All language subtitles for World War II Final Days s01e02_English

Narrator: APRIL 1945.

THE WAR IN EUROPE
IS NEARLY OVER.

FOR TEN INDIVIDUALS

WHO LIVE THROUGH THE CHAOS
AND THE HORROR,

THESE FINAL TEN DAYS WILL SHAPE
THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

THE WESTERN ALLIES HAVE SWEPT
THROUGH GERMANY AND ITALY,

DESTROYING THE FASCIST AXIS.

THE SOVIET ARMY HAS HACKED ITS
WAY TO THE HEART OF BERLIN

AND IS ABOUT TO TAKE HITLER'S
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

RUSSIAN MOBS RAMPAGE
THROUGH THE STREETS,

TERRORIZING THE INHABITANTS.

HIDING IN HIS BUNKER
BENEATH THE DEVASTATED CITY,

HITLER IS NOT ONLY
LOSING THE WAR,

HE'S LOSING HIS MIND.

INTELLIGENCE REPORTS SAY
HE PLANS TO CONTINUE THE WAR

FROM HIS FORTRESS IN THE ALPS.

WHILE EISENHOWER SENDS
TROOPS TO THE MOUNTAINS,

A NEW THREAT LOOMS IN THE NORTH.

THE RUSSIANS
OCCUPY EASTERN EUROPE

AND ARE NOW MARCHING ON DENMARK.

BRITISH TROOPS RACE NORTH
TO CUT THEM OFF.

THESE FINAL DAYS OF WORLD WAR II

WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES,
AND THE WORLD, FOREVER.

29th OF APRIL.

NINE DAYS TO VICTORY.

THE GERMANS
STILL HOLD WESTERN HOLLAND

IN THEIR DEADLY GRIP.

THEY HAVE CUT OFF
ALL FOOD SUPPLIES

TO PUNISH THE INHABITANTS
FOR AIDING THE ALLIES.

EACH DAY, NEARLY 1,000 PEOPLE
DIE OF STARVATION.

TODAY THE GERMAN COMMAND
IN HOLLAND

WILL FINALLY AGREE
TO ALLOW THE ALLIED AIRLIFT

TO BRING FOOD
TO RELIEVE THE FAMINE.

AT ROYAL AIR FORCE BASES
IN ENGLAND,

LANCASTER BOMBERS
PREPARE FOR TAKE‐OFF.

IN THEIR BOMB BAYS THEY CARRY
FOOD FOR THE STARVING DUTCH.

BUT WHILE THE GERMANS HAVE
AGREED TO A TEMPORARY TRUCE,

THEY STILL DEMAND TOTAL CONTROL
OVER THE SITUATION.

NO ONE IS CERTAIN
THEY WON'T SIMPLY SHOOT DOWN

ANY ALLIED AIRCRAFT FLYING IN
OVER OCCUPIED HOLLAND.

21‐YEAR‐OLD FLIGHT LIEUTENANT
JOHN CURRIE

IS WITH THE 460th SQUADRON OF
THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE.

AS HE PREPARES
TO TAKE OFF FOR HOLLAND,

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHETHER
HE'S ON A FLIGHT OF MERCY

OR A SUICIDE MISSION.

Currie:
THE TRUCE HAD BEEN ARRANGED.

THE PAPERS WEREN'T SIGNED
UNTIL MAY 2nd.

SO THE FIRST THREE FLIGHTS

WERE REALLY WITHOUT THE GERMANS'
AGREEMENT ON PAPER.

THE GERMANS
NATURALLY WERE CONCERNED

ABOUT THE SITUATION OF HAVING
300 "LANCS" COMING FROM THE SEA.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS
GONNA BE AN AIRBORNE INVASION,

A TRICK TO CONQUER

OR AT LEAST TO PUT THEM DOWN.

Narrator: THE GERMANS
PLACE ANTI‐AIRCRAFT GUNS

NEAR EACH OF THE FOUR
FOOD DROP ZONES.

IF THE ALLIES START DROPPING
BOMBS INSTEAD OF FOOD,

THEY'RE READY.

Currie:
THE DROP SITE WAS INDICATED

BY A BIG LARGE WHITE CROSS,
WITH GREEN FLARES.

THE ONLY WAY TO LET THE FOOD GO
WAS TO OPEN THE BOMB BAY DOORS.

THAT WAS NOT A VERY PRECISE
METHOD OF DROPPING ANYTHING,

AND I REMEMBER THINKING
AS WE APPROACHED THE DROP SITE,

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE
ARE GONNA BE HIT

BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT MORE FAITH
IN OUR AIMING SKILL

THAN WE HAD
WITH THE METHOD WE WERE USING.

AND THERE WERE PEOPLE HIT.

Narrator: IN ALL,
242 ALLIED BOMBERS

DROP MORE THAN 500 TONS OF FOOD
OVER HOLLAND

ON THE FIRST DAY ALONE.

THOUSANDS MORE WILL BE NEEDED

AS THE NAZIS CONTINUE
TO STARVE THEIR OPPONENTS.

THAT SAME DAY,

AMERICAN PARATROOPER
CLANCY LYALL

AND HIS COMRADES IN EASY COMPANY

ARE SWEEPING AND SECURING
A SMALL TOWN OUTSIDE MUNICH.

Lyall:
IS ANYBODY THERE?

WE'RE AMERICANS.

ICH BIN AMERIKANER.

[MOANING]

Man: WE HEARD RUMORS, YOU KNOW,

THAT THEY HAD
CONCENTRATION CAMPS,

AND HERE WE SEE
THESE HUMAN SKELETONS.

THEY JUST LOOKED, YOU KNOW,
LIKE A GHOST LOOKING AT YOU.

IT WAS THE SICKEST THING
I EVER SAW IN MY LIFE.

WE ALSO SAW HUNDREDS OF BODIES
PILED UP IN ONE CORNER.

WHAT THE GERMANS DID,
THEY SHOT AS MANY AS THEY COULD,

AND THEY LEFT
BEFORE WE GOT THERE.

BETWEEN THE STENCH AND
THEM CRYING, ALL THAT STUFF‐‐

I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE‐‐
I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES.

I'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE.

Narrator:
THE APPALLING BRUTALITY
OF THE NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMP

PROFOUNDLY SHAKES

THE BATTLE‐HARDENED
PARATROOPERS.

THE WORST THING FOR ME,
I WOULD THINK...

IT MADE YOU THINK THAT,
MY GOD,

HOW COULD GOD LET THIS HAPPEN,
YOU KNOW?

IT TESTS YOUR FAITH,
AND I NEVER LOST MY FAITH.

I DON'T THINK
ANY OF US EVER DID.

BUT HOW COULD PEOPLE DO THAT?

YOU HAD TO BE AN ANIMAL
TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOME OF THE SS WERE ANIMALS,
AND THEY ENJOYED DOING THAT.

WHAT I SAW THERE,

I COULD NEVER GET THAT
OUT OF MY MIND, NEVER EVER.

I PRAYED ABOUT IT
AND EVERYTHING ELSE,

BUT IT WON'T LEAVE.

BY THE 29th OF APRIL,
THE REICH IS CRUMBLING.

GERMAN FORCES IN ITALY

FINALLY SIGN
AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,

BUT TO THE WESTERN ALLIES,

WHO WILL NOW ADMINISTER
THE POST‐WAR SETTLEMENT.

AS FAR AS GERMANY AND AUSTRIA
ARE CONCERNED,

THEIR POST‐WAR ZONES
OF OCCUPATION

WERE AGREED BY THE ALLIES

AT THE YALTA CONFERENCE
IN FEBRUARY.

Narrator:
IN FEBRUARY 1945,

THE THREE MAIN ALLIES‐‐

THE USA, BRITAIN, AND RUSSIA‐‐

MEET AT YALTA TO DECIDE THE FATE
OF POST‐NAZI EUROPE.

THE SOVIETS
GET THE EASTERN SECTORS

OF BOTH BERLIN AND VIENNA.

David: AND YET THE CITIES
OF BERLIN, PRAGUE, AND VIENNA

CAN BE TAKEN
BY WHOEVER GETS THERE FIRST.

STALIN, OF COURSE,
IS DETERMINED THAT HIS TROOPS

WILL TAKE ALL THE CAPITALS,

AND HE DOESN'T MIND THE COST.

Narrator: STALIN CAN STILL
STRIP THE ASSETS OF EACH CITY

BEFORE RETREATING
INTO HIS AGREED OCCUPATION ZONE.

IN BERLIN, THE RUSSIANS' TARGET,
THE REICHSTAG,

IS FINALLY IN SIGHT.

THEY'RE UNDER PRESSURE
TO TAKE IT

BEFORE THE MAY DAY PARADE
IN MOSCOW.

IF VASILY USTUGOV,

A GUNNER WITH RUSSIA'S
150th RIFLE DIVISION,

CAN HOIST THE RED FLAG
ON ITS ROOF,

HIS NAME WILL BE IMMORTALIZED.

BUT THE CITY IS BEING DEFENDED
TO THE DEATH,

EVEN BY BOYS AS YOUNG AS 12.

THE SS HANG ANYONE
WHO REFUSES TO FIGHT.

Ustugov: THERE WERE A LOT
OF GERMAN SOLDIERS

ON TOP OF THE BUILDINGS.

WHEN WE STARTED TO MOVE
TOWARDS THE RIVER SPREE,

ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 29th,

THEY OPENED FIRE
AND HIT US REALLY BADLY.

Narrator:
VASILY USTUGOV AND HIS MEN

ARE ON THE MOVE NIGHT AND DAY.

SEVERELY EXHAUSTED, THEY BECOME
EASY TARGETS FOR GERMAN SNIPERS.

Ustugov:
WE SUFFERED BIG LOSSES

BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY EASY
FOR THE GERMANS TO SHOOT AT US

FROM ABOVE.

OF COURSE I WAS AFRAID,

BUT WHEN WE WERE
PREPARING FOR AN ATTACK,

WE WERE READY FOR ANYTHING.

YOU COULD GET WOUNDED OR KILLED.

MANY TIMES WHEN I WAS FIRING
AT OTHERS, I WAS HIT.

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT.

YOUR CANNON IS SMASHED.

YOUR MEN ARE LYING DEAD
AROUND YOU.

YOU'RE WOUNDED AND BLEEDING.

IT'S A MATTER OF SECONDS.

WE WERE READY FOR ANYTHING.

BUT EVEN THOUGH
WE WERE EXHAUSTED,

WE WERE NEVER INDIFFERENT.

WE WANTED TO LIVE, BUT WE KNEW
WE HAD TO DO OUR JOB,

ESPECIALLY ON APRIL 30th.

WE WERE AT THE CENTER OF BERLIN,
NEXT TO THE REICHSTAG,

ON THE EVE
OF THE MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS.

THE RADIO, THE MORALE OFFICERS,

EVERYTHING WAS TELLING US

THAT THE WHOLE COUNTRY
WAS HOLDING ITS BREATH.

Narrator: AFTER BATTLING
ACROSS HUNDREDS OF MILES

TO GET TO BERLIN,

THIS FINAL SHORT SPRINT
TO THE REICHSTAG

IS THE MOST DANGEROUS GROUND
VASILY USTUGOV WILL EVER CROSS.

29th OF APRIL.

NINE DAYS TO VICTORY.

AFTER A WEEK
OF VICIOUS FIGHTING,

THE RUSSIANS NOW OCCUPY
MOST OF BERLIN.

IN THE EVENING, THEY GO LOOKING
FOR THE SPOILS OF WAR.

THE REMAINING RESIDENTS
OF GERDA PETERSOHN'S
APARTMENT BLOCK

SEEK SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

GERDA AND HER SISTER
KEEP OUT OF SIGHT.

[BABY CRYING]

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[WOMEN SCREAMING]

[BABY CRYING,
WOMEN SCREAMING]

[GUNSHOT]

Narrator:
THERE ARE SOLDIERS EVERYWHERE.

THEY CAN ONLY ESCAPE
TO THE DESERTED FLOOR ABOVE

AND HOPE THE BALCONY

IS THE LAST PLACE
THE RUSSIANS WILL LOOK.

[BABY CRYING]

Narrator: THE BABY'S CRYING
PUTS THEM IN GREAT DANGER.

THEY HAVE TO FIND SOME WAY
TO QUIET THE CHILD,

AND QUICKLY.

THEN GERDA REMEMBERS
THAT SHE HAS SOME RATIONS.

[BABY CRYING]

[BABY STOPS CRYING]

Gerda Petersohn: EVERY TIME,
WHEN OUR BABY WANTED TO CRY,

WE PUT A SMALL MALT
IN HER MOUTH

AND SHE WAS QUIET THEN.

BUT I HEARD EVERYTHING,
WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR HOME,

IN OUR HOUSE.

AND THERE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE,
THE SAME AGE AS I.

AND...I HEARD HER
CRYING AND CRYING

AND IT WAS SO AWFUL,
BECAUSE IT WAS IN MY ROOM,

IN MY BEDROOM IT HAPPENED.

AND I HEARD HER CRYING,
AND I HEARD HER CRYING MY NAME.

I WAS SO AFRAID

THAT SOME SOLDIER COULD
COME UPSTAIRS TO US THERE.

AND IF ONE WOULD HAVE COME,
I WAS JUST READY TO JUMP DOWN.

NO ONE COULD HAVE TOUCHED ME.

I WAS READY TO JUMP DOWN.

AND SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS
ACROSS THE STREET AND SO,

THEY HAVE DONE THIS‐‐

FRIEND OF MY SISTER.

SHE JUMPED DOWN
WITH HER LITTLE SON.

AND, UH...

THIS WAS THE WORST NIGHT
I EVER HAD, YES.

AND I NEVER FORGET IT.

Narrator: 30th OF APRIL.

EIGHT DAYS TO VICTORY.

THE RUSSIANS ARE IN BERLIN.

THEY HAVE TAKEN VIENNA,

AND ARE CLOSING IN ON
THE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN CAPITAL,

PRAGUE.

David: CHURCHILL
IS STILL URGING EISENHOWER

TO GET TO PRAGUE
BEFORE THE RUSSIANS.

BUT EISENHOWER,

UNDER ORDERS FROM
THE AMERICAN CHIEF OF STAFF,

GENERAL GEORGE MARSHALL,

ISN'T PREPARED
TO SUFFER ANY CASUALTIES.

IN HIS OPINION, PRAGUE
DOESN'T HAVE A MILITARY VALUE.

AND SO GENERAL PATTON
IS ORDERED TO ADVANCE

ONLY AS FAR AS THE CZECH BORDER

WHEN HE COULD HAVE ACTUALLY
BEEN IN PRAGUE WITHIN 24 HOURS.

Narrator:
ALL OVER EASTERN EUROPE,

GERMANY'S IRON GRIP IS BEING
REPLACED BY THE SOVIETS.

BUT TO THE WEST,

THE FULL EXTENT OF THE NAZI EVIL
COMES AS A HORRENDOUS SHOCK.

A FEW MILES OUTSIDE MUNICH,

PARATROOPER CLANCY LYALL
OVERSEES THE LOCAL TOWNSPEOPLE

CLEANING UP A PLACE
THEY CLAIM DIDN'T EXIST.

Lyall: MOVE IT!

Narrator:
THE CONCENTRATION CAMP
LAY RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSES,

YET THE RESIDENTS OF BUCHLOE SAY
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THERE.

[COUGHING]

Lyall: THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA
HAD TO KNOW

BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE
WERE OUT ON THEIR FARMS

WORKING FOR THEM.

THEY HAD TO SEE
THE COLUMNS OF SMOKE.

THEY HAD TO KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BUT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME

THEY HAD TO GRAB HOLD
OF THESE CORPSES.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD TO
BATHE THESE WALKING SKELETONS.

MEN, WOMEN, WHATEVER‐‐
THEY HAD TO BATHE THEM.

AND YOU COULD SEE THAT THEY WERE
SHAKING LIKE THIS, CRYING.

THEY GOT CAUGHT.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

THEY'D TRY TO TELL YOU,
"I REPENTED," YOU KNOW.

THAT'S CRAP.

Narrator: THERE IS LITTLE PITY
FOR THE GERMANS IN BERLIN.

DURING THE DAY,
THE SOVIET SOLDIERS
ARE BUSY FIGHTING.

BUT IN THE EVENING,
THEY GET DRUNK.

THEN THEY GO LOOKING
FOR LOOT AND WOMEN.

Petersohn: THE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS
WENT FROM CELLAR TO CELLAR,

FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE.

ON OUR SIDE THERE WAS A BUTCHER

AND HIS DAUGHTER
WAS ONLY 14 YEARS OLD.

AND NEXT DAY WE HEARD
THAT SHE WAS SHOT DOWN

BECAUSE WHEN THE RUSSIAN SOLDIER
WANTED TO COME BE WITH HER,

SHE GAVE HIM A PUSH.

AND THEN HE TOOK HIS GUN
AND SHOT HER DOWN.

MY MOTHER SAID, "WE CANNOT STAY
HERE ANYMORE IN THIS HOUSE.

WE'LL GO TO A FRIEND
OF MY SISTER,

SOME STREETS AWAY,"

AND WE COULD STAY THERE
THE NEXT DAYS.

BECAUSE THIS HOUSE THERE,
THIS COULD BE CLOSED,

IT WAS NOT DAMAGED,

AND THERE HAVE BEEN
MORE MEN IN THE HOUSE

WHO WATCHED EVERY NIGHT

AND CALLED,
"COMMISSAR, COMMISSAR!"

THEY ALWAYS SAID, IF YOU CALL,
"COMMISSAR, COMMISSAR!"

THEN THE SOVIET SOLDIERS
STOP IT, SO...

Narrator:
BERLIN IS ONLY HOURS AWAY
FROM FALLING TO THE RUSSIANS.

THEY HAVE NOW FOUGHT THEIR WAY

TO THE VERY STEPS
OF THE REICHSTAG,

ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE
FROM HITLER'S BUNKER.

INSIDE THE BUNKER,

THE ATMOSPHERE
IS TENSE AND BLEAK.

THERE IS NO DAY OR NIGHT.

PEOPLE LIVE
IN A CONTINUAL TWILIGHT ZONE,

UNABLE TO SLEEP.

THEY SPEAK IN WHISPERS.

HITLER IS TERRIFIED
OF BEING TAKEN ALIVE.

HE IS DETERMINED NOT TO SUFFER
THE SAME HUMILIATING FATE

AS MUSSOLINI.

TELEPHONE OPERATOR ROCHUS MISCH
AND THE REST OF THE BUNKER STAFF

ARE ALL TOO AWARE THAT
THE CLOSER THE SOVIETS GET,

THE CLOSER HITLER IS
TO TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.

Misch: EVERYBODY WAS
ALREADY HALF DEAD.

IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE END.

I DON'T NOW IF YOU CAN IMAGINE
WHAT THOSE DAYS WERE LIKE‐‐

THE LACK OF SLEEP,

THE FEELINGS OF THINGS
COMING TO AN END.

Narrator: THAT SAME MORNING
OF APRIL 30th,

GENERAL WEIDLING, COMMANDER
OF THE BERLIN GARRISON,

INFORMS THE FUHRER THAT FOOD
AND AMMUNITION ARE RUNNING LOW.

WITH RESISTANCE
TO THE RUSSIANS COLLAPSING

AND HIS OWN HEAD OF THE SS
AND GESTAPO, HEINRICH HIMMLER,

OFFERING TO SURRENDER
TO THE ALLIES,

HITLER FEELS BETRAYED
AND DEPRESSED.

HE KNOWS NOW THE WAR IS LOST.

THAT AFTERNOON, HITLER SAYS
GOODBYE TO HIS STAFF.

THEN, AT ABOUT 3 O'CLOCK,
LOOKING OLD AND HAGGARD,

HE RETIRES TO HIS STUDY
WITH HIS WIFE, EVA BRAUN.

AS THE MINUTES TICK BY,

A TENSE, ANXIOUS SILENCE
FILLS THE BUNKER.

Misch: WE KNEW
HE WOULD SHOOT HIMSELF.

EVERYBODY WAS WAITING TO SEE

WHETHER THEY COULD
HEAR THE SHOT.

AND THEN SOMEBODY CALLED OUT,
"I THINK THE TIME HAS COME."

I DIDN'T HEAR THE SHOT,
BUT SOMEONE MUST HAVE HEARD IT,

AND WHEN THEY MADE THE CALL,
EVERYTHING WENT QUIET.

IT WAS QUIET FOR A FEW MINUTES,

THEN WE WANTED TO SEE
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

I CAN'T REMEMBER
WHO OPENED THE DOOR...

BUT WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED,
I WANTED TO SEE.

I WENT OVER
A FEW PACES TO THE RIGHT,

AND THERE I COULD SEE
HOW HITLER HAD FALLEN,

AND EVA BRAUN
WAS NEXT TO HIM ON THE SOFA.

Narrator:
HITLER SHOT HIMSELF IN THE HEAD

AS HE BIT DOWN
ON A CYANIDE CAPSULE.

FOR EVA,
THE CYANIDE WAS ENOUGH.

Misch: AFTER I SAW IT,
I RAN AWAY,

BUT I BECAME FRIGHTENED
AND CONFUSED AND RAN BACK.

AS I CAME BACK,
I COULD SEE HOW HITLER

WAS BEING WRAPPED IN BLANKETS
ON THE FLOOR.

AND THEN I SAW...

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHETHER
IT WAS HITLER OR EVA BRAUN

WHO WAS CARRIED OUT FIRST.

THEN I RAN AWAY.

I WENT TO THE COMMANDER
OF OUR UNIT

IN THE NEW REICH CHANCELLERY
AND MADE MY REPORT:

THE FUHRER IS DEAD.

NOTHING MATTERED ANYMORE.

NOTHING MATTERED.

ALL I CAN REMEMBER DOING

IS CLOSING THE LARGE HANDLES
OF THE STEEL DOORS.

THEN I BECAME FRIGHTENED.

I KNEW THIS WAS CONCRETE.

HOW WOULD I GET OUT OF HERE?

COULD I GET OUT?

Narrator:
ADOLF HITLER AND EVA BRAUN

ARE THEN TAKEN OUTSIDE
BY HIS STAFF,

DOUSED IN PETROL,

AND BURNT IN A BOMB CRATER.

THE ENEMY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
DISPLAY OR DEFILE HIS CORPSE.

NOW IT IS UP TO HIS SUCCESSOR,

THE NEW FUHRER,
GRAND ADMIRAL DOENITZ,

TO TRY AND STOP THE MASSACRE

AND THE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION
OF BERLIN.

JUST AFTER 6 O'CLOCK
THAT EVENING,

VASILY USTUGOV AND HIS COMRADES
IN THE 150th RIFLE DIVISION

FORCE THEIR WAY INTO
THE MAIN HALL OF THE REICHSTAG.

THE FIGHTING
IS FEROCIOUS AND INTENSE...

THE CASUALTIES HIGH.

Ustugov:
IT WAS A HUGE DARK BUILDING.

THERE WASN'T EVEN
A SINGLE CANDLE IN THERE.

IF YOU TRY TO GET SOMEWHERE
IN THE DARK,

YOU RISK BEING KILLED
BY YOUR OWN MEN.

IT'S EASIER TO KILL
YOUR OWN TROOPS IN THE DARK

THAN THE ENEMY.

THINGS LIKE THAT

HAPPENED TO THE RUSSIANS
AND THE GERMANS ALIKE.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW
WHERE YOU ARE

AND WHO'S IN FRONT OF YOU
IN A DARK CITY.

Narrator:
THE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS
HAVE ONLY ONE GOAL:

TO FLY THEIR FLAG
FROM THE REICHSTAG,

THE HEART AND SOUL
OF NAZI GERMANY.

Ustugov:
THERE WERE THREE FLAGS.

THE FIRST WAS CARRIED
BY SERGEANT PYATNITSKY

WHO WAS KILLED ON THE STEPS
OF THE REICHSTAG.

IT WAS PICKED UP
BY ANOTHER SOLDIER.

THE SECOND FLAG WAS CARRIED BY
LIEUTENANT SOROKIN AND HIS MEN.

AND THE LAST ONE
WAS OF OUR BATTALION.

Narrator:
JUST BEFORE 11 P. M.
ON THE 30th OF APRIL, 1945,

THE CAPITAL
OF HITLER'S THIRD REICH

IS OFFICIALLY UNDER
A RUSSIAN FLAG.

BUT THE BIGGEST WAR IN HISTORY
IS NOT OVER YET.

IT IS MAY THE 1st, 1945.

SEVEN DAYS TO VICTORY.

HITLER IS DEAD.

BERLIN HAS FALLEN
TO THE COMMUNISTS

IN TIME FOR MAY DAY.

THE CITY HAS YET
TO OFFICIALLY SURRENDER,

BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE QUESTION
ON EVERYONE'S MIND:

COULD THIS BE
THE END OF THE WAR?

AS SOON AS THE NEWS OF HITLER'S
DEATH REACHES THE ALLIES,

THEY CONCENTRATE
ALL THEIR EFFORTS

ON NEGOTIATING
AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER

WITH HIS SUCCESSOR,
GRAND ADMIRAL DOENITZ.

BUT DOENITZ CAN'T BE CONTACTED,

AND IN ANY CASE,
HE'S ONLY INTERESTED

IN SURRENDERING
TO THE WESTERN ALLIES,

SO AS TO SAVE
AS MUCH OF GERMANY AS POSSIBLE

FROM RUSSIAN OCCUPATION.

Narrator:
IN HITLER'S BUNKER,

SOME 50 FEET
BELOW THE RUINS OF BERLIN,

GERMAN CHIEF OF STAFF
GENERAL KREBS

HAS JUST BEEN TO SEE
THE RUSSIAN COMMANDER,

GENERAL ZHUKOV,
FOR THE SECOND TIME,

TO REQUEST A CEASE‐FIRE.

ZHUKOV REJECTED HIM.

HE WILL ONLY ACCEPT
AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER

OF ALL GERMAN FORCES.

KREBS CANNOT CONCEIVE OF BEING
TAKEN ALIVE BY THE SOVIETS.

SUICIDE IS THE ONLY OPTION.

ONLY A FEW NOW REMAIN
IN THE BUNKER.

HITLER'S TELEPHONE OPERATOR,
ROCHUS MISCH, IS ONE OF THEM.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS TIRED AND NUMB

AND I DIDN'T CARE WHAT HAPPENED,

I PULLED OUT A PISTOL
IN CASE I HAD TO SHOOT MYSELF.

IF YOU SEE ALL THIS DEATH‐‐

HITLER DEAD, EVA BRAUN DEAD,
KREBS DEAD‐‐

YOU BECOME INDIFFERENT.

I COULD NOT LEAVE MY POST.

I WAS A SOLDIER.

I HAD TO STAY HERE.

IF I RAN AWAY, THEY WOULD
SHOOT ME AS A DESERTER.

Narrator:
EVEN AFTER HITLER'S DEATH,

REPORTS KEEP COMING IN
OF SS TROOPS

GATHERING AT BERCHTESGADEN
IN THE BAVARIAN ALPS.

PARATROOPER CLANCY LYALL
AND EASY COMPANY

ARE ON THEIR WAY TO ENGAGE
THESE HARDENED NAZIS.

THEY PASS SCORES
OF DEFEATED GERMAN TROOPS

TRYING TO MAKE THEIR WAY
TO THE WEST.

Lyall: YOU'D BE COMING DOWN
THE SHORTER ROADS,

NOTHING BUT MASS GERMANS
SURRENDERED,

MARCHING IN LOCK STEP
DOWN THE ROAD.

THAT WAS A GOOD SIGHT.

AS FAR AS YOU COULD SEE,
IT WAS GERMANS.

Narrator: THE NAZI EMPIRE
IS SPIRALING INTO CHAOS.

EVERYWHERE GERMAN FORCES
ARE TRYING TO SECURE

A SEPARATE PEACE
WITH THE WESTERN ALLIES.

THEY SIMPLY CANNOT FACE
SURRENDERING TO THE RUSSIANS,

WHOM THEY CONSIDER INFERIOR

AND WHO WILL NO DOUBT
TORTURE THEM AND CONDEMN THEM

TO HARD LABOR IN SIBERIA.

Lyall: THEY DIDN'T WANT
THE RUSSIANS

BECAUSE THEY KNEW
WHAT HAPPENED IN RUSSIA.

THEY DID HORRIFIC THINGS
TO RUSSIA.

SO IF I WAS A RUSSIAN,

I'D BE DAMN SURE I WAS GOING TO
DO SOME DAMAGE TO THEM, TOO‐‐

ALL OF THEM,
ALL OF THEM.

Narrator: THE 2nd OF MAY.

SIX DAYS TO VICTORY.

THE ALLIES RECEIVE NEWS

THAT THE RUSSIAN ARMY HAS TAKEN
ROSTOCK ON THE BALTIC.

THEY ARE RAPIDLY CLOSING IN
ON DENMARK

FROM WHERE THEY CAN CONTROL
THE ENTIRE REGION.

NOW IT ISN'T JUST A MATTER
OF ENDING THE WAR;

IT'S HOW IT WILL END.

THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL DETERMINE
THE SHAPE OF EUROPE

FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

CHURCHILL RECEIVES REPORTS
OF PARACHUTISTS

LANDING IN THE VICINITY
OF COPENHAGEN.

AND FOR THIS REASON,
HE'S ABSOLUTELY DESPERATE

FOR MONTGOMERY
TO GET THE BALTIC FIRST

SO AS TO STOP THE RUSSIANS
GETTING INTO DENMARK.

Narrator:
ON THE 2nd OF MAY,

MONTGOMERY'S FORCES
TAKE THE CITY OF HAMBURG.

COMMANDO CLIFF MORRIS
AND HIS COMRADES

ARE MAKING THEIR FINAL PUSH
TO DENMARK.

BRITISH FORCES
FINALLY REACH THE BALTIC

AND SEAL OFF
THE DANISH PENINSULA

A MERE SIX HOURS
BEFORE THE RUSSIANS GET THERE.

THE WESTERN ALLIES
HAVE KEPT THE SOVIETS

OUT OF DENMARK
AND NORTHWEST GERMANY.

David: MONTGOMERY QUICKLY
ESTABLISHES AN EASTERN FLANK

FROM THE BALTIC TO THE ELBE.

THE ROADS AROUND HERE,
OF COURSE,

ARE CROWDED WITH THOUSANDS
OF TROOPS AND REFUGEES

POURING TOWARDS THE WEST,

TRYING TO ESCAPE
THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE.

BRITISH FORCES
MEET WHOLE GERMAN UNITS,

COMPLETE WITH ARMS AND
EQUIPMENT, TRYING TO SURRENDER.

DURING THE 2nd AND 3rd OF MAY,

MONTGOMERY'S MEN TAKE
HALF A MILLION PRISONERS.

Narrator:
AT 3 P. M. ON THE SAME DAY,

THE BERLIN GARRISON FINALLY
SURRENDERS UNCONDITIONALLY

TO THE RED ARMY.

THE FEROCIOUS TWO‐WEEK BATTLE
FOR THE GERMAN CAPITAL

HAS COST THE RUSSIANS
OVER 300,000 CASUALTIES.

THE GERMANS SUFFER WELL OVER
100,000 DEAD AND INJURED,

WITH A FURTHER 480,000
TAKEN PRISONER.

BENEATH THE CARNAGE,
IN HITLER'S BUNKER,

ONLY A SKELETON CREW REMAIN.

THEY INCLUDE THE NAZI PROPAGANDA
MINISTER, JOSEF GOEBBELS,

THE BUNKER'S ENGINEER,

AND THE TELEPHONE OPERATOR,
ROCHUS MISCH.

Misch: WE WERE THE LAST
GOVERNMENT, AS IT WERE‐‐

THE THREE OF US.

IT WAS OVER.

I SAID TO GOEBBELS,
"WHAT IS THERE LEFT TO DO?"

HE THEN SAID I COULD GO.

"WE KNEW HOW TO LIVE, SO WE WILL
ALSO KNOW HOW TO DIE."

SO THEN I PULLED OUT
ALL THE CABLES,

EVERYTHING IN SOCKETS,

AND NOBODY
COULD REACH US ANYMORE.

Narrator:
ROCHUS MISCH THEN FINALLY
LEAVES THE COFFIN‐LIKE BUNKER

FOR THE LAST TIME.

A FEW MINUTES LATER,
GOEBBELS SHOOTS HIMSELF.

HIS WIFE HAS ALREADY POISONED
THEIR SIX CHILDREN

AND THEN KILLED HERSELF.

THE BUNKER HAS BECOME
A GHASTLY TESTIMONIAL

TO THE NAZIS' EVIL MADNESS.

THAT SAME AFTERNOON,

MONTGOMERY FINALLY
RECEIVES THE MESSAGE

HE HAS LONG BEEN WAITING FOR:

THE COMMANDER OF ALL
NORTHERN GERMAN FORCES
FACING HIM

IS PREPARED TO SURRENDER.

MONTGOMERY MIGHT THINK
THE WAR IS FINISHED,

BUT IT'S NOT OVER YET
FOR PARATROOPER CLANCY LYALL

AND EASY COMPANY.

THEY APPROACH THE MOUNTAINS,

UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT
MIGHT BE WAITING FOR THEM.

Lyall:
I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYTIME THEY
WOULD COME OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS.

THEY KNOW THE MOUNTAINS.

THEY'RE ALPINE TROOPS,
NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, THEY KNOW WHERE
EVERY LITTLE HOLE IS,

SO IT'S LIKE REAL WARFARE.

YOU DON'T KNOW
TILL YOU STEP ON IT, RIGHT?

SO THAT ALWAYS
STAYED IN MY MIND‐‐

YOU WALK DOWN A STREET,

YOU GOT NINE EYES
ALL AROUND THE PLACE.

I STILL GOT IN THE BACK OF
MY MIND, WHAT I'M GONNA FACE.

WHAT I THOUGHT
I WAS GONNA FACE ANYWAY.

WE WERE BRIEFED THAT WE WERE
GONNA TAKE THESE PEOPLE ON.

Narrator: 3rd OF MAY.

FIVE DAYS TO VICTORY.

FOR THE MOST PART,

THE RUSSIANS
HAVE LEFT THE SUBURBS

FOR THE CENTER OF BERLIN.

GERDA PETERSOHN AND HER FAMILY
VENTURE BACK TO THEIR APARTMENT.

NOTHING CAN PREPARE THEM

FOR WHAT THE RUSSIANS
HAVE DONE TO THEIR HOME.

Petersohn:
YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

Narrator:
BERLIN IS NOT THE ONLY CITY

THAT HAS BEEN SACRIFICED
TO THE RED ARMY.

David: DOWN IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA,
MEANWHILE,

THE GERMANS ARE STILL FIERCELY
RESISTING RUSSIAN ATTACKS

FROM BOTH THE NORTH
AND THE EAST.

AND GENERAL PATTON'S
U. S. 3rd ARMY

THREATENS TO ATTACK
FROM THE WEST.

PATTON, OF COURSE,
WANTS TO LIBERATE PRAGUE.

BUT THE AMERICAN CHIEF OF STAFF,
GENERAL MARSHALL,

TELLS EISENHOWER TO LEAVE PRAGUE
TO THE RUSSIANS‐‐

OF COURSE ANOTHER DECISION

WHICH WILL HAUNT EISENHOWER
FOR YEARS TO COME.

Narrator: 4th OF MAY.

FOUR DAYS TO VICTORY.

PARATROOPER CLANCY LYALL
AND EASY COMPANY

MOVE EVER CLOSER TO A DEADLY
SHOWDOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS

WITH THE FANATICAL SS.

THE SILENCE IS MENACING.

THEY COULD BE DRIVING
INTO A TRAP.

THEIR NERVES ARE ON EDGE.

Lyall:
YEAH, SURE, YOU'RE SCARED.

I DON'T CARE HOW BIG AND BOLD
AND BAD YOU THINK YOU ARE,

IF YOU'RE NOT LIKE THIS,
YOU'RE CRAZY.

YOU HAD TO HAVE BEEN
TO BE THERE.

BUT, YEAH,
WE ALL HAD THE SAME IDEA:

BEING SO CLOSE
TO THE END OF THE WAR,

I HOPE I CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

I EXPECTED TO FIND A LOT
OF GUERRILLA POCKETS,

HIT‐AND‐RUN AMBUSHES ON YOU
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

PURE GUERRILLA WARFARE.

THEY COME OUT BEHIND TREES,
ON TOP OF TREES,

ALL OVER THE PLACE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

Narrator:
MEANWHILE, IN THE NORTH,

JUST AFTER 5 P. M.,

A DELEGATION
OF TOP GERMAN OFFICIALS

VISIT BRITISH
FIELD MARSHAL MONTGOMERY.

THEY SIGN AN UNCONDITIONAL
SURRENDER TO THE WESTERN ALLIES

OF ALL GERMAN FORCES FACING
MONTGOMERY IN NORTHERN GERMANY.

THE SURRENDER IS SIGNED
AT 6.30 P. M.,

AND COMES INTO EFFECT
THE FOLLOWING DAY,

THE 5th OF MAY, AT 8 A. M.

THIS WAS REALLY THE SORT OF
PINNACLE OF HIS CAREER IN A WAY.

HERE WAS HE,

HAVING STARTED AS
A VERY JUNIOR OFFICER IN 1908,

WHEN HE WAS COMMISSIONED
FROM SANDHURST,

RECEIVING THE SURRENDER

OF TWO MILLION
OF THE NATION'S ENEMIES.

SO IT WAS A VERY MOVING
OCCASION FOR HIM.

Narrator:
NEWS OF THE CAPITULATION

HASN'T REACHED THE FRONT LINES.

COMMANDO CLIFF MORRIS
AND HIS COMRADES

ARE PREPARING TO CAPTURE
THE BALTIC PORT OF KIEL.

IN A COUPLE OF DAYS,
HE'LL BE OUT OF A JOB.

HE WRITES IN HIS DIARY...

"TODAY WE HAVE
PASSED THROUGH LUBECK

AND HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED
AT NEUSTADT,

WHERE WE ARE STAYING
IN LARGE MARINE BARRACKS

WHICH WERE USED FOR LIVING
QUARTERS BY CAMP STAFF.

THIS TIME IT HAS BEEN A WALKOVER
AND A JOY TRIP FOR US.

WHITE FLAGS
WERE HANGING EVERYWHERE

AND GERRY TROOPS
WERE SURRENDERING
IN THEIR THOUSANDS."

Narrator: 5th OF MAY.

THREE DAYS TO VICTORY.

IN THE RUINS
OF THE GERMAN CAPITAL,

THERE IS HARDLY ANY FOOD LEFT.

ITS INHABITANTS
HAVE BEEN REDUCED

TO EATING
WHATEVER THEY CAN FIND.

PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO SELL
WHATEVER THEY HAVE LEFT

IN ORDER TO BUY
WHAT LITTLE IS STILL AVAILABLE.

EVEN BREAD IS SCARCE
AND EXPENSIVE.

TWO SLICES
MUST LAST A WHOLE DAY.

WHILE THE RUSSIANS
RANSACK BERLIN,

ITS PEOPLE ARE STARVING.

THAT SAME MORNING
OF THE 5th OF MAY,

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JOHN CURRIE OF
THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

RETURNS TO HIS BASE IN ENGLAND.

IT'S HIS THIRD FOOD DROP
TO HOLLAND THIS WEEK.

WITH UP TO 500 DROPS A DAY,
THE ALLIED PILOTS

HAVE MANAGED TO SAVE THOUSANDS
OF GRATEFUL DUTCH PEOPLE

FROM THE GERMAN‐IMPOSED FAMINE.

THEY COULD SENSE THEN

THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE
LIBERATED VERY SOON.

THEY REALLY WENT WILD, EXCITED,

AND THEY WERE ON THE ROOFS

AND WAVING THROUGH
THE TOP STORIES

OF THE OLD DUTCH BUILDINGS
OF THREE OR FOUR STORIES

AND YOU'D SEE THESE PEOPLE
UP ON THE TOP STORIES

WAVING THEIR THINGS.

IT WAS A GREAT FEELING.

YOU COULD ALMOST FEEL IT
COMING FROM THE GROUND,

THE APPRECIATION
THAT THEY WERE SHOWING.

Narrator: DURING THE 10 DAYS
OF THE AIRLIFT,

OVER 11,000 TONS OF FOOD
ARE DELIVERED TO HOLLAND.

BUT FOR MANY IT IS TOO LATE.

SOME 20,000 PEOPLE
STILL DIE OF STARVATION.

ON THE 5th OF MAY,

THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF HOLLAND
COMES TO AN END.

GENERAL BLASKOWITZ,
THE GERMAN COMMANDER‐IN‐CHIEF,

FINALLY SURRENDERS IN THE
PRESENCE OF PRINCE BERNHARDT.

AND AFTER FIVE YEARS
OF OCCUPATION,

AMSTERDAM IS ALSO LIBERATED.

TODAY THE FIRST BRITISH
VICTORY SALVO OF THE WAR

IS FIRED AT MONTGOMERY'S
HEADQUARTERS

AS THE CEASE‐FIRE IN NORTHERN
GERMANY AND DENMARK

COMES INTO FORCE.

ALL OVER EUROPE
GERMAN ARMIES ARE COLLAPSING.

Lyall: WHEN I ARRIVED
AT BERCHTESGADEN

I WAS APPREHENSIVE, SCARED,

THE WAR'S ABOUT OVER,
AND I WANNA LIVE.

YOU'RE PUTTING EXTRA SENSES
OUT THERE...

REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS
GONNA BE A SHOOTOUT THERE.

THEY ALL HAD THEIR
LITTLE WHITE FLAGS OUT THERE,

BUT THAT
DON'T MEAN NOTHING.

REAL QUIET.

BUT WHEN IT'S REAL QUIET,

YOU WORRY MORE THAN
WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF NOISE.

Narrator: PARATROOPER
CLANCY LYALL AND EASY COMPANY

REACH THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.

Lyall:
THIS IS WAY TOO QUIET.

MIGHT BE A TRAP.

Narrator: THEY HAVE ENDURED
11 MONTHS OF RELENTLESS COMBAT

SINCE D‐DAY.

THIS IS THEIR LAST MISSION.

THEY MUST GET THROUGH IT ALIVE.

AGAINST ALL EXPECTATIONS,

THEY TAKE HITLER'S
MOUNTAIN RETREAT

WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT.

WITH NO LAST STAND IN THE ALPS,

IS THIS, AT LAST, THE FINAL GASP
OF THE DYING NAZI REGIME?

7th OF MAY, 1945.

AT 2 A. M.

TWO POWERFUL NAZI GENERALS‐‐

GENERAL JODL AND
GENERAL‐ADMIRAL VON FRIEDEBURG

ARRIVE AT ALLIED HEADQUARTERS.

THE DAY BEFORE,
EISENHOWER REFUSED THEIR OFFER

TO SURRENDER ONLY TO THE WEST.

TODAY THEY HAVE INSTRUCTIONS
FROM GRAND ADMIRAL DOENITZ,

HITLER'S SUCCESSOR,

TO SIGN THE UNCONDITIONAL
SURRENDER OF ALL GERMAN FORCES.

THIS CONFIRMS THE TOTAL DEFEAT
OF THE THIRD REICH.

IT IS SIGNED BY REPRESENTATIVES
OF EACH OF THE ALLIED COUNTRIES.

ALL HOSTILITIES WILL CEASE

AT ONE MINUTE PAST 11 P. M.
ON THE 8th OF MAY, 1945.

WORLD WAR II IN EUROPE
IS OFFICIALLY OVER.

NEWS OF THE END OF THE WAR

IS GREETED
WITH RIOTOUS CELEBRATIONS

IN THE ALLIED
AND LIBERATED COUNTRIES.

THE RUSSIANS SIGN THE GERMAN
SURRENDER A DAY LATER,

AND ON THE 9th OF MAY,

STALIN DECLARES
THE WAR IS OVER.

AND JUST AS IT WAS FORESHADOWED
ON THE 25th OF APRIL,

AN IRON CURTAIN THEN COMES DOWN,

DIVIDING GERMANY AND EUROPE
IN HALF.

THE COLD WAR IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

David: WELL, THE THIRD REICH
IS NO MORE,

BUT FOR THE INHABITANTS OF
SOVIET‐OCCUPIED EASTERN EUROPE

IT MIGHT SEEM AS IF
THEY'VE SIMPLY EXCHANGED

ONE TOTALITARIAN OVERLORD
FOR ANOTHER.

MONTGOMERY AND CHURCHILL,
OF COURSE, ARE HORRIFIED.

THEY BOTH BELIEVE THEY'VE WON
THE WAR, BUT LOST THE PEACE.

AND EVEN IN THE HOUR OF VICTORY,

CHURCHILL IS FILLED
WITH FOREBODING

AND HE WRITES LATER, "THE SOVIET
MENACE, OR SO IT SEEMED TO ME,

HAD ALREADY REPLACED
THE NAZI FOE."

Narrator: FOR GERDA PETERSOHN
AND MANY EAST EUROPEANS,

LIFE UNDER THE SOVIETS IS ONE
OF HARDSHIP AND REPRESSION.

Petersohn: SO I HAD TO WORK
IN A MILITARY HOSPITAL,

CARRY DEAD BABIES AWAY,

AND I HAD TO CLEAN AND...

IT WAS A HARD TIME

AS LONG AS THE RUSSIANS HAVE
BEEN IN OUR PART OF BERLIN.

Narrator:
BUT ON THE 8th OF MAY, 1945,

THE FUTURE SEEMS BRIGHT

AND FREE OF THE DANGERS
AND DEPRAVATIONS

OF THE LAST SIX YEARS.

THE HORRORS OF THE WAR ARE PAST

AND PEOPLE CAN GET ON
WITH THEIR LIVES.

GENERAL EISENHOWER
GOES ON TO BECOME

THE 34th PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE DIES IN 1969.

FIELD MARSHALL MONTGOMERY

IS GIVEN THE TITLE 1st VISCOUNT
MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN.

HE'S THEN APPOINTED
DEPUTY COMMANDER OF NATO.

HE DIES IN 1976.

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JOHN CURRIE

RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA
AFTER THE WAR,

WHERE HE WORKS AS A REPORTER,
AND THEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

HE LIVES IN PERTH,
WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Currie: IT WAS A SORT OF A...

VERY MIXED FEELINGS
WHEN IT ENDED,

BECAUSE WE'D BEEN TRAINING
FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS,

AND THEN THE MATCH
WAS CALLED OFF.

IT WAS SORT OF...
IT WAS A BIT OF A SHOCK.

YOU WERE OUT OF A JOB.

Narrator: COMMANDO CLIFF MORRIS
RETURNS TO ENGLAND IN 1945

AND ENJOYS A SUCCESSFUL CAREER
AS A BOXER,

AS WELL AS WORKING
IN THE BAKING INDUSTRY.

HE NOW LIVES IN WEST SUSSEX,
IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND.

AFTER THE WAR, ITALIAN PARTISAN
URBANO LAZZARO MOVES TO BRAZIL.

MANY YEARS LATER,
HE IS NOW BACK IN ITALY

AND LIVES IN PIEMONTE.

AMERICAN PARATROOPER
CLANCY LYALL

GOES ON TO FIGHT
IN KOREA AND VIETNAM.

HE LIVES IN MARYLAND.

I STAYED IN THE SERVICE.

THEY SAVED ME
WITH THE KOREAN WAR,

BROUGHT ME BACK
TO REALITY AGAIN, YOU KNOW.

BUT WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT.

Narrator: GERMAN ARMY
TELEPHONE OPERATOR ROCHUS MISCH

IS TORTURED AND INTERROGATED
IN MOSCOW

BEFORE SERVING AS A WITNESS
AT THE NUREMBERG TRIALS.

HE IS THEN SENT TO SIBERIA
FOR NINE YEARS.

HE NOW LIVES IN BERLIN.

RUSSIAN GUNNER VASILY USTUGOV
STAYS ON IN BERLIN

AS PART OF THE SOVIET
OCCUPYING FORCE UNTIL 1946.

HE RETIRES FROM THE RED ARMY
A LIEUTENANT‐GENERAL IN 1985.

HE LIVES IN MOSCOW.

FARLEY MOWAT,
WHO SERVED AS A CAPTAIN

IN THE CANADIAN INTELLIGENCE
OFFICE IN HOLLAND,

GOES ON TO BECOME CANADA'S
MOST WIDELY READ AUTHOR.

HE LIVES IN PORT HOPE, CANADA.

WAR IS AN ACT
OF ABSOLUTE LUNACY.

NOT JUST PARTIAL LUNACY,
BUT ABSOLUTE LUNACY.

AND IT MAY BE THE MOST
DISTINGUISHING FEATURE

OF THE HUMAN SPECIES
AS AN ANIMAL,

THAT WE ARE SUBJECT

TO THIS TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE
KIND OF LUNACY,

FROM WHICH THE ULTIMATE
CONCLUSION THAT I DREW,

AND I HAVE RETAINED IT,

IS THAT IT IS PROBABLY
THE SYMPTOM OR SYMBOL

OR DIAGNOSTIC INDICATION

OF THE WAY
WE ARE GOING TO END.

Narrator: WHEN THE AMERICANS
FINALLY ARRIVE IN BERLIN

IN JULY 1945,

GERDA PETERSOHN
IS RELIEVED TO DISCOVER

THAT HER HOME
IS IN THE AMERICAN SECTOR.

BUT SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH
AND MARRIES

A DOCTOR FROM EAST BERLIN

AND LIVES THERE
THROUGH THE LONG, HARD YEARS

OF THE COLD WAR

UNTIL GERMANY'S REUNIFICATION.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND
STILL LIVE IN BERLIN.