Good morning, sir. Mr cornish is straight through there.
Hello, Dick. Is all right. Sit down.
- You all right? - Fine, sir. Is only a flesh wound.
- How are things? - Not too bad.
Good. What is bad, I'm afraid, is this.
- Careful. - We hold the north end of the bridge.
The Germans hold the south. But now they probably control most of the town,
- Including the church tower. - You're saying we're surrounded.
Yes. Something like that.
- Er, now, what else? - Sir.
I was a bit surprised to find Bittrich's panzer troops here, sir.
Surely you didn't believe all that nonsense they told us.
About the enemy being made up of... what was it? Old men, children. Hm?
I'll have to risk it. Things aren't getting any better.
- Sergeant, how is it? - We can't clear the street, sir.
Enemy strength is increasing and is impossible to get to the bridge.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Is imperative that I get back to HQ before the situation gets out of hand.
If is all right with you, cleminson and I will come part of the way.
End house! Bottom window, sir!
- Cleminson, get over here! - Sir!
Hang on, Gerald.
In here.
can't you move your legs?
- No. - Must be spinal. Can you help us?
- How? - Don't you know a doctor nearby?
We can take him to the hospital.
You go. He will be fine.
- Go, sir. - You go.
Go up.
They're certainly at the back. Whas it like at the front?
We're surrounded, sir.
Yes. Quite.
I was rather expecting to see you again, General Sosabowski. Do please sit down.
The Polish drop has been cancelled again. I would like an explanation.
I expect the fog has a certain amount to do with it.
There are aircraft flying 50 miles to the south.
Explain why my men cannot be moved from here to there
and then fly to Arnhem.
Thas a reasonable question.
I don't want to bother you with a lot of meteorological mumbo jumbo,
but the fact is, you see, whether we like it or not, fog, it moves.
Of course it moves. Where?
Well, thas very difficult to say, General. Is very slippery stuff, fog.
You think you've got it and then it reverses itself and leaves you behind.
Won't you please sit down?
What I'm trying to say is even if we move your troops the 50 miles,
where just now the sun is shining,
the chances are that by the time we get there, the fog could have preceded us.
- So we simply have to wait. - And do nothing.
I think that puts it rather well.
EINDHOVEN. 48 MILES FROM ARNHEM
Hey, you! Are you Vandeleur?
- Yes. - I'm Bobby Stout.
- How do you do? - Hell of a day, huh? Look at 'em. Wild!
- Have you ever been liberated? - Divorced twice. Does that count?
- Yes, that counts. - That Bailey crap. You got it here?
When you refer to "Bailey crap",
I take it you mean that glorious precision-made British-built bridge,
which is the envy of the civilised world.
The trucks are down there somewhere.
How you get them through this crowd I don't know.
No problem. I got a side road pegged out thall avoid all this. American ingenuity.
- Oh, really? - I was born in Yugoslavia,
- But what the hell? - Yes.
U.S. 82nd H. Q... SOUTH OF NIJMEGEN
- Where the hell have you been? - With Dutch friends at Nijmegen.
We can't take the bridge. The Germans have moved in panzer troops.
- Don't they want us to get across? - They've sealed off the whole area.
Here. You can see on this map.
Every street leading to the bridge is blocked. Every house is occupied.
The Dutch underground people say is just impossible to break through.
They could be right.
Where's the captain?
Dead.
I didn't ask you how he was. I asked you where he was.
- Sir. - Not now.
- I'd like you to look at my captain. - I'm sorry. Put him down.
What in the name of hell do you...?
- You told me to put him down, sir. - I'm in no mood for crapping around.
- If you don't look at him, he's gonna die. - He's dead now.
- Id mean a lot if you'd check him out. - For chriss sake, get him outta here!
Would you look at him, please, sir?
Right now.
Or I'll blow your fucking head off.
Right now.
- I can give him a quick examination. - Thank you very much, sir.
Son of a bitch.
Orderly!
Well, I got the bullet out of his skull.
- He's gonna live though, right? - He's gonna have one hell of a headache.
You should turn me in now, sir.
- That was a court-martial offence. - Yes, sir.
Hope to hell it was worth it.
- I guess only time will tell on that, sir. - My response is strictly limited.
Regardless of my personal preference. Like somebody cheating in school.
Once word gets out you can behave any way you please, your discipline's gone.
So you're gonna have to be arrested. Over and out. Lieutenant Rafferty.
- Yes, sir. Colonel. - This is Sergeant... Whas your name?
- Dohun. Eddie Dohun. - Sergeant Dohun pulled a gun on me
and threatened to kill me unless I did what he ordered.
I want you to put him under arrest. I want you to keep him there.
I want you to keep him there for at least 10 seconds.
- I'm not all that sure I understand. - Count to 10, Lieutenant... fast.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Like that, sir?
- Thank you, Lieutenant. - Colonel.
This is yours, I think.
It sure looks like mine.
You scared the shit out of me, you stupid bastard.
- You did fine, if it makes you feel better. - Goddamn right it does.
- Eddie. - Sir?
You wouldn't really have killed me, would you?
Thank you, sir.
Right! Les haul a little ass! Go!
Go! Go!
Move it! Come on, soldier. You're not building a sand castle. Move it!
come on, boys! Use your muscles!
Heave!
come on! Heave!
Quickly!
come on! Move yourselves!
We haven't got all day!
come on! Push!
All together! Lift!
come on, soldier! Pound it! We've got a schedule to meet.
- How much longer now? - About another four hours, sir.
Shit!
come on, boys! We're not doing this for fun.
- Hey, soldier! Get over here! - Yes, sir.
- And pull on this rope. - Yes, sir.
Didn't you ever build a Bailey bridge?
- No, sir. - Neither did I.
clear the way! Clear!
clear!
- Roll it, fellas! - Right, come on! All aboard!
Les get moving again!
SON BRIDGE - 39 MILES FROM ARNHEM
Thanks, fellas!
- Whas wrong, sir? - They're 36 hours behind schedule.
- Lieutenant! - Sir!
We'll be turning you over to the 82nd now. They're good soldiers, the 82nd.
Just be sure you keep your hand on your wallet at all times.
GRAVE BRIDGE - 22 MILES FROM ARNHEM
They're here.
Is 30 corps! They're here, chaps!
You're late, you lazy bastards! But we'll forgive you!
That was gracious of me, don't you think?
Take cover! Bring up the Piat!
Make sure is within range.
come on! You'll miss it!
Right, lads! Go, go, go!
corporal! I need a Jeep. Well done, laddie.
- We thought you were dead. They said... - I assure you, it was an error.
HARTENSTEIN HOTEL NOW BRITISH 1st AIRBORNE H.Q.
That was the general.
- Good morning, gentlemen. - Morning, sir.
carry on, thank you. Morning, Baker. Morning, James.
- Morning, sir. - Harry.
Apologies for my enforced absence. Dennis.
- Sir. - Gerald Lathbury's out of action.
I'd like you to take over the brigade. How soon can you leave?
- Right away, sir. - Keep pushing forward to the bridge.
- Did the rest of the division arrive safely? - Yes, but we're in trouble.
It seems we've landed on top of two SS panzer divisions.
Good God!
As you can imagine, is hard to stop tanks with rifles and machine guns.
- Show me. - Well, you can see what we're up against.
Johnny Frost has managed to get as far as the bridge.
But the Germans are driving to the river and may have cut them off completely.
I see. Now the entire division is here, we should be able to break through to him.
- Sir. - It certainly gives us more of a chance.
Sosabowski's Polish brigade is due at 12.
If it arrives. Yesterday's airlift was late due to fog in England.
The gliders bringing the equipment didn't arrive.
- Now give me the good news. - I'm afraid there isn't any, sir.
We're more or less surrounded.
So far we're holding our own, but we're short of food, medicine and ammunition.
- Aren't we getting our daily supply drop? - The air force are flying in on schedule.
The trouble is, the Germans have overrun the dropping zones.
- Don't our pilots know that? - Afraid not, sir.
- In heaven's name, why? - Is the radios, sir.
We still haven't been able to make contact with anyone outside Arnhem.
Fools!
This way!
- We're here! - Here!
Over here! Drop 'em over here!
What the hell are they doing? They must be able to see us.
They can see us, but they're under orders to ignore signals from the ground.
For all they know, we could be Germans. They're giving it to the bloody Germans.
charles.
Poor bastard.
Oh, well. Maybe tomorrow.
Here.
Where's he going? The bloody fool!
He'll never make it. Those bleedin' snipers'll hit him.
come back!
come on, Ginger, mate. Come on!
He'll never lift it.
Bring it back, mate! Come on!
come on!
Run, laddie! Run!
Oh, Jesus christ!
NIJMEGEN BRIDGE
In here.
- Did you get any of that? - I think she wants a taxi.
KATE TER HORST'S HOUSE OUTSIDE ARNHEM
Kate!
- Doctor. - Good evening, Kate.
May I introduce Mrs Ter Horst? colonel Weaver.
- Is your husband not returned yet? - He should have been here by now.
He must be having difficulties coming through the German lines.
Well, in that case, we will have to ask you for a decision.
colonel Weaver has a request to make.
Well, what we've done is we've set up a defensive pocket,
more or less thumb-shaped, with the river as the base.
Mrs Ter Horst speaks surprisingly good English.
Then you understand we're in a strong position for holding out
until 30 corps reaches us.
But we have to make certain arrangements.
The words come through. I don't know if I follow the military strategy.
We have the main hospital, of course, but it is full to bursting.
Perhaps you understand that we have great need of additional space.
Our house would seem suitable.
Is just for the slightly wounded. We'll patch them up, send them back.
I feel it will need a little more than that.
- We're wasting time. Come. - Thank you, Kate.
I will see you, colonel. I will come back.
Please sit. Come take this chair.
Here.
come over here.
Sit.
Let me help you.
Oh, colonel. The major wants you upstairs, sir.
OK. Thank you.
All right?
Excuse me. Thank you.
Still in one piece, Dodds?
Good. All right, Potter?
Thas far enough! We can hear you from there!
Rather an interesting development, sir.
My general says there is no point in continuing this fighting.
He is willing to discuss a surrender.
Tell him to go to hell.
We haven't the proper facilities to take you all prisoner. Sorry.
- What? - We'd like to,
but we can't accept your surrender.
Was there anything else?
All right?
And now?
Flatten Arnhem.
- Any movement in Nijmegen? - None.
- No way of blasting through? - I'd lose all my men.
There's God knows how many out there already.
- You mean is over, sir? - I didn't say that, did I?
We've paid for that bridge and we're going to collect, but I need tank support.
Well, you've got it, Jimmy. The Grenadier Guards will be happy to oblige.
- Is that all right, Alex? - Absolutely.
Is not just tanks. I need boats.
If 30 corps were American, we would have boats.
- Mike? - I think we might have a few somewhere.
- Can you get them here by tonight? - It won't be easy, sir.
We've got one road, 10-mile traffic jams on it and Germans throwing shells at us.
- I don't know quite what we can do... - Except try. You can do that, can't you?
Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.
Now, look here. About these boats...
What is your opinion?
The general's a bit scratchy today, but is nothing personal.
When we dropped on Sunday, I think he cracked his spine.
- How many boats have we got, then? - About six in each truck.
Where's Major cook, soldier?
- I think over there, sir. - Thank you.
Julian, where the hell are you?
Here, sir.
We're going to take Nijmegen Bridge tonight.
- Whas the best way to take a bridge? - Both ends at once.
I'm sending two companies across the river by boat.
I need a man with very special qualities to lead.
Go on, sir.
He's gotta be tough enough to do it and he's gotta be experienced enough to do it.
Plus one more thing. He's gotta be dumb enough to do it.
Start getting ready.
What was all that about, Major?
Well, someone's come up with a real nightmare.
A real nightmare.
come on! Keep moving!
We got word from the Dutch resistance at Arnhem.
Is not going well for the British. Their main force never reached the bridge.
Those that did are hanging on.
- And Urquhart? - His back is to the river.
The Germans have trapped his men in a pocket, and they're squeezing it.
How long can he hold?
Where are those goddamn boats?
Just keep it clear! Right!
They're no further than we thought. Julian, we have a little change in plans.
We're to make the crossing in daylight.
- Daylight? - Traffic's all screwed up.
By the time we're ready, ill be 0800. Thas when we go.
Fine.
I'd like to wait and go tomorrow night, but the British can't hold.
Better by daylight.
Much.
- Any news of the boats? - No. We're switching... You want some?
No, thank you.
We're switching the start till nine, to make sure.
You start laying smoke just before we go.
Fine, fine.
They're gonna get creamed. Your smoke screen's gonna be their only protection.
Don't worry. We'll cover you.
Please.
OK. Can I have your attention, please? can I have your attention?
Our nine o'clock departure has been postponed till ten.
So you can all have an extra hour's fun and relaxation.
Major, we got any more information on those boats?
We're reliably informed that they float.
Outside of that, we don't know squat. Not how many, not how heavy, not how big.
We are sure that the river's wide and that the current is strong.
As more cheery information comes my way, I'll be happy to pass it along.
In the meantime, just think of this as on-the-job training.
Whas the matter? No sense of humour?
Goddamn it!
We go at noon.
- These lorries have priority, sir. - Yes, I know, but...
come on! Clear it off the road!
You men are probably wondering why I've called us here together.
I've reached a decision that I'd like to share with you all.
I intend to go across like George Washington. Standing on the prow.
You guys can do the rowing.
Thas it! Move 'em out!
- What the...? - What did you expect? Destroyers?
come on! Put it together!
What else can you see besides smoke?
Nothing yet, but they are going to try a river assault.
It will fail.
Of course it will fail, but...
what do we do if it doesn't?
I ask your permission to blow up the bridge.
Out of the question.
I understand, Field Marshal.
They will not cross the river and we will blow no bridges.
Have all demolition charges been checked?
Yes, sir. Everything is wired and ready.
captain Krafft is standing by as ordered.
The bridge will not fall into enemy hands.
As soon as the first British tank starts to cross...
I'll blow it sky-high.
- Les get going! - All right! Go! Go! Go!
When you get to the water, go on! Don't wait! Go!
If you don't have an oar, use your rifle butt! Anything! Row!
One... two.
The currens taking us down! Stay to your right!
- Support fire ordered, sir. - Thank you.
Row!
Get down!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Hail Mary, full of grace.
Hail Mary, full of grace. Hail Mary...
We're drifting! Pull to your left! come on! Pull!
come on! Keep rowing!
Stay down!
come on, boys!
Thy will be done.
come on! Les go!
Snipers!
Help me! Help me.
Go up the side!
- Can we make it through the tunnel? - No way, sir.
- Up the bank! - With you, sir.
cover.
come on.
come on! Schnell! Schnell!
Sergeant, take four across-draw fire. Harry and I'll go up the side. You cover.
Go!
- Go on. - Come on! Les go!
Are you ready?
Yes, General.
Dammit!
My God, they're only 18 kilometres from Arnhem.
Who can stop them now?
No one.
Oh, hell.
Any chance, Whitney?
- Not unless we're relieved soon, sir. - Harry?
- Try and get him down to the cellar. - Very good, sir.
Is working. I'm through to HQ. Where's the colonel?
- Down below. - Get him!
- Colonel Frost! - What is it?
Up top!
Up top, sir!
- Is headquarters, sir. On the radio. - Coming!
Sunray on set. Pass your message. Over.
- Whas your situation, Johnny? Over. - I hadn't expected the pleasure, sir.
We're holding out.
We need reinforcements and, above all, ammunition. Over.
I'm not sure if is a case of us coming for you... or you coming for us.
- Well, we'll just wait for 30 corps, then. - That would probably be best.
Very reassuring talking to you, sir.
I'm sorry, Johnny. Getting stuck on that bloody bridge, four days on your own.
- Have you anything else for me? - No, sir. I'll call when our friends arrive.
- Over. - All right.
Good luck. Out.
- Sergeant Tomblin! - Here, sir!
I'm coming over!
Sergeant Taylor!
I don't understand. Why aren't you moving? Whas the matter with you?
Those are British troops at Arnhem.
They're hurt-bad.
You're not gonna stop. Not now.
I'm sorry. We have our orders.
We busted our asses getting here. Half my men are killed and you just stop...
and drink tea?
We're now facing a different situation.
We can't lead with tanks. Jerry will pick us off like sitting ducks.
Our infantry are still fighting in Nijmegen. When they get here, we'll move on.
Must you do everything by the book?
Our orders are to wait for the infantry.
I'm sorry, but there it is.
Sir.
Is Major carlyle, sir.
All right. I'm all right.
- Hello, Harry. - Hello, Johnny.
Things not so good, huh?
I've been meaning to ask you something
and I haven't because I know you were so anxious that I should,
and I wouldn't give you the satisfaction.
But why the hell do you always carry that bloody umbrella?
- Memory. - What?
Bad memory.
Always forgot the password.
I knew no Jerry would ever carry one.
I had to prove I was an Englishman.
Harry?
Get back! Back into the houses!
Hello, 30 corps. Please hurry up.
Please.
- Nothing, sir. - Thank you, corporal.
Is no use in any event. Take my boot off, Wicks.
We're out of ammunition anyway.
Right, off you go, Wicks. Join the rest of the lads.
- Get back to the main force. - What about you, sir?
I'll be all right. We just didn't make it this time, did we?
My general says, "Please take it."
"Is very good chocolate. Your planes dropped it to us yesterday."
English.
Red on!
Red on.
Action stations!
God bless Field Marshal Montgomery.
Would five minutes be too much?
Just five minutes respite.
Dear God
grant these young men
die in peace and quiet.
I'm sorry, lads, but you're going to have to move.
Please.
Take my hand.
We're a bit late with this one, mate.
"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler
and from the noisome pestilence."
"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:
his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
There you go. Head back.
You'll be all right now, chum.
can it get worse?
Oh, yes, much worse.
ELST - 5 MILES FROM ARNHEM
Bring up the bulldozer.
Stretcher-bearer!
Help me!
Stretcher!
Morphia! Taffy, I must have morphia!
Morphia's only for the people who are really hurt.
I thought I was really hurt.
Well, you're wrong.
No, I asked him to come over, but Dr Spaander does agree.
- We've got to do something. - Yes. What? Good day, Doctor.
General Urquhart, we have no more space and we have no more supplies.
And since a prisoner of war has more chance than no chance at all,
I have a mind to ask the Germans to accept our wounded into their hospitals
if we could arrange evacuation. Have I your permission to try?
certainly. If Weaver agrees.
But I hardly think the Germans will. Those are our guns out there.
Thas 30 corps. I don't think my permission's going to be your problem.
I've come with a message from General Urquhart.
- How you manage that? - I swam the Rhine, sir.
I'm afraid the radios are all up the spout.
The general asks if you'll get your men across the river.
We've been holding out for six days now.
Any help at all would be of considerable assistance.
- You'll swim back with reply? - Yes, sir.
Well, we can't swim.
Not with equipment.
We have small rubber boats, thas all.
Rubber dinghies may be a bit flimsy for the Rhine.
I agree.
Tell the general we're coming.
We're coming tonight.
Yes, sir.
- Not possible. - If you would just say yes,
- It would be very possible. - Forgive me, but there is a battle.
And we are in the process of winning it.
Winning and losing is not our concern.
Living or dying is.
cease fire.
One hour... two.
Just to evacuate our wounded.
Afterwards you can kill us as much as you want to.
General Ludwig.
cease-fire at three.
- Will you thank him, please? - I just did.
Please, you can go.
How short are we? A mile?
Why don't we just try to bash through?
For Goïs sake, it must be worth it.
They're trying to force Urquhart away from the river.
Now, once they do that, once they've got him surrounded, he'll be annihilated.
Not in Monty's plan at all.
Have we replaced the boats we lost at Nijmegen?
Yes.
Well?
Well, then?
Thas it, then. We're pulling them out.
It was Nijmegen.
It was the single road... getting to Nijmegen.
No, it was after Nijmegen.
And the fog. In England.
Doesn't matter what it was. When one man says to another,
"I know what les do today - les play the war game",
everybody dies.
"Withdraw."
Two days, they said. We've been here nine.
One bloody mile - you'd think they could accomplish that!
- Hancock, here are another two. - Thank you.
- They're the last two I could find. - Charles.
We've been given our marching orders.
If they discover we're leaving they'll destroy us,
so we must take every precaution. Now, I've designed this like a collapsing bag.
Macdonald will man the wireless so that the Germans have something to listen to.
The padres and medical staff have volunteered to stay behind as well.
Now, the wounded who are too bad to move will replace the men firing,
so our defence will seem as before.
By the time the Germans find out whas happening, we should be across the river.
- Pleasant journey. - Thank you, sir.
- All right, laddie. - Thank you, sir.
I'm beginning to believe we're going to make it.
I thought everyone knew God was a Scotsman.
Keep it orderly and keep it quiet.
come on. Don't hang about.
GENERAL BROWNING'S H. Q... HOLLAND
General Browning'll be down right away, sir.
He wondered if you perhaps might like to change.
- Change? - Your clothes, sir.
No, thanks.
Hello, Roy.
How are you?
I'm not sure that I'll know for a while.
But I'm sorry about the way it worked out.
You did all you could.
Yes. But did everyone else?
They've got a bed for you upstairs if you want it.
I took 10,000 men into Arnhem. I've come out with less than two.
I don't feel much like sleeping.
Quite.
I've just been on to Monty.
He's very proud and pleased.
- Pleased? - Of course.
He thinks Market Garden was 90 per cent successful.
But what do you think?
As you know, I've always thought that we tried to go a bridge too far.
Thanks, Taff.