All language subtitles for Battle.Giants.1969

- This documentary, which
I've had put together

from our own and captured enemy films,

is, for me, a sort of
brief memorandum of the

progress of the war to date.

Here, in 1942, began the
myth of Erwin Rommel,

commander of the Afrika Korps,

that clever and courageous desert fox,

on whom Hitler conferred
a field marshal's baton

in a ceremony held before
the men of the Wehrmacht,

who considered him a new Napoleon.

Rommel's extraordinary reputation
seemed destined to grow.

He was given command of
that ponderous line of

coastal fortifications
known as the Atlantic Wall,

which was to prevent an Allied landing

after the Germans had abandoned

their plans to invade England.

But as you well know it did not succeed.

In June of '44, a colossal
amphibious operation

without precedent in history was launched.

10,000 Allied ships set forth
against the coast of France.

However, it wasn't easy even
for this gigantic task force

to overcome enemy resistance.

The issue hung in the
balance with heavy losses,

'til finally the
hammering of our artillery

and air force bombing
determined the outcome.

200,000 Allied troops landed
on the Normandy beaches,

which became the theater
of a relentless struggle.

The hopelessness of resistance
soon became apparent.

The Atlantic Wall had been destroyed.

Rommel, himself, was wounded
and called back to Germany.

The Nazis were beginning to
learn the taste of defeat.

But Hitler would not face the facts.

He refused to surrender
and he was still acclaimed

by those he kept in ignorance
of what was really happening

at the front.

The German army, or what was left of it,

tried to defend the territories
conquered in the Blitz

four years before.

But they had been forced back
to where we find them today,

practically within the
confines of their own

national borders.

Point, Rommel and other
high-ranking officers,

faced with the Fuhrer's
fanatical stubbornness,

resolved to eliminate him in
order to save the country.

Unfortunately, their plot failed.

On our own Freiburg front,
their resistance has held

us at bay for over two months.

Our attempt to outflank
the enemy line of defense

at Zella Pass has failed.

This is the way things stand.

We must overcome their
resistance and end the war.

The operation I've outlined
can accomplish both objectives.

- I don't like your plan.

I'm not in the habit of
playing with men's lives.

- Nevertheless, you've been
lucky at this sort of thing

so far, Major Heston.

This operation must be carried out.

Understand?

Whatever the cost.

I would prefer to keep things friendly,

but if you insist,

I'll make it an official order.

- I'd like the order put in writing.

- I have no objection.

- This operation, as you
call it, is a dirty trap.

I want to safeguard my honor.

- You'll get it.

Now, get out, Heston, and see to your men.

- They're not my men,
General, they're yours.

- You picked the men.

- Yes, it's true, I did.

Well, here are their files.

Take a good look at them.

They're tops, every one of them.

Don't forget.

I want their death warrant in writing.

- Major Heston, you're going too far.

- Remind me to do you a favor sometime.

- Those written orders you
asked for will be ready

in 20 minutes.

My men are already waiting for you

and I have not time to lose.

General?

With your operation wrong,
what we stand to lose

a hell of a lot more.

Our lives.

Captain Agamemnon Geeves,

four missions into enemy
territory, three landings.

A former medical officer that the war

has turned into a butcher.

There was Lieutenant Steve Bloom.

15 accredited kills, five
forced landings behind

enemy lines, and never taken prisoner.

Two silver stars.

Engineer Captain Stuart Latimore.

Six landings, four in the first wave.

A civil engineer, decorations
silver and bronze stars.

Spot promotion from merit.

Lieutenant Thomas Mulligan.

Famous professional baseball player.

Volunteered for two
missions behind enemy lines.

DFC and special citation for valor.

And last, me, Major John Heston.

Graduated third in class at West Point,

first in special advanced
course at War College.

According to military circles, a shoo-in

for a brilliant army career.

- The officer's quarters.

- If you're looking for the
officers who just arrived,

Major, I'd better take
you to the training field.

They're all veterans, aren't they?

- But the general ordered some testing.

Our instructors are the best.

- Come on, get going, and step on it.

There's going to be some trouble.

- Yes, sir.

- Go!

- A friend.

- Pretty nice.

- Yeah.

- A peach.

You're kidding.

- No, I ain't.

What do you think?

What do you think?

- She looks like a marine to me.

- Hold it there.

Gentlemen, I've been
instructed to check your

physical conditioning.

Now these men are going
to attack you as if

they were your enemies.

If, without meaning to,
they should hurt you,

I'm sure you'll forgive them.

First exercise, use a knife.

Second exercise, use your feet.

Third exercise, with club.

Fourth exercise, full nelson.

Karate.

Be careful, sir, this can be fatal.

All right, go on.

Now, gentlemen, to remove
a bit of surplus fat,

you have 40 seconds to
complete this obstacle course.

- Here we go again.

- I don't know whether
it interests you or not,

those who do not complete
it, won't be chosen,

so get ready, go.

Now you have 30 seconds.

- Ah.

Congratulations.

Nobody has to be eliminated,
as far as I'm concerned,

gentlemen, but just for laughs,

let's see you disarm these crutchers.

- I see you're enjoying yourselves.

- Are you the joker who
organized all this, Heston?

- On behalf of General
Moore, I bid you welcome.

And I trust you will forgive him

for not coming along personally.

Unfortunately the war is
keeping him very busy.

And now I suggest you take a shower,

and in about 12 minutes, we'll
meet in the assembly room.

You better make that 20, I
still have another all to make.

Follow me, gentlemen.

At ease, gentlemen.

Please sit down.

Now if I were to tell you
that you've been chosen

for your personal abilities,

you'd probably think that I
was trying to put something

over on you, so let's just
say that you were picked

because you all have excellent memories

and because you all speak German.

The mission's objective is to contact

the German military leaders
who want to overthrow Hitler

and bring an end to this war.

Before I go any further, let me stress,

that this is a particularly
dangerous mission.

More than we went
through on the training field?

- Yeah, when I risk my life, I want

to know why I'm doing it.

- You're absolutely right.

But in this case, I can't tell you why.

I don't have the answer.

These envelopes contain the instructions

you're supposed to carry out.

Now, wait a minute.

If you open them, that
will automatically mean

that you accept.

And that you commit yourselves
never to reveal to anyone,

under any circumstances,
what your instructions are.

Not even to each other.

- Sounds great, but I don't like it.

Something's fishy.

Look.

We're men.

Not a pack of cards.

- And you, Major Heston,
what will you be doing

while we're risking our lives?

- I'll be going with you.

Here are my instructions.

But don't let that influence you.

Ah, then even you
don't know the overall plan.

- No.

Just the general outline.

- A sitting duck, just like us.

All right, wither thou goest, there go I.

- Please.

Think carefully about it.

Once you've read these instructions,

you'll be obliged to see the
mission through to the end.

So if you have any doubts at all,

now is the time to walk away.

And, look.

I have to confess to you
that if I were in your shoes,

I'd refuse without any hesitation.

- Is this all part of
General Moore's instructions?

You want us to refuse?

- You can think whatever you like.

I've said my piece.

Now it's up to you to decide.

- Thanks for the explanation, Major.

Now the surprise.

- When you have committed
your instructions to memory,

put the papers in here.

Are there any questions?

- The marshal is in
his villa on the Rhine,

convalescing from wounds
he received in Normandy.

He knows we're coming and
will find ways to contact us.

- Through one of his men.

Each of us will carry
a message on microfilm,

but only one will
contain the real message.

Doctor.

This is part of your instructions.

Now all of you please
go into the next room,

and follow Captain Geeves' orders.

- Well, that fixes you, Major.

Send someone else.

- We leave tonight.

Not until you are on the plane

and airborne, will you know
the sixth member of the group.

Allow me to introduce Hermann Traniger.

A major in the Wehrmacht.

- Did you know the sixth
member was a German?

- Major Traniger is part of this mission.

That's all I can say.

- Why should I take part
in any action with a Nazi?

That goes for me, too.

- This wasn't in the agreement.

You're trying to put one over on us.

I'm pulling out.

- All right, children,
you were all warned.

There's no turning back
unless you're prepared

to face a court martial.

- With the orders I got,
I ought to kill you now.

You kill me, the mission will fail.

- You're lying to save your skin.

- If I weren't necessary,

why am I here?

- You don't convince me.

- Only one of us has the
complete message for Rommel.

- Maybe.

- If you really have orders
to kill him, Mulligan,

what are you waiting for.

- Careful what you do,

because I'll be watching your every move.

After 20 minutes flying time

proceed to pilot's compartment.

- I'm right at home up here.

Mills, Bob Mill, what are you doing here?

- Headquarters asked for me especially.

- You're kidding.

- Yeah, they asked for the best
pilot and the oldest plane,

so here we are.

The truth is, I knew you
were coming and wanted

to say good bye.

- Thanks a lot, so that's
meant to cheer me up?

- Listen, Steve, what
made you decide to become

a parachutist?

- Ah, another day.

And behind German lines, too.

- No, not this time.

The date's with a German field marshal.

Rommel.

- B 29 located, sir.

Heading five, zero,
coordinates zero dash zero.

- As soon it's over
the Rhine, let me know.

- I'm flying over the Rhine.

Don't worry, Steve, someone will survive

to tell all about this.

- Thanks, Mills, thanks a lot.

- Goodbye, Bloom.

- So long.

- And good luck.

- Thanks.

Kangaroo calling Swordfish.

Tell the boys happy holidays.

We're awaiting news of Uncle Mills, over.

- Swordfish received.

Over and out.

Your attention, please.

This is the pilot speaking.

Message received.

Happy holidays.

That is all.

- All right.

Hook on to the automatic
parachute release bar.

Prepare to jump.

Fire!

Fire!

- Now!

Now!

Now!

Hey, wait!

Did you do that?

Go!

Before you jump,

push the red button to
the right of the door.

- Hit on the tail.

Losing altitude.

The crew's safe, I'm going to jump.

Over and out.

On
the ground, proceed to a point

marked X on the map to
arrive at rendezvous point

at zero six oh five.

- Search the woods.

You two, take the hold.

- Down.

Mills!

Hit the dirt.

(bullets whizzing0

- Yeah, thanks.

For a moment I thought I'd had it.

- Come on.

- We really gotta move.

- Or be late.

- Come on.

- You could have chose
something else to burn

instead of that church.

- Those were your orders,
you agreed to carry them out.

Now leave me alone.

- Hey, you lousy Nazi.

Why'd you leave your parachute uncovered?

Who says it was mine?

Anyway, what I do with my
parachute is my business.

Who are you to question.

- Oh, knock it off.

Where the hell is Bloom?

He should be here by now.

It's oh six oh nine.

- There is one more of us,

and six less of the enemy who
are trying to capture him.

- You must be joking.

- We're here to carry out a mission!

Not to go around acting
like a bunch of boy scouts.

If Lieutenant Mills has
got nothing to do with us,

he'll have to go.

Let the Gestapo get him
so they can torture him?

- You got no feelings at all!

- What the hell are we supposed
to be, expendable bodies?

That you can dispose of as you please?

- This is something between you Americans.

I'm a German.

- It's a majority decision, friend.

Thank you, fellow citizens,
but if I had a choice,

I'd rather spend the rest of the war

in a comfortable prison camp.

- All right, enough of this baloney.

Let's get out of here.

And that includes you, too, Mills.

And you do exactly as you're told!

Let's go.

- General van Gruber.

- Good morning, Wolf.

- Yes.

Still no news of the Americans?

- We have combed the
area as far as Zella Pass

but have not yet found any trace of them.

However, I don't think
that the crew of a plane

that has been shot down
represents a military danger.

- Aren't you underestimating
the fact you lost

several of your men?

Yes.

A church.

The parachutes abandoned.

It's a well defined mission.

- At any rate, sooner or
later they would appear.

I have very few men, and
I cannot take any of them

away from Zella Pass to aid in the search.

- Very well.

But that is not the only
reason for my visit.

Would you like to go with
me for a short drive?

- May I ask the reason for
this unusual invitation?

- This is not the time or
place for explanations.

Let's go.

We've just enough time.

Is this an order?

No, it's a polite invitation.

And I promise you will see
something quite interesting.

Your men who have guarded Zella Pass

will have nothing to do
until the day of our victory.

- One never knows where
the enemy plans to attack.

- It will be on the
other side of the Rhine.

The Hanover side of the Rhine,

where the Fuhrer will
decide to use, at last,

our greatest war secret.

The weapons we are
constructing at Peenemünde.

Uh, don't you think that
way, too, General van Gruber?

- I consider it very
dangerous to force our people

to resist desperately
for some fantastic idea.

May I ask where we're headed for?

- The local railway station.

Why?

- Soon a special military
train will be arriving.

(train whistle blows

- The power has to be cut.

You're on, engineer.

Right.

- Be sure to get Mulligan.

Geeves and Mills.

Come on.

Hey, you!

What are you doing down there?

- There's something wrong.

I'll have to cut the
power, just for a minute.

- That's one I owe you, Heston.

- Get the generals out of the car,

and I don't want any more firing.

- Yeah, well enough.

- It's just a scratch.

- Let me see.

Come outside, gentlemen, please.

- Colonel Wolf, I don't like mysteries

and I don't like puzzles.

- Nevertheless, those
arriving on the train

will be of interest to you.

I know you fought in the Afrika
Korps with Marshal Rommel.

And you were on very
friendly terms with him.

- It was a great honor for me.

We have discovered

that Marshal Rommel was implicated

in the plot to kill Hitler.

- I don't know what you're
getting at with these

insinuations, nor do I know why
we are here in this station.

- There are some important officers aboard

who will go on to their
destination from here

in my armored cars.

May I ask who they are?

Those who tried
to betray us to the enemy

by plotting with Rommel.

- You damn Nazi!

That guy recognized you,
that's why you killed him.

- I was obeying my orders.

- And suppose he was one of Rommel's men.

You killed him to make the mission fail.

- Cut it out, Mulligan.

This is isn't the place
indicated for the rendezvous.

You're free.

You may go.

- If this is a trick to
shoot us in the back,

then shoot us now.

- It's no trick and I have
no intention of shooting

you in the back.

Now here are your instructions
and a map to show you

how to get through our lines, all right?

Now get going.

- We cannot accept that.

We would be traitors.

- Then stay here and be
tortured by the Gestapo.

It's all the same to me, buddy.

- You'd better take care of that arm.

It looks pretty bad.

- Thanks.

When the train reaches
the station, we'll have

the whole Wehrmacht on our tails.

- Come on.

Where's Traniger?

- Maybe he's got some orders to carry out.

- I'm getting sick of
his mysterious orders.

- Well, let's not stand
around here talking,

because if we give them
time to get organized,

they're gonna--

Nice work.

- Stop the train!
- Stop the train!

Get moving!

Find those Americans.

Bring them to me alive!

They have entered an
area controlled by you,

if I'm not mistaken.

The only prisoner killed
is General Niemann.

Who would have hated us to
harass the others who plotted

the attempt on Hitler's life.

You have a grave responsibility
on your shoulders.

If you are wounded and cannot

continue, relay your instructions
to the second-in-command.

- I'm all right, keep moving.

- No.

If you go on with that bullet inside you,

you'll bleed to death.

- Yeah, but we can't stay here.

It will louse up the whole mission.

- All right.

You've got five minutes
to get it out of me.

- Okay, Geeves.

This will have to do the job.

- Come on, hurry it
up, we're wasting time.

Give me a cigarette.

Lousy cigarette.

You're risking the operation.

- Take one to relieve the pain.

- - Let's get out of here before
they start looking for us.

- Do you know what this
microfilm contains, Major?

- No.

I was only ordered to give

it to you personally, Herr Field Marshal.

- It gives precise instructions
on leaving Germany,

and finding asylum in
some neutral country.

- But staying here would be
very dangerous for you, sir.

- I foresee the end in store for me.

But I prefer to confront it
rather than abandon my country

when thousands of men are asked to die

carrying out a madman's orders.

This is my decision and it is irrevocable,

but must not influence
the rest of the mission.

It is a difficult time for us all

and each one must act
according to his conscience.

- But sir.

- The train was attacked by commandos,

defined by General van
Gruber as a regular crew

of a plane shot down.

It's possible that our
prisoners are with this

American commando unit.

I will accept all
responsibility, Herr Hitler.

Heil Hitler.

He orders the area to
be combed inch by inch.

- Hmm, to do that I would have to have

a thousand men available.

And I don't have them.

- You do have, at Zella Pass.

- That sector is of vital
strategic importance,

and I refuse to withdraw any of my men!

- Unless the conspirators are found,

they'll want someone's head in Berlin.

And I'm very fond of mine!

- I have never doubted your bad taste.

- Are you refusing to cooperate

in the capture of the commando unit?

- No.

But only the men I have
available will back up the action

of your armored cars.

It's stupid.

Nothing much, he was a bad shot.

- I'm happy to see you all alive and well.

- Yeah, we're happy we found you, too.

- You know you've got a
lot of explaining to do.

- We were almost sure
that you betrayed us.

- Marshal Rommel refuses
to leave the country.

It was part of my orders
to propose this to him.

- What else could you
expect from a man like him.

I understand.

I'm sorry, but we have to go
ahead with the mission anyway.

Come on, let's go.

Go!

- There.

The Zella Pass.

On the other side is the American army.

Well, that's where I get off.

In two hours I could be home.

- It's impossible to pass.

Two entire companies are guarding it.

- Come on, let's get off this road.

Spielberg Pass is less heavily guarded.

- Only a few men guard it because
the road is heavily mined.

- Yeah, but our objective is Spielberg.

Let's go.

- Now, my friends, trying to take

that emplacement means losing our necks.

And I'm no hero.

- He's right.

Mills doesn't belong to the
group and he didn't volunteer.

We can't force him to stay.

- He knows too much to be allowed to go.

- They'd make him talk in a minute.

- Sure.

- Sorry but he's got to stay.

- Nothing else I can do.

- Synchronize your watches with mine.

It's now five zero two.

We go into action in
exactly three minutes.

Bloom, you cover us from up there.

- There's only one thing
Mills can do for us.

That is, if you allow him to.

- Come on.

- I wonder what was on
Heston's mind when he said

if you allow him to.

- I'm so damned mixed up

I don't understand anything anymore.

- Mills, don't waste any time.

Go on, get out of here.

No, I'm
sticking with the mission.

- Even if we had a
means of transportation,

you would need an anesthetic, too, right?

- Naturally, since they're
forcing me to fight this war.

They could provide me
with some comfort, too.

- There's your comfort.

- Thanks.

Hey, Major!

- I don't know a thing.

Lieutenant Robert Mills.

Serial number 45127.

- When did you give him
the pentothal injection?

- 10 minutes ago.

He's beginning to go under
the effect of the drug now.

- Speak.

You must know something.

You must have overheard.

Why did they come down?

- I don't remember.

- Talk!

Why?

- I don't know anything.

I only know name

Rommel.

Marshal Rommel.

Rommel.

I only know the name.

Rommel.

- The prisoner has spoken.

We are now certain that
there is another plot

of the enemy with Marshal Rommel's help.

Yes, Herr Himmler, I will
wait for your orders.

I'll be here.

- Yes, the moment has come
to pay for the failure

of the attempt made against that maniac

who has brought or
country to complete ruin.

However, we shall not
give them the pleasure of

seeing we are afraid.

- Erwin, it's not possible.

Tell me it's only a nightmare.

- The whole of Germany is
living through a nightmare

for which it will awake only too late.

Go now, my dear.

You have always been strong
in difficult moments.

I must ask you to be strong now, too.

Go.

I'm on personal orders from Hitler.

- Make it brief.

A very fitting message from a tyrant.

- And a generous gesture
to one who has plotted

against his life.

- The loss of your rank and execution

as a traitor.

Should you accept, you
will be honored as the

greatest hero the Third
Reich has produced.

- That dishonor is more
infamous than the first.

Keep it for some other of your crimes.

Your weapon is unworthy
of going down in history.

- Get out, Wolf.

- Huh.

Oh, it's you.

- Go get some rest.

It's time for me to relieve you.

It's all right.

Go on.

- Hey!

Okay, who
were you signalling?

- I was just carrying
out orders, Mulligan.

- Ask him.

- Don't ask me, I have
my own instructions.

Like I said before, I
don't know the whole plan,

nor do I know where the
devil this is gonna lead us.

- What a rotten mess
we've got ourselves into.

- I don't like being clobbered from behind

- Why you!

- No funny business with me.

I'm a doctor but I prefer
to prevent a disease

before I have to cure it.

A free fire works display.

Courtesy of General Moore.

- Look!

Traniger!

Traniger!

Damn him.

He's gone!

A crowd skip.

- Now don't tell me he
was following orders, too.

This whole thing is becoming
a little ridiculous.

Yeah, it is, isn't it.

And your rocket flares.

Are they for Rommel or
an invitation to the SS

to pay us a visit?

Yeah?

The signal's coming from
the Spielberg emplacement.

Transmit the message to
Army General Headquarters.

What?

Direct to Army General Moore.

- We have an order from
the Army General staff.

I refuse to unman Zella Pass

to send reinforcements to Spielberg,

which is of secondary importance.

- Your attitude is tantamount to treason.

By capturing this
commando unit we can learn

the extent of this obvious plot between

the Americans and Rommel
against our beloved Fuhrer.

That is why Herr Himmler
decided to liquidate Rommel.

Excuse me for listening.

But Marshal Rommel's
death has been useless.

Major Hermann Traniger,

of the Secret Information Service.

I repeat, a useless death.

Colonel Wolf.

All the forces we have
in the area must be sent

to the Spielberg emplacement.

- To capture a commando unit.

So?

To prevent a defeat on that front.

We are sure that the Americans
will try to break through

that sector at dawn.

- Yes, in spite of what you think,

I believe there was
some connection between

the Americans and Rommel.

But we are in agreement about
the military action to take.

And it is necessary that
the political objectives

coincide with the military ones.

See to it, General.

I will assume all responsibility.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Colonel Wolf of the Gestapo calling the

second panzer division in
the Black Forest, come in.

- The second panzer division here.

We are in the course of
mobilizing our tanks.

- You have two hours to get to Spielberg.

You will work together
with the men at the tail

and with General van Gruber's men.

And take a maximum amount of missiles.

- No, you didn't hurt me.

It's what I've done, betraying my buddies.

- It's not your fault.

Everybody talks after that injection.

I was unable to prevent it.

They had me watched.

We don't all look at things
the same way in Germany.

- Leave us alone, please.

- With pleasure, Major Traniger.

- Get dressed.

- I don't take orders
from a dirty traitor.

- I serve my country in my own way.

And you get dressed if you
want to save your companions.

Berta.

Listen.

You mustn't judge me by appearances.

- We both know why you
went to the other side.

What made you come back?

- Rommel is dead.

- I know you're troubled, Hermann.

But you shouldn't come back if he's dead.

You swore to me you'd
resist 'til Germany's freed.

- You must trust me.

- The American officers did,

and now they'll die because of you.

- It has to be so.

That is war.

And there's no need for you to
become so dramatic about it.

What are five lives compared to millions

who are put to death?

- You speak in a way that makes me feel

I don't know you at all.

Let me go.

I hate you.

- Time's getting short, Major Traniger.

Let's go.

We can't allow van Gruber
to lose the game for us now.

You've no idea how stupid he is.

- There are some who lost everything

before the game started.

Major?

Looks like the whole
Wehrmacht is coming at us.

Tanks.

And you know what?

I'm clearing out.

- We won't be able to hold out.

Not for very long.

- Right.

What are we waiting for, anyway?

- Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Now let's not panic, boys, until we see

the whites of their eyes.

Don't you think it's time
we had a little talk?

Try to put the pieces
of this puzzle together.

The plane was supposed
to have crashed because

it had been hit.

That's why I blew the plane up.

According to my instructions.

At that exact moment, shortly before,

I was to tell Mills, "Rommel
is the object of our mission."

Then it was planned that
he be taken prisoner,

and made to talk.

The order to start
the train moving could only

have been given to tip
off the German command

about our mission.

- That's true, and that's
why the attack on the train

and the liberation of
the generals was ordered.

It was just to make the
Germans think that Rommel

was the key to the whole operation.

- No, no.

The telegraph signal sent by Latimore

would eliminate this
spot as a contact point

with Rommel's men.

- They could have been for
our side, not for the Germans.

- That's it, you got it.

Boy, that's it.

And this thing about Rommel was just a

smokescreen.

- There was nothing on them.

Except maybe on Traniger's.

- That Kraut's the part
that's hard to figure.

What's he up to?

- That's impossible to
know because he's not

here to complete the puzzle.

But one thing is certain.

We were supposed to bring
every German in the area

to this point.

And, dammit, boys, we've done it.

We've made our objective.

Now you guys get the hell out.

All of you.

And that's an order.

- Uh- huh.

What if our mission was
not only to draw them here

but to keep them pinned
down with our fire?

- Well, I've got more than
enough weapons and ammunition

to take care of that.

Superman doesn't want us to bother him.

Yeah, he has
no further use for us.

- Yeah, he wants all
the glory for himself.

So he can win the
Congressional Medal of Honor.

What do you think of that?

- All right.

All right, all right, all right.

I brought you here not
knowing how this was gonna

turn out.

But now I want you to
get the hell out of here

so that my conscience is clear.

Understand?

- What if I still got
a secret instruction?

One ordering me to keep you company.

So you won't get bored.

- Oh, what a coincidence.

And I'm supposed to watch
to see that the fever

doesn't go up on the war horse.

- Yeah.

And I'm supposed to see
that he doesn't destroy

any more works of art.

A C.O. with no one to yell
orders at is like an umpire

without a ball game, so start yelling.

- All right.

Stubborn bunch of bastards.

We'll try to keep them
busy for as long as we can.

Now, listen, there's not gonna
be any lack of discipline,

you hear that?

And from now on, nobody dies, you hear me?

Nobody dies without orders from me!

We'd save time
if we offered the prisoner

in exchange for their surrender.

- We don't have the time.

- He's right.

And he needs the time.

- That you brought up too many
of our forces for five men.

And you've left the Zella
Pass unguarded for the enemy.

- May I invite our attention,

General van Gruber, to the
fact that the Americans

have tried and failed
to carry the Zella Pass.

I don't think they will try again,

but they will attack here next.

I am in complete agreement
with you, Colonel Wolf.

In any case, I shall stand behind you

if you decide to add prudence to wisdom.

- Bring the prisoner.

- Come here!

- Look, they're sending a messenger.

That's great for our side.

We gain some time.

- Either he's shaking
with fear or he's lame.

It's both.

It's Mills.

You guys go
on with the preparations.

I'm stalling as long as I can.

Okay.

- They sent me.

They say surrender and
they'll spare your lives.

- Yeah.

Take it easy, Mills, take it easy.

I got plenty of time.

- You only have a few minutes.

And I mean only a few,

and then they'll attack
with all they've got.

- That damn Nazi Traniger.

- I see.

Did they torture you to make you talk?

- I tried to keep my mouth shut.

Then they gave me an injection.

I'm not tough like the rest of you.

- Mills.

Listen, why don't you stay here.

There's a place for you with us.

- Thanks, Heston, but I've
got more modest ambitions.

All I wanted to do was to
sell hot dogs on 32nd Street.

- Yeah, well, that sounds great.

Anyway, good luck.

- Yeah.

- Mills!

Anyone of us would have
talked after an injection.

Why don't you go into the bunker.

Sit there and rest.

You'll be okay.

- Thank you.

- Your idea has not
only lost our prisoner,

but Dan, as well.

And you know we don't have much.

Move the tanks in with the assault troops.

- Looks like the whole Wehrmacht.

- Get to the bunker
and take a machine gun.

(shouting military orders
in foreign language)

The show is
about to get underway.

Let 'em have it!

Give 'em everything you've got!

(guns fir

- Try to cover Latimore
until he gets to the bunker!

Start pitching, Mulligan!

Hit 'em!

Nice pitching, champ.

They're all strikes.

I, myself, would love

to come out of this attack.

- If you want to share
with Colonel Wolf the glory

of wiping out the few
remaining men, go ahead.

- The official position
is they'll take them.

You will answer to the Fuhrer.

- We can do it.

Second unit!

- I'm hit.

- Mills!

Come out here, you idiot!

- Look, Major, he's the
only one who didn't know.

You got him into this.

You and Moore and the whole friggin' army.

You got me to help, even.

- You go out there and I'll
put a bullet in your butt!

- You better not waste a bullet.

You might need it.

- Bloom, Bloom, come back!

Geeves!

Geeves!

Explode the mines!

Latimore!

Let 'em have it!

- Bloom!

- I'm too far gone.

Poor bastard.

He's the only one who didn't know.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

- Urgent message for General Moore.

The boys are burning hot at Spielberg.

- General Moore, a message.

The boys are burning hot.

- That's the signal.

Order the attack.

- There's your victory, General Moore.

I hope.

You stupid old bastard!

Latimore!

Let 'em have it on the left.

Latimore!

- General, the American
forces are attacking.

- Order the retreat to everyone in trucks.

If they want someone's head in Berlin,

it will be yours now, Colonel Wolf.

My report will be very specific.

- If you have time to make it.

- To Zella Pass!

- Major, Major.

- The last piece of the
puzzle is in pretty bad shape.

- I would have preferred
to die with the rest,

a similar death for a different ideal.

- If our forces get
through the Zella Pass,

a lot of the credit
will go to you, as well.

Where are you going?

- Going back.

Is right.

A different way.

I would be a traitor to my people if I

left now.

There's a lot of work still
to be done for Germany.

When the war is over, my
country will be in ruins,

my people will be defeated.

We will have to dig
ourselves out of the rubble

and rebuild the whole country.

And I must do what I can.

I've got to help.

- Good luck.

Major.

- Thanks.

And good luck to you, too.

Major.

And was the mainstay

of the successful mission.

His actions were an inspiration
to his American companions,

displaying magnificent leadership
and conspicuous bravery.

Although wounded, he never relented

in his determined effort.

And Major Heston's courage
and resourcefulness

in the face of overwhelming
odds were in keeping

with the highest traditions
of military service

and reflect great credit
upon himself, his unit

and the United States Army.

- Congratulations.

- By direction of the President of the

United States and under the provisions

of the Act of Congress
approved 28 August, 1944,

the Distinguished Service
Cross for extraordinary heroism

in action is awarded
posthumously to the officers

as follows.

Captain Agamemnon Geeves.

Captain Amos Bloom.

Lieutenant Thomas Gavin Mulligan.

Lieutenant Stuart Latimore.

Lieutenant Robert Mills.

- And congratulations once more,

Lieutenant-Colonel John Heston.

Your promotion is well deserved.

- So is yours, Major General Moore.

- We may have had our little differences

at the beginning, but the
mission was successful.

And it was certainly worth it.

- Of course.

Two promotions, six medals at
the cost of only five lives.

- I know that war is hell,
it's a dirty business.

- War is death, General.

- But as I still have to say,

there are ideals worth fighting for.

- There will always be
different ideals, General,

and, I suppose, men who will die for them.

At least, 'til they stop giving medals

and promotions in
exchange for men's lives.

With your permission, sir.