Original subtitles

Corrected and rewritten by MarineSWS 'MSWS' @ Subscene.com

Let me put this another way

lf I am not given complete and unfettered command of this situation

you can, if I may put it politely, sir

take this job and put it where you choose because I will damn will quit

My other generals say it's unwise

Too much responsibility for one man

Then I will also find other generals

Even your own other generals say the same thing.

Then I'll also find new ones

I know who we're talking about here, prime minister.

Your Air Marshal Harris and my General Jimmy Spaatz

The RAF and the U.S. 8th Air Force want to fight their own war

Win it with strategic bombing

They think... I know what they think, general

And it is very seductive

Continue the saturation bombing of the Continent

until the enemy's lost his will to fight

Leave him defeated and dispirited

before your invasion force even sets foot ashore

lf there's a shore to set foot on

That kind of bombing would turn Paris into a soccer field

Holland into a swimming pool

You were an infantry officer, prime minister.

We both know wars can only be won on the ground

America did not send a million of its finest men to stand by

while faceless aircraft destroy the Europe they're willing to die to save

And I don't believe you rallied the British people to fight on, alone

all these long years to bear so much

only to see the great cities of Europe become heaps of rubble

We have to do more than liberate Europe. We have to save it

We're soldiers, you and l. There can only be one commander

One conductor of this orchestra

One supreme commander

in the air, on the ground, at sea

Or face interservice bickering, clashing egos

conflicting operational deployments

One invasion, one commander

A sampling of this morning's editorial contribution:

''As the Allies prepare for our greatest challenge of the war

our leaders must not lose sight

of the true measure of military leadership

The victories of General Montgomery

at El Alamein, Sicily and every campaign he has undertaken

deserve prime consideration

His hand is never far from such forward momentum

as we have enjoyed in this war

No other general can make that claim''

I could go on, but they're all much of a muchness

I don't deny Monty's achievements as a field commander

Whilst you can make no such claim

Come, come, general. Don't take offense. We're too close for that

Monty's not the man for this. We both know it. Far too in love with his image

There's no shortage of men who would like the title ''Supreme Commander"

Or even a part of it. And I... 'We' must identify each man

and decide whether or not he is fit

Harris?

Far too oblivious to destruction Certainly not Spaatz

Too flamboyant. Marshall?

You know FDR won't let him leave Washington

And Mountbatten is commanding in the Pacific

Then who?

Your own Mr. Roosevelt has his doubts about a supreme commander

I leave him to you, sir. You'll be able to set him straight

No human in history has ever held the power for which you now ask

Not Caesar, not Alexander, no man

Ever

But this is Eisenhower you're considering

ls this relatively untried American the right man for the job?

Very popular with the men lrrelevant

Properly disciplined soldiers fight at their leader's command

whoever that might be

My victories against Rommel that brought us back North Africa

weren't won because I was popular with the ordinary ranks

No, I dare say. Brandy?

No, thank you. Oh, I forgot your strict scruples

General, let it not come as a surprise to you

The decision is as good as made. There will be no turning back

Eisenhower is to be Supreme Commander

That is the consensus of the Allies

I see. Politics first, is it?

Yes?

Yes, chief whip?

Time to prepare for the afternoon question period, Prime Minister

One last thought, Prime Minister

There's more than one way to skin this cat

lf things remain as they are

let Eisenhower be the de facto figurehead

Just don't formalize it, leave some room for the rest of us

Oh, l'm sure you'll find some way to maneuver, General

You know my admiration for your soldiering skills

There are two kinds of problem drinkers, Chief Whip

Those who drink too much and those who drink too little

I believe it's a religious thing with the General. Strict Methodist, I think

Oh, might be an asset

Way the odds are on this thing

we could use somebody on close terms with God

Giving Monty a private audience?

You could call it that

Man's a pain in the ass

Kind of megalomaniac who's got his own ideas how to win this war

He'll never accept you Ike, I admire Churchill as much as any man

but not even he could sell that without some sticking in the craw

Churchill's not there to sell, his job is making decisions

Mine is to make them work

Yeah, well, you're tough enough to make it happen

Even with the generals and admirals he offended

Well, l'm glad you feel that way Brad, because if we foul up

we'll end up sharing a planning and supply desk in Washington

You'd lose your operational rank They'd take away three of those stars

Remember '38 in the summer? Yeah

Careers had stalled We figured we'd be passed over

and mustered out within a year As Colonels.

Yes, as Colonels So we'd still be ahead of the game

Now, tell me about the tanks in the sand.

Those beaches aren't really sand, they're pebble and rock

Your 3 o'clock meeting is here

Your 'unfriendly' friendly I'll slip out the back

Tut-tut

Needlessly timid, if you ask me And I trust you are asking me

Of course. That's why we're here. For a frank discussion, just you and me

Good. Then I will be frank

Like all battles, this one will be won on the ground

But not necessarily by infantry men, one foot at a time

Armour can slash through first, leaving infantry to consolidate gains

but that requires a flexible master plan

We might find a sudden lunge across the low countries, a dagger aimed

at the heart of Berlin could end the war by Christmas

The concept for a broad landing at Normandy has been approved

Given the political sensibilities involved

there's no going back on that

You're the supreme commander The politics are your concern

My interest is the most effective strategy

and tactical moves to support it

A massive invasion will be tipped to Jerry's intelligence, we know that

He'll be ready to defend across a broad front

A slashing blow will be harder for him to concentrate his troops against

with any depth

Unless the German knows where the slashing blow is coming

Then, as you put it, with his intelligence alerted

You're being inflexible

l'm adhering to a master plan

Once we have established beachhead, we can reexamine our options

I see

And as commander of all land forces, I'll have my say in that reexamination?

Absolutely

Now, let me outline my expectations

for your ground forces once ashore

Here, the ground slopes easily

Sir, it wouldn't take more than 15 minutes

Fifteen minutes better spent on real work, captain

With respect, sir, public relations is real work

Sir, I know you don't have time for the press

but folks back home need to know who you are.

Human face of the leader, sir

Mr. Roosevelt is their leader, and mine.

Yeah, but-- lnterview division commanders

Try some platoon sergeants

What about my chief of staff, General Smith?

What do you say, Beetle? Want to show the world your human face?

Sorry, sir. I wasn't issued one

This isn't MacArthur's HQ, where he has to be at the center of everything

We're a team here

So go get some publicity for the running backs. That is all

Yes, sir

He's arrived. I saw. I could hardly miss it

Beetle, he's brilliant, but sometimes he acts like a child

Are you thinking of sending him home?

Let's have him

He'll see you now

You gonna keep the helmet on? Damn right.

I think you know why you're here

More or less

Some prep-head politician stateside got pissed at the truth

That's neither more nor less, George. lt's damned ignorant

''Anglo-Saxons to rule the postwar world.'' What the hell is that?

The straight skinny

When this is over, it will be us and the Brits

have to put the world back together

That's gonna come as a surprise to Stalin

who's losing millions on the eastern front

Yeah, communism's for the next war

Goddamn it, George. Shut up

The Czechs are also in this war

And the Dutch and the Danes and God knows who else

And above all

it's racialism

lt's the very thing we're fighting

I can't have my generals spouting idiocy Hitler would applaud

Anglo-Saxon superiority? That's exactly the kind of pigheaded crap

that will make Stalin think we are the next enemy

Sometimes I think you don't have the vaguest idea why we're fighting

That's not fair, lke lt is if it's true

l'm not sending a bunch of fresh young kids from lowa and California

and New York and Nebraska to die on French beaches for the freedom

of people they know nothing about so we can establish a new racial order

l'm asking them to die to prevent precisely that

And they're ready to do it And that's why they're heroes

And why slapping a shell-shocked soldier as a malingerer is never

never permissible! Do you understand me, sir?

You should know that despite the fact

that he doubts your worthiness to command

that General Marshall has left it to me to decide how to handle this

So I ask you again. Do you understand?

Sir, yes, sir. I understand completely

I do, lke. I swear I do

What I don't get, I'll study I promise

I swear, I promise. Just please

don't send me home

Please, lke

I couldn't bear to be in Washington when the show starts

Don't do that to me. I beg you

Soldier to soldier, that I'll keep my mouth shut. I promise you

Soldier to soldier

Soldier to soldier

I wish it were that simple.

You were my mentor.

My senior officer, who told me once a long time ago

that one day l'd be giving him orders.

Well, that day's come, George. And that's the truth.

Soldier to soldier.

Last time, Georgie.

Last time.

Thank you.

Sir, may I return to my headquarters now?

Gentlemen.

Played him like a violin. Ate out of my hand, he did. Drive on.

-How'd it go? -l'm keeping him on.

Probably thinks he put one over on me.

Hell, maybe he did.

Let's keep him in Maidenhead, commanding his fictitious army.

Now Rommel thinks he's my ace.

Besides, once we get ashore, I'll need him

to command real tanks.

Traff, what you got?

Early estimates of airborne losses.

Assume perfect weather, and we go with a full or half-moon.

No crosswind at the drop zone, losses could be low as 8 percent.

But should any of the elements turn against us, casualties will spiral.

They might hit a quarter or more.

One in four.

What's the split between wounded and dead?

Oh, with paratroopers, one might as well assume they're all dead.

A wounded jumper is a cripple.

And we all know this enemy.

l'm ahead of you.

What the hell time is it?

lt's 0520.

But you want to be woken for this.

ln from Southwest Command, just decoded.

All chiefs of staff in the map room, 20 minutes.

No doubt in your mind about this?

Afraid not.

The craft's scars could only be made by Krupp Essen U-210 torpedoes.

Then the German is right off the coast.

What about damage? Too much for a loner.

Absolutely. This was a full pack.

ln daylight, C-search patrols can spot E-boats

as soon as they come close enough to fire torpedoes.

But at night, under radar .

Then what in damnation were men doing out there after nightfall?

Landing-craft drivers were having a difficult time

managing these new duplex-drive craft.

They're fragile in anything but good weather.

Division commander felt they needed more experience.

Then the man is a damned fool and should be relieved of his command.

You won't find any of my divisional commanders

playing silly buggers with Jerry concealed.

How many landing craft lost?

First estimates are at 11 , possibly 12. But we've only seen two or three hulls.

Any intercepted Jerry signals?

E-boat captains radioed Berlin, claiming two dozen.

We went on the air with a decodable signal

to Patton's fictitious army

saying it lost five landing craft.

First reports back from Signal Corps

indicate Jerry bought the whole program.

l'd be surprised if Jerry's really buying the idea

that the bulk of our forces are in the east.

I wouldn't. Not with activity in the southwest.

I take your point.

But we have fake tanks, trucks and landing craft

deployed throughout that entire region.

And our psychological warfare squads in Norwich

generate more radio traffic than our entire force doubled.

They use a new magnetic wire that records Morse messages

and repeats it night and day. From what we monitor

the Germans have moved a full signal battalion to Dieppe

in order to sort it out.

We have Patton's HQ in Maidenhead.

The enemy is certain he will be field commander of any Allied invasion.

They can't imagine anyone else. Well, hell.

lf Hitler had half his wits about him, he'd be on Monty's tail night and day.

And there is no sign that the 3rd Air Fleet, the 16th Army

or any of 16 panzer divisions southward.

I think we fooled them.

He believes Patton's fictitious army is real.

He's not really watching Normandy.

For now, at least. Precisely, for now.

Rommel's no fool. Sooner or later, he'll figure out there's a limit

to the size of our force, send flights

to inspect Patton's army and discover

that all his tanks and trucks are nothing but papier mache.

Tell me about these men we lost.

And what is this duplex-drive problem on the damn landing craft?

The DDs? Well, the men call them Donald Ducks

because they're not that easy to understand.

lt takes practice to reach the skill level necessary

to master the two output levels.

One for the high seas and the other for soft landings on a beach.

We were short of the bloody things before.

That's an entire battalion's passage gone.

Could be a month before we get replacement craft.

lt's only 19 days to the half-moon and the right high tide.

Look, if we can trick Rommel for 19 days through to mid May

surely we can push him to the next useful moon and tide.

That would be June 5th, sir.

All this dithering around is bloody annoying, General Eisenhower.

My men are ready to go. I say the sooner the better.

Leaving it to June is a tremendous risk. What if there's a storm?

Then we've lost June. We have to put it off to July. Six weeks to September.

lt's not enough to land the army.

We have to get tanks ashore, get inland

before the worst of autumn weather slows us down.

What can you give me in June, Stagg?

Expecting a fine English summer, sir.

I mean, meteorology's a fair bit of witchcraft

but all indications are for one of our better Junes.

Three extra weeks means at least 1 00 more LSTs.

Give us more time to pulverize the rail lines out of Germany.

And railheads in France. The men are becoming very impatient.

Dulls their itch. And sooner or later

we won't be able to hide the size of our force in the southwest.

May 19th or June 5th?

Or the fail-safe last chance in July?

Mid July.

Leaving maybe eight weeks, if there's an early frost

to establish a beachhead for half a million men.

How doable is that?

That's what I thought.

Please have it factored in for the next meeting, gentlemen. Thank you.

I know the reason you're here.

Of course, the loss of these men is...

Yes, of course. But I was referring to your other reason.

Other reason?

You have the advantage over me, sir.

I certainly hope so. lt's my job.

I am told you've committed to June.

Given up on a May landing.

I assume Monty kept you informed.

No names, no pack drill.

But of course, General, you are in Britain.

You must assume I have resources to keep myself in the picture.

And I understand from Mr. Roosevelt

that the additional time will increase the number

of these newfangled landing craft.

The president is my security leak?

Hardly.

But even if he were, he is your superior.

And my good friend and ally.

Never forget, General, you serve at our pleasure.

Then if it please you, sir, we need to delay till June 4 or 5.

l'm promised excellent weather.

By then, we will have 100 more landing craft.

So

the fate of our two great nations comes down

to things called LSTs and Donald Ducks.

Well, if it be so, so be it. And yes, General, I accede to you once more.

June it is.

Good. Thank you.

But that raises another problem, sir.

Further delay creates almost unbearable pressure on our security.

We can't let the Germans sense we're only making a feint at Calais.

lf Rommel moves his main force to Normandy, we'd be stacking bodies.

There's only one way to be certain that German spies

or loose lips don't stumble across our activities

and anticipate our moves.

That is to seal the coast across the south of England and Wales

to all unauthorized traffic.

Most of it is sealed already.

I mean all of it

No civilian traffic whatsoever.

Are you mad, sir? Do you not realiSe that no one in Britain

lives more than 150 miles from the sea?

lt is no accident that Britannia rules the waves and all that business.

We are a people whose entire destiny is linked to the sea

Which is why you must now turn your people away from it.

lmpossible

lt might mean thousands

tens of thousands of young men's lives

I will give you this, General.

You know how to take charge.

lt's not about power, sir.

lt is simply the judicious use of the responsibility you entrusted me with.

Only under duress and your threats to walk out. l'd have you remember that.

Yes, sir

The Ministry of lnformation unedited footage

spied by the 3rd Red Army Film Corps

The surrender of the German 7th Army

Hitler refuses to allow further withdrawal

Throws three panzer divisions from the western front to the east.

They're on the APC Look at that

Three less we have to face. One more reason to rethink a broad front.

Ride a dagger-thrust road straight to Berlin

And we'll have the French to help us along

Smuggled, unedited film from Warsaw Ghetto

where Jews resist an entire German army for six weeks.

Twice as long as the well-fed French Army in 1940

Don't count on them to help us along

Supreme commander meets with soldiers of the line.

Give me five minutes. I'll have tonight's feature ready.

What have you got? Sahara.

Bogart wins the war in North Africa. Not bloody likely

I'll be off, then

I'll walk you out

lt's supposed to be a good movie. Not much taste for cinema, myself.

Besides, never enough time for preparation, is there?

Well, we all need some recreation.

Movie once a week, let the hair down, it seems to do the trick.

lf you say so. Although, if you don't mind me saying so

that jeering when you came on the screen, a bit much, you know.

Good-natured, as I see it.

Undisciplined

So is using German troop movements

to push your plan for a dagger thrust again.

The broad assault is a closed matter

I allow all my sub-commanders latitude, General

but restraint is also a virtue.

Yes, sir

Point taken

He looks cold

Yeah

But if we get our asses kicked, we won't be walking across snowy tundra.

We'll have to swim back.

Truth is, I wasn't looking at Napoleon. I was thinking about the soldiers.

Johnny's graduating from the academy this session. June 6th.

Proud moment

Have your son succeed you at West Point

Yeah, I can't believe I won't be there.

Cheer him and shake his hand.

You'll see him soon enough. And when you do

Yeah.

lt stinks

lt does

But any way you look at it, we're getting off easy from this war.

I'll most likely live to see it over.

And my son won't be in it for as long as most

But on the other hand

this war is still your burden.

And the rest of us, we're just supporting cast.

lf it's any comfort

so far, general, you are giving one hell of a great performance.

I don't think I needed to hear my job described

quite like that, General Smith.

I loved your crack at Monty about the French

Oh, thank you. We bought them from Harrods.

Harrods? Oh, he splashed out

Wow, that is beautiful.

A lousy wine, Edgar

But not for long, huh? Soon be downing the best French stuff.

What do you say, Edgar? I reckon four days from the beaches to Paris.

Get there on the 8th I have no idea

what you're talking about, Henry. Nor do you, get it?

Watch it, colonel. Remember who you're talking to.

Major general. Don't you damn well forget it either, Henry.

Come, Edith, it's time we powdered our noses

Henry, you're a goddamned idiot. Just button it up

What's the big deal? The whole world will know soon enough.

lt is a 100-to-1 shot because it's more than the line of duty.

There's so little chance of any us coming out of it.

I ought to put it up to you.

You all got families at home. Wives, mothers and sweethearts.

I ain't got no one, so it doesn't matter about me.

I know how you feel about it.

He actually said, ''June 4th,'' in the hotel grill?

That place is packed that time of night

What the hell was he thinking?

-He had too much to drink. -Henry Miller is a major general.

Entertaining guests with inside knowledge

is a betrayal of the men he commands

Of course

How'd Chapman get onto this?

A junior officer from the 101st was at the next table. He contacted his CO.

Well, did you speak to the officer? Yeah, yeah

A first lieutenant. Young man from Philadelphia.

Feels awful about the thing. Didn't want to be thought a snitch.

But?

But he said he commanded a platoon of airborne infantry.

His chances were bad enough without making it easier for the Krauts.

Then he's a damn sight better officer than Miller.. and smarter.

Henry was a roommate at West Point.

One of my closest friends.

You know, the word stayed closed. No one really knows about it.

I do

At ease

Ike, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I...

I don't know what got into me. I do

I swear, I'll never touch another drop.

You're lying

So, what will you do with me? What do you think?

Oh, please. lke, don't do this to me.

We go back too far. We're old friends. You can't cut me loose.

lt might be easier if we didn't have so much history, Hank.

But the stakes are way too big. You'll have to go home immediately

and you won't be coming back.

We both owe that to the men who will be dead in a few weeks.

I'll lose my operational rank. I'll go home in disgrace, a major.

You can't send me home

You owe me something. I'm part of the inner circle.

That's the worst thing you could have said

There is no inner circle. Only those who will live and those who will die.

And you don't seem to get that.

Send him home immediately. Loss of theater rank

Try to keep him a colonel if you can.

And on his record?

''Deemed more useful in HQ. Skills not needed in theater of operation.''

The thing about all the power, Beetle

it isn't the big decisions that weigh heavy

Hell, you can decide to invade Russia at dinner.

Pick Waterloo for battle on a whim.

lt's the details. The small stuff.

lt's easy to gamble a million lives. What's hard,

is to see how that can hurt one single person

And if you can't keep that straight...

hell,

you'll lose your humanity.

Won't you?

I couldn't say, sir

As you were

Good morning, Beetle Same to you

I thought you quit smoking.

l'm trying. Ready for the big day? lt's the big moment

Anything good in the paper?

No, not really

lt's stateside, but, hey, it's three days old.

Walter, you're my chief of staff, not my HQ censor.

''While lke's a good administrator and a good organizer

he lacks the military flare of a Montgomery

or the audacity of a Patton.

Yet, for better or worse, he's the man they call Supreme Commander.''

You know, lke

a little public relations wouldn't do any harm.

Oh, it would, and you know it.

We're surrounded by some of the biggest swelled heads in history.

My job is keeping them pulling together in the same direction.

I can't do that if l'm competing with them for newspaper ink.

This is your plan. You developed it.

You fought Churchill for it, all the politicians, even FDR

No, this is your show. The world ought to know it.

Maybe One day, but not this day.

This day, we have other fish to fry, General.

Now may I have some coffee? Yes, sir

Oh, a point of principle, old man.

A bad habit in my opinion. Never been permitted in my HQ.

Oh, all right, Monty, if it's so damned important to you.

I did agree to use your ground for this.

Churchill makes the final decision on what they buy. Only him.

But don't oversell. He can smell bull pucky a mile away.

You are acquainted with Eisenhower, an American cousin.

Yes. Good to see you again.

Prime minister tells us we may have great confidence in this undertaking.

Oh, I never disagree with Mr. Churchill, Your Majesty.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

How delighted we are to see you again, General.

We look forward to our private luncheon next week.

As do l, ma'am. I thank you.

General, if you please.

Excuse me.

Your Majesties, Mr. Prime Minister

honoured guests, dignitaries, I'm Dwight Eisenhower

commander-in-Chief, Supreme Headquarters

Allied Expeditionary Force, European Theater of Operation.

Just getting the title straight is tiring enough

So I will leave much of today's business

to my trusted and gifted colleagues, brothers-in-arms.

We are from different traditions, different services

but we are united in this crusade.

We shall liberate Europe. We shall restore freedom.

We shall make the world safe for democracy.

There is no other cause so urgent as to bring us so far from our homes.

This is our purpose

This is Operation Overlord.

Explaining how we will succeed is best done by my chiefs of staff

starting with General Montgomery

commander, 21st Army Group and responsible for all our land forces.

General, if you will.

Your Majesties,

Of the enemy's 60 divisions in France, 10 are armoured

Commanded by Erwin Rommel.

As you know, I faced him in the desert and bested him.

But make no mistake, Rommel is an energetic--

Clever, putting Monty front and center

--so he can bring his tanks southward

But we shall make a strike forward here

I hope to make Falaise 32 miles inland within 40 hours.

Paratroopers will total over 30,000 men

The largest drop in history. Casualties will be high

but the size of the force should draw two enemy divisions

from the beaches, just as our men are ready to disembark.

To take the left flank

we need to land enough men to swamp Hitler's Atlantic wall.

Losses amongst the British and Canadian troops

will be heavy during the assault wave

but easing off as they move past the pillboxes

While fighter command provides cover for the beach assault

and strafes the Atlantic wall

General Spaatz will smash the rail links leading south from La Manche

delaying any attempt by Rommel to reinforce his southern defenses.

Well, Your Majesties, gentlemen, there it is

We're anxious to hear your thoughts, additions, criticisms, the floor is open.

I am impressed by the detail

the comprehensiveness of your planning

But the expected losses, the sheer carnage

I also ache at that thought, Your Majesty

I remember my first trip to Europe as a young man.

I felt blessed to be here, to see it

to touch the origins of my own country that I love so dearly.

I hoped one day that all Americans would have the same opportunity.

Now hundreds of thousands will, along with Britons and Canadians

and European Allies fighting to return home.

This kind of visit isn't what I had in mind

but if they do not offer the sacrifice of blood now

we will all pay dearly with added gallons later.

So if some must die,

it is in a worthy cause.

I am in this thing with you till the very end

and if it fails, we both go down together.

lt's dicey to get out on a limb with disturbances over Baffin lsland.

lf they form a front and move across the North Atlantic, this time of year

l'd say six days for a top-speed journey

and with the proposed landing a week away

You realize, group captain, that this may be

the most important weather forecast in history.

I do indeed, sir

Which is why I'd feel a lot more comfortable

if I could have another two days before committing.

The admiral can correct me if l'm wrong

but if we don't move the men toward the ships

we're gonna miss the tide, sir. I'll be damned if I wait till July.

The men will go stark raving mad.

June 5 is a go. Issue the movement orders.

Well done. We'll do it proud, lke.

I'll be in Falaise in 72 hours, Paris by the Autumn

Paris in the fall. Bless you, Monty.

No one can say you don't tackle things with two fists. I admire confidence.

Let's all get some of that.

All of you

Godspeed !

Thank you

Good luck

You're sure this is how you want it, General?

Yes, Prime Minister

You see no value to me or President Roosevelt

speaking directly to the people of Europe?

Not until the landings are an assured success

This way, if it fails, I will be the first one to address

the question of the invasion.

You and the president will be blameless

l'm expendable. You two are not.

Shoulder the whole burden alone to the very end, is it?

One conductor is what I asked for and what you've given me.

You've made the manly choice, I admire it

All the same, between we two

surely God himself must tremble at the task that lies before you.

And it is God's work you do, lke

for you hold all our lives in your hands

lf I do God's work, then he will be at my side and I cannot fail.

Although, candidly, God hasn't been much help with DeGaulle.

Not even God could move him. And it's no use looking to me.

DeGaulle hates me

He ignores that France is collaborating with the enemy.

Pretends Vichy doesn't exist and Jews aren't being rounded up.

A horrid man

but he guards French prerogatives jealously.

Take another run at him, lke. I'll back any bargain you strike.

Would you just assure me of one thing?

The sands on these Norman beaches

dense enough for tanks?

You can drink to it, sir.

Once more

unto the breach, dear friends. Once more

or close the wall up with our English dead

ln peace, there's nothing so becomes a man

as modest stillness and humility.

But when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the tiger.

Do you get the feeling Europeans

have been at this war thing for a long time?

Too long lt's almost as if they like war.

I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle

How can they charitably dispose?

Sounds like Shakespeare had it all figured out

Yeah

But he was writing after the war was over and won.

lt's spooky

listening to words written 400 years ago about our battlefields.

Words about blood and grief.

Very spooky

But if I may, ours is not to reason why

Of course it is, we're the generals.

I think Monty's got Churchill worried that the beaches won't hold the tanks.

l've told you a hundred times, we've done our homework.

The sand will support the tank track rails with ease.

I don't think that's what's bothering you

You read Marshall's letter. About the paratroopers? Yes, I did.

What'd you make of it? He's wrong

He says drop the jumpers behind the beaches

Try to draw the Germans in two directions

lf I were Rommel, l'd ignore them. Concentrate everything on the beach.

l'd do the same. Every hour I delay the invasion force from moving in

would be another hour airborne units would be isolated.

Exactly. Besides, I need those men

all 30,000 of them, to keep nipping at the Krauts' heels.

They have to be close to force Rommel to deal with them.

Yeah, but the drop zones, Brad.

You heard Leigh-Mallory's estimate of losses with a close drop. Carnage.

How would a distant drop be better?

lf inland progress was slow, we'd have those men

wandering around France looking for something to eat.

We'd be repeating the mistake we made in Anzio

Marshall's a godfather to us, Brad. I hate to cross the old man.

lt's like a friend of mine said:

''One supreme commander, one voice.''

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers

For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother

be he ne'er so base.

And gentlemen in England, now abed

shall think themselves accursed they were not here

and hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks

that fought with us upon St. Crispin's Day!

- My sovereign lord

I hope the main attraction's a bit more cheerful

lt's Rita Hayworth. A hell of a lot easier on the eye than that bunch.

- l've been in the theater years - and never seen..

Excuse me, please.

Why don't you be a good boy and scram

- Of course, we'll go-- - No, that's all right

- You're perfectly welcomed to stay here, - but this guy--

- This guy

- I'm sorry. That's my one virtue

McGuire. Hello.

- I'm sorry.

- It's a little crowded here. - Would you mind moving over?

- Oh, that's quite all right, - make yourself at home.

- Dearest Mamie

- at last, the days grow longer, - and we will soon be in it.

- I face that with neither dread - nor joy.

How I wish this cruel business of war could be completed quickly.

lt leaves me heartsick to think of sending so many men

against Hitler's Atlantic wall.

I admit to having developed a veneer of callousness

but counting the human cost is a terribly sad business

and no veneer of callousness allows me to escape the truth

that back home, the news brings anguish and suffering.

- So many youngsters - already gone forever

- Mothers, fathers, brothers

sisters back home must have a difficult time

retaining any belief in the eternal rightness of things.

There is no true glory in war!

- Yes, sir - At 0900

- Yes

Intelligence signals confirm Rommel moved the 116th Panzer Division through the night

basing at Verville. That is shouting distance from the main drops.

Is it a single redeployment or part of larger movement?

So far, just a one-shot affair, but he by-passed Juno, Sword and Gold

and sent them directly to Utah and Omaha.

That doesn't change my view.

Ike, we have to have the airborne as close as possible.

Ike, I need jumpers breathing down the Germans' necks

pulling them around.

The plan always called for the diversion to be direct...

I know !

I know

You're new here. What's your name? Corporal William Younger, ma'am.

All right, now remember, we hear nothing in this room.

And we never speak.

No matter what, we never stop work.

The king himself may enter, but what we're doing must take priority.

Now carry on.

- They deserve a force at the Krauts' ass... - Stop.

I know the risks for both sides

but neither of you makes a decisive case.

How many ways can I say it?

I'm counting on those jumpers to split Germans' attention

ease pressure on the assault wave.

And they should have, but that was before Rommel redeployed.

One division isn't a redeployment.

For men in my drop, it's a potential disaster.

Jumpers and glider-borne troops are sitting ducks

for the first 10 minutes until they regroup.

Damn, there goes another.

It's the 81 st lnfantry.

Wehrmacht, conscripts, the crack units are still to the north.

Perhaps, but if Jerry's reinforcing the whole damn region

we'll lose 70 percent of glider borne troops before they're out of planes.

And the jumpers?

Some of them will make it, but they'll be far shorter the numbers you'll need

if seaborne landings are depending on airborne to distract Jerry.

Traff, you're saying there's no middle ground. We should cancel the drop.

We don't want to see the slaughter of two fine divisions.

The 101 st and the 82nd are elite, lke. We'll need them down the line.

We'll need them on June 5th. Otherwise the entire German army

will let loose on my assault waves. My loss will be at least trapped 70 percent.

All right.

Thank you. l've heard both sides.

I need a night to sleep on it.

Sorry to disturb, sir May l ?

lf it's good news.

Well, sir, I wish I could say it was

but it's getting a little bit uncertain.

You said it would take days for systems

to get from Baffin lsland to here.

And so it should, sir.

But unless they dislodge from the jet stream

a meteorological possibility, they're not in anyway...

I can't work with possibilities, Group Captain

At minimum, I need probabilities.

Are there such things as meteorological probabilities?

There will be, sir, within hours.

Not fast enough, group captain. I need hourly reports

Yes, sir

He doesn't make weather, he only talks about it.

Then get him to say nicer things.

Look, give me some time to work on this airborne thing.

I'll send for you when l've figured it out.

Yes. What is it?

Our friends at HQ say the airborne decision is at a head

lf you're to be heard, now would be the hour, sir.

And what do you think, Wyatt?

Tho the jumpers lnland, they're no help to the landing force

Keep them close, they could be shredded

Let's see how he works it out. Thank you, Wyatt

lf I may...

it's the right decision.

Divisional commanders can't factor in the weather and the seas

supplies, naval support, DeGaulle, the politics

Besides, it's not their job.

I'll inform Leigh-Mallory and Brad in the morning,

don't publish that order until I do.

You better get some sleep.

You have another dragon to slay tomorrow

I've considered it

Either way, some units will sustain devastating losses.

But this invasion is largely dependent on sea and air power.

Our land troops are inferior

if for no other reason than they're not on land.

So our most important job is securing beachheads.

Deference must be given to protecting troops trying to come ashore

to clear the way for the armour and artillery that will push Rommel back.

That being the case, despite the projected losses, Traff

even 70 percent, the airborne operation has to go.

lt's the toughest choice l've ever had to make.

Do everything to diminish the hazards.

Go over every detail a thousand times.

But as painful as it is, those soldiers will have to bear the rough portion.

General Bradley's assault troops must be given every edge we can find.

A perfectly sound decision.

We'll keep Jerry watching out for his backside

You get yours to those jumpers as soon as you can

Count on it

Thank you, gentlemen

Brad..

Whenever the hell he wakes up, l'm seeing Churchill.

We know he's going to bring up... -Will you lay off Ike?

l've told you, the sand will hold.

We've made our own tests with light bombs, the Resistance have given us measurements.

I know that, if the first of those storms hits the beaches about the same time we do

you're looking at maybe 2 inches of rain.

Maybe 20-foot swells, eating at the beaches, huge erosion

Would you still go in that kind of weather?

lf we don't go now A lot can happen in three weeks.

They'd get onto us, Rommel can move more men

So I ask you again, my good friend, what if the conditions are marginal?

The beaches will be firm, I know they will

You can trust me on this and not worry yourself about it further.

Thank you, General. General.

Salute! Attention!

Thank you for taking the time to join us, General.

Not even your headman's Kansas charm can melt the French iceberg.

Don't bet on it

Attention, all ranks! General officer!

As you were

Come, General. Let me provide you with some details.

Prime minister...

lf the Frenchman can back up his manner

he'd be able to control the weather for us.. and the tides

- All we want is he tells - the French to welcome us

Bloody neutrality might mean they'll work against us

like some did at Dunkirk.

My, my..

it seems that our work isn't up to the General's level

General DeGaulle, I trust your confidence is buoyed.

889A Au contrairé, Monsieur Churchill

I think your Operation Overlord is poorly conceived.

I have explained its failures to General Eisenhower

He has all the information he needs to make the necessary corrections

I'm grateful for the general's contributions

I'll explain them to you all later.

Although, as l've told the General, with regret

we simply don't have the time to make the changes suggested.

Perhaps ermm..

you could use a moment alone

to discuss other matters?

Yes, sir.

General?

What do you expect from me, General?

This is, after all, your speech. Yes

But it is to be broadcast to the French people on the eve of their liberation.

I was hoping for your support since, afterall we recognise you

as their legitimate voice

Of course you do. There is no one else

So I shall give my own address when the time comes.

As, of course, you must. But it is our hope, our urgent hope

that you'll endorse my own remarks

and that is why my speech should be concern you

Your remarks concern me greatly, General Eisenhower.

But not for the reasons you might like

Okay, what's wrong with it?

Firstly, you urge Frenchmen to follow your orders?

Only I will command the people of France.

I understand that, we all do.

But this operation can only work if it speaks with one voice.

So they say.

You even ask my people to accept Allied money.

Yet, as President of the provisional government, only I can issue currency.

You say local administrations will stay in place.

For stability, General.

Only I shall decide what to do with Vichy officials.

No, no. lt's quite impossible, I'll never accept

that you can speak for all the Allies.

The British have,

the Canadians, the Australians, the exiled Dutch and Poles.

Roosevelt and Churchill have agreed.

Come to think of it, you're the only exception.

You will not treat us like ltaly. We are not German allies.

ln fact, the Vichy government is precisely that, General.

But we will liberate France and treat her as an ally nonetheless.

All I ask is that you speak on the radio after my address

and call on your people to aid us in their liberation.

Speak after you? lmpossible.

That would imply I approve of your program.

I understand.

Allow me to see you to your car.

You're wet, Stagg. Aye, sir.

lt started raining.

I find that very depressing. Depressing. Yes.

Well, three depressions, actually. One after the other.

They rolled in from Baffin lsland in unbelievably quick time.

l've never seen it like-- How long before they pass through?

All three? Yes.

Three to five days Might be some calm in between them.

Meantime, we're looking at swells of up to 40 feet mid-Channel

30-feet breakers on the landing zones

and winds of up to 50 miles an hour.

We can't get the gliders and C-47s off the ground.

Even if we did, they'd be blown all over Europe when they jumped.

Embarkation status, Birdie?

Crew's aboard ship, vessel's fully loaded.

Mulberries and LST is fueled. More crafts still at mooring.

C-47s in place, gliders leashed.

Men ready for boarding on 30 minutes' notice.

We can't send them this, they'll drown before they get there

True enough, some will.

But we have to calculate the margins.

This might work to our advantage afterall

it is certain Jerry won't expect an invasion force in this weather.

Of course, it is up to you but with all the goodwill in the world

we can't wait forever. No

But we can wait one more day. We owe the men that

Disembarkation is delayed 24 hours to Tuesday.

We meet at 01:30 hours tomorrow morning to finalize.

Sir, there's a definite break almost immediately at hand.

What kind of break?

This dreadful torrent that seems

ready to wash us away will lift in three hours or so.

For how long? What's off the lrish coast?

A nasty low, but even at top speed

it would need 36 hours to reach the Normandy coast

Meanwhile, winds will moderate

The bombers and fighters should be able to operate starting tomorrow evening

and right into June 6th

At best, a moderately good night for drop zones

For air power, generally

Heavy and medium bombers will find the going, well, chancy at best

True but we could press our entire force of fighter-bombers into service

They'd operate well under these conditions

Yes. I expect they would.

But if Stagg could give us a larger window on the 7th--

I'd take comfort in that.

I'm not ready to give up on the 6th, Stagg.

Sir

Would you know more by 0200 hours, son?

I expect we'd have a better sense of the speed

of the next storm's approach, yes.

I'm afraid that's not good enough, old man.

The American task force has the longest sea journey

Now, they must put to sea in the next half-hour

if Overlord's to happen on the 6th.

And further, if you have Admiral Kirk set sail then recall his fleet

for worsening weather, he can't refuel,

won't be ready in time for the 7th. Too late after that.

Tides and moon won't be in the right alignment on the 8th.

Any reason we shouldn't go on the 6th, Monty?

I would say go.

One hell of a gamble to go now

Very chancy.. I know.

The question is, how long can we hang this operation

on the end of a limb and just let it dangle there?

I'm quite positive the order must be given

Signal will go to the fleet immediately, sir

We meet again at 0400 hours for a report on their progress

that'll be our last chance to hold off till July.

Finally going as I predicted, sir. The break is almost upon us.

Long-range forecast still unpleasant

but I can promise the weather will clear in a matter of hours.

Gentlemen,

I command you

but you command the men I'm about to throw into battle

One last go-round, please.

Well, they're almost in the Channel.

The weather front is moving faster than the ships.

By the time the LSTs reach landfall, sea shall be calm

I say, no turning back

Agreed! A dark day for airborne, l'm afraid

Well, if there is to be a recall, it must be now

Let's go...

- Sixth Airborne K-12!

Stand-by, signal, stand-by

- 89, 77 in the wing.

Last one at the dance?

Or the first?

Hell, that's just the way it is, Beetle.

One minute l'm exactly what Churchill described,

the most powerful man in history.

Now the order's given, hell, i'm just audience

Front row, center, to be sure.

But a corporal on Juno, a private on Utah

they're the ones who will affect the outcome, not me

It's up to them now

Yes, sir

All right, gather round

Ten minutes to onload, just enough time for a visitor.

The Supreme Commander himself is coming to see us off

No kidding Hell, I'll bet he ain't coming with, boys.

It's not his job

Besides, he hasn't earned his 'Jump Wings'

All right. Here's the protocol. Do not speak unless spoken to.

lf he asks you a question

you'll find that Generals are not interested in the personal

Be prepared to answer questions such as:

Where you trained, where you did jump school.

What kind of medals and ribbons you've earned, stuff like that.

All right?

Seven out of 10, Beetle Maybe more

In God's hands, sir

At ease, gather round

That's an order, jumpers.

Smoke them if you got them.

Where you from, son? Basic at Dix, jumped at Bragg, sir

Corporal, I asked where you're from.

You had a life before the Army, didn't you?

You bet I did, sir. I'm a Chicago boy.

Southside. Good for you.

How about you? Where you from? New Orleans, sir.

Nebraska, sir. Go Corn Huskers.

That's the wrong team, jumper.

Anybody here from Kansas? I'm from Kansas, sir.

Go get them, Jayhawks. You bet. Look out, Hitler.

Yeah!

All ready, then? Yes, sir

No, we ain't worried, General

It's the Krauts that ought to be worrying now.

Excuse me, sir. Do you have a light?

Yes, I do, Lieutenant. Thank you, sir.

Our landings on the French coast have failed

to gain a satisfactory foothold, and I have withdrawn the troops.

My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon

the best information available.

If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.

If it all goes wrong, if Overlord fails

give that to the press.

Of course, Overlord did not fail.

How could it?

With so many fine young men and women from all corners of the earth

all determined to do their best to free a world gone half-mad.

There would be setbacks.

There would be small triumphs, even in the first few hours

A message from Leigh-Mallory.

Read it

''Urgent-

Sir, it is at times difficult to admit one is wrong

But I have the great pleasure in doing so on this occasion

Casualties are dramatically below my estimates.

I congratulate you on your command decision

and apologize for adding to the Supreme Commander's worries.

Leigh-Mallory.''

Any numbers? Early estimates

about 20 percent.

Carry on, General Sir

Twenty percent is so much better than 70

But the loss of even one of this gallant band is a loss

to all decent humanity everywhere

And besides, if the person killed in action is you or the one you love

then the odds are 100 percent in that case.

They knew that, these great crusaders,

they went anyway.

Too many of them are now with God

We may never see their like again

We may never see their like again...

Corrected and rewritten by MarineSWS 'MSWS ' @ Subscene.com