All language subtitles for 3 DIRECTION OF THE MAIN BLOW

ETERNAL GLORY TO THE FALLEN IN
THE BATTLES OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

MOSFILM

TEHERAN
November 30, 1943

Gentlemen.

I have some good news
for Marshal Stalin.

Today,
the Joint Chiefs of Staff,

with the participation of the British
Prime Minister and the US President,

have decided to open a second front
in the north of France

in May 1944.

I'm satisfied with that decision.

In my turn,

I'd like to inform
Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill

that by the beginning of
landing operations in France

the Russians will prepare
a massive blow against the Germans.

To our victory!

ANKARA
December 15, 1943

Mister Ambassador, these are the
protocols of the Teheran conference.

Her Majesty's Prime Minister
asked me to tell you

that you may need
this information

in connection with the talks
on Turkey's entering the war.

The President Inonu
is already thinking about it.

The Prime Minister atso
asked me to tell you

that you should't really hurry up
President Inonu.

If I understood the Prime Minister
correctly,

we shall need the million-strong,
Turkish Army

when the Russians will be
approaching the Barlkans.

Let's have dinner together.

Elyas, I'll be back in about 2 hours.

BERLIN. Reich Chancellery.
January 6, 1944

Where did you get these documents?

The valet of the British ambassador
in Ankara is our agent.

He's von Papen's agent.
I don't trust von Papen.

In the materials of the Teheran
Conference, there's the date

of the Anglo-American troops
landing in the north of France.

That is the opening of a second front.

You don't know Churchill.

He's an old master of dismformation.

These documents were
thrust on you deliberately.

My Fuhrer, my information is different.

Your trustfulness
has cost me very dearly.

We all but lost Italy.

You overlooked the plot against
the Duce.

I don't believe
these false documents.

Churchill will never dare
land in Normandy!

LIBERATION

The great battle at Kursk
proved to be

one of the greatest battles
of World War II.

Here, in the summer of 1943,

the tank hordes of Fascist Germany
had been routed.

From here, the German army,
which had enslaved Europe

had begun its retreat.

Our troops

mounted a wide offensive
in the right-bank Ukraine

and were moving towards
the state border of the USSR.

Film Three

DIRECTION OF THE MAIN BLOW

Screenplay by
Yuri BONDAREV

Oskar KURGANOV
Yuri OZEROV

Directed by
Yuri OZEROV

Directofof Photography
Igor SLABNEVICH

Production Designer
Aleksandr MYAGKOV

Music b Yu. LEVITIN

English Subtitles by
Tatiana Kameneva

Chief Military Consultant
Army General S. SHTEMENKO

Cast.

Tsvetayev - N. OLYALIN
Zoya - L. GOLUBKINA

Orlov - B. ZAIDENBERG

Zhukov - Mikhail ULYANOV
Rokossovsky - Vladlen DAVYDOV

Vassilevsky - Ye. BURENKOV
Antonov - V. STRZHELCHIK

Konev - Yu. LEGKOV
Vatutin - S. KHARCHENKO

Chernyakhovsky - Ye. KOLCHINSKY

Meretskov - V. KOSTENKO
Bagramyan - V. KAREN

Shtemenko - K. PROTASOV
Batov - V. ZAMANSKY

Panov - N. RYBNIKOV

Stalin - Bukhuti ZAKARIADZE

Rbosevelt - S. JASKIEVICZ
Churchill - Yu. DUROV

Hitler - Fritz DIEZ
Himmler - E. TIDE

Goebbels - H. GIEZE
Keitel - G-M. HENNEBERG

Kluge - H. HASSE
Model - P. STURM

Fromm - H. SCHELTZKE
Remer - H. KUHN

Stauffenberg - Alfred STRUWE
Olbricht - W. ORTMANN

Haeften - E. STECHER
Bek - W. WIELAND

Witzleben - O. DIERICHS

Partisans: Father - Ye. SHUTOV
Son - V. VAKHLIN

Pilots: Jacque - L. PRYGUNOV
Zaitsev - V. RAZUMOVSKY

Participating in Polish scenes:

W. GLINSKI,
M. NOWAKOWSKI, T. SCHMIDT

Pilots of the French
"Normandy-Niemen" Regiment:

A. BARTOLLI, J-P. HEGEGEN,
В. RAFFALI, A. SENTONNET

British Ambassador - B. WHITE
Narrator - A. KARAPETYAN

Creative Association
VREMYA

First Ukrainian Front
February 29, 1944

Commander of the 1st Ukranian Front
Arm Ganeeai Vatutin

What is the Polish for 'butter'?

Butter, Comrade General.

And 'meat'?

Meat.

And 'bread'?

Bread, Comrade General.

See? Such a close language.
No need to learn it.

And what will be 'life' in Polish?

Zycie.

Zycie?

A little different, though.

But actually,it's the same.

Turn around. The Germans!

Fire back!

Nikolai Fyodorovich.

Bad timing.

Didn't get a chance to start it.

Who will be commanding the front?

I've taken on command,
Nikolai Fyodorovich.

Good luck to you.

Get well soon.

We'll meet in Poland yet.

- Zycie.
- What?

He keeps repeating that word,
Comrade Marshal.

Zycie...

means 'life' in Polish.

On March 4, 1944

the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front
under the command of Marshal Zhukov,

the 2nd Ukrainian Front
under the command of Marshal Konev

and the 3rd Ukrainian Front

under the command of
Army General Malinovsky

had gone over to
offensive actions.

In the course of
the winter campaign of 1943-1944,

the Red Army has won a battle for
the Dnieper and right-bank Ukraine,

shattered strong defensive
fortification near Leningrad

and in the Crimea,

overrun the enemy on the water
lines of the South Bug, Dniestr, Prut,

and is continuing the offensive in
the conditions of springtime flooding.

However, our operational-strategy
position, though advantageous,

remains very critical.

The German resistant
is increasing.

Our troops are tired,

and they need a serious reinforcement
in strength and materiel.

It's time-to go over
to defensive actions.

We have gathened here,
Comrade Zhukov,

to talk about offensive,

and not the deffensive actions.

I'm talking about the defease
as a forced measure, Comrade Stalin.

This will allow us to better
prepare are for the offensive.

We understand that, Comrade Zhukov,

but today we must define

the direction of the main blow
of the summer campaign.

Let's listen to what the front
commanders have to say.

Let's begin with the north.

Comrade Bagramyan.

We propose to strike
a blow in the Baltic

and cut off the Army Group North
from the territory of Germany.

To this end, the 1st Baltic Front

should attack
alone the Western Dvina

on the direction Polotsk - Dvinsk
and come out to Riga.

What does the General Staff
to say to this?

The General Staff believes that in
the Baltic we can't achieve suddenness

while preparing
a massive offensive.

In that sector of the front, the enemy

the well-deveoped railway
and highway network.

At the same time, the terrain
is unfavorable for our tanks -

too many lakes and marshes.

It's a serious consideration.

For the tank armies' action
on the direction of the main blow,

we need wide expanses.

But Germans think the same way,
Camrade Stalin.

What do you mean?

I mean
the German military doctrine.

It's more expedient to use the tank
armies in flat country.

That's what they expect from us.

And what do you propose?

I propose to strike the main blow
where we're not expected.

In the boggy and wooded
localities of Byelorussia.

It was Suvorov who once said
"Where deer cannot ass,

the Russian soldier will."

It's not the Devil's Bridge for you.

This is a modern-day war.

But the modern-day war
means suddenness, Comrade Stalin.

Moreover, the General Staff supports
the idea of a blow in Byelorussia.

Go to Byelorussia.

Study the situation on the spot...

Comrade Zhukov.

Yes, Comrade Stalin.

Come on!
Forward! Come on!

Put me through to the regiment
commander. Now!

Comrade Captain,
your wounded are behind the road.

- Well? What?
- The regiment commander's on the line.

I can't take the height!

One more attack like this,
and I'll lose all my men.

I know the order.

What?

What did he say?

I can't repeat it in front of women.

Your wounded are behind the road.
Can't you hear me?

Give me two men,
and I'll carry the wounded out.

You want to die
gallantly, don't you, Zoya?

Every man counts here.

- Comrade Captain!
- We'll carry them out at night.

I demand that the wounded
be carried out immediately!

Go away, medical instructor!

Comrade Captain!

- What is it?
- Look.

That girl has gone crazy.

Guys, it's our Zoya!

Oh, she's the devil of a girl,
they'll capture her!

- Cut the Germans off!
- But we may hit her.

Move over!

Why not attack them, Comrade Captain?
Or we'll lose the nurse.

Company commanders, come here!

Well, boys, you can only die once.

Get ready to attack!
Take our places!

Come on, guys!
Move it!

Communists, follow me!

Forward!
Forward!

To attack, follow me!
Forward!

You alive?
Good girl!

Comrade Marshal, I conduct reconnaissance
in force in the Parichi direction.

The 2nd Battalion of the 36th Regiment
has taken height 217.

Further advance has been checked
by massive enemy fire.

The battalion suffered big losses.

- Stop the offensive.
- Yes, Comrade Marshal.

Transmit it - stop the offensive.

Pavel Ivanovich, tell me now.

Can we advance to Parichi?

What do you think of this direction?

Of course, it's a tempting direction.

That part of terrain is dry.
But the enemy is no fool, either.

He got astride the commanding heights
and created strong defenses.

Advancing to Parichi
means suffering great losses.

Yes, that's the right conclusion.

A blow towards Parichi
will not be unexpected.

That's where they're waiting for us.

And how are things
at your left flank?

The terrain here
is hard for maneuver.

A lot of small rivers with wide
flood-lands and boggy marshes.

- When have you been there?
- Last night.

Can we drive there?

I don't recommend it.

It's an open country covered by enemy
artillery fire. Better to go at night.

We'll go now.

Pavel Ivanovich,
what are the German positions here?

There're no solid defense lines here.

The defense is built on the principle
of isolated strong points

on dry elevations.

I see.

What are you having?

The second front, Comrade General.

What?

Here, American Spam.

We nicknamed it
second front here.

When are they going
to open it, Comrade General?

Can't you cope by ourselves?

We ll cope alright,
only as they say in our village,

"He who joins a fight last,
will be boasting the most."

What is this you got?

These are wet shoes, Comrade General.

- What wet shoes?
- Made of bast.

For your feet not to sink into
quagmire.

A smart idea.

If people can walk through a bog,

then we'll find a way
to get the materiel over, too.

- Anything's possible, isn't it?
- You mean tanks?

We'll try.

But what a surprise it will be
for the Germans!

Yes, that's the place,
Georgy Konstantinovich, eh?

MOSCOW, Kremlin, May 23
And our intelligence reports confirm our assumptions.

First, the enemy
rules out the possibility

of our offensive
in this direction,

and doesn't have here as strong
defenses as in the other sectors.

Second, the bogs
are passable for people,

and if we lay roads of brushwood,
for the materiel too.

That's why I propose
to strike the main blow

with the right flank of the front,

with four field armies:
the 3rd, 48th, 65th and 28th

in the direction of Bobruisk.

Still, you and Zhukov are dragging
us into the bog, Comrade Rokossovsky.

It's not an easy way,
Comrade Stalin.

But it promises success.

We have thought everything through,
Comrade Stalin.

It doesn't look like you thought
everything through.

Go out into the next room

and think over your proposal once
more, Comrade Rokossovsky.

In the meantime,

we'll hear what Comrade Vassilevsky
has to say.

As you know,

a successful operation
of liberating the Crimea

had been conducted

under the command of
Comrade Vassilevsky.

After that, Comrade Vassilevsky,
together with Zhukov,

was elaborating the plan
of the entire summer campaign.

While working on the plan of
the summer campaign, Comrade Stalin,

we first of all took into
account the considerations

of the front commanders
present here.

The summer campaign of 1944

will be a system
of major operations

taking place on a vast territory
from the Baltic to the Carpathians.

The plan of the summer campaign

is drawn up
in the following succession.

The first blow, in early June,
well be dealt by the Leningrad,

and then Karelian Front
in the direction of Vyborg.

These operations must
lead th the routing of Finland

and its exit from the war.

I wish you good luck,

Comrade Meretskov.

Thank you, Comrade Stalin.

Furthermore, the General Staff proposes
to strike the main blow in Byelorussia.

This direction, Comrade Stalin.
has a number of serous advantages.

First, the shortest way to Berlin
lies through Byelorussia.

Secondly, we'll be supported here
by Byelorussian partisans.

As you know, Comrade Stalin,

270,000 partisans
are operating in Byelorussia.

And, thirdly,
after the liberation of Byelorussia,

when our troops step
onto the Polish land,

they'll be welcomed
by our friendly Polish people

who have been struggling with
the fascist occupants for 5 years.

All this convinces us
that we've made the right choice.

Operating on the direction
of the main blow will be

the 3rd Byelorussian Front
under General Chernyakhovsky,

and the 1st Byelorussian Front
under General Rokossovsky.

I suggest that we name
the Byelorussian operation

Operation Bagration

in honour of our fellow-countryman,

the military leader
who brought glory to Russian arms

in 1812.

Go on, Comrade Vassilevsky.

After the start of Operation Bagration,

when the German High Command realizes
that's here, in Byelorussia,

that the decisive battles take place,

and shifts here their reserves
from the south,

Marshal Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front

will strike its blow
in the direction of Lvov.

When, as a result of those powerful
blows, the enemy suffers a defeat,

we can unfold
an offensive in the Balkans -

in Romania, Bulgaria,
Yugoslavia and Hungary.

Does Comrade Zhukov
wish to add anything?

Before the war, I served for a long
time in the Byelorussian District,

and I'm very much familiar with
the theatre of operations there.

On that boggy and wooded terrain,

it's impossible to use
large masses of tanks.

That's why I propose

to send into a breakthrough
only tank corps,

and not commit the four tank armies -
the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th,

which are stationed behind the right
flank of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

Thereby, first,
we'll mislead the enemy.

Knowing the location of those armies,

he'll expect the main blow not in
Byelorussia, but in the Ukraine.

Second, it'll be our powerful reserve
in the 2nd stage of the offensive.

And, third,

we'll securely provide
for the left flank

of General Rokossovsky's
attacking armies.

I agree.

And now invite Rokossovsky.

Where, after all, are you going to
strike the main blow,

Comrade Rokossovsky?

Through the bogs?

Yes, Comrade Stalin.

The direction of the main blow towards
Bobruisk by the front's right wing.

I'm convinced that this is
the right decision, Comrade Stalin.

The persistence of the Front
Commander only proves

that the organization of the offensive
has been well thought out.

Give me your map,
Comrade Rokossovsky.

On June 6, 1944,

the Anglo-American troops
landed in Northern France

WASHINGTON

I'm happy to have lived to see
this day.

Even if it were
the only thing I've done,

my life would still have been
justified.

Of course, there will be much
discussion about the second front

but the only thing
that matters

is that the second front has been
opened.

Do you mean
discussions with Churchill?

Why was he so insistent on
the invasion through the Balkans?

It's this way, Eleanor.

To begin with, he wanted to drive
a wedge into Central Europe,

so that keep the Russians
out of Austria and Romania,

and, possibly, out of Hungary.

Anc this, of course, Stalin realized,
and so I did.

And all the rest of us.

Maybe, he was right,

and we should have struck
a blow in the Balkans?

No, Eleanor.

This time we have chosen
the shortest way to victory.

And that's about all at there's to it.

Churchill is too busy
thinking about

what would be after the war

and, naturally, what would
the situation of Britain.

And I do not see why I should risk
the lives of American soldiers

for the interests of Britain
on the European continent.

By the way,
could you read me again

today's telegram
from Mr. Stalin?

I didn't quite understand it.

The summer offensive
of the Soviet troops,

organized according to our agreement
at the Teheran Conference,

will be launched by mid-June on one
of the important sections of the front.

Important sections of the front?

Some kind of Asiatic cunning.

He doesn't believe anyone.

Not even his allies.

BERLIN, Reich Chancery
June 12

What's this?

Stalin's telegram to Churchill.

It's a radio intercept,
deciphered with the secret code

that was passed over to us
by our agent in Turkey.

His information about a second
front proved true.

Yes, I remember.

Stalin writes to Churchill
that the Russians' summer offensive

will begin in one
of the front's sectors.

Which one?

Keitel, what do you think?

My Fuhrer, apparently,
it's the northern Ukraine.

General Model
thinks so, too.

Yes, I'm sure that the Russians
will direct their main blow

against the Army Group
North Ukraine.

Then they'll try to break through to
Poland or turn to the Balkans.

Do you agree,
Field Marshal Kluge?

I don't exclude the possibility

of the Russian offensive
through the Baltic, either.

Four Russian tank armies are
concentrated facing my front.

That's 3,000 tanks.

There's no doubt that
they will attack here.

It's quite realistic, my Fuhrer.

We should first expect the Russian
offensive in the northern Ukraine.

BYELORUSSIA

Where's Kozlov?

Moving by the bank.

It's all right, Vassily Ivanovich,
ahead of us are ours.

Secretary of the Minsk Regional
Underground Committee

of the Communist Party
Kozlov

First Secretary of the Central
Committee

of the Communist Party of
Byelorussia Ponomarenko

Come in, Vassily Ivanovich.

How was your trip?

With no real difficulties,
Panteleimon Kondratyevich.

Wall, let's begin, comrades.

Present here are the secretaries of
Byelorussia's underground committees

and the commanders of major units
of Byelorussian artisans.

We realize that it wasn't so easy
to gather you all here.

Nor was it easy for you to get here
from the enemy's rear.

Yet we decided to do that.

My friends, that long-awaited
day is near.

The Army will launch
an offensive in Byelorussia.

June 20

On June 20,

two days before
the start of Operation Bagration,

the partisans of Byelorussia

attacked the enemy's
railway communications

along the whole frontline
up to the state border.

3rd Byelorussian Front
June 23

The long-range
aviation is in the air.

Good.

The 2nd Air Army
in readiness one.

The 3rd Air Army
in readiness one.

The front's artillery is ready
for action, Comrade Marshal.

The 5th Tank Army has
taken its initial position.

- Put me through to Bagramyan.
- Yes, Comrade Marshal.

The 1st Baltic Front is ready,
Comrade Marshal.

Operation Bagration is starting.

Do it, Ivan Khristoforovich.

Silence.
It's a pity to break it.

But we'll break it, anyway.

Commander of the 3rd Byelorussian Front
Colonel-General Chernyakhovsky

Well, good luck.

We start, comrade generals.

Commander of the 303rd Fighter
Aviation Division

Major-General Zakharov

Comrade General, Colonel Golubov
is here af our command.

Come in, Anatoly Yemelyanovich.

Call here Commander
of the "Normandy" Regiment.

"Tulip", "Tulip".

"Tulip".

To you from me, Tanechka.
Here, a daisy.

"Tulip", "Tulip".
"Tulip"?

Commander of "Normandy" is called
to the general.

Commander of the Normandy Fighter Aviation Regiment
Lieutenant-Colonel Pouillarde

Still nothing?

Nothing for three days now.

Roll up his bedding.

When shall we fly?

Soon.

It's your second shaving today,
Baron.

I always shave before a fight.

I'd rather do it myself than let
the Messerschmitts shave me.

You like it?

Not bad.

I hope to meet her after the war,
Lieutenant-Colonel.

I need you, Jacques.

Hello! Hello!

My pilots are wondering whether
we came here for holidays.

Tell them not to worry,
there'll be enough fights for everyone.

The task is like this,
Comrade Pouillarde.

Your regiment,
together with Golubov's regiment,

will blockade Vitebsk from air.

Why not?

Such a charming blonde would look
great smoking.

I noticed that the blonde girls
smoke so nicely and enigmatically.

They hold a cigarette with the big
and index fingers, like this.

Didn't you understand
that the girl doesn't smoke?

You got it or not?

I didn't mean to offend
the lovely mademoiselle.

The Soviet pilot is wrong if he
wants to play the role of Othello.

Normandy, cut out this Othello thing.
It's war here, not theatre.

Comrade Senior Lieutenant,

why are you quarreling?
He's very nice.

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
My name is Jacques. What's yours?

Ivan? Sasha? Pasha?

Not Sasha-Pasha,
but Senior Lieutenant Zaitsev.

Anton, you'll fly with "Normandy"
and maintain connection with me.

Right.

For luck.

Four Messerschmitts on my right.
I attack.

Othello!

A Messer is behind you!

Jacque!
Try to make it beyond the forest!

Jacque!

Jacque, get up, quick!

Hurry!

Hurry, come on!

Thanks, Othello.

Come on!

There we go.