This is Regiment 2 headquarters calling Corporal Steiner
Can you pick me up, Steiner?
Steiner, can you hear me?
Good kill!
Look, my new weapon
- Not for yourself - They're ammunition
- Your hat - Ralf
Look at that
- Nothing we haven't seen before - Steiner
Look what I found running around in the back. A Russian fledging
Put it down
Quickly!
We go
If you can get Meyer, tell him we need transportation from
- Checkpoint 7 - Right
Bring him with us
Push, push, push, push!
Come on, come on! Quickly!
Alright, stop
This damned country!
It's certainly new adventure but
I have a feeling that one of these days this land will swallow us up
Captain Stransky, sir
- I'm Brandt, you're welcome - Thank you, sir
This is my adjutant Captain Kiesle
Captain, how are you?
Thanks for asking, Captain I feel terrible. I've got diarrhea
How are you?
You should meet your adjutant Lieutenant Triebig
He's also a new arrival
Won't you join us in a glass of wine?
Oh, that's very kind of you, sir
- Take my coat, please - Yes, sir
My respect, Colonel
A 1937 Moselle in the southernmost corner of Russia?
Remarkable!
A bottle of Mosells is no more out of place in this region
than we are ourselves
Your health, gentlemen
I'm not gonna drink to my health It's not worth drinking to
To the end of the war?
Colonel, why does our presence here strike you as so absurd?
Captain, why did you ask to be released from duty in France?
I want to get the Iron Cross
We can give one of mine
No, no, I'm just joking
Actually it's exactly what my commanding officer in France
asked me, I can't stop you he said
Since I'm convinced that without you
the eastern front would collapse in a matter of days
Go ahead, you heroic horse's ass
Heroic horse's ass! His exact words!
I withdraw my toast to the end of the war
To heroic horse's asses everywhere
To the patient flash
Colonel, I would like to make something quite clear to
Captain Kiesle?
I volunteered for this campaign because I feel that men of
quality are needed here
It is time to destroy the myth of Russian invincibility
Just how do we do that?
Reinforcing morale, punishing those who're insubordinate
and rebellious
instilling a new respect for ranking officers
Low morale goes hand in hand with defeat after defeat
followed by impending defeat
Now you are new to our Russian fronts
I don't blame you for talking like a horse's ass
Of course, sir, I'm not familiar with the Russian front yet
but I firmly don't believe that the ideals of the German soldier even
The German soldier does not have any ideals
He's not fighting for the country or the rest
not for one formal government at once
not for the stinking parties
He's fighting for his life God bless him
But sir, I am a solder and as a soldier I feel it is my duty to
subordinate my own ideas to the principles of my country
right or wrong
Colonel Brandt, Lieutenant Meyer, sir
Yes?
Steiner's on his way back
What sort of the shape are they in?
- The usual! - Very well, I see
I want a briefing as soon as they're rested
Yes, sir
And Meyer, Captain Stransky is here
He's informed of our situation
Yes, sir
- Steiner's back - Of course
Who's Steiner?
To you in some ways he could be a problem
but he's a first rate soldier
So we look the other way
Anything to add to that, Kiesle?
Steiner is a myth
Men like him are our last hope
and in that sense he's truly a very dangerous man
Well, I'll see
Colonel, with your permission
Well, what do you think of our new captain?
I think he think he's on some kind of a special mission
that is to achieve spiritual domination of the battalion
thereby symbolizing the purity of the great German Weimarer itself!
Everyone going down in the feast
If they're the last of Steiner then God help us!
Captain Stransky, welcome to the second platoon
- Lieutenant - Meyer, captain
My, Captain, I'm to show you your quarters
brief you on our current situation
Where's my bunker?
Down there, in front of the factory, sir
The second platoon has got here first
Where are they?
They're just returning from reconnaissance, sir
- Who's in charge of it? - Corporal Steiner, sir
Ah! What is so special about this Corporal Steiner?
Early in the Novorssysk attack
Corporal Steiner saved Colonel Brandt's life
- Ah! - And mine, too
Interesting
Corporal Steiner!
I'm Captain Stransky I'm your new commander
Yes, sir
Who's this?
Corporal Schnurrbart, sir
And the other one?
That is a Russian prisoner, sir
You know as well as I do that there are orders that
no Russian prisoners are to be taken
- Get rid of him - How, sir?
- Well, shoot him! - You shoot him, sir
I will, on this spot Then I'll deal with you
No need, I'll see that he's taken care of, sir
I want to see you in my bunker, one hour
with your full report, clear?
Of course, sir
Corporal Steiner?
I'm Lily Marlin
Come here, son
Steiner! I want to show you what our new army looks like
What's your name, son?
Private Dietz, sir
They're sending us babies now
Hello, chap?
Private Dietz
How long have you been soldiering?
Six weeks, sir I volunteered, sir
Don't volunteer for anything around here
Kern and Kruger here and myself
Do exactly what we says and you'll be wearing your boots
up to your ass for a long time Clear?
Yes, sir!
- And don't call me sir - Excuse me
Go with this foul-smelling one over here
Show his bunker
Kern, see if you can find a jacket or a blanket
something for the boy
They must have something over there
Yes, sir! Oh, excuse me
- Stand at ease - Thank you, sir
- Here's the report - Thank you
I regret the incident this afternoon, Corporal
but orders are orders
We have enough trouble with feeding of our own troops
without taking prisoners
Anyway, it's bad for security
I've read your preliminary report
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that
Colonel Brandt and I have agreed to recommend you for
promotion to Senior Sergeant effective at once
Your promotion doesn't seem to have made much of an impression
No, it doesn't
Alright, I read your report Anything to add to this?
Russians, sir, we should be hearing from them very soon, sir
- Offensive? - Yes, I should think so
- Starting when? - Soon
- What about your platoon? - Two killed, one missing
Two killed, how?
Bullets, a lot of fire, artillery heavy salable, bad luck
general misfortunes usual things, Captain
The missing man, did you look for him, Steiner?
- No, sir - Why not?
I felt that it would have been irresponsible of me to risk
the safety of entire platoon for the sake of one man
You felt what?
Noncommissioned officer does not permit a missing men
in such a case, in any case!
I'll try to do better next time, sir
- I'd like to have that in writing - If you wish
You know, Corporal, Sergeant
I have a feeling you somewhat overestimate your importance
At the moment, I am free of any such illusions, sir
Well, may I suggest you that you do not underestimate
your present company?
Everything you are and may become is dependent
upon this present company
No, I would not forget that, sir
but may I add man is generally what he feels himself to be
Of course, of course You're dismissed
I should be back soon, sir
Is that a salute?
Yes, sir
- Triebig! - Yes, sir
You must be careful, Steiner
He's taken strong dislike to you
I'll survive
You're not dealing with just another Nazi party diver
This one is pure impression of military aristocracy enriched
Hey, why are you bringing in the apples?
To eat it, you idiot!
You know the ruling classes
Come now, lieutenant What's left to rule?
Don't be naive
Stransky will survive this war one way or another
and he'll still have his land his wealth
and his status
But it will be very dangerous in defeat
Be careful, Captain
He doesn't live in the same world we live in
I know, he's living in my world now
Yeah, sure
- Lieutenant! - Yeah
Please, would you come inside for a minute?
Something I'd like to show you
Kern, don't just stand there drinking, help us!
Thank you, I didn't realize
You forget we're in reconnaissance platoon?
Happy birthday, Lieutenant Meyer
- Yes! - Happy birthday!
Explain that to Captain's orderly
so that he doesn't make any mistakes, will you?
Be careful with your uniform
Russian vodka, German wine chickens
Oh, Maag, I don't know how I stayed alive so long
He's the best scavenger in the entire regiment
- Cheers to all of you - Cheers! Cheers!
- Here's to the last Russian bullet - Yeah!
Here's to survival
Yeah, yeah
Here's to your wife, girlfriend women!
Yeah! Women!
Here's to the women of Follybassier
- To the girls of Rivavant! - Oh la la!
Gently, gently
- Come on, fill it up - Here's to Dietz's virginity
May your cause ride with him as a new assistant to Triebig
All you have to do is just play noble
Oh, yeah, here comes the cake
Oh, cake!
Captain Stransky should see this
Captain who?
- Here's to the cake - Cake!
Stop it! Stop it!
What's everyone doing here?
What do you think we're doing here?
Playing birthday games right in the middle of all that shit?
- Come on... - You shut up! I'm talking!
You want a party? Okay, fine! Catch on!
Take it easy
Okay, there's a bullet for you to fire up your assholes!
Come on!
You don't touch me You stink like a shit!
Come on Let's don't spoil everything
He's still gonna have his birthday
Happy birthday, Lieutenant
Have a good party
- I'll have some more vodka - Yeah, fill it up
Here's some vodka for everybody
- I'm sorry - It's alright
Alright, now Lieutenant Meyer is to have a meeting with
our lustrous new commander Captain Stransky
whom we'll all meet shortly
This is not a funeral, gentlemen This is a birthday party
Now let's drink! We'll have a song, what the hell!
Thank you, sir
Where were you stationed before you joined the battalion?
In the south of France, Biarritz
I know it well, sit down, sit down tell me about it
Such a beautiful country
And being transferred must have come hard?
I applied for it as you did, sir
As I did? That's interesting
And your orderly?
- We served together - In the south of France?
Ah, those French girls!
Comme elle sont delicieuses Those French girls, Triebig!
I did not have much time to think about those French girls
Really? And you Keppler? Did you enjoy the French girls?
On occasion
Sur le pont d'Avignon on y danse, on y danse
Let me ask you a question, Triebig you like soldiering?
Certainly, I like it, sir but it's strange at times
It is indeed a very different world
A world of danger and a world of men
a world without women hm, Keppler?
- Yes - A world without women
Thank you
It's an old theory of mine
Men can get along without women easily, easily I tell you
A man's true destiny is not just breeding children
child birth, and chocolate
but to be free, to rule and fight, in other words
to lead a man's existence women are no more than nuisance
sometimes, sometimes necessary
I'm a solder, sir. If I have to I can do without women
Really?
And you Keppler? Can you do without women?
I do as I am ordered, sir
I like that! I like that answer
I do as I am ordered I like that
What is your first name?
- Josef - Josef, Josef
If it will help you I'll put your thoughts into the right words
You prefer a society of men to that of women
at any and all situations
I don't understand, Captain
Come on, Triebig
You don't have to put up a front with me
With me of all people
What I said was right, wasn't it?
You prefer a society of men to that of women
Come on, we're all soldiers There's no harm in it
Say yes, for heaven's sake man, say yes!
Possibly
You said yes, you said yes!
He said yes, didn't he, Keppler? He said yes!
You said yes, didn't he, Keppler?
He said yes, didn't he, Keppler?
Yes
Louder! Didn't he, Keppler? Louder! Say yes, loud!
Yes!
- Louder! - Yes!
I can assure you of this
If you get caught you'll be hanged slowly
both of you!
Together! Now get out of here
Ammunition supply's running low
Sector 3 needs more 9 millimeter
Service platoon not secure Their own tech in short
Has 47-O casualties
By the way we didn't get the mail
- It's a big one - Thank you
Oh, I see
Get your hands off my lice!
- Melt! - Oh, not again!
Melt before body, that's the rule
Sector 7, no activity
Get him outside
Kern, get yourself outside Come on, quick
No, no, no, the Russians might think it's mustard gas
The Geneva Convention forbids the use of mustard gas
Goddamnit, Kern!
What type of exhaust pipe do you have and
when was it broken?
I'm well organized and without problems
Aren't you feeling guilty, Kruger? Is that your natural smell?
Yes, yes I stay dirty for a reason
If you've been in the field as long as I have been
- you'd know why - Explain
I learned after Stalingrad
Natural body oils combined with dirt
can keep you waterproof
- Waterproof? - Sure
- How is it? - Quiet
- Too quiet - Yes
Wait till the first light
What are we doing here?
We're spreading the German culture
throughout a desperate world
Didn't someone say war is the highest expression in life
of a truly cultured people?
Yes, a foolish wise man named Friedrich von Bernhardi
- Right! - Yeah!
And Clausewitz said?
Clausewitz? Uh, Clausewitz said
war is a continuation of state policy
By other means!
Yes, by other means
Do you ever think about your children?
Sure, always
Where are they?
I don't know
Take off one uniform, there's always another underneath
Go!
It's all an accident an accident of hands
mine, others- all without mind
one extreme to another
and neither works
The will ever!
We stand in the middle in no man's land
Go home, go home!
Steiner!
Yes, sir! Yes, sir?
This is a prox, Stransky
A prox, sir? It's an-
No, sir! It's an attack the forest!
Sir, counter fight is needed at once
We'd rather run, pull him out!
I need help!
Stay calm, Stransky You're not alone
What do you mean I'm not alone, sir?
I am alone! I am alone!
Steiner is gone Triebig is gone
I don't know where Lieutenant Meyer is
I don't know!
- Dead? Is he dead? - Go to the battalion
sector and find them
And stand by and prepare a counterattack as quickly as possible
Yes, sir! I will be counterattacking, sir!
Stay in your position!
Damn it!
Get your all ammunition!
- Where's Meyer? - On the wall, sir!
Get the ammunition!
Pull back! Get down, you fool!
You, get over there!
Get back to your post!
- Get that phone fixed - Yes, sir
Put it back
Keep your positions! Everybody keep firing!
Fire, Whitman, fire!
I need a headcover! Fire!
We're winning We're winning!
Fire!
Where's my headcover? Where are my tanks?
Phone is ringing!
Meyer!
Captain Stransky
Where's your counterattack?
We are attacking! We are defending!
We're counterattacking!
I'm wounded, sir Can I continue?
I know what to do, sir Don't worry
But I need ammunition!
Get Meyer!
Hurry up! We must cover Steiner!
Look at me
Follow the light with your eyes
Very good Now look at me again
Sergeant!
Alright
Did you sleep well?
Reasonably
Smell?
- Nothing - Any sense of taste?
Improving
Quite usual in concussion
You've been like this for a week
The smell will turn soon
Your records indicate multiple wounds over the last few years
Any residual effects?
Headaches, blood vision
I can't urinate out of my left ear any longer
but otherwise I feel quite well
The doctors recommended you stay with us
for another three weeks
until they've completed your tests
then recommend home leave
Home
Schnurrbart? Schnurrbart?
Attention! General Fontessel!
Hello, soldier? How are you? Tell me how you feel
This man has severe concussion, sir
He's been army decorated
I want sixty-five percent of these men returned to active duty
in three days
Ah, food! Delicious!
Take the pig, the meat and wine into the private dining room
Come! Eat! Eat, eat, everybody! Everybody!
Vegetables are good for you
They're with the compliments of the high commander
Everybody looks like someone else around here
Did I have a bad spell?
Yeah, you were very violent
Violent?
Violence should stop It must stop
Say violence must stop?
- Let's have a celebration - Bring out some wine!
Oh, no, I'm on duty
- Have a drink - No, I couldn't
They'll throw me out
Do you dance?
Hold my bottle I'll hold your waist
and we dance
Listen, this is ridiculous
It's nice, very nice
Schnurrbart!
What the hell are you doing here? Lost?
No such luck, bro
I got it in the leg same time you got it in the head
Schnurrbart!
My vacation's over
It's back to the bad side of old mother Russia
They took us all from our hospital
It looks like we're picking up some of your boys as well
You want to come along or are you doing alright?
Attention, men! Prepare to leave
Oatbrook! Hold this truck
What the hell are you talking about?
That's an order, goddamnit!
- Rolf, what is it? - What?
What's the matter?
I'm going back
I thought you were going back home
I have no home
My home, our home
Do you love the war zone?
Is that... Is that what's wrong with you, Steiner?
Are you afraid of what you'll be without it?
Long live Germany
I said hold it! I said hold it, right?
Steiner, I didn't mean it you're crazy!
Schnurrbart
Rolf!
Son of a bitch!
- Schnurrbart! - Hello, Kern!
- Hartwick - Hello, Sergeant
- Hartwick - Schnurrbart, how are you?
Caught you with your pants down again, huh?
Anselm
Welcome back, Sergeant
Kruger!
You're back too soon I don't want to talk to you
Leave me alone
Missed you, missed you, yeah!
My, my, my! What is this?
- That's Zoll - That's a party member
It's a compliment of Captain Stransky
He has special actions quote
You still a party member Holibach?
Well, I'll dance with a party member if I can find one
Hey, silence! Party's convinced we're winning the war
Yeah, sure, we're winning the war
I hope you've memorized our serial numbers
our mothers' maiden names correctly
I wouldn't want them to come and rescue a wrong man, a woman or a child
I don't care what you believe what you've done
Your duties to us, the platoon and me
Fulfill those responsibilities or you'll have our banners
up your ass, clear?
Yes, sir
I'm playing nursemaid to Cersquot
- Anyone volunteers? - Dinner, Steiner!
- Not me - No time
Go along with Steiner
Thanks a lot
What have we here a hawk and a hare?
I'll take it
Come on, have a drink
That's your bottle, cheers!
Some papers to sign, Captain
I'll sign them later
Stop that! Be careful with my JJ
Yes, sir
Have her treated correctly
Sergeant Steiner reporting as ordered, sir
Come in
Thank you, that will be all gentlemen
- Welcome back, Sergeant Steiner - Thank you, sir
Please sit down Make yourself comfortable
Now that you're back and I'm glad you're back
I think we should make a fresh start together
but the main point is the regiment feels or believes that
I deserve the Iron Cross now
And they've asked me to produce two witnesses to the fact that
I led the counterattack and threw the Russians out of their positions
I have named Lieutenant Triebig and you
especially you
Lieutenant Triebig has already submitted signature
You'd like to believe this is a private conversation
That would occur to you wouldn't it?
Alright, have some wine a 37 Moselle
I'll have some
Thank you, Sergeant
But still remember that in civilian as well as in military life
the distinction is made between people
Is that what you meant when you said all you are
and may become is dependent upon this present company?
Well, the difference is a matter of ethical
and intellectual superiority which is caused whether
you like it or not by blood and by class difference
If I remember correctly Kant was a son of a saddle maker
and Schubert's father was a poor schoolmaster
Perhaps talent, sensitivity and character are no longer
privileges of the so-called upper class
But Kant and Schubert were exceptions
We' re talking about general concepts
- not individuals - But I am one and so are you
Didn't Afior say that all class distinction would be abolished?
I'm an officer of the Weimarer I've never been a party member
I'm a Prussian aristocrat and
I don't want to be put into the same category!
So we agree for once
Good!
But it is still Afior
Fortunately
It's a different question, Sergeant That's not up to us to judge
Why do you want it so badly?
It's just a piece of worthless metal, look!
It's not worthless to me
Why is it so important to you?
Tell me, Captain, why?
Sergeant, if I go back without the Iron Cross
I couldn't face my family
Personally, sir, I don't feel you deserve the Iron Cross
Where are you going?
I'm going to Point 124 Corporal Kruger's over there
Are you crazy? No one could survive this kind of assault
Get out of my way! Tell them I'm going out
Steiner!
You get me some stretcher, damnit!
Steiner! Steiner!