Westerplatte -
a peninsula located at the mouth of the Port of Gdansk.
A small piece of land, 2 km long by 500 m wide.
In the nineteenth century, it served as a holiday resort,
with a beach and a restaurant.
As a result of the Treaty of Versailles,
ending World War I, land that once belonged to the Third Reich
became the Free City of Gdansk.
Westerplatte was later granted exclusively to Poland.
Until 1939, on the Polish part of the peninsula,
a Military Transit Depot received
overseas shipments of uniforms
and military equipment.
Hello, Colonel.
Good timing, I'm just about to have dinner. Please...
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
I'll repeat it once more.
This morning, our Commander-in-Chief ordered
troops to back General Skwarczynski from the south.
What does that mean for us?
You know full well, Henry.
Say it.
Alright.
If we go to war, no one will back us up.
You are to hold out for 12 hours.
Not 6, but 12.
Why not 16?
Or 24? Talk!
Relax.
Commander-in-Chief's orders.
The situation is not good.
This can happen at any time.
You of all people should understand.
We're fighting for our honour...
and for Gdansk.
Polish Gdansk.
I'm supposed to fight for Gdansk, against Hitler, with 200 soldiers.
They're afraid if war breaks out, the Skwarczynski division will be cut off.
You are to hold out for 12 hours and that's that.
And later...
Later, you can make any decision. Anything you want.
Now, give me your word...
that this stays between us.
No one at the base must know.
It could hurt morale. You understand.
You have my word.
I have to go.
Where are you going in that outfit, to a wedding or a funeral?
A funeral.
It's the last day of August.
Looks like it's going to be a beautiful autumn.
See you later.
Take care of yourselves. See you later.
Kuba.
What's going on?
The Germans blocked Gdansk and our medical transport.
Mietek is going crazy, saying that if something happens
we won't have any medicine. Otherwise, we're set and ready.
If they start with us, they'll definitely regret it.
My dearest,
though time is short, I found a second to write a few words.
I'll start with myself.
I'm healthy, as are my subordinates.
Dear sister, I know that you are alone with mom. It must be tough.
Worse yet, with our brother away, too.
But you must cope.
The neighbours will help.
War hasn't yet broken out, but it's closing in. Will it come?
We don't know. However, if it does...
you all know we must fight and win.
Then, God willing, we will finally have...
peace.
For now, we must all fulfill our duties.
We over here, and you over there. That will be best.
So... stay calm, as is expected from good Polish women...
I can hear! Sound the alarm!
At last...
it's started.
The fortress has been breached!
When they enter our area, fight, Gryczman. With precision!
Only with precision, Captain!
Take up your positions!!! Quickly!!!
Quickly!
Take up your positions!
Quickly!
What'd I just say?! Take up your positions!
Stand up!
Get ready! Wait!
I said, wait!
You'll go when the shelling dies down. Understood? That's an order!!
Turn off those bells. That's enough!
Follow me!!!
Take the cannon through the woods. You won't get there by road.
Maybe we'll try, running? In the woods we'll get stuck.
Through the woods!!
Everyone, take up your positions!
Positions! One, two... one, two!
Westerplatte, September 1, 1939
It's 4:55 a.m.
We've been attacked by the Germans.
Give it by code.
Run! Run!
Hurry! Hurry!
- Fire at my command. - Fire at explicit command!
Pass it on.
Fire!!!
Get it in position.
Let's go, let's go!
Canon in position, waiting to shoot.
Waiting for permission to fire.
Fire... God willing.
Machine gun in the lighthouse window.
Gunsight 400 m.
Grenade, standard ammo, detonator with a short fuse.
Fire!
Cease fire!
Relax!
CKM nest is in the granary on the first floor.
Gunsight 600 m.
Grenade...
Forward.
No! Stop!
Has our message to higher command been sent? Any reply?
- Message sent, but no reply. - What's on the radio?
Gdansk is saying that war has broken out,
and that Forster joined Freedom City to the Reich.
And Warsaw?
That's all.
Attention, this is Warsaw and all Polish Radio broadcasts.
Today at 5:40 a.m. German troops crossed the Polish border,
breaching its non-aggression pact. Enemy planes are bombarding many cities.
Stay tuned for a special announcement.
As of today... it's war!
All matters and issues are to be postponed.
Our public and private lives will take a different path.
Poles must unite and fight the German invaders.
Poland is the first to firmly say "No" to Hitler,
and Poland will be the first to stop Hitler.
We will not give up Gdansk and the Polish coast. We won't give in.
We'll finally give these bastards what they deserve!
For all those times we were humiliated!
Don't fire yet.
Fire!
Quickly, quickly! This way with the crutches.
Connect me with the ferry.
Pajak, sir.
Back everyone up to sector one.
- But Major... - That's an order, Lieutenant!!
Yes, sir.
Leon!
Quickly!
Faster! Faster!
Assume positions.
Wait!
Wait, fire at my command!
At my command!
Fire!
Kuba.
We have many casualties. Three dead, three seriously wounded,
a few slightly, one MIA. - MIA?
Soon, we might have to classify him as dead.
This is no place for a "know-it-all" village doctor.
We need a clinic, a surgeon.
A team. - What are you talking about?
Lieutenant Leon Pajak... that's a very serious injury.
His crotch is torn, and everything that belongs to a man is in pieces.
There's not much I can do.
Under these conditions, there's danger of gangrene.
Major...
Kuba, I'll do what I can but please understand
that we must get him to the hospital. - Mietek!
If you can tell me how, you'll get a medal for the idea.
American?
They threw it off some boat, in August.
WELCOME DEATH CREW
- So, did you find him? - Major, we couldn't find him.
- He can't have disappeared. Damn it! - We looked everywhere. Nothing.
We even checked out the ferry and barracks. No luck.
How is that?
- And the Germans? - Didn't notice.
The trenches are empty. I think they backed up.
Scram. Leaving a comrade behind, dammit?! You got it coming.
Platoon leader Buder, sir.
Captain... I have an idea.
Buder wants to take back Prom base.
He says the Germans aren't there.
No way.
Buder, do not lead an offensive war.
Prom base fulfilled its role. Get me Gryczman.
Gryczman, sir.
You are to take over command of guardhouse number one.
Buder will be your deputy.
Pick 21 people and send the rest to the barracks.
That's an order. Understood? - Yes, sir.
I've lost too many men in the trenches.
They'll be safer in the barracks.
Our 12 hours just passed.
Look closely.
Arrange the grenades so that...
they're always within reach.
Trying to shoot me, you idiot?
What the fuck are you doing?
Who let you leave the base?
It was worth it.
Look at this toy.
You are to do things I know about.
Understood? - Yes, sir.
Major, sir, they replied.
I bet they're preparing a landing operation for us.
That's at sea, the fort. Connect me.
Give them some space; they're busy.
Rasinski, report back to them.
Kuba, analyze the overall situation.
Tally our losses. That's it.
Maybe we should ask for help?
If they could help, they would've done so already. Don't ask.
But if we get reinforcements, we could send them back to Berlin.
What's wrong?
What happened?
Execute the order.
Take a nap, I'll stay.
Captain, God only knows how much longer
we'll serve our country together.
Maybe we should start calling each other by name.
If Major wants that...
So how about it, Frank? May I?
Kuba.
That's what everyone calls me.
Oh, yeah, they call you Kuba.
In the army, I had a grey horse.
I called him Kuba. My friends started calling me that.
I didn't mind, so it stuck.
You like animals... That's good.
It's important to care for animals.
A country boy knows something about that.
And we always had a horse.
Call me Henrich.
Another...?
I knew this wedding song, about Kuba.
"Kuba drinks to his friend Jacob." Know it? It's a wedding favourite.
I don't.
That's okay. I'll sing it to you some other time.
Colonel Sobocinski.
Sit down, Kuba.
I see you're getting better acquainted, Henrich.
The captain and I were just going over final details.
So how do you gentlemen see the situation?
Westerplatte is a small fort.
In case of a coup...
we'll last our six hours until back up comes.
Within six hours the Skwarczynski Division
will conquer Gdansk and neutralize the coup.
You can be sure of that.
Kuba, pour one.
To these sad days.
No... hard liquor's bad for my ulcers.
I told you a long time ago to do something about that.
I had to have a Bruderschaft drink with Captain Dabrowski.
But anyway... What's new in politics?
I'm a little worried about that...
little German screamer with a moustache.
True... since Hitler took over Austria and Czech,
he's become more confident.
I'm not worried. As long as France and England
put their foot down, and Hitler will tuck in his tail.
I hope so, Kuba... I hope so...
Hitler wouldn't dare attack Poland.
It would be suicide.
Our army's stronger than ever.
So let's drink.
To our strong army.
Wait!
Let them advance.
Then we give it to them.
It's chilly.
Everyone needs a hot meal today.
Okay, Jozu, at ease.
Just make sure they run a lot.
When the shelling resumes, take them back upstairs.
Yes, sir!
The 12 hours, which we were supposed to withstand, passed a long time ago.
Reinforcements are coming. It's only a matter of time.
Just listen.
Maybe fire a round above their heads.
Let them know we're not asleep.
Fire a short round!
What's going on?
The chimney oven is down.
The major ordered that soldiers get a hot meal today.
And I don't take care how. - Yes, sir.
Put the wood in the middle.
I have medicine for you.
What do you have?
Sir, I brought the wounded fresh cow milk.
I request your permission.
Milk is good... healthy.
Permission granted. But only to those along the wall.
Yes, sir.
Good milk.
So you'll have the strength to clobber that bastard Adolf.
Good milk.
Run!
Come on! Come on!
Same time tomorrow, you scoundrels.
Open up for them.
Open up!
Someday you'll get what's coming to you, Mundek.
They were shooting at us.
You shouldn't have run around butt naked on the beach.
It's been quiet all day.
Only that one tormenting shot.
I don't like that.
It's simple, our guys scared them in Gdynia.
I think it's time we talk about the readiness of our defence.
Maybe it's one of ours...
A seaplane?
Not a seaplane, just a simple fighter jet.
- Can you see the floats? - Yes, I can.
See, that's what a seaplane looks like.
When did you become such an expert?
See that? It's clearly German.
Platoon leader, sir, Wladek would take it on his shoulder, I'd aim...
Relax, son... those bullets might come in handy.
Gentlemen, dinner's ready.
And there will also be something for supper.
My daughters...
How beautiful they are... each of them.
They take after their mom.
What will happen to them now?
When war breaks out, what will happen to them?
I love them so. My little angels.
Jozek, you brought milk.
Fresh from the cow.
I'll take some to the men in Sector 1.
God bless.
Everybody down!
Quickly! Quickly!
Jozek, get down, quick!
- Gas! - Wait! That's not gas! Calm down!
- What are you doing? Get a grip! - Everything is on my conscience.
Understand? It's on my conscience.
Tanks are coming. Can you hear them?
Oh, my God! Tanks!
Piotrowski, you'll disperse the armor-piercing shells.
Pelka! Guard the dining room windows.
You two, guard the barrack entrance!
- Where? - To captivity.
You'll make it to court quicker than to captivity. Understand?
What's going on here, Buder?
You also want to go to captivity?
That's what I meant.
Get a grip.
Button up.
Quiet!
- Captain, sir! - Shut up!
Which one of you idiots mentioned tanks?
At ease, idiots.
Corporal!
Help me!
My God, Jozek, how did you end up here...?
The Germans reached the fort. We couldn't hold it.
Take the wounded to the dining room.
Everyone's dead. - Where's the major?
I don't know, he ordered that something be burnt in the kitchen.
But the major ordered...
Where are the codes?
They were lost in the first fire, Lieutenant.
Wait! Soldier, take that down!
- Major's order. - I won't repeat myself.
Captain, it's an order from the major.
I think it's epilepsy.
Epilepsy.
He was given a shot and sleeping pills, so he should sleep.
Will he recover?
For now he needs to rest.
Kuba...
now you're in charge of defence.
Gentlemen...
I want your word: what happened here never leaves this room.
- An officers' word. - An officers' word.
Full round on the Hitlers! Fire!
You won't go blind.
Cease fire!
Turn that off.
Captain, is this necessary?
Jozek.
Water... Water!
Calm down.
Yes, Kuba?
What is it?
Shots from the sea are mainly aimed at the barracks. We're expecting...
What?
After the shots, the Germans will focus on the barracks.
A landing operation will come from the sea. They didn't decide
to do it last night, but after the air raid, I think they'll do it today.
Haven't had such good coffee in a while.
One more thing, Mr. Commander-in-Chief.
Send Jozek Kita in.