And clear this bridge!
The Reason we're pinned down, General, is we can't get any air support!
To Hell with that! Nobody's getting any air support!
Put some fire into this battalion, or I'll get somebody who can.
Major!
- You the executive officer here? - Yes, sir.
- Your name? - Walker.
You're now commanding officer.
You've got 4 hours to break through that beachhead.
50,000 men on this island would like to shoot that son of a bitch.
Please take me home. Take me home.
- There he goes, "Old Blood and Guts. " - Yeah, our blood. His guts.
Hi, how are you, son?
Where are you from, Gomez?
California, sir.
Me too.
- Where were you hit? - In the chest, sir.
Well...
...this might be interesting to you. The last German I saw had no chest.
Didn't have any head either.
You get well quickly, son.
What's the matter with you?
I guess I just can't take it, sir.
What did you say?
It's my nerves, sir.
I just can't stand the shelling anymore.
Your nerves?
Hell, you're just a goddamn coward.
Shut up!
I won't have a yellow bastard crying...
...in front of these brave, wounded men.
Shut up!
Don't admit this yellow bastard. Nothing wrong with him.
I won't have sons of bitches afraid to fight stink up this place of honor.
You're going back to the front, my friend.
You may get shot, you may get killed, but you're going up to the fighting.
Either that or I'll stand you up in front of a firing squad.
I should shoot you myself, you bastard! Get him out of here!
Send him up to the front!
You hear me? You goddamn coward!
I won't have cowards in my army.
I had to kick a few butts...
...but Truscott finally broke through to those people on the beach.
Have you seen the casualty lists?
Yes, I've seen them.
What's the word from the coast road?
The 3rd Division's east of Brolo, heading toward Messina.
Let's get over there. I want to go in with the troops.
You go ahead, George. I'm not very good at that.
General Bradley...
...it's time to consider how many casualties we'd have...
...if we were still crawling on that goddamn road.
Forward, march!
Don't smirk, Patton. I shan't kiss you.
Pity. I shaved close this morning to prepare for getting smacked by you.
Forward, march!
You wanted to see me, George?
Got a letter here from Ike.
I was rereading Caesar's Commentaries last night.
In battle, Caesar wore a red robe to distinguish him from his men.
I was struck by that fact because-
"Despicable. " First time anybody's ever applied that word to me.
Well, at least it's a personal reprimand, it's not official.
The man was yellow. He should've been tried for cowardice and shot.
People have taken a lot worse than a little kick in the pants.
I ruffled his pride a bit. What's that compared to war?
Two weeks ago at Palermo they said I was the greatest general...
- ... since Stonewall Jackson. - Now they draw cartoons about you.
Dirty bastard!
They got me holding a little Gl and kicking him with an iron boot.
You see that, what's on my boot? A swastika.
On my boot. An iron boot with a swastika!
"You will apologize to the soldier you slapped...
...to all doctors and nurses present in the tent at the time...
...to every patient in the tent who can be reached...
...and last but not least to the 7th Army as a whole...
...through individual units, one at a time. "
God, I...
...feel low.
Oh, God...
...Thou art my God.
Early will I seek Thee.
My soul thirsteth for Thee.
My flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land.
So as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.
My soul followeth hard after Thee.
But those that seek my soul to destroy it...
...shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
They shall fall by the sword.
They shall be apportioned for foxes.
But the king shall rejoice in God.
Everyone that sweareth by him shall glory.
But the mouth of them that speak lies...
...shall be stopped.
Ten-hut!
At ease.
I thought I'd stand up here and let you people see...
...if I am as big a son of a bitch as some of you think I am.
I assure you I had no intention...
...of being either harsh or cruel in my treatment of the...
...soldier in question.
My sole purpose was to try to restore in him...
...some appreciation of his obligations as a man...
...and as a soldier.
If one can shame a coward...
...I felt one might help him to regain his self-respect.
This was on my mind.
Now, I freely admit...
...that my method was wrong...
...but I hope you understand my motive...
...and will accept this...
...explanation...
...and this...
...apology.
- Dismissed. - Ten-hut!
Good evening, general. I want to report on a private poll I'm taking.
What poll?
The fan mail.
Eleven percent con, 89 percent pro.
And that 11 % of protest, in most cases, is both obscene and anonymous.
But the pro letters are mostly from relatives and servicemen.
"I want you to know we're proud our son is serving in your army.
From the newspaper, we're not clear exactly what you did and why...
...but we want you to know we're for you.
Keep going, and God bless you. "
Keep going, huh?
Where?
I thought you might like a sip of wine, general. It's New Year's.
You didn't celebrate at all last night.
I'm sick of sitting around this...
...royal doghouse.
We've taken Sicily. I'm ready for a new assignment.
Maybe you've got it. Here's a radio message, just came in.
Cod.
I've been relieved.
They've relieved me from command of the 7th Army.
I don't believe it.
Happy New Year.
Just a minute, sir.
Since they're sure to give you another command...
...isn't it logical they'd relieve you here first?
You mean command of all American troops going into Europe?
It's possible. I know it's been discussed from time to time.
The logic of it is so obvious, it couldn't mean anything else.
Sir, I'm going to open this bottle of wine.
No, Sir Cod...
...but if you find a bottle of cognac, I'll help you drink it.
- How you feeling tonight, general? - Not bad, not bad at all.
- Get me some writing paper, will you? - Yes, sir.
Your wife ever give you the devil for not writing?
All the time, sir.
Only I don't write as often as you do. Don't seem to get around to it.
Lucky for us we got them.
Who wants to marry a couple of broken-down old horse captains?
That's what my wife says to me every time I come home, sir.
Why are you up so late, George?
Thought you'd like a nice hot bath or something.
I got this sleeping pill from the doc, just in case you need it.
Sleeping pill!
- What's going on here? - I heard the news, sir.
- They announced it on the radio. - What news?
About General Bradley, sir. How they gave him the top American command.
Oh.
Oh, yeah.
I just thought you might be feeling kind of low, sir.
Your writing things, sir. Here on the desk, sir.
Yeah. Thank you, George.
One little dog face.
One measly little slap. That's what done it.
Ah, George.
I wish I'd kissed the son of a bitch.
In the greatest amphibious operation ever attempted...
...a predawn naval bombardment prepares the way...
...for allied soldiers to assault the Normandy beaches...
...and claw out a desperate foothold on the continent of Europe.
I knew Montgomery couldn't take Caen on D-day or D-plus-10. And I said so.
And here they are all hung up in the hedgerow country.
They should pivot the way von Schlieffen planned it in World War I.
Then we might get a chance to do some real broken field running.
But they don't listen to me.
What a way to enter the continent of Europe.
Along with all the rest of the spare parts.
Sir, everything on this plane is high priority.
Gen. Bradley wouldn't send for you unless he had something in mind.
I'll tell you, Cod. I've learned my lesson.
If I ever do get another chance, I'm gonna keep my mouth shut.
I'm gonna play the game.
If I forget, you remind me.
- I'll give a gentle nudge in the ribs. - Give me a swift kick in the ass.
Yes, sir.
Welcome to France, sir.
Hope the war's still on. Where's the boss?
Right this way, sir.
Patton, haven't seen you since Messina.
How are you?
You're doing a splendid job decoying the Jerries.
You'll forgive me, I'm off to the front.
Best of everything, old boy.
By the way...
...intelligence confirms that I'm against Rommel again.
Rommel.
Hi, how are you, George?
- Pretty fair, Brad. How are you? - Fine.
Well. My, my.
Isn't this plush?
Looks like you're bucking for archbishop.
Chet Hansen had this rig built for me. George, sit down.
Ike wanted me to talk to you since we can level with each other.
That's right.
We're making 3rd Army operational when I take over 12th Army group.
Do I get it?
I'll be honest with you.
I've had reservations.
You've been my senior ever since I left the academy.
You were the boss in North Africa and Sicily and I just thought...
...well, it might be a problem for us.
It wouldn't bother me.
There's one other thing.
We're different kinds of people.
Goddamn it, Brad, you're always right.
With your brains and my screwy ideas, we make a great team, like in Sicily.
Truthfully, if I had been your senior in Sicily, I would have relieved you.
Brad...
...I'm not crawling on my belly to get a command.
For God's sake, get me in this fight.
The only way out of the doghouse is to do something great.
I gotta get back in the war!
Hitler's own people tried to kill him a few days ago.
First thing you know, it'll be over and...
I'll...
...keep my mouth shut. I'll behave myself.
I give you my word.
George...
...I've been working on a plan called Cobra.
I'd like your opinion.
We've been slugging through hedgerow country...
...half an acre a day and we've got to find a way out.
I want to use this road.
The Saint Lô-Periers road.
Monty will pin down the enemy forces at Caen.
We'll pulverize an area 31/2 miles wide with bombing.
Then seven divisions will follow.
The 3rd Army will swing around here, a sweeping end run right across France.
What do you think?
I think you'll need a screwball old cavalryman to command the 3rd Army.
George...
...Ike came to that conclusion in London three months ago.
He what?
Why, that dirty-! I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I promise to keep my mouth shut.
George could have the courtesy to tell us where he's going.
Good God, look at that. Where you going, general?
Berlin.
I'm going to personally shoot that paper-hanging son of a bitch.
Hold it. Hold it!
This place isn't on the map.
You know why? We've run clear off the map.
Give George a headline, and he's good for another 30 miles.
Atten-hut!
Hold it!
Pay attention. We're gonna clean this mess up right now.
Let's move this vehicle out this way. This one out this way.
Back that thing up there, and we'll take this one here.
All right, get up off your ass. Let's go now!
That's it. That's the way to move.
Good boy. All right, come on.
Come on, now. Here we go. Come on. That's it!
That's it! Gun it!
Gun that thing!
Okay, come on.
Watch it!
Go, go, go! Come on. Hold it up.
Come on, baby. Yeah, yeah. Come on.
That's it.
Come on, now.
- Chet. - Yeah, will do.
Come on, keep coming. Keep coming. Hold it up there.
Now come on! Hold it!
Hey, dummy, hold the fricking tank!
That's it. Come on.
Good boy.
- Hold it up there. - General!
General Bradley wants to have a word with you.
Okay. Come on!
Okay. Hold it up. Take over.
George, you'd make a good traffic cop.
George this drive has been magnificent...
...but I'm sorry to say I have to slow you down.
- What the hell for? - We'll have to cut off your supplies.
Gasoline, ammunition, everything. We're up against new priorities.
- I think I smell Montgomery. - Take it easy, George.
There are serious issues involved. Political issues.
By God, it is Montgomery.
The launching sites for the B-2 bombs are all in his area.
Churchill wants those bases destroyed.
Hitler kills more civilians in London than soldiers.
Expect Montgomery to do anything?
You give me gasoline and I'll gain ground with it, kill Germans too.
Give me 400,000 gallons. I'll go to Berlin.
George, I can't do it.
The Siegfried line is an empty shell.
They stripped the equipment and sent it east.
It's crawling with cows. I can punch through in two days.
There's no use in arguing with me. It wasn't my idea.
If you won't let me kill the enemy, why did you pick me to command?
I didn't pick you.
Ike picked you.
George, you have performed brilliantly.
You are loyal, dedicated.
You're one of the best I've got, but you don't know when to shut up.
George, you're a pain in the neck.
I have a lot of faults, Brad.
But ingratitude isn't one of them.
I owe you a lot.
Hell, I know I'm a prima donna. I admit it.
What I can't stand about Monty is, he won't admit it.
Captain, the Bailey's run out of gas.
The point tank has run out too.
And there's a kraut column up ahead.
Yeah, I know.
Were you in command here, captain?
I was in command.
My tank platoon was supporting an infantry company.
Tanks ran out of gas, so we had to fight it out.
We started 11:00 last night.
Finished a couple hours ago.
This morning the fighting was hand-to-hand.
I had a dream last night.
In my dream it came to me...
...that right now the whole Nazi Reich is mine for the taking.
Think about that, Cod. I was nearly sent home in disgrace.
Now I have precisely the right instrument...
...at precisely the right moment of history and exactly the right place.
The Saar?
This will change too, very quickly.
Like a planet spinning off into the universe.
A moment like this won't come again for 1000 years.
All I need is a few miserable gallons of gasoline.
Right now, the weak spot is here.
In 10 days, we could be in Berlin.
What about the fortifications that were done in Metz?
Fixed fortifications, huh?
Monuments to the stupidity of man.
When mountain ranges and oceans could be overcome...
...anything built by man can be overcome.
You know how I'm sure they're finished out there?
The carts.
They're using carts to move their wounded and the supplies.
The carts came to me in my dream. I couldn't figure it out.
Then I remembered...
...that nightmare in the snow. The agonizing retreat from Moscow.
How cold it was.
They threw the wounded and what was left of the supplies in the carts.
Napoleon was finished.
Not any color left. Not even the red of blood.
Only the snow.
Look at this, Cod.
I love it.
God help me, I do love it so.
I love it more than my life.
Paris is liberated, and French troops lead the way.
The Allies march into the city after four years of Nazi occupation.
The hard-fighting French 2nd Armored Division...
...under Major General Jacques Leclerc...
...gets an unforgettable welcome...
...as they enter their beloved Paris.
In a powerful drive to the north...
...General Montgomery cuts off and bypasses the French coastal towns...
...of Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk.
Pushing on to capture the vital Belgian port of Antwerp.
Meanwhile, the main body of Patton's army...
...resupplied now and rolling like a juggernaut, slashes toward the Saar.
Nazi resistance appears to crumble.
It seems that nothing can stop our troops from driving on into Germany.
- Sir, General Bradley on your line. - Good, good.
Brad, listen, I've got a bridgehead across the Saar.
I'm on my way to Germany.
Wait a minute, George. There's a lot of trouble up north.
I want you to transfer tank armor to Middleton's 8th Corps right away.
Brad, you can't do that.
George, listen. I don't have time to argue.
There's a lot of enemy activity up around Ardennes.
No, I don't know how serious it is...
...but Ike wants us to meet with Bedell Smith tomorrow at Verdun.
Be there at 1100.
Yes, sir.
There's absolutely no reason for us to assume...
...that the Germans are mounting a major offense.
The weather is awful and their supplies are low.
The Germans haven't mounted a winter attack since Frederick the Great.
Therefore I believe that's exactly what they're going to do.
I want you to start making contingency plans...
...for pulling out of our eastward attack.
Changing directions 90 degrees, moving up to Luxembourg.
Don't look so stunned, gentlemen.
I want you to plan for three possible axes of attack.
From Diekirch, due north.
From Orléans to Bastogne.
From Neufchâteau against the German left flank.
We've identified four German armies:
The 7th, the 5th Panzer, 6th SS Panzer and the 15th.
They've hit us with 26 divisions.
They've overran two regimens of the 106th Division.
And 7500 of our men were forced to surrender.
Our concern is that von Rundstedt...
...has the 101 st Airborne trapped here at Bastogne.
Bastogne, by the way, is the key to this entire area.
If we can hold it, we can break up the entire German offensive.
If they take it, we're in serious trouble.
Ike wants to know if anybody can go...
...and relieve the 101 st before they're torn to pieces.
There's nothing Montgomery can do.
At any rate, not for some weeks.
What about you, George?
I can attack with three divisions in 48 hours.
I'd give myself some leeway.
Ike wants a realistic estimate, George.
You're in the middle of a fight now. It's over a hundred miles to Bastogne.
My staff's already working out the details.
Frankly, I don't see how it's possible.
Not in this kind of weather.
I should have thought you'd want to fall back and regroup.
Not me. I don't like to pay for the same real estate twice.
But what about your men?
You can't cart them off 100 miles, expecting them to attack without rest.
I trained these men.
They'll do what I tell them to do.
We hadn't realized you were so popular with your troops, general.
I'm not. They'll do it because they're good soldiers.
And because they realize, as I do, that we can still lose this war.
Then I think I can speak for Field Marshal Montgomery.
He'd say you're asking the impossible of your men.
Of course he would.
Cause he's never realized that's what we're in business for.
General McAuliffe refused a German surrender demand.
You know what he said?
What?
He said, "Nuts. "
Keep them moving, colonel.
A man that eloquent has to be saved.
This is where it pays off.
The training and discipline.
No other outfit in the world.
Pulled out of a winter battle, move a hundred miles.
Going to a major attack with no rest, no sleep, no hot food.
God! God, I'm proud of these men!
Sir, von Rundstedt's thrown another panzer division against Bastogne.
101 st Airborne's barely holding on.
We need damned air cover. If we had decent weather, we might make it.
General Mason, sir.
Hello, Mase? Listen, we're short on foot soldiers.
Cannibalize your antiaircraft units and turn them into riflemen.
Yes, every last one you can find.
Good evening, general.
I just got the weather report for tomorrow. More snow.
There goes our air cover.
We may have to wait for better weather.
Brave men dying up there. I won't wait, not an hour, not a minute.
Going to keep moving.
Is that clear?
We're going to attack all night and attack tomorrow morning!
If we're not victorious...
...let no one come back alive.
You know something, general?
Sometimes, they can't tell when you're acting and when you're not.
It isn't important for them to know.
It's only important for me to know.
- You want to see me, general? - Oh, yeah, chaplain.
I'm tired of 3rd Army having to fight Germans...
...with supreme command, no gasoline...
...and now this ungodly weather.
I want a prayer, a weather prayer.
A weather prayer, sir?
Yes, let's see if you can't get God working with us.
Gonna take a thick rug for that kind of praying.
I don't care if it takes a flying carpet.
I don't know how this will be received, general.
Praying for good weather so we can kill our fellow man.
I assure you, because of my relations with the Almighty...
...if you write a good prayer, we'll have good weather.
And I expect that prayer within an hour.
Yes, sir.
"Almighty and most merciful Father...
...we humbly beseech Thee...
...of Thy great goodness...
...to restrain this immoderate weather...
...with which we've had to contend.
Grant us fair weather for battle.
Graciously hearken to us...
...as soldiers who call upon Thee...
...that armed with Thy power...
...we may advance from victory to victory...
...and crush the oppression...
...and wickedness of our enemies...
...and establish Thy justice...
...among men and nations.
Amen. "
Weather's perfect.
Cod, get me that chaplain.
He's in good with the Lord and I want to decorate him.
Hiya, general!
Supported by medium bombers and fighter bombers...
...flying sorties against German positions...
...elements of the 3rd Army...
...spearheaded by the 4th Armored Division...
...drive into Bastogne...
...to relieve its 18,000 defenders...
...on the day after Christmas.
During this operation, 3rd Army moved farther and faster...
...and engaged more divisions in less time...
...than any other army in the history of the United States.
Excuse me, sir.
General Katkov would like to know if you'll join him...
...to drink to the surrender of Germany.
My compliments to the general.
Please inform him that I do not care to drink with him...
...or any other Russian son of a bitch.
Sir...
...I cannot tell the general that.
You tell him that.
Tell him word for word.
The general says he thinks that...
...you are a son of a bitch too.
Okay. I'll drink to that.
One son of a bitch to another.
Is it true that Roosevelt, before he died...
...promised you a command in the Pacific?
Yes. But now that he's gone, I don't think there's much chance of that.
Doug MacArthur doesn't want me up there.
We're told of "wonder weapons" the Germans were working on:
Long-range rockets, push-button bombing...
...weapons that don't need soldiers.
"Wonder weapon"?
My God, I don't see the wonder in them.
Killing without heroics. Nothing is glorified, nothing is reaffirmed.
No heroes, no cowards, no troops.
No generals.
Only those that are left alive and those that are left...
...dead.
I'm glad I won't live to see it.
It's said you're still using former Nazis in key positions.
Despite the denazification policy.
Well, if I'm supplied with trained personnel...
...I'll get rid of the Nazis.
Until then, I'll use them to keep the railroads and telephones working.
After all, didn't most ordinary Nazis join the Party...
...in about the same way Americans become Republicans or Democrats?
Yes, that's about it.
You agree that national policy be made by civilians, not by the military?
Of course. But the politicians never let us finish.
They always stop short and leave us with another war.
You thinking about our Russian allies?
Did you say if you found your army between the Germans and the Russians...
...you'd attack in both directions?
No, I never said that.
I never said any such thing.
But I wish I had.
Sir, there's a call on your line from supreme headquarters, General Smith.
Bedell?
Ike is furious.
How could you compare Republicans and Democrats to the Nazi Party?
And the statement that you refuse to denazify...
...has the Russians, the British, everybody, screaming.
Well, the hell with the Mongoloid Russians.
We've given them Berlin, Prague, God knows what else.
They gonna dictate policy too?
George, don't be a fool.
The war in Europe is over. Washington dictates policy.
The war shouldn't be over. We should stop pussyfooting about the Russians!
We'll have to fight them anyway. Why not do it now, when the army's here?
Instead of disarming Germans let's get them to help fight the Bolsheviks.
You better shut up. This line may be tapped.
I don't care. I'll tell you...
...we've been fighting the wrong people.
You and I don't have to get involved, you're so soft about it.
Leave it to me. In 10 days I'll have us at war with them...
...and make it look like their fault!
George, you're mad. You're absolutely out of your mind!
Well, I'm no diplomat.
I'm a combat soldier. That's all they understand.
Get Ike to give me the word, and I'll kick them back to Russia!
Shall I call the artist back, sir?
Oh, the hell with it.
Nobody wants to see a picture of me. I'm mad!
Don't you know that?
Field Marshal Montgomery, his majesty is prepared...
...to receive the next chief of the imperial general staff.
Thank you.
Take care of yourself.
George.
Well, gentlemen...
...all good things must come to an end.
And the best thing that's happened to me...
...in my life...
...has been...
...uh...
...the honor...
...and privilege...
...of commanding the 3rd Army.
Goodbye...
...and God bless you.
Brad...
...they've taken the 3rd Army away from me.
I know.
I thought we could have dinner together tonight.
Thank you, Brad.
That's damn thoughtful. I appreciate it.
Right now, I think I'll take Willie for a walk.
George, look out!
After all I've been through...
...imagine getting killed by an oxcart.
No, Brad, there's only one proper way for a professional soldier to die.
That's from the last bullet of the last battle of the last war.
At least the 3rd Army earned its pay.
In our drive across Europe, we liberated...
...12,000 cities and towns...
...and inflicted a million and a half enemy casualties.
I sense from now on, just being a good soldier won't mean a thing.
I'm afraid we're gonna have to be diplomats, administrators, you name it.
God help us.
George, I want to say one thing.
You've done a magnificent job here in Europe.
That's right, George.
That soldier you slapped did more to win the war than any other private.
I'll see you for dinner.
Six-thirty?
For over a thousand years...
...Roman conquerors returning from the wars...
...enjoyed the honor of a triumph, a tumultuous parade.
In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals...
...from the conquered territories...
...together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments.
The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot...
...the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him.
Sometimes, his children, robed in white...
...stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses.
A slave stood behind the conqueror...
...holding a golden crown...
...and whispering in his ear a warning...
...that all glory...
...is fleeting.
Subtitles by Gelula/SDl