Ten-hut!
Be seated.
Now, I want you to remember...
...that no bastard ever won a war...
...by dying for his country.
He won it...
...by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.
Men...
...all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight...
...wanting to stay out of the war...
...is a lot of horse dung.
Americans...
...traditionally love to fight.
All real Americans love the sting of battle.
When you were kids...
...you all admired the champion marble shooter...
...the fastest runner, big-league ball players, the toughest boxers.
Americans love a winner...
...and will not tolerate a loser.
Americans play to win all the time.
I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.
That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war...
...because the very thought of losing...
...is hateful to Americans.
Now...
...an army is a team.
It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team.
This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap.
The bilious bastards who wrote that stuff about individuality...
...for the Saturday Evening Post...
...don't know anything more about real battle than they do about fornicating.
Now we have the finest food and equipment...
...the best spirit...
...and the best men in the world.
You know...
...by God, I actually pity those poor bastards we're going up against.
By God, I do.
We're not just going to shoot the bastards...
...we're going to cut out their living guts...
...and use them to grease the treads of our tanks.
We're going to murder those lousy Hun bastards by the bushel.
Now...
...some of you boys...
...I know are wondering...
...whether or not you'll chicken out under fire. Don't worry about it.
I can assure you...
...that you will all do your duty.
The Nazis...
...are the enemy.
Wade into them!
Spill their blood! Shoot them in the belly!
When you put your hand...
...into a bunch of goo...
...that a moment before was your best friend's face...
...you'll know what to do.
There's another thing I want you to remember.
I don't want to get any messages saying we are "holding our position. "
We're not "holding" anything. Let the Hun do that.
We're advancing constantly. We're not interested in holding on to anything...
...except the enemy.
We're going to hold on to him by the nose and kick him in the ass.
We're going to kick the hell out of him all the time...
...and we're going to go through him like crap through a goose!
Now...
...there's one thing...
...that you men will be able to say when you get back home.
And you may thank God for it.
Thirty years from now when you're sitting around your fireside...
...with your grandson on your knee...
...and he asks you:
"What did you do in the great World War ll?"
You won't have to say:
"Well...
...I shovelled shit in Louisiana. "
All right, now, you sons of bitches...
...you know how I feel.
I will be proud...
...to lead you wonderful guys into battle anytime...
...anywhere.
That's all.
The Arabs need food and clothing.
They strip our dead before we can even bury them.
Looks like the reports were pretty accurate.
Sixty-one armored vehicles, 45 tons of ammunition...
...twenty-five 40mm guns, three self-propelled 105s.
Not counting mortars, machine guns, rifles...
...pistols, telescopes, belt buckles, Gl socks.
One thousand, eight hundred men.
Our people salute you, general...
...for your brilliant amphibious landing on the continent of Africa...
...and for your enlightened administration of our country.
I've enjoyed being here, Excellency.
Naturally, I'd prefer to be in Tunisia fighting the Germans.
"The lions in their dens tremble at his approach. "
I appreciate that, Excellency.
Magnificent!
I wish our troops looked that good.
Tell me, general, what do you think of Morocco?
I love it, Excellency.
It's a combination of the Bible and Hollywood.
These men fight at Kasserine? - Yes, sir.
For the American Army to take a licking like that...
...the first time at bat against the Germans...
Up against Rommel, what we need is the best tank man we've got.
Somebody tough enough to pull this outfit together.
- Patton? - Possibly.
God help us.
Lieutenant...
...where is the duty officer?
Sir...
- He said he's caught at shaving. - Why isn't he here on duty?
Guess he needed a shave.
We got a new commanding general due today.
Who the hell is kicking me in the butt?
Oh, sorry, sir.
- What were you doing down there? - Trying to get some sleep, sir.
Well...
Get back down there, son.
You're the only son of a bitch here who knows what he's trying to do.
Yes, sir.
Brad, how the hell are you? - Fine, George. Good to see you.
We were all under the impression you wouldn't be here until 0900.
Yes, I gathered that.
- You know my boy, Dick Jenson. - Yes.
Brad, tell me.
- What are you doing here? - Ike wanted a report on Kasserine.
Meanwhile, I have to stay here as an observer...
...but I report directly to Ike.
You're spying.
Get me General Eisenhower's headquarters.
Tell me, Brad...
...what happened at Kasserine? I heard it was a shambles.
Apparently, everything went wrong.
We'd send over a 75mm shell, the krauts would return an 88.
Their tanks are diesels.
Even when we managed to hit one they kept on running. Our tanks...
The men call them "Purple Heart boxes. "
One hot piece of shrapnel and the gasoline explodes.
I warned them about the tank.
I talked to one of the soldiers about the half-tracks.
I asked them if the machine-gun bullets pierced the armor.
And he said, "No, sir.
They just come through one side and rattle around a bit. "
I understand they had a little trouble coordinating the air cover.
The trouble was no air cover.
- General Smith on the line, sir. - Excuse me, Brad.
Bedell?
Listen, I'm calling about Bradley and his job here.
I need a good number-two man, I want to make Brad my deputy commander.
You clear it with Ike?
All right, thanks, Bedell.
Now you're not spying for Eisenhower anymore, you're working for me.
- Okay? - Fine, okay.
Dick. You got those stars?
- Yes, sir. - Let's get them on.
What's the matter, Brad? I've been nominated by the president.
I know, but it doesn't become official until it's approved by the Senate.
Well...
...they have their schedule and I have mine.
George...
...if you were named admiral of the Turkish Navy...
...I believe your aides could dip into their haversacks...
...and come up with the appropriate badge of rank.
Anyway, congratulations. Premature congratulations.
You know...
I think those stars look better on a green shirt.
Did I ever tell you about the time I designed a uniform for tank crewmen?
It was green leather, it had red stripes...
...and sort of a row of brass buttons down across here.
And topped off by a gold football helmet.
The Army rejected it, of course.
Goddamn, it was beautiful.
Lloyd Fredendall is just leaving.
George, there's one other thing I put in my Kasserine report.
Some of our boys were just plain scared.
That's understandable.
Even the best foxhound is gun-shy the first time out.
I can remember...
...when nothing frightened me as much as the idea of...
...a bullet coming straight for my nose.
I don't know why, but the image of a bullet coming right for my nose...
...was more horrible than any other possibility.
Well, I can understand that, with such a handsome nose.
You want to know why this outfit got the hell kicked out of it?
Blind man could see it in a minute.
They don't look like soldiers. They don't act like soldiers.
Why should they fight like soldiers?
You're absolutely right. The discipline's pretty poor.
In about 15 minutes we're going to start turning these boys...
...into fanatics, razors.
They'll lose their fear of the Germans.
I hope to God they never lose their fear of me.
Up bright and early, general? Breakfast?
Have all my officers finished breakfast?
We're open from 6 till 8.
Most of the officers are just coming in, sir.
Please inform these officers the mess hall is closed.
But, sir! It's only a quarter to 8.
From now on, you will open at 6 and no one will be admitted after 6:15.
Where are your leggings?
Leggings? Well, hell, general, sir, I'm a cook.
You're a soldier.
$20 fine.
Gentlemen...
...from this moment any man...
...without leggings, without a helmet, without a tie...
Any man with unshined shoes or soiled uniform...
...is going to be skinned.
This is a barracks. It's not a bordello.
- Good morning. - Good morning, sir.
Doctor.
Sir.
I understand you have two cases of self-inflicted wounds.
Yes, sir, we do.
Get them out of here.
One has developed a serious infection.
I don't care if he dies, just get him out of here.
Doesn't belong in the same room with men wounded in battle.
- I'll see that they're moved. - One more thing.
There'll be no "battle fatigue. " That's an order.
Battle fatigue is a free ride to the hospital.
I'm not going to subsidize cowardice.
Yes, sir.
Doctor... Where's your helmet?
I don't wear a helmet in the hospital.
Start.
I can't use my stethoscope when I'm wearing my helmet.
Well...
...then cut two holes in your helmet so that you can.
And get those yellow-bellies out of here, today.
Hold it.
Turn right, here.
The battlefield is ahead.
Don't argue. I can smell a battlefield.
He was out here yesterday.
It's over there. Turn right, damn it.
It was here.
The battlefield was here.
The Carthaginians defending the city...
...were attacked by three Roman legions.
They were brave, but they couldn't hold. They were massacred.
Arab women...
...stripped them of their tunics and their swords and lances.
The soldiers lay naked in the sun...
...2000 years ago.
I was here.
You don't believe me.
You know what the poet said:
"Through the travail of ages
It's the pomp and toils of war
Have I fought and strove and perished
Countless times upon the star
As if through a glass and darkly
The age-old strife I see
Where I fought in many guises Many names
But always me. "
You know who the poet was?
Me.
There's an opportunity for us to mount an offensive.
We've concentrated on the flank...
...draw strength from the British.
It appears now that we could...
...split the African corridor.
Drive through Rommel to the sea.
I'm sorry, but that territory has been reserved...
...for General Bernard Law Montgomery.
We're supposed to let him win this one no matter what.
They're entitled to have their hero.
Montgomery did push Rommel clear across North Africa.
What about the Americans? Don't they need a hero too?
You have anybody in mind?
Air Vice-Marshal Coningham is here with General Buford.
Excuse me, gentlemen...
...while I ask our British friends what's happened to our air cover.
Harry.
How are you?
George. Good to see you.
- You know Arthur Coningham. - Sir Arthur.
Delighted to see you.
I've heard so much about you.
Gentlemen, it appears there's been a slight misunderstanding here...
...and Ike thought we should fix it.
No, no. No misunderstanding.
We're supposed to have Allied air cover and we don't.
German planes are strafing my troops.
If I may say so, general, I'm afraid your operation reports are inaccurate.
Report? Three days ago, the crowds took off after my command car...
...ran my ass into a ditch.
My staff has assured me, we have complete air supremacy...
...everywhere in the Mediterranean.
When I complained about air cover...
...you said our troops were not battleworthy.
You spoke of the discredited practice of using air force as an alibi...
...for lack of success on the ground.
I have to wet-nurse Montgomery, I don't have to stand for that.
I sincerely apologize for that remark, whoever made it.
And I promise you one thing, general:
You will see no more German planes.
We were discussing air supremacy, Sir Arthur.
Damn door won't open!
By God, that's enough!
Get that thing out of here!
Come on, you bastards, take a shot at me on the nose!
Get back in here, George! We need a corps commander, not a casualty.
How'd you manage to stage that?
I don't know...
...but if I could find the Nazis flying those things...
...I'd give them each a medal.
Can't get over how cold it gets in the desert.
Awfully cold, sir.
Rommel's out there somewhere, waiting for me.
Yes, sir.
You know...
...if I had my way, I'd send that genius son of a bitch...
...an engraved invitation in iambic pentameter:
A challenge in two stanzas to meet me alone in the desert.
I'll deliver it.
Rommel in his tank and me in mine.
We'd stop about 20 paces. We'd get out, we'd shake hands...
...then we'd button up and do battle, just the two of us.
That battle would decide the outcome of the war.
It's too bad jousting's gone out of style.
It's like your poetry, general.
It isn't part of the 20th century.
You're right, Dick.
The world grew up.
Hell of a shame.
Dick, I want a 24-hour guard put around this area.
If we don't, the Arabs will dig them up for their clothes.
Yes, sir.
Our graves aren't gonna disappear like everybody else's who fought here.
The Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians.
God, how I hate the 20th century.
General.
General?
We intercepted a German radio message.
Rommel's 1 Oth Panzer is going to hit us near El Guettar.
Rommel, huh?
All my life...
...I've wanted to lead a lot of men in a desperate battle.
Now I'm going to do it.
Look.
Battalion strength at least.
They haven't spotted our positions yet.
They'll get an education in about 10 seconds.
Wait till they get a dose of that artillery fire.
Commence firing. Fire at will.
Commence firing. Fire at will. Commence firing. Fire at will.
What a hell of a waste of fine infantry.
- Get General Bradley on the radio. - Yes, sir.
Sir, I can't raise him.
Go tell him to hit them hard. Here's where we hold them by the nose...
...and kick them in the ass. Go on.
Put him in my car.
Rommel...
...you magnificent bastard. I read your book!
Captain Richard N. Jenson was a fine boy.
Loyal, unselfish and efficient.
I am terribly sorry.
There are no coffins here since there is no wood.
We will have a trumpeter and an honor guard...
...but we will not fire the volleys as people would think an air raid was on.
I enclosed a lock of Dick's hair in a letter to his mother.
He was a fine man...
...and a fine officer.
And he had no vices.
I shall miss him a lot.
I can't see the reason such fine young men get killed.
There are so many battles yet to fight.
Battle-weary, but victorious, American Gls and Tommies...
...of the British 8th Army meet in an Allied victory celebration...
...at Wadi Akarit in North Africa.
For the first time in this war, Broadway and Piccadillyjoin hands.
Meanwhile, General Montgomery, hero of El Alamein...
...continues to lead his victorious British 8th Army...
...in a relentless drive against Rommel's vaunted Africa corps.
General Bradley's done a tremendous job with 2nd Corps.
He's moved into Bizerte and taken over 41,000 prisoners.
Good. Very good.
You're not surprised, are you? After all, you trained that outfit.
- Excuse me, general. - Hm?
This is interesting. We've discovered Rommel wasn't present at El Guettar.
- Who says so? - G2, sir.
When we took 1 Oth Panzer, Rommel was in Berlin with an earache?
Severe nasal diphtheria, sir.
Also, Hitler probably retained Rommel in Berlin...
...because things were going badly for the Africa Corps.
He didn't want his favorite general to lose face.
I'm my favorite general, and I don't like to be told...
...that some second-stringer is up against me. Then I lose face.
Who the hell are you, anyway?
General, this is Lieutenant Colonel Codman. Your new aide.
Codman. I pulled your name off the list because I know your family.
I'm glad you did, sir.
Rommel is the best the krauts have, and I kicked the hell out of him.
Now my own G2 section is telling me he wasn't even there.
But, general, he undoubtedly planned the German battle.
If you defeat Rommel's plan, you've defeated Rommel. Isn't that true?
Codman...
- Have a drink with me tonight. - Yes, sir.
I have a plan for the invasion of Sicily.
I want to make sure I get it approved. You can help me.
I want to give a dinner for General Alexander.
Get to him before Montgomery does.
This will be strictly a formal affair, Codman, but purely social.
By that I mean...
- ... purely political. - Yes, sir.
I want the finest food, the best wine available. Everything, comme il faut.
Thank you.
George, this is really splendid wine.
Thank you, Arthur.
Thank you.
Sir Harold, I think it was Alcibiades in the Peloponnesian War...
...415 B.C.
He said, "If Syracuse falls, all Sicily falls, and then Italy. "
He knew that Syracuse was the jugular of the island.
Old Alcibiades always went for the throat.
I propose to take Sicily in the same way.
- How's it going? - The old man has them in his pocket.
Now, according to my plan...
...General Montgomery will land here.
I'll hit the beaches here, take Palermo.
Monty will drive north on the coast, I'll come due east...
...take Messina and cut off the German escape route.
Yes...
It looks like an interesting plan.
Well, gentlemen, to the conquest of Sicily.
To the conquest of Sicily.
To Sicily!
George, you'd have made a great marshal for Napoleon...
...if you'd lived in the 18th century.
But I did, sir. I did.
Morning. Is General Smith in?
I believe he's in the lavatory. - Thank you.
- Ah, there you are, Bedell. - Monty.
Bedell, I've been giving a good bit of thought to the Sicily operation.
Yes?
I assume we're alone.
Georgie Patton has already discussed his plan with Alexander.
I realize that...
...but I have an idea that his plan may lead to an absolute disaster.
Oh?
Bedell, look.
This is Sicily.
Now then, according to Patton's plan...
...I will attack Syracuse here.
And he would attack Palermo up here.
Now, obviously our forces would be divided.
And obviously, they could be chopped up piecemeal.
Now then, what I propose, and what I shall insist on, by the way...
...is this.
I will land at Syracuse as planned.
But the Americans- The Americans will land here, at Gela.
I will advance north to Messina, the Americans protecting my flank.
After all, Messina is the key.
It's the reason for invading Sicily.
I'll discuss your plan with Ike.
I'm sure he'll give it serious consideration.
- Amusing, isn't it? - What?
That the plans for the invasion of Sicily...
...should have been put forward in an Algerian lavatory.
George, I have bad news for you about your Sicily plan.
Ike has turned it down.
Since the Italians will be defending their native soil for the first time...
...and the German resistance is stiffening, we shouldn't be divided.
- Well, where do my people land then? - In the Gulf of Gela.
There's nothing there but a beach.
Yes, but it puts you in a good position to support Montgomery.
Where does Montgomery land?
He'll land in Syracuse and drive north to Catania. Possibly even Messina.
And you'll be alongside, protecting his left.
I see.
In other words, we get the burden again while good old Monty gets the glory.
Ike had to consider all points of view.
He made his decision not as an American, but as an Ally.
Had it been the other way around, I assure you, Monty would protest.
No...
...I've been in the Army 30 years.
When I get an order, I say, "Yes, sir. " And I do my best to carry it out.
This is what happens when your commander stops being an American...
...and starts being an Ally.
I don't think I've made myself clear, sir.
It's true, Montgomery met the toughest resistance there at Catania.
However, if we're-
Perfectly clear.
Old Monty is as stuck as a bug on flypaper.
But this order from General Alexander...
...directing you to turn over the Vizzini-Caltagirone road to Montgomery.
Well, then, old Bradley will have to slug- slug, mind you...
...his way up center of the island over those tough mountain roads, won't he?
Yes, sir.
Messina, Bell.
Messina...
...is the heart of it. If they'd followed my plan, I'd be there by now.
I'd cut off the retreat of every German on this island!
Now, you know what I'm gonna do?
I'm gonna go to Palermo.
I'm gonna beat that limey at Messina if it's the last thing I ever do!
Hey, what's all this talk about taking the Vizzini road away from 2nd Corps?
General Alexander's orders. Road goes to Montgomery.
Now, that road was assigned to me.
How can I get north without it? You know the terrain there.
I'm sorry, Brad. But Monty's run into tough opposition. Very tough.
You wouldn't be taking advantage of this situation, would you?
I don't know what you're talking about.
Without that road, your army, except for my 2nd Corps...
...would be out of a job.
Free for you to go into Palermo.
Who said anything about Palermo?
I can read a map.
Does Alexander know you've pushed out this far?
That's a reconnaissance in force.
George...
...are you saying I've got to slug it out in those mountains...
...with heavy resistance?
Just so you can make a bigger splash than Monty?
General...
...I just follow my orders.
Like the simple old soldier I am.
General Bradley.
Sir, General Alexander has heard we're moving west.
He says here, "Stop immediately. Go no farther than Agrigento.
Repeat. Stop, immediately. "
That's what you think it says.
I think it was garbled in transmission.
Ask them to re-transmit the message.
That'll take half a day at least.
Yes, sir.
Now, Brad.
Where were we?
We were talking about a simple...
...old soldier.
Look at that, gentlemen.
Compared to war...
...all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance.
Let's go, sergeant. Move out!
Give me that helmet.
Come on, let's get out of here!
What silly son of a bitch is in charge of this operation?
I don't know, but they ought to hang him.
Afternoon, Padre.
These men are here from the States, looking over our program...
...for the spiritual welfare of the men.
We'll take you right into Palermo.
Col. David toured us around your quarters...
...and I saw a Bible by your bed. Do you actually find time to read it?
I sure do.
Every goddamn day.
Sir, Patton's taken Palermo!
Damn!
Palermo's the most conquered city in history.
First the Phoenicians...
...the Romans, Carthaginians, Byzantines.
Then came the Arabs...
...Spaniards, Neapolitans.
Now comes...
...the American Army.
This is from General Alexander, sir...
...reminding you that you are not to take Palermo.
Send him a message, Cod.
Ask him if he wants me to give it back.
Let me ask you a question for a change.
You've just come from Washington.
How do they feel about our boys taking Palermo?
The general impression is, your army barreled through token resistance...
...while Montgomery faced the brunt of the fighting.
Don't they know we took on the Hermann Göring division?
Toughest outfit in the German Army.
The people at home are interested in you.
They're curious about your pearl-handle revolvers.
They're ivory. Only a pimp from a New Orleans whorehouse...
...would carry a pearl handled pistol.
What about your language?
When I want it to stick, I give it to them loud and dirty.
What do your troops feel about that?
I don't want these men to love me. I want them to fight for me.
Ernie Pyle says you have a secret weapon here: General Bradley.
Ernie calls him "The GI General. "
Omar Bradley is no secret. He's a damn fine commander.
What's your feeling about Montgomery?
He's the best general the English have.
He seems more concerned with not losing than he does about winning.
He's not aggressive enough, is that correct?
Look, I've been getting into a lot of trouble lately.
Yesterday, the office told me that my Italian prisoners...
...didn't have enough latrine.
They didn't know what a latrine was till I showed them.
If I've said anything too critical of my British colleague...
...let's forget about it.
I will tell you one thing, though. Off the record.
I'm gonna beat that...
...gentleman to Messina.
Ah, Freddie. Do you realize what this madman Patton is saying?
He's going to save our skins by taking Messina.
This report might interest you.
Here I am in these bloody marshes, fighting malaria and Germans...
...while he's taking Palermo and getting all the glory.
Well!
Now he's up against three good German divisions and he's stuck.
He's not going to get Messina.
That's reserved for the British 8th Army and me.
It's time for a move, Lucian. Terry Allen's 1 st Division is bogged down.
You're bogged down too.
What we need is another end run just to break things loose.
- Lucian. How's my fighter? - Fine, George.
Come in, come in. We need another one of your amphibious specialties.
Lucian, I want you to send a reinforced battalion by sea...
...to make a landing up here at Brolo behind the kraut lines.
You want me to do a land-based attack.
Right. I want a coordinated attack the morning of the 11 th.
I don't think we can make it by the 11 th.
- Hell, it's only 15, 20 miles. - My boys have been dying for yards.
Hm.
Maybe you better kick a few butts if you have to.
I recommended you for your DSM in your last promotion.
I know what you can do when you put your mind to it.
Excuse me, sir.
I'm sorry, but I can't do the impossible.
You're too old an athlete to think you can postpone a scheduled match.
You're an old athlete yourself. You know matches are postponed.
If we can't back Lucian up by land, our end run could be a disaster.
Those men might get caught on the beach and cut to pieces.
- What's the matter? - All we're saying is...
...not to rush in until we're ready.
Give him an extra day.
Just one more day.
The landing is on.
We're going to Messina.
We're going to get there before Montgomery does.
- What's so important about that? - General Truscott...
...if your conscience won't permit you to conduct this operation...
...I'll find somebody who can.
General, it's your privilege to relieve me anytime you want to.
This match will not be postponed.
Any questions?
No, sir.
You're a very good man, Lucian.
You want to guard against being too conservative.
Remember what Frederick the Great said:
"L 'audace, I'audace! Toujours I'audace!"
Go on, have a drink.
Excuse me, sir, I won't be drinking for the next couple of days.
If anything happens to those men, I'd like to be there with them.
You're not going, so forget about it.
You believe Truscott's right?
No.
But you're gambling with those boys' lives...
...just to beat Montgomery into Messina.
If you pull it off, you're a hero, but if you don't...
What happens to them? The ordinary combat soldier.
He doesn't share in your dreams of glory, he's stuck here.
He's living out every day, day-to-day, with death tugging at his elbow.
There's one big difference between you and me, George.
I do this job because I've been trained to do it.
You do it because...
...you love it.
The men on the beach are catching hell, general.
The men are doing their best. We have no replacements.
I can't break through to the coast.
I'm going down there myself.
Colonel!
How did he get over there?
What the hell are you waiting for?
Looking for a place to ford, general.
I sent a patrol to reconnoiter.
I've done that. Down there this sewer's no more than 3 feet deep.
Get that outfit cranked up or you'll be out of a job!
- And put that helmet on. - Yes, sir.
Move it! Let's go!
- What's holding up this column? - I don't know, sir.
Planes!
Come on, move it!
Pull up over there.
- Come on. - What's going on here?
Sir, these mules-
Jackasses!
You let a column get stalled and strafed on account of two jackasses?!
No. No.
Now, dump them over the side and clear this bridge!