English subtitles by SirGawen.
My name is Fritz Vincken and I was 12 years old in 1944,
when on Christmas Eve I suddenly found myself in the middle
of what would become the famous Battle of the Bulge.
War does not stop for holidays.
Fighting raged everywhere.
The countryside was littered with bodies
and equipment.
But my mother was not the kind of person to let events control her.
It was the season of goodwill to all mankind.
Yet, there seemed no end to the war.
No end to the fighting, suffering.
With food and basic supplies almost impossible to find
and our home destroyed in a bombing raid, my mother made a momentous decision.
She decided that we would seek refuge in our family's old hunting cabin.
As I entered the lonely, empty space, I had no idea it would be
the most memorable Christmas of my life.
Kindly go and get your book.
In English, Fritz.
English.
I don't see why I must learn English.
Franz Ulmer says that one day we will soon conquer the world and everyone will have to speak German.
And how does he know that?
His father says so, and he works for the fuhrer.
Franz Ulmer's father is a minor official. And he knows nothing.
But the fuhrer knows everything.
He does not know everything.
He simply forces our people to believe that he does.
Momma, you mustn't speak like that.
Your book, Fritz.
'Well,' says Buck, 'A feud is this way.
A man has a quarrel with another man and kills him. '
Have you ever seen any Americans, momma?
Ja.
Before the war.
Many American tourists would come to visit.
What were they like?
Just like us, I suppose, only different.
I saw an American once, who had jumped from his burning airplane.
The shoemaker shot him.
He said it was his duty.
That was not his duty.
That was murder.
Did no one try to stop him?
Why?
The American had been trying to kill us.
Do not worry, momma.
After Christmas, when I am called to do my duty, I will not shoot them.
I will take them prisoner.
Fritz, you are not becoming a soldier.
Oh yes, Willi Ernst has already been called up and he is only two months older than me.
Listen to me, Fritz.
We are not going back to town.
And you are not joining the Hitler Youth and carrying guns.
But momma, it is my duty to... - Papa?
Papa!
Please, don't hurt us.
We are alone.
All clear, sarge,
Bed back here.
Stay where I can see you.
Understand?
Not a sound.
Easy soldier, easy.
We'd better clean this thing out.
Get me some hot water and the field dressing from my pack.
And keep your eye on those two out there.
Hey, hey, hey....
Where are you going?
Ah, I have hot water on the stove.
I'll get it.
You speak English, too?
Yeah!
You like "Huck Finn"?
Yeah!
What about "Tom Sawyer"?
Yeah, I like that book very much.
I like Tom.
He's a smart boy!
Hum.
Smart?
That's right.
Tom's always on the move.
What else you read?
"Moby Dick".
"The Last Of The Mohicans".
No kidding.
Those are good books.
What about "Mein Kampf"?
No.
It's a lousy read anyway.
Here you go.
The lady's taking care of the hot water.
It's on its way.
Whaddya mean she's taking care of the water?
She's heating it up.
You let her heat it up?
It's just hot water.
Are you forgetting something here, private?
We're at war with these people.
I know but, she's...
But what?
Haven't you seen enough by now to know they are not to be trusted?
If you want them to do something for you, you keep an eye on them at all times.
Did you?
Huh?
Did you keep an eye on them at all times?
No.
Then how do you know what she put in it?
It is hot water.
Just hot water with a clean cloth to clean the wound.
We won't be needing you anymore.
Let me give you a piece of advice, Rassi.
If you wanna make it through this war alive, the only person you trust is wearing
the same uniform as you are.
Now get out of here and dig some sulfur packs.
We're to disinfect this thing.
Soldier!
May I ask how long you intend to stay here?
I don't know, ma'am.
That's something you're gonna have to take up with the sergeant.
I take it, you are lost.
Yeah, that's right.
Herbie took a hit.
We carried him from the line.
Then the snow came in.
And well, here we are, ah.
There's no sulfur packs.
There's got to be!
You keep looking!
Then your unit is not very far.
No, ma'am.
Can't be more than... Those are the kind of questions you shouldn't be asking.
Sarge! Sarge!
They're behind the wall! They're behind the wall!
No! No I...
Rassi, get in here and give me a hand.
No sulfur packs, sarge.
Damn it!
We'll hold him down while I clean this thing out, would ya?
Herbie!
It's okay!
Herbie!
It's me!
It's Jimmy!
Jimmy!
What happened?
What are we doing here?
We were hiding behind that wall, remember?
Aye?
Then the Krauts started shelling and you got hit.
Hit?
Lemme see.
No, no!
Lemme see!
No, no.
You're gonna be fine, Herbie.
Herbie, you're gonna be fine.
It's okay, the sarge is taking care of you.
Sarge!
Sarge?
Am I hit bad?
It's alright, Herbie.
Everything's gonna be alright.
Just relax while I clean this thing out, alright.
You see - see - it's gonna be - it's gonna be.
Is there any shrapnel in there?
I don't think so.
I'm no medic but it looks like this thing went clean through.
Lucky it didn't sever an artery.
You're sure there's no sulfur packets?
I told you, we're out.
Perhaps this will help.
It is disinfectant.
Sarge, it's burning.
It's alright.
The wound will have to be closed soon or infection will set in.
What are you, a nurse or something?
No.
Only a school teacher.
Only?
There's nothing wrong with that.
Think again, Rassi.
In this country they teach things that don't belong in any schools.
The little tyke out there has already been filled for his jackboots.
Where is that kid anyway?
He's just outside - bringing in more firewood.
Go outside and find that kid.
And bring me my carbine.
Right.
It's okay.
No.
Don't leave me.
Sarge!
You'd better come out here!
What is it?
They were right there.
Lady, I'm not even gonna count to three.
Unless you tell me right now where he's...
I will not tolerate weapons in my house.
You can have them back when you leave.
What?
In case you haven't noticed, lady - there's a war on and your house is
right in the middle of it.
That makes it a shelter for my men - a base of operations, a hospital, a barracks
a bunker and whatever else the hell I say it is until I say it isn't.
Do you understand me?
Rassi, get outside and find out what the kid did with the guns.
Beat it out of him if you have to.
No.
You stay here with me!
No.
Hey.
What's up, buddy?
Getting more firewood, are you?
Eh?
That's a -
That's a good man.
Where'd you put the guns?
Look, you know this is not gonna work, so don't make me get angry at you.
Just tell me where you put the guns and we can stay friends.
Dammit kid, no games.
Where did you put the frigging guns.
Of course, some place safe.
Thanks, pal.
We are not friends.
We will never be friends.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Why not then?
You are an American.
You wish to destroy our country and the fuhrer.
Really?
And where'd you hear that?
On the radio.
No kidding.
Well, you're right about the last part.
If I could get these hands on the fuhrer's neck, I'd ring it like a chicken.
Feel good about it, too.
But I'm not your enemy, he is.
But his day of reckoning is coming soon, and that'll be a great day for all of us,
including you, even if you don't know it yet.
And don't believe everything you hear on the radio.
Some things they say just ain't so.
Come on.
Gimme that.
Alright?
Inside!
Come on.
Get inside!
OK.
Come on. Come on.
And not a word unless I say so, alright.
Halt!
Freeze right there!
Don't move!
Damn!
Put your weapons down or I'll shoot!
You stay here and keep quiet.
Let me go.
So you can tell them that we're unarmed?
I don't think so.
I could have shouted it out already, oh, please, it's my son.
Put your weapons down or I'll shoot.
Tell them to put their guns down or I'll shoot.
Tell them, dammit!
You hear me? - put the weapons down!
I understood perfectly well what was said, Frau.
American soldier, let us talk.
You are alone and there are three of us.
Think again, Herman.
I got them covered from in here, Rassi.
Gotcha, sarge.
Put the guns down before this thing gets ugly.
So, my friend, it seems you have an innocent young boy back there with you.
Surely you do not want him to get hurt.
What do I care?
He's one of yours anyway!
No!
Nein! No!
Stop this, all of you!
Stop this madness!
You heard her.
Put your guns down.
All right then.
Good!
That's real good.
Good.
Don't move! Don't move.
Fritz.
Stay there!
Get the gun out here, sarge!
Alright, get in the house!
Get your men in the house, now!
Go on.
Very clever.
Very clever indeed.
And very clever of you, Frau.
I said - no guns inside the house, sergeant.
Are you crazy?
Get out of the way.
No.
No guns.
I said - move aside, lady!
You might be dead now if it were not for me.
She's got a point there, sarge.
Shut up, Rassi.
Now move out of the way!
We're going in.
If you want the comfort of my home, it will be on my conditions.
The guns remain outside.
Let's get something straight.
This lady has offered us all shelter for the night.
Her only condition is that we leave the weapons outside and consider this neutral territory.
Are you okay with that?
Ya.
Very well.
I guess we have a deal.
Thank you.
Fritz, take these and put them with the others.
Good boy.
Well, Merry Christmas, everyone.
Well.
Since you are all guests in my house, let us introduce yourselves.
I am Elisabeth Vincken.
And this is my son, Fritz.
Sergeant Ralph Blank - and this is private Jimmy Rassi.
Lieutenant Hans Klosterman - this is sergeant Marcus Mueller
and private, Peter Heinrich.
What was that?
You got something to say?
He says you are trouble.
He's got that right.
Not in my house.
Do your men speak any English, Herr lieutenant?
Yeah, the sergeant, but not private Heinrich.
Then may I suggest that we all do so in order to avoid any possible confusion.
Very well, then.
Sergeant.
That's another one of my men.
He's been hit.
I guess it's time we put that deal to the test, huh?
Stay here, Rassi, right?
Perhaps one of you has some medical knowledge?
The soldier is very badly wounded.
Well, let us see, shall we, sergeant?
Everything's gonna be okay.
It's okay.
A serious wound!
That's right!
Stay with me, Herbie.
Stay with me.
Sarge!
Listen, I'd love to sit around and chat with you all, but unless you've got something...
I see!
Would you kindly heat this up, Frau Vincken?
Yeah!
The cold spared him infection.
But we must cauterize the wound or he may slowly bleed to death.
You're medic?
Wounded - the walking wounded assist the doctors.
The eastern front?
The eastern front.
The Caucasus.
And now here.
You?
North Africa.
Italy.
Now here.
Join the army, see the world.
Yeah!
It seems you have changed sides, Frau Vincken.
Are you aware of the consequences of such an act?
I am not siding with anyone.
On the contrary, you have helped the enemy.
And that is an act of treason.
They forced their way in with guns.
I then agreed to let them stay, on condition that they leave their weapons outside.
That hardly seems treasonous to me, Herr leutnant.
No,
but you could have warned us that they were unarmed.
Yet, you did not.
No, I did not,
because I was afraid that you would start shooting.
Afraid for my son.
I hardly think the president of the peoples' tribunal would consider those
mitigating circumstances.
And we know how Herr Freisler deals with traitors.
Herr Freisler's court is a perversion of justice.
All its judgments are foregone conclusions.
If one can be deemed a traitor for refusing to renounce one's moral
obligations, then I am indeed guilty.
Now if you will excuse me.
Careful, Frau Vincken.
The Americans have not won the war yet.
One last time!
Be tough for me!
Be tough.
One last time.
Noo!
Are you tough?
Yeah.
That's right.
It's done.
That's it, buddy.
That's it.
He will probably be unconscious for a while.
I'll be damned!
The bleeding's stopped.
Yeah!
But we need to disinfect and dress the wound properly.
We will take care of that.
Thank you, sergeant Mueller.
What are you doing here?
I'm just trying to do what I think is right.
My eldest son, Paul, died at Stalingrad.
He was shot and bled to death because there was no one there to help him.
No one should have to die like that.
I... I'm sorry to hear that.
But what I meant was, why would you bring your boy here at a time like this?
Our town is under constant bombardment.
It is much safer here.
Closer to the front lines.
You know they're gonna come right by you in a day or two.
The war will soon be over.
The sooner the better.
Is he gonna be alright?
Yeah.
Thanks.
It was a noble initiative, sergeant Mueller.
Let us hope your efforts will be rewarded.
The patient is better, I hear.
He'll survive.
Das ist gut!
One of our units will be here shortly and then he will receive excellent medical attention.
I wouldn't count on your boys getting here first.
But you are already behind our lines.
Not for long.
Wishful thinking, sergeant, but we shall soon resume the offensive and have you
running back to the English Channel just like we did to the French and British at Dunkirk.
Only this time we won't make the same mistake, I assure you.
I don't think so.
This offensive was your last gasp.
Now the war's almost over and you know it.
We'll be running alright.
Running as we kick your sorry bu...
Gentlemen! Gentlemen!
I remind you of our agreement.
You'll kindly leave your war outside.
Yes, of course.
Do forgive me, Frau.
I should have realized that the sergeant and I would have a difference of opinion
on such matters.
I think you and I would have differences of opinion about a lot of things.
May I suggest, that on this holiest of nights we try instead to discover
what we have in common.
A night off sounds good to me.
The war'll still be waitin' out there for us tomorrow.
Then it is agreed.
Yeah.
Good!
Well then, if you will all be patient, I will prepare us something to eat.
Ma'am.
Ma'am, you don't have to do that.
Yeah!
We can take care of ourselves.
Ach, it is nothing.
Only a little potato soup.
But we have learned to be grateful for small things.
Fritz, the dishes.
Please.
Well then, I guess it's gonna have to be potluck.
Hey, come on you guys, ante up.
What?
What's the matter, lieutenant?
Didn't your momma tell you, "never go to a dinner party empty-handed".
Ah, yes!
Of course.
Heinrich, Mueller, your rations, please.
What is all this?
This is what we can do to make a little contribution.
How - this all? Danke.
Now we really can have a Christmas dinner.
That's the idea!
So, let's see what we've got here.
Lieutenant Klosterman's generous contribution, huh?
Four slices of rye bread, a piece of bratwurst, and ah, a jar of pickled onions.
Hmm!
Kind of Spartan, lieutenant?
Prussian, actually.
I do apologize.
This is all I have to offer.
Well, it's a start!
Let's see what sergeant Mueller's got.
Okay, four slices of rye bread, a piece of sausage, and - hello - what's this?
Cookies!
Cookies?
The mighty Wehrmacht marches on cookies?
My wife made them.
She sends them with every letter.
Well that's very generous of you, sergeant.
Please, offer your wife our thanks and ah, while you're at it,
put another order for me, huh.
Yeah.
Okay, private Heinrich, you're up next.
Let's see what we've got here; six slices of bread, a piece of sausage and -
nothing.
No wife to send you any cookies there.
How about your momma?
Er will wissen ob deine mutter dir manchmal sachen schickt.
Meine Eltern sind in einem Bombenangriff umgekommen.
He says both of his parents...
- I think I understood.
Tell him I'm sorry.
Er sagt dass ihm das leik tut.
Ya.
Very well.
What about you, Americans.
You seem to have come well prepared.
Always!
Boy scouts' motto!
So let's see what our sergeant has to offer here.
Don't lay it on too thick.
Just get on with it.
Righto, sarge.
Just the 'menu du jour', no extras?
That's your department, Rassi.
Well, here you got a fine example of American military cuisine.
Your standard issue "K" rations.
Hmm?
One can of mystery meat.
One can of baked beans, hmm?
Some wheat crackers.
Peanut butter
and a pineapple pudding.
This is exactly why the Wehrmacht will prevail.
What will your poor soldiers do should your army ever run out of pineapple pudding?
Ask for a banana!
Besides, you haven't tasted it yet.
Sounds to me like you might have to get used to our catering, lieutenent.
I think not!
What about you, private Rassi?
It's your turn.
What have you brought?
You seem to have a lot of supplies.
Must be my, uh, Italian origins, ma'am.
If I'm gonna die, it's not gonna be of hunger.
He's also an A-1 scrounger.
Negotiator, if you don't mind, sarge.
Well, thank you all for your contributions.
Fritz, finish setting the table, and then come and help me in the kitchen.
Du auch, Peter.
Helfe mir mit diesen sachen.
Allow me to help also, Frau Vincken.
Fritz, wie alt bist du?
Twelve, sir.
Sorry sir, but my mother insists that I speak to you in English.
Yeah, of course.
We mustn't let our friends think we are conspiring against them.
Tell me, Fritz, where is your father, in the Wehrmacht?
Yes sir, he's in the army.
Any brothers?
Sisters?
My older brother, sir.
He was killed at Stalingrad.
He died for his country.
There is no greater honor.
No, sir.
And what about you?
Are you ready to serve in defense of the fatherland?
Yes, sir.
I shall join the Hitler Youth as soon as my papers arrive.
Ah, das ist gut.
So, you have not been called yet?
No, sir.
I see.
Well, I should let you continue.
Fritz, darling, when you are done, you and Peter can bring in the dishes.
Don't get too cozy here.
We're still at war, remember that.
I'm sure you wouldn't let me forget that.
That's right.
They might act friendly, but let's not get careless, alright?
No, but they did make a deal.
Like the one they made with Stalin?
Oh, this really is a feast.
And what is this?
'Truffles du Perigord'.
Oh dear, this is a luxury.
What I would give to be out in the forest on a cool October morning,
looking for truffles.
Will we ever do things like that again?
Yeah.
One day.
When this cursed war ends,
all this insanity.
How did we ever get fooled into going along with all of this?
I don't know.
But we were all guilty, I suppose.
I kick myself for not having done something sooner, while there was still time
Yeah!
Now it is too late.
Speak out now and they simply take you outside and shoot you.
I know this from personal experience.
Not your husband, I hope.
A friend.
Another schoolteacher.
My husband is with the army.
He's a baker.
He is well then, I hope.
I do not know.
I have not heard from him in over two months.
Yeah. Well, cooks are usually far behind the lines.
We never let anything happen to them. Our forces are retreating very fast now.
I'm sure he just hasn't had time to sit and write you.
Yeah, yeah.
That must be it.
Are you late for something, private?
Late?
Yeah, I'm late.
I had a whole life planned until you guys invaded Poland.
Sorry for the inconvenience,
The threat of a Polish attack left us with little choice.
What a load of malarkey.
A bunch of yokels on horseback must have been a real threat to your panzers.
What about you?
Isn't there some place else you'd rather be?
I do not think of this.
I am where it is my duty to be.
And if you die?
It would be an honor for me to die in such circumstances.
Death is no right matter.
Well, it is to me.
I prefer the alternative.
I would not expect you to understand such things, private Rassi.
Sounds like you're getting personal, lieutenant.
Well, let's just say that it is unfortunate that our former Italian allies do not
have the same iron resolve as we, Germans.
Out of respect for Frau Vincken, I'm gonna let that one slide.
But be careful.
Don't get me steamed.
At least they had the moxie to get rid of the megalomaniac that was
destroying their country.
Too bad you don't have the resolve to think for yourselves and do the same.
Supper is served!
Hurry, gentlemen, und bring something to sit on.
I would ask you all to join me in a short prayer.
Lord, we give thanks for this food and we ask you in his name to put an end to this
war and to bring comfort and peace to all its many victims.
Amen.
Pass your bowls!
Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
It smells delicious.
Voila!
Two of Bordeaux's finest.
Oh well, you are certainly full of surprises, private Rassi.
Jimmy.
You can call me Jimmy.
Jimmy.
Or perhaps I should say - Weihnachtsmann?
What?
Oh, was ist das?
Uhm - Santa Claus.
Santa Claus
I wonder what else do you have in there?
Oh, the night is young, ma'am.
No, Elisabeth, call me Elisabeth.
How long have you been lugging these bottles around with you?
Since D-day?
Yeah.
Just about, sarge.
Ah, they're Herbie's.
But I don't think he'll mind.
Hey!
To our hostess, whose common sense, decency and stubbornness have made this
evening possible.
May she soon live in the peaceful world that she deserves.
To Elisabeth!
Thank you.
Now, may we eat?
Please, sit.
I will check on him for you.
That's alright, lieutenant.
He's my man.
I can take care of him.
Let him sleep.
He'll be fine.
Then everyone, you may begin.
Oh, you don't have to tell me twice, Elisabeth.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Merry Christmas.
I have never understood the American fascination with baseball.
That was when it struck me what my mother had done.
Somehow these soldiers were not so fearsome any more.
They could have been family or friends.
And it appeared as though my mother's wish was coming true,
as if the end of the war was beginning right there at the
dinner table of Elisabeth Vincken.
But the meal was only the beginning.
Christmas is the season of surprises.
The evening certainly had a few surprises left in store.
Elisabeth, this is the best meal I've ever had.
Surely you exaggerate a little.
No?
Not at all.
As they say, everything is relative.
Well, relatively speaking, this meal was delicious.
Right guys?
Yeah!
Thanks, Elisabeth, it tasted great.
How about you, lieutenant? don't agree?
What?
Ah yes, of course, thank you Frau Vincken.
It's, uh, it's very good.
You've been very quiet down there, Herr leutnant.
Is something bothering you?
No!
Thinking.
That is all.
Well, there's no law against that in the Third Reich, I suppose.
Not yet!
And what were you thinking about?
Your family?
Actually, I was.
When was the last time that you were home?
December of 1942.
Ah, for Christmas?
For my older brother's funeral.
He was a panzer company commander killed in Russia.
We were all very proud of Gunter.
He brought great honor to our family.
Only two months before, he had won the Iron Cross,
like my father and uncle in the Great War.
And now I am the only son.
So, I must continue the family tradition.
That's quite a responsibility to bear.
Makes me kind of glad my old man was just a stone mason.
My father was also in the Great War.
Oh, he was a handsome man, until he marched off to the Somme and had half of his
face blown off.
What was left was a horrifying sight.
From that point on, my mother would not allow any mirrors or any shiny surfaces
into our home,
but our pain was nothing compared to his.
He would drink constantly, until he drank himself unconscious.
And then he would have nightmares and scream as if being tortured.
He finally shot himself in our parlor.
I was twelve, and it was his thirty-second birthday.
Do not talk to me about the honor of war.
Well, uh, let's see what we have for dessert, huh.
Let's see, we got, we got eight cookies, courtesy of Frau Mueller,
and pineapple pudding, eh?
Private Heinrich,
some pineapple pudding?
Yeah, fur sie!
Danke!
Private citizen Vincken?
Danke.
Elisabeth, would you like a cookie?
Not yet, thank you.
Anybody else?
What?
Are you kidding me?
Come on.
Here.
Yeah.
Me too.
Believe me, they are delicious.
Umm - umm - Santa?
Well, I think we should help, give Elisabeth a hand...
No, no, no.
Everyone relax.
I will take care of everything.
It's not a problem.
Okay.
Sarge, I'll take that.
Oh, okay.
Well, if you'll excuse me.
Going somewhere, sergeant?
You guys might be able to hold it in all night, but I gotta go to the latrine.
Yeah!
I too must relieve myself.
Fritz, darling!
When you are done, you and Peter can bring in the dishes.
I suspect I know your secret, Frau Vincken.
I have no secrets, lieutenant.
Are you sure?
This is a unique situation, but temporary, I assure you.
Tomorrow we, soldiers, must go back to war.
Back to our opposing sides.
Whose side will you be on, Frau Vincken?
Or, more precisely, whose side would you like to be on?
What are you trying to say?
Just that I know why you are here.
It bothered me why a mother would bring her son up through our lines whilst a
great battle is raging.
Usually civilians go the other way.
but not you.
Why?
Because you hope to get through our lines to the American side.
And why would I do such a thing?
For Fritz!
You see, it occurred to me that through every town we went through, boys much
younger than him were already bearing arms.
But not he.
Why not?
How is it that he is the only boy his age who has not received his
call-up papers yet?
Or has he?
I make no excuses.
I have already lost one son and possibly a husband.
I will not see my only remaining son give his life for a cause I no longer
believe in.
Well, I think this is the last of it.
Excuse me, lieutenant.
So guys, what are we going to do about dressing up that naked Christmas tree, huh?
We don't have any decorations.
Not yet.
Let me see what I can find.
Well, come on.
Let's go.
Come on.
Let's get to the tree.
Come on, Peter.
Danke.
Cigars and pineapple pudding.
A few kilometers from home and yet we barely have enough rations.
And America is an ocean away and you have everything.
We haven't even started breathing heavy yet.
That kid there, Heinrich,
how old is he?
Turns fifteen next spring if he survives that long.
We now feed children to the meat grinder.
What about the ones that do survive?
How are you gonna make them kids again when all this is over?
I don't know.
And your boy in there,
the wounded one,
how old is he?
Twenty-one.
He's an old man in this game.
He may even get to be a little bit older, thanks to you.
It is difficult, huh, not to get close to the good ones.
Herbie?
Worst soldier I've ever seen.
Can't clear his weapon - bunches up with the other guys.
Can't put him on the point 'cause he's always daydreaming.
Ah, you never daydream, sergeant?
Sometimes it is what keeps me alive.
Oh, Herbie daydreams all the time, and that can get you killed.
Been with me since day one.
Him, Meatball Prestianni, Winkie Kahler, Johnny Simone,
a great bunch of guys.
Came over together in '42, off a troopship,
into North Africa, Italy, now here.
Along the way I lost every one of them, except Herbie.
Worst damn soldier I've ever seen.
What is it, son?
My mother wanted me to tell you, sir, that we are decorating the Christmas tree.
Wow!
We better go inside then, huh.
Check it out, what do you think, sarge?
That's not bad
Let's see what else we got here.
I see you are not a traditionalist, Frau Vincken.
Oh, no?
How's that?
The lieutenant is referring to the fact that in our country
the children are not present for the decorating of the tree.
That's a bum deal.
They miss half the fun.
Yes.
But as we all know, our hostess prefers to do things her own way.
Nothing wrong with that.
If there were more of you like her, not one of us would be here right now.
I'd be back in Brooklyn in my mother's kitchen, sipping vino.
Getting my hand slapped for mooching her spaghetti sauce.
What do you think?
It looks pretty good!
There's something missing though, huh?
Something for the top of the tree.
Yeah, that's right, lieutenant.
Something shiny, eh?
Rassi, what are you doing?
Just for tonight, sarge?
Oh, well.
It looks wonderful.
Merry Christmas... Frohliche Weihnachten.
Yeah.
Wunderschon, Peter.
Schon, Peter, sehr schon.
He was in the choir.
At Cologne cathedral.
Hum.
No kidding.
With a voice like that he could make a statue cry.
Well
I guess, it's time to hand out the gifts, huh?
Gifts?
Really?
Didn't I tell you Santa was going to be here, huh?
Peter, chocolate, huh?
Danke!
There you go.
That's for you.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Elisabeth!
Now, what's this?
French soap.. oh, it's beautiful.
Thank you, Jimmy.
My pleasure.
Sorry, guys.
Nothing for you.
I'm all out.
I think maybe I've got a little something?
You son of a gun!
How long have you been hoarding that?
I was saving it for the end of the war.
But I guess Christmas came first.
What's wrong, lieutenant?
Where did you get that?
I traded for it.
Two zippos and a carton of cigarettes.
Liar!
I told you, I traded for it.
Liar.
You took it from the body of a German soldier.
Easy, lieutenant.
To take cigarettes, a watch or even money,
that is one thing.
But to take a soldier's medals,
his highest honor, is the most dishonorable thing imaginable.
Back off, lieutenant!
Back off!
It's an outrage, you have no decency?
Decency?
I don't need any sermons from the likes of you!
Watch out, sarge!
I got him.
Move away from him, sarge!
I got him!
Herbie, take it easy, Herbie!
Gimme the gun.
Sarge?
That's right.
Herbie.
It's me. Now, give me the gun.
What's happening?
For Christ sake, Herbie, would you give me the gun?
But sarge -
You okay? Herbie! Herbie!
It's okay, it's okay. I'm sorry.
I'll take that, lieutenant.
You gave your word. Now, give me the gun
When they found my brother's body, it was stripped naked and thrown to the ground.
Like the carcass of an animal.
They took everything, including his medals.
Hans.
Peter!
He is lucky.
It's just a graze.
Not too serious.
I will take care of this.
Come, Peter, come.
Come on.
Lieutenant!
I'm sorry I can't tell you the name of the soldier it came from.
Like I said, I traded for it.
Hey, Fritz, is Peter gonna be alright?
Yeah!
You and I still friends?
We're friends.
For ever?
For ever!
For ever's a long time, you know.
For ever!
That's a good man!
Hey, you see that bright star up there?
Yeah!
Sirius.
The brightest star in the sky.
How'd you know that?
My father,
he loves to study the stars.
Me, it was my uncle Ennio.
We used to spend all night on his roof with his telescope.
Bet you didn't know it's not one star but two?
Yeah!
I did.
So close together, that it looks like one from down here.
You're a pretty smart guy, huh?
Yeah!
Do you know how far it is?
Not exactly.
But I know it's one of the closest.
8.7 light years.
Makes you feel kinda small, huh?
Well, that's good.
A little humility is a good thing.
Um - guess it's time for a little shut-eye.
Are you in charge here, sergeant?
Yes sir.
Well, yes sir and no sir.
Well, which is it?
Are you or are you not the senior man here, sergeant?
What the... What the hell's going on here?
Are these men your prisoners?
Well, not exactly, sir.
Not exactly?
What then?
Well, no, sir.
I suppose, you could say that we're all guests here -
- guests of this lady.
Guests?
Yes, sir.
Private Rassi and I got lost in the storm, trying to evacuate one of our wounded.
He's in the next room.
We stumbled onto this cabin in the woods.
Frau Vincken here was good enough to invite us in, share food with us.
And the Krauts?
They showed up lost a short while later.
And I suppose Frau Vincken fed them too, right?
Yes, sir.
Well, we got one here for the books, sergeant.
In the middle of a decisive battle you take out time for Christmas dinner with the enemy.
I'm not sure how that's gonna sit with your battalion commander.
Unless, of course, he's around here too, somewhere.
No.
Sir!
No!
Well, I hate to break up the party sergeant, but there is a war to be won.
Where are your weapons?
Outside, sir.
Frau Vincken made us all leave them outside.
It was her condition for letting us in to take a shelter.
Outside?
Yes, sir!
SS Captain Walter Dietrich at your service, sergeant.
Blank.
Sergeant Ralph Blank.
Well, sergeant Blank, looks like your friends had quite the celebration last night.
What's wrong, sergeant?
Cat got your tongue?
I heard all about you, guys.
Brought up in the states,
perfect accents,
All you need is a set of fatigues and you can be dropped behind our lines
to destroy and sabotage at will.
That's right.
Clever isn't it?
You guys just never play on a level field, huh.
Oh, come on, sergeant, don't give me that crap about rules and fair play.
This is war, not a ball game.
Maybe the gods of baseball prefer a level field,
but the gods of war prefer the side that is the most daring and resourceful.
I always thought we'd be on the same side in this.
It's too bad president Roosevelt doesn't think like Mr Lindbergh.
Too bad for you, guys.
The day's soon coming when you're gonna get yours.
Well, you'll never see that day, sergeant.
What was that?
Sarge?
It sure as hell wasn't Merry Christmas.
Can it blank!
Mama!
Herbie.
Hey.
How are you feeling, soldier?
I dreamt I heard shouting, sarge.
Everything's gonna be fine.
We gotta get going now, but you're at a friend's house.
Her name's Elisabeth.
She's really nice.
She's gonna take care of you till our guys get here.
Now, you just stay here and relax.
That's an order, alright?
Whatever you say, sarge.
Hey, Herb.
Jimmy, no muss,
no fuss.
You got it.
I'll catch you back in Brooklyn, alright?
Okay.
You sure you don't want to come with us?
It's gonna be over soon, anyway.
How about you, sergeant?
Go with them!
Go!
Save your own lives.
It is nearly over!
Lieutenant, all the pineapple pudding you could eat.
Thank you, but it is not possible.
It's one crazy world, huh?
Yeah.
Here you might need this.
Thanks.
What about the kid?
He will do what you tell him.
Well, good luck to you.
Good luck, lieutenant.
Private Rassi.
Frau.
I guess this is it.
Thank you, Elisabeth!
You keep your head up and your eyes on the stars.
Take care, buddy!
Elisabeth, thank you.
Take care of yourself, Jimmy.
All right you.
Let's move out.
Come on, Peter.
Maybe you can teach me some German, huh?
It was a Christmas miracle I should never forget.
How? Because of a one woman, a group of men came together
as bitter enemies and departed again as friends.
Later that day an American patrol came by and the war for us was finally over.
English subtitles by SirGawen.