> 00:16:58,446
He targets the German defensive positions
on the left flank.
274
00:17:00,443 --> 00:17:03,426
Dallas sends the 116th's
B Company forward
275
00:17:03,439 --> 00:17:04,510
to support the tank's charge.
276
00:17:06,451 --> 00:17:08,507
JOHN: The Panzerfaust is just
one example of why
277
00:17:08,515 --> 00:17:11,449
combined arms become so important.
278
00:17:11,457 --> 00:17:13,465
The tankers don't often have
the visibility
279
00:17:13,473 --> 00:17:16,488
to deal with them and they're looking
for the heavier weapons.
280
00:17:17,432 --> 00:17:19,479
NARRATOR: With clear lines
of sight and maneuverability,
281
00:17:19,488 --> 00:17:22,509
the infantry are the best weapon against
a Panzerfaust gunner.
282
00:17:31,514 --> 00:17:35,431
(gunfire)
283
00:17:44,509 --> 00:17:47,475
With bursts of flame
Ward starts to clear
284
00:17:47,487 --> 00:17:49,479
the German forces from
the outlying pillboxes.
285
00:18:00,456 --> 00:18:01,469
WARD: Left Stick!
286
00:18:01,477 --> 00:18:03,510
NARRATOR: Then adds both his guns
to the hail of fire.
287
00:18:06,474 --> 00:18:08,425
(explosion)
288
00:18:11,508 --> 00:18:15,491
(gunfire)
289
00:18:16,484 --> 00:18:18,492
The flames do much of the work.
290
00:18:20,473 --> 00:18:22,468
The defenders quickly surrender.
291
00:18:28,461 --> 00:18:31,478
B Company rounds up more
than 70 German soldiers.
292
00:18:39,458 --> 00:18:41,482
Ward presses onward with guns and flames.
293
00:18:45,442 --> 00:18:48,513
He clears the treeline to the north and
then east of Fort Montbarey.
294
00:18:50,452 --> 00:18:51,455
(gunfire)
295
00:18:51,465 --> 00:18:54,465
Ward attacks so aggressively
he runs out of fuel
296
00:18:54,473 --> 00:18:57,498
for his flame thrower and shells
and bullets, for his guns.
297
00:18:58,453 --> 00:19:00,470
He has also outrun his support.
298
00:19:01,457 --> 00:19:03,457
It's just Ward and his crew.
299
00:19:03,465 --> 00:19:05,470
Uh, he has no infantry men with him.
300
00:19:05,479 --> 00:19:07,470
It's this lone tank,
301
00:19:07,488 --> 00:19:10,462
(laughs) basically behind the German fort,
302
00:19:10,513 --> 00:19:12,497
deep in enemy country.
303
00:19:13,472 --> 00:19:14,505
NARRATOR: Now defenseless,
304
00:19:15,430 --> 00:19:17,431
Ward turns back towards his lines.
305
00:19:20,506 --> 00:19:24,431
He navigates the bomb blasted,
cratered area, around the fort.
306
00:19:26,503 --> 00:19:28,466
(tanker engine revving)
307
00:19:39,446 --> 00:19:41,493
But stops suddenly when his
40 ton tank
308
00:19:41,501 --> 00:19:43,526
slips sideways
into a deep depression.
309
00:19:44,485 --> 00:19:46,477
His timing couldn't be worse.
310
00:19:47,456 --> 00:19:50,515
The tank comes to rest facing
a bunker of German soldiers.
311
00:20:01,529 --> 00:20:04,451
NARRATOR: As the American
29th Infantry Division
312
00:20:04,459 --> 00:20:06,468
tries to seize Fort Montbarey...
313
00:20:15,464 --> 00:20:18,437
...Lieutenant Tony Ward's
British Crocodile Tank
314
00:20:18,449 --> 00:20:19,516
crashes into a bunker...
315
00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,466
containing 39 German soldiers.
316
00:20:26,517 --> 00:20:29,450
JOHN: Ward has been roaming
around there firing off,
317
00:20:29,463 --> 00:20:31,501
every, all these weapons
he's definitely has an effect.
318
00:20:33,442 --> 00:20:36,509
He has demonstrated the exact
right personality you want
319
00:20:36,523 --> 00:20:39,453
in someone who,
who has that kind of weapon,
320
00:20:39,460 --> 00:20:41,527
that kind of tank in
that kind of situation.
321
00:20:42,465 --> 00:20:44,457
He's done precisely what you should do.
322
00:20:46,486 --> 00:20:49,453
NARRATOR: Initially surprised,
the Germans may have been
323
00:20:49,467 --> 00:20:52,499
ready to surrender, but they quickly
realize the tank is helpless.
324
00:20:55,521 --> 00:20:57,447
(coughing)
325
00:20:57,454 --> 00:21:01,444
The tank's steep angle causes gasoline
fumes to fill its interior.
326
00:21:02,522 --> 00:21:05,443
(soldiers continue to cough)
327
00:21:06,527 --> 00:21:12,461
And worse, a fire extinguisher discharges
and fills the tank with toxic gas.
328
00:21:15,512 --> 00:21:17,483
(coughing)
329
00:21:18,454 --> 00:21:20,471
Ward's crew starts to suffocate.
330
00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,484
He seizes his pistol and pops the hatch.
331
00:21:35,460 --> 00:21:38,453
Lieutenant Ward does
not plan to surrender.
332
00:21:39,512 --> 00:21:42,511
He begins a bold bluff
and orders the Germans
333
00:21:43,450 --> 00:21:45,503
"Hande hoch!" Or "Hands up."
334
00:21:46,504 --> 00:21:49,533
Not convinced by his pistol;
the Germans don't move.
335
00:21:50,455 --> 00:21:53,447
JOHN: The Germans look at him
and are kind of sizing it up.
336
00:21:53,455 --> 00:21:54,480
Thinking of surrendering.
337
00:21:54,489 --> 00:21:57,464
But thinking, wait a minute,
these guys look a little wobbly.
338
00:21:57,472 --> 00:21:59,439
This guy only has a pistol.
339
00:21:59,494 --> 00:22:02,499
NARRATOR: One of the tank crew
passes Ward a loaded Bren gun.
340
00:22:03,510 --> 00:22:06,453
(gunfire)
341
00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,450
And he blasts out a
series of warning shots.
342
00:22:11,516 --> 00:22:14,458
Remarkably, the Germans surrender.
343
00:22:16,472 --> 00:22:19,484
It defies any kind of
rational explanation that 39 guys
344
00:22:19,492 --> 00:22:21,510
were going to surrender
to a guy with a pistol.
345
00:22:21,518 --> 00:22:24,438
If the flames or these other weapons
346
00:22:24,448 --> 00:22:26,468
are not some kind of factor in that.
347
00:22:27,531 --> 00:22:29,516
NARRATOR: Despite Ward's success
348
00:22:29,536 --> 00:22:33,461
the day's fighting has cost
Major Tom Dallas two tanks.
349
00:22:34,441 --> 00:22:37,507
And his troops have yet to directly attack
the walls of Fort Montbarey.
350
00:22:39,470 --> 00:22:40,474
DALLAS: I suggest...
351
00:22:40,483 --> 00:22:41,527
NARRATOR: Dallas hopes
he can get some help
352
00:22:41,534 --> 00:22:44,467
from the 115th Infantry Regiment.
353
00:22:46,509 --> 00:22:49,489
They will maneuver to sever
the Fort's last lifeline,
354
00:22:49,526 --> 00:22:53,456
by capturing the road from
Fort Montbarey back to Brest.
355
00:22:55,485 --> 00:22:59,441
If the 115th succeeds,
Oberleutnant Floter will be
356
00:22:59,453 --> 00:23:02,516
cut off from supplies,
reinforcement and escape.
357
00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,454
Meanwhile, Dallas prepares
for another assault on the Fort itself.
358
00:23:11,472 --> 00:23:13,517
To do so, he must use
the Crocodile tanks
359
00:23:13,531 --> 00:23:16,494
to full tactical
and psychological advantage.
360
00:23:16,527 --> 00:23:19,498
JOHN: Dallas still thinks
he's going to need the tanks.
361
00:23:19,515 --> 00:23:21,536
The engineers then have to make sure to,
362
00:23:22,448 --> 00:23:24,503
to create some sort of smooth surface.
363
00:23:26,486 --> 00:23:29,504
NARRATOR: Captain Sidney Smith
and his 121st engineers
364
00:23:29,511 --> 00:23:31,533
venture back onto the battlefield,
365
00:23:32,479 --> 00:23:35,513
to fill in the moat and level out
the approach to Fort Montbarey.
366
00:23:41,464 --> 00:23:43,518
(gunfire)
367
00:23:44,522 --> 00:23:47,449
They use everything at their disposal...
368
00:23:47,490 --> 00:23:49,470
(gunfire continues)
369
00:23:49,486 --> 00:23:50,528
(speaking indistinctly)
370
00:23:51,453 --> 00:23:53,495
NARRATOR: ...from bulldozers to explosives
371
00:23:54,459 --> 00:23:55,455
(explosion)
372
00:23:55,483 --> 00:23:57,537
...to picks and shovels
to accomplish the task.
373
00:24:02,497 --> 00:24:05,484
JOHN: Captain Smith, he is
the brains of this operation.
374
00:24:06,455 --> 00:24:08,476
If this were a, uh, peacetime civilian job
375
00:24:08,484 --> 00:24:10,535
he would be the architect,
he would be the uh, foreman,
376
00:24:11,448 --> 00:24:12,510
the supervisor all in one.
377
00:24:12,519 --> 00:24:14,497
SMITH: You've got a clear path over here!
378
00:24:15,535 --> 00:24:17,508
NARRATOR: As they perform this work,
379
00:24:17,516 --> 00:24:19,524
Smith and his men must also detect mines
380
00:24:19,532 --> 00:24:21,507
and avoid enemy fire.
381
00:24:27,496 --> 00:24:30,489
Smith himself directs a
bulldozer operator's work.
382
00:24:31,505 --> 00:24:33,476
JOHN: So, here he is lying
on the ground,
383
00:24:33,509 --> 00:24:36,476
you know, under some level of cover,
but certainly in danger.
384
00:24:36,543 --> 00:24:39,452
I think Captain Smith is a major,
385
00:24:39,465 --> 00:24:43,461
major player and character
in this whole push toward Fort Montbarey.
386
00:24:43,473 --> 00:24:45,545
Without him I don't know it's
going to proceed the same way.
387
00:24:50,454 --> 00:24:53,467
NARRATOR: US Riflemen provide coverage
throughout the operation.
388
00:24:58,484 --> 00:25:00,481
(gunfire continues)
389
00:25:03,509 --> 00:25:05,515
Their protection is so complete,
390
00:25:05,523 --> 00:25:09,473
only one member of the engineers is struck
by German counter fire.
391
00:25:09,494 --> 00:25:11,487
(gunshots continue)
392
00:25:17,475 --> 00:25:18,508
On September 16th,
393
00:25:18,538 --> 00:25:22,488
Major Dallas launches yet another
assault on Fort Montbarey.
394
00:25:22,526 --> 00:25:24,463
(explosion at a distance)
395
00:25:25,455 --> 00:25:27,489
Smith's engineers have
done their job well.
396
00:25:28,476 --> 00:25:31,464
Three Crocodile Tanks
advance across the approach.
397
00:25:35,498 --> 00:25:37,478
(speaking German)
398
00:25:46,529 --> 00:25:49,454
(in English) And open
up at point blank range.
399
00:25:53,527 --> 00:25:57,455
Each creates a wall of fire,
on the Fort's north side.
400
00:26:05,532 --> 00:26:09,537
But with their fuel trailers empty
the flames burn out.
401
00:26:10,462 --> 00:26:12,538
The blaze has no impact on the stone.
402
00:26:13,463 --> 00:26:16,488
The thick walls continue to
protect the defenders inside.
403
00:26:23,519 --> 00:26:26,497
Dallas will need another
plan to deliver the flames
404
00:26:26,510 --> 00:26:28,507
right into Fort Montbarey.
405
00:26:32,524 --> 00:26:35,459
NARRATOR: September 1944.
406
00:26:37,533 --> 00:26:39,541
American forces continue their siege
407
00:26:39,550 --> 00:26:42,501
to liberate the French
port city of Brest.
408
00:26:44,468 --> 00:26:47,455
Three flame throwing Crocodile Tanks
fail to break through
409
00:26:47,463 --> 00:26:49,473
the walls of Fort Montbarey.
410
00:26:51,548 --> 00:26:53,531
American Major Tom Dallas
411
00:26:53,539 --> 00:26:56,502
must find a way to deliver the fire
into the fort directly...
412
00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:58,465
(inaudible)
413
00:26:58,479 --> 00:27:00,512
...to force the Nazis
holdout to surrender.
414
00:27:01,490 --> 00:27:05,504
He realizes the easiest way through
might be the main gate.
415
00:27:07,525 --> 00:27:10,456
Dallas orders an M-10 tank destroyer...
416
00:27:13,497 --> 00:27:15,497
...to fire 50 rounds at the entrance.
417
00:27:23,552 --> 00:27:25,487
(explosions)
418
00:27:25,524 --> 00:27:27,483
(metal clanking)
419
00:27:39,468 --> 00:27:40,502
(explosions)
420
00:27:41,497 --> 00:27:44,469
While surely shaking the walls
to their foundations...
421
00:27:49,548 --> 00:27:51,491
...the gate holds.
422
00:27:53,469 --> 00:27:55,553
Six more Crocodile Tanks
expend their fuel,
423
00:27:57,475 --> 00:28:00,534
sending fire up the walls on the north
and east sides of the fort.
424
00:28:05,497 --> 00:28:08,481
Though they push the Nazi
troops back from the walls...
425
00:28:12,473 --> 00:28:14,518
the flames still have no
effect on the structure.
426
00:28:14,527 --> 00:28:16,546
JOHN: Flame tanks at this
point are not effective.
427
00:28:16,557 --> 00:28:19,462
You're asking them to do
something they're not really
428
00:28:19,473 --> 00:28:22,462
designed to do which is
shoot jets of flame
429
00:28:22,473 --> 00:28:24,492
at very well fortified masonry.
430
00:28:26,475 --> 00:28:28,500
I don't think flames are
going to overcome that.
431
00:28:31,518 --> 00:28:33,464
NARRATOR: Dallas tries his luck
432
00:28:33,472 --> 00:28:35,510
with a bigger gun
against the main entrance.
433
00:28:37,464 --> 00:28:39,523
They position a 105mm howitzer,
434
00:28:39,536 --> 00:28:41,527
armed with white phosphorus shells
435
00:28:43,531 --> 00:28:45,532
just 20 meters from the gate.
436
00:28:49,536 --> 00:28:51,475
(explosion)
437
00:28:54,525 --> 00:28:57,501
While white phosphorus
was used for smokescreens,
438
00:28:58,534 --> 00:29:02,523
Dallas now uses it as an incendiary
to set the fort on fire.
439
00:29:02,535 --> 00:29:04,481
(explosion)
440
00:29:04,493 --> 00:29:06,540
They shoot off 150 rounds.
441
00:29:08,503 --> 00:29:09,552
JOHN: The shells are too small,
442
00:29:10,465 --> 00:29:12,481
the explosive charges
are not strong enough.
443
00:29:12,495 --> 00:29:15,474
You don't have the kind of penetration
factor that you need.
444
00:29:15,549 --> 00:29:18,483
I mean they're just going
to bounce off those walls.
445
00:29:18,525 --> 00:29:20,558
So, the shells are not at all effective.
446
00:29:21,543 --> 00:29:24,476
NARRATOR: The barrage devastates
the inside of the fort,
447
00:29:24,522 --> 00:29:27,551
but Oberleutnant Floter
and his paratroopers remain entrenched.
448
00:29:27,559 --> 00:29:28,556
(speaking in German)
449
00:29:29,464 --> 00:29:30,560
JOHN (in English): Though the weapons are
not always that effective
450
00:29:31,469 --> 00:29:33,498
for doing exactly what Dallas would hope,
451
00:29:33,511 --> 00:29:36,528
it is I think contributing
to the kind of lowering
452
00:29:36,540 --> 00:29:38,562
of a morale of the German Garrison.
453
00:29:41,470 --> 00:29:44,521
NARRATOR: Meanwhile, Smith and his men
locate a passageway
454
00:29:44,529 --> 00:29:47,467
which runs to a tunnel on
the outside of the moat.
455
00:29:47,554 --> 00:29:51,517
The engineers determine that if the
main gate cannot be breached,
456
00:29:51,531 --> 00:29:53,551
they might use the passage
to bring down the walls
457
00:29:53,559 --> 00:29:55,539
to capture Fort Montbarey.
458
00:29:56,526 --> 00:29:58,519
JOHN: So when the Americans
find the passageway
459
00:29:58,532 --> 00:30:01,469
it now creates a new option for
Dallas beyond
460
00:30:05,499 --> 00:30:07,545
NARRATOR: An M-10 tank
destroyer is positioned.
461
00:30:14,547 --> 00:30:16,529
The impact blows a hole at the top
462
00:30:16,538 --> 00:30:18,530
of the passageway's masonry wall.
463
00:30:18,542 --> 00:30:21,481
Just big enough for a
man to crawl through.
464
00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:25,531
Before anyone could be sent in...
465
00:30:27,506 --> 00:30:30,548
three wounded German soldiers
emerge carrying a white flag.
466
00:30:31,557 --> 00:30:34,516
Through a translator they
explain the constant shelling
467
00:30:34,529 --> 00:30:37,546
and flames were taking a
toll on the defenders inside.
468
00:30:39,509 --> 00:30:43,488
PETER: That the constant
bombing has driven them crazy.
469
00:30:43,502 --> 00:30:46,518
So they are psychologically, totally down.
470
00:30:47,493 --> 00:30:50,506
The artillery fire,
the air bombardment
471
00:30:50,519 --> 00:30:52,564
have heavily impacted on their psyche.
472
00:30:56,499 --> 00:30:58,491
NARRATOR: Armed with this information,
473
00:30:58,503 --> 00:31:00,566
Major Dallas decides to
offer Oberleutnant Floter
474
00:31:01,474 --> 00:31:02,529
a chance to surrender.
475
00:31:05,470 --> 00:31:07,500
He uses an English-speaking
German prisoner-of-war
476
00:31:07,512 --> 00:31:09,475
to deliver his message.
477
00:31:15,498 --> 00:31:17,560
JOHN: Dallas demands
Floter's surrender by saying,
478
00:31:18,470 --> 00:31:18,565
"If you don't surrender
you're going to get
479
00:31:19,474 --> 00:31:20,503
a lot worse than this."
480
00:31:21,527 --> 00:31:22,557
NARRATOR: Minutes later,
481
00:31:23,469 --> 00:31:25,474
Dallas receives Floter's reply.
482
00:31:26,499 --> 00:31:31,495
PETER: Floter's response
to Major Dallas' message is rather cheeky.
483
00:31:31,546 --> 00:31:35,484
Floter says, "If this is all you've got,
484
00:31:35,496 --> 00:31:37,480
we'll hold out for a little while."
485
00:31:38,497 --> 00:31:41,509
NARRATOR: The siege of
Fort Montbarey will continue.
486
00:31:55,524 --> 00:31:57,562
NARRATOR: The 29th Infantry
Division has attacked
487
00:31:58,475 --> 00:32:01,522
the German stronghold of Fort Montbarey
for five consecutive days.
488
00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:07,492
Despite walls of flames and
countless rounds of ordnance...
489
00:32:11,494 --> 00:32:13,473
the obstinate German Lieutenant
490
00:32:13,485 --> 00:32:15,520
rejects the opportunity to surrender.
491
00:32:15,533 --> 00:32:18,487
So, it's kind of a taunt
to the Americans and Dallas is
492
00:32:18,499 --> 00:32:20,540
not the kind of guy you mess around with.
493
00:32:23,517 --> 00:32:25,571
NARRATOR: Major Dallas
decides on a new approach.
494
00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:29,526
He orders five tons of TNT explosive.
495
00:32:31,526 --> 00:32:33,518
That much explosive is not available.
496
00:32:33,531 --> 00:32:36,505
But Dallas hopes two tons
will bring down the wall,
497
00:32:36,518 --> 00:32:38,527
like a medieval castle siege.
498
00:32:38,540 --> 00:32:41,498
Dallas also has ladders at
the ready to scale the wall,
499
00:32:41,544 --> 00:32:44,495
should the TNT's effects prove inadequate.
500
00:32:46,508 --> 00:32:50,499
But getting hundreds of pounds of dynamite
into position proves difficult.
501
00:32:53,475 --> 00:32:57,500
Once again, Dallas calls
on the 121st engineers, Company B,
502
00:32:57,509 --> 00:32:59,510
led by Captain Sidney Smith.
503
00:33:03,548 --> 00:33:07,481
With the Crocodile Tanks and infantry
providing covering fire,
504
00:33:10,511 --> 00:33:14,487
Smith's men move into the moat and unload
the crates of dynamite.
505
00:33:15,533 --> 00:33:17,538
JOHN: It would've been
enormously stressful and tense,
506
00:33:17,546 --> 00:33:19,524
because you don't
necessarily know what's going
507
00:33:19,533 --> 00:33:21,496
to happen from one minute to the next.
508
00:33:21,525 --> 00:33:24,480
For all you know the Germans
may be massing their people.
509
00:33:26,526 --> 00:33:28,548
NARRATOR: So, before
they begin work inside,
510
00:33:28,561 --> 00:33:30,515
they must secure their location.
511
00:33:34,573 --> 00:33:37,483
Smith's men enter the passageway...
512
00:33:48,517 --> 00:33:49,571
...and lob in hand grenades.
513
00:33:52,506 --> 00:33:54,492
Satisfied it is clear...
514
00:33:58,578 --> 00:34:00,561
Company B works quickly
515
00:34:00,574 --> 00:34:03,494
to bring in the crates of explosives.
516
00:34:26,515 --> 00:34:27,566
When the last man emerges,
517
00:34:27,578 --> 00:34:30,560
Smith sends him back for a final sweep.
518
00:34:38,516 --> 00:34:41,501
With the all clear and the
dynamite rigged for detonation...
519
00:34:43,576 --> 00:34:46,571
another German POW approaches Dallas,
520
00:34:47,556 --> 00:34:50,544
and asks him to offer Floter one more
chance to surrender.
521
00:34:52,516 --> 00:34:55,495
Dallas brushes the POW's request aside.
522
00:34:57,491 --> 00:35:00,487
JOHN: Dallas hears these sort
of vague illusions to the fact
523
00:35:00,500 --> 00:35:02,568
that perhaps, ah, the Germans
may want to surrender
524
00:35:02,575 --> 00:35:04,550
and he is in no mood to hear that
525
00:35:04,567 --> 00:35:06,559
and so the explosion
is going to go forward.
526
00:35:06,567 --> 00:35:08,546
I won't tell you what he actually said,
527
00:35:09,487 --> 00:35:10,531
but it was colorful.
528
00:35:14,526 --> 00:35:17,507
NARRATOR: Dallas orders
his men to blow the TNT.
529
00:35:17,519 --> 00:35:19,494
But before the detonation,
530
00:35:19,507 --> 00:35:21,507
Dallas reconsiders his position.
531
00:35:22,502 --> 00:35:25,546
As the men worked near the
walls they realize the body
532
00:35:25,554 --> 00:35:28,537
of Second Lieutenant
Durwood Settles lies nearby.
533
00:35:29,513 --> 00:35:30,566
He had been killed in earlier fighting,
534
00:35:30,575 --> 00:35:32,546
near the wall they hoped to bring down.
535
00:35:33,555 --> 00:35:35,564
Dallas is reluctant
to blow the charges before
536
00:35:35,572 --> 00:35:37,538
the body can be recovered.
537
00:35:38,526 --> 00:35:40,568
The demolition would
likely crush his remains.
538
00:35:41,518 --> 00:35:43,535
An idea which disturbs everyone.
539
00:35:44,498 --> 00:35:46,541
A Lieutenant from
the graves registration unit,
540
00:35:46,553 --> 00:35:49,537
volunteers to attempt
recovery of Settles' body.
541
00:35:50,499 --> 00:35:52,528
Dallas agrees to the delay.
542
00:35:52,541 --> 00:35:54,504
JOHN: It's going to be better
for your fighting morale
543
00:35:54,512 --> 00:35:55,558
because of course, inevitable,
544
00:35:55,571 --> 00:35:57,542
you're going to
think what if it were me?
545
00:35:57,550 --> 00:35:59,537
And no one wants to think about, you know,
546
00:35:59,546 --> 00:36:02,510
their remains getting
exploded into atoms like that.
547
00:36:04,559 --> 00:36:05,581
(gunfire)
548
00:36:06,501 --> 00:36:09,515
NARRATOR: Lieutenant Kelton braves
enemy fire to cross the moat.
549
00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:24,563
(gunfire continues)
550
00:36:26,497 --> 00:36:27,538
He retrieves the body...
551
00:36:37,540 --> 00:36:39,520
...and carries it out himself.
552
00:36:45,529 --> 00:36:49,578
(gunfire)
553
00:36:51,500 --> 00:36:53,567
At 5 PM on September 16th,
554
00:36:54,509 --> 00:36:57,517
Dallas finally gives the order
to detonate the TNT.
555
00:36:58,547 --> 00:37:00,539
He can only hope that it is enough
556
00:37:00,548 --> 00:37:02,580
to finally conquer Fort Montbarey.
557
00:37:06,582 --> 00:37:09,549
September 16th, 1944.
558
00:37:10,515 --> 00:37:12,549
More than three months after D-Day,
559
00:37:12,557 --> 00:37:16,509
American forces try to bring down
the walls of Fort Montbarey,
560
00:37:17,513 --> 00:37:20,533
a Nazi holdout guarding
the deep-water Port of Brest.
561
00:37:21,547 --> 00:37:25,556
Major Tom Dallas hopes two tons of TNT
will bring down the walls.
562
00:37:27,542 --> 00:37:29,515
(explosion)
563
00:37:33,523 --> 00:37:36,537
The explosion succeeds and
causes the collapse
564
00:37:36,545 --> 00:37:38,574
of the central section
of the Fort's north wall.
565
00:37:41,507 --> 00:37:45,530
Once more, the 121st Combat
Engineers enter the fray.
566
00:37:49,542 --> 00:37:52,555
With British and American
tanks providing covering fire...
567
00:37:54,573 --> 00:37:55,589
(explosion)
568
00:37:59,573 --> 00:38:02,494
...Captain Sidney Smith's B-Company
569
00:38:02,502 --> 00:38:04,503
attacks the breach in the Fort's wall.
570
00:38:04,541 --> 00:38:05,570
SMITH: Let's move out!
571
00:38:06,550 --> 00:38:08,521
NARRATOR: And climbs over the rubble.
572
00:38:08,533 --> 00:38:10,591
It's a storm of artillery
and machine gun fire.
573
00:38:11,555 --> 00:38:12,580
(explosion)
574
00:38:15,522 --> 00:38:17,554
(gunfire and explosions)
575
00:38:32,528 --> 00:38:33,538
(grunts)
576
00:38:44,509 --> 00:38:49,514
(gunfire and explosions)
577
00:38:58,562 --> 00:39:01,545
The onslaught is so intense
that Smith's men
578
00:39:01,553 --> 00:39:04,546
do not realize the Germans are
finally surrendering.
579
00:39:08,562 --> 00:39:12,564
(gunfire and explosions)
580
00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:24,562
(gunfire and explosions)
581
00:39:32,550 --> 00:39:33,571
Hey!
582
00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:37,513
NARRATOR: When they catch on,
they pound on the tanks' hulls
583
00:39:37,526 --> 00:39:38,567
to stop the barrage.
584
00:39:40,506 --> 00:39:42,531
It's a chaotic moment
the 29th Division soldiers
585
00:39:42,544 --> 00:39:43,585
eventually have to take their, uh,
586
00:39:44,498 --> 00:39:46,537
rifle butts and pound on the,
on the tanks to get
587
00:39:46,548 --> 00:39:48,540
the attention of the tank crew men
so that they could
588
00:39:48,549 --> 00:39:49,586
tell them to stop firing.
589
00:39:51,511 --> 00:39:53,532
And it's not just a matter
of humanity to the Germans,
590
00:39:53,570 --> 00:39:56,509
but also the fact that you got
American soldiers who are now
591
00:39:56,517 --> 00:39:58,529
within that fort and
who might be in danger
592
00:39:58,537 --> 00:39:59,541
from the tank fire.
593
00:40:07,564 --> 00:40:10,524
NARRATOR: Dazed German
soldiers pour out of the fort.
594
00:40:28,580 --> 00:40:33,523
As the 29th Division starts rounding up
German prisoners above ground,
595
00:40:33,530 --> 00:40:35,501
Smith's men realize
596
00:40:35,510 --> 00:40:37,590
that some may be holding out
in tunnels beneath the fort.
597
00:40:50,525 --> 00:40:52,534
As they creep down the passageway
598
00:40:52,542 --> 00:40:54,543
they hear voices speaking German.
599
00:40:57,513 --> 00:41:00,556
(speaking indistinctly in German)
600
00:41:04,510 --> 00:41:06,549
NARRATOR: (in English) The engineers fire
their tommy guns down the tunnel
601
00:41:06,561 --> 00:41:08,516
to announce their presence.
602
00:41:11,557 --> 00:41:12,599
Two men surrender.
603
00:41:20,518 --> 00:41:22,556
The engineers have captured
the garrison commander:
604
00:41:23,518 --> 00:41:24,580
Oberleutnant Floter.
605
00:41:43,542 --> 00:41:46,588
Floter is delivered to major Tom Dallas
606
00:41:47,529 --> 00:41:49,544
and demands to be treated as an officer.
607
00:41:50,518 --> 00:41:52,593
But after five days of intense fighting,
608
00:41:53,507 --> 00:41:55,514
Dallas is not in a receptive mood.
609
00:41:57,519 --> 00:41:59,595
He roars that Floter is a
prisoner of war
610
00:42:00,524 --> 00:42:02,510
and to get his hands above his head.
611
00:42:02,511 --> 00:42:04,517
(inaudible)
612
00:42:04,524 --> 00:42:06,579
Dallas insists that Floter
to return to the fort
613
00:42:06,588 --> 00:42:09,586
and identify all of the mines
set by the Germans.
614
00:42:11,583 --> 00:42:14,531
(speaking in German)
615
00:42:15,605 --> 00:42:18,577
NARRATOR (in English): With Fort Montbarey
finally in allied hands,
616
00:42:19,514 --> 00:42:22,544
the 29th division is ready for
the final assault on the city.
617
00:42:25,556 --> 00:42:28,579
Two days later, on September 18th, 1944,
618
00:42:31,524 --> 00:42:35,521
the 29th, along with two other divisions
of the US 8th army corps,
619
00:42:35,570 --> 00:42:37,570
take Brest and its port.
620
00:42:41,519 --> 00:42:43,568
Major General Ramcke is
captured a day later,
621
00:42:44,522 --> 00:42:46,543
having fled across the harbor by boat.
622
00:42:49,510 --> 00:42:51,595
Captain Sidney Smith's daring
leadership at Fort Montbarey
623
00:42:51,606 --> 00:42:53,590
earns him a silver star.
624
00:42:55,545 --> 00:42:58,579
A silver star would also be awarded
to Private John Nelson,
625
00:42:58,604 --> 00:43:01,524
who single handedly wired
up one of the naval shells
626
00:43:01,533 --> 00:43:02,554
in broad daylight.
627
00:43:04,563 --> 00:43:07,529
British Lieutenant Tony Ward's
exceptional courage
628
00:43:07,546 --> 00:43:11,538
in the lead Crocodile Tank
merited a silver star as well.
629
00:43:11,581 --> 00:43:14,581
A significant tribute to a
member of a foreign army.
630
00:43:16,598 --> 00:43:18,553
During the siege of Brest
631
00:43:18,569 --> 00:43:22,565
the 29th division suffers
over 3,300 casualties,
632
00:43:22,581 --> 00:43:25,521
including nearly 700 men killed.
633
00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:29,608
The American eighth
army corps captures nearly
634
00:43:30,520 --> 00:43:32,567
40,000 German POW's at Brest.
635
00:43:33,530 --> 00:43:36,558
Twice the number of defenders
estimated by allied command.
636
00:43:37,576 --> 00:43:40,526
But throughout the 27-day siege,
637
00:43:40,577 --> 00:43:43,560
Ramcke's troops sabotage
the port so thoroughly
638
00:43:44,527 --> 00:43:47,591
that no allied ships would dock there
for the remainder of the war.
639
00:43:49,531 --> 00:43:51,558
By late September 1944,
640
00:43:51,594 --> 00:43:54,554
the allies' push the western
front towards Germany,
641
00:43:55,547 --> 00:43:57,583
to capture Berlin as soon as possible.
642
00:43:59,533 --> 00:44:02,580
But in the coming weeks
Nazi resistance would stiffen
643
00:44:02,602 --> 00:44:06,551
and the war in Europe will continue
for another eight months.
644
00:44:07,531 --> 00:44:09,531
Captioned by Visual data Media Services
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