" Can I look out?" " No, they might shoot us." "The Germans have collapsed." "Then the war is over?" "Soon." "But what is that noise?" "Panic." "You may begin." "May I first be permitted to say, and I think I speak for all of us... how pleased we are, Field Marshal Von Rundstedt... that you have been reappointed commander of our forces in the West." "Speeches are for victory celebrations." "Let's get to the point." "Air power?" "Air power, Field Marshal?" "Briefly, please." " Air power is minimal." " Ammunition?" "Also minimal." "Tanks... troops... replacements?" " Minimal." " Morale?" "Nonexistent." "What do you think we should do?" "End the war, you fools." " Why in the world are you laughing?" " Excuse us." "We have such confidence in you." "Everyone knows you never lost a battle." "I'm still young." "Give me time." "The first thing we must do... is to turn this rabble into something like an army." "Anything at all on when they plan to invade Holland?" "They seem to have paused in Belgium." "Most likely supply problems." "Otherwise we can't imagine why." "I think it's because we're retreating... faster than they can advance." "How many vehicles in the past hour?" "Fifty-four." "And for the same hour yesterday?" "Ninety-eight." "Last week your mother and I could have captured Holland alone." "Already the panic has stopped." "It isn't over yet, and those idiots don't realize it." " War takes time." " Listen to the expert." "I was nine when they got here." "Next month I'll be 14." "I ought to know something." "Father, the Allies will come." "But when?" "From which direction will their attack come, and who will command?" "Montgomery or Patton?" " Model, what do you think?" " Patton." "He is their best." "Patton will lead the assault." "I would prefer Montgomery... but even Eisenhower isn't that stupid." "Bittrich's Panzer troops need some rest... if they're to stop Patton." "We should pull them back somewhere safe." "Safe, quiet, out of the way." "But where?" "Arnhem?" "Arnhem." "General Bittrich!" "I'm in here, Matthias." "Fantastic, isn't it?" "Just once to have such power in my hands." "Excuse the interruption, Field Marshall, but..." "British paratroopers have landed... 3 km from here." "Why should they do that?" "There is nothing important here." "Me!" "I am important." "They must all be coming just to capture me." "Call my chauffeur and car." "Evacuate the headquarters." "And don't forget my cigars." "Then keep trying." "There must be someone there!" "My apologies." "I can get no sense from anybody." "They say thousands of troops are dropping all over Holland." " Yes, west of Arnhem." " Right on top of Field Marshal Model." "I can't get through to his headquarters." "A strong force has landed south of Nijmegen." "Nijmegen?" "They're after the bridge." "That doesn't matter." "Perhaps they've landed in the Field Marshal's soup." "Yes, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" "Now listen." "I'll take care of Arnhem." "You get to Nijmegen as fast as you can." "Take anything that'll move... every man that can walk, and hold the bridge." "No!" "Field Marshal Model!" "Nothing must cross it." "Is that clear?" "You must hold that bridge under any circumstance." " Understood?" " Clear." "Fire!" "Forgive me for returning, Field Marshal." "I must press for permission... if it becomes necessary... to blow up the bridges at Arnhem and Nijmegen." "This is out of the question." "Never." "Is that clear?" "We need them for our counterattack." "Counterattack?" "With what?" "Paratroopers cannot fight long." "They are too lightly equipped." "Isolated, they are lost." "I have spoken to Von Rundstedt." "All reinforcements come to us first." "Every hour we get stronger and they grow weaker." " But if we blow the bridges..." " They don't want the bridges." "Do you really think if they wanted the bridges... they would have landed 12km away?" "It's ridiculous." "Thank you for the tea." "These plans should have been left in England." "They're top secret." "And now we have all we need... units, defense plans, objectives... and the schedule for further drops." "I have prepared Nijmegen Bridge for demolition... if I blow it up tonight." "This Operation Market Garden must fail." "Why do all my generals want to destroy my bridges?" "Come, Ludwig." "We'll have dinner." "Dinner?" "But what about these plans?" "These plans?" "They are false." "Just a trick." "We were supposed to find them." "White wine or red?" "Fool's courage." "And now?" "Flatten Arnhem." "Papa!" "What else can you see besides smoke?" "Nothing yet, but they are going to try a river assault." "It Will fail." "Of course it will fail, but... what do we do if it doesn't?" "I ask your permission to blow up the bridge." "Out of the question." "I understand, Field Marshal." "They will not cross the river and we will blow no bridges." "Have the demolition charges been checked?" "Yes, sir." "Everything is wired and ready." "Captain Kraft is standing by as ordered." "The bridge will not fall into enemy hands." "As soon as the first British tank starts to cross..." "I'll blow it sky-high." "Are you ready?" "Yes, General." "Now." "Now!" "Again!" "Again!" "My God, they're only 18km from Arnhem." "Who can stop them now?" "No one." " Sleep tight, honey." " Sleep tight, Mom." "Would five minutes be too much?" "Just five minutes' respite?" "Dear God... grant these young men... die in peace and quiet." "Can it get worse?" "Oh, yes...much worse." "One two for one..." "Quiet." "Silence, silence." "Stop!" "Stop!" "Rope." "Rope." "Pull the rope!" "Rope!" "Rope!" "Pull them out!" "Pull them out!" "Quickly!" "Quickly!" "General Ludwig." "Ceasefire at 3:00." "Please, you can go."