Circumstances compel a disobedient bunch of Australian soldiers, under the leadership of British Captain MacRoberts, a hard taskmaster, to safeguard Libya's Tobruk from Nazi German forces during WWII.
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00:00:00THE END
00:00:30Nachstoßen!
00:00:31Schnell!
00:00:32Zeug gefasst und die Vision entsetzt!
00:00:34Gefort!
00:00:35Richtig!
00:00:42Komplette Niederlage, Exzellenz.
00:00:44Wir drücken nach, hier und hier.
00:00:4620, sonst was.
00:00:47Nur Tobruk hält noch aus, Herr Feldmarschall.
00:00:49Da ist noch eine Abteilung von einiger Bedeutung.
00:00:51Tobruk? Na ja, eine Sache von ein paar Tagen.
00:00:53Sonst was?
00:00:54Wir sollen die jetzt umkopieren, Herr Feldmarschall.
00:00:56Auf Alexandria über El Alamein oder auf Kairo über...
00:00:59Unsinn!
00:01:00Suez!
00:01:01Wir stoßen durch, direkt nach Suez.
00:01:03Suez!
00:01:04Suez.
00:01:05The key to the Middle East.
00:01:07And with the British in full retreat,
00:01:09nothing stood in Rommel's way but the tiny garrison of Empire troops,
00:01:12cut off in the fortress town of Tobruk.
00:01:29This is the story of Tobruk and the men who made up its garrison.
00:01:43Of the fight they made against the pick of Hitler's troops.
00:01:46And of the nickname they won with blood and bore with pride,
00:01:49the desert rat.
00:01:51gefitnesses und D imperium blood.
00:01:56Spendium lander.
00:01:57Und mit dem videre Jettel.
00:01:58Und mit dem Videre Jettel.
00:01:59Und mit dem Videre Jettel.
00:02:01yeah, ein finde,
00:02:02bisschen im Weg,
00:02:04und mit dem Dad.
00:02:05Ich sobr den Weg!
00:02:06Und mit dem Videre Jettel.
00:02:07Und mit demばrumden seurer.
00:02:08Der Weg, in dir.
00:02:09Und mit dem Videre Jettel.
00:02:10Und mit dem Videre Jettel.
00:02:11Und mit dem Videre Jettel.
00:02:12The End
00:02:42The End
00:03:12Message, sir, from the fourth signal officer.
00:03:25Oh, thanks.
00:03:26Barney, glad you got here. The general's waiting for you.
00:03:28What's up?
00:03:29Orders came in from Cairo an hour ago. The general's laying it out now.
00:03:32I want these mine fields relayed immediately by your sappers.
00:03:35Exactly the same as the Italians, sir.
00:03:38They had nine months to determine the best locations.
00:03:40We may have nine hours before Rommel attacks.
00:03:44Well, Les, if that artillery's any indication.
00:03:46Yes, sir.
00:03:47Message for you, sir.
00:03:50It's good to see you, Barney.
00:03:52I need your help.
00:03:54Cairo has ordered us to take up defensive positions and hold for two months.
00:03:57Two months?
00:03:58Can we?
00:03:59If we stop Rommel tomorrow, I'll tell you better.
00:04:03And now, if I may have your attention, gentlemen,
00:04:05in order that there may be no misunderstandings,
00:04:08these are our present defense positions.
00:04:12Our first line of defense, using much of the old Italian perimeter.
00:04:17Our second line, Colonel White supporting artillery,
00:04:21and our inner fortifications.
00:04:22Now, Rommel is preparing to attack.
00:04:26The most logical place to strike is here.
00:04:29He sends his tanks in, pushes up this corridor,
00:04:32and with his infantry following,
00:04:33fans out and creates havoc with our inner defenses.
00:04:36Therefore, our plan of defense is based chiefly on the belief
00:04:40that Rommel will attack here.
00:04:44You gentlemen will have the honor of being the first
00:04:46to expose the Blitzkrieg for what it is,
00:04:48a highly limited tactical maneuver.
00:04:50I propose to let Rommel's tanks come through here, unopposed.
00:04:57You infantry commanders will engage and stop
00:04:59all German infantry here at the perimeter,
00:05:02leaving the tanks to proceed up this avenue alone.
00:05:06Colonel White will have moved as much artillery as he can spare
00:05:08to line both sides of this avenue.
00:05:11Across here, we are already digging positions
00:05:14for the captured Italian field pieces.
00:05:15So, the longer we hold our fire,
00:05:20the deeper Rommel's tanks will advance into this box,
00:05:23and the easier they will be to destroy.
00:05:28Am I right, Barney?
00:05:29I most certainly hope so, sir.
00:05:32That'll be all, thank you, gentlemen.
00:05:33Tea?
00:05:41No, thank you, sir.
00:05:43Well?
00:05:46Sir, they want us to hold on for two months.
00:05:48If those tanks get in among our inner defenses,
00:05:50we shan't even be able to evacuate.
00:05:52It'll be a wholesale slaughter, sir.
00:05:54Interesting, isn't it?
00:05:55Yeah, it's fascinating.
00:05:56How many men do we have in the officer's pool?
00:06:01Too many.
00:06:02Four more came in today from that battalion
00:06:04that was wiped out on the donor road.
00:06:07I need an infantry captain with battle experience.
00:06:10I have one.
00:06:12Been out here a year, twice decorated.
00:06:15Name of Mac Roberts.
00:06:17A reserve company I asked for a week ago.
00:06:19They've just come in.
00:06:20They're the docks now.
00:06:23Green or not, I've got to put them into the line.
00:06:25What?
00:06:26I've got to do it.
00:06:27Detail this Mac Roberts to them as an advisor.
00:06:30That's the best I can do for them.
00:06:31Very good, sir.
00:06:32I'll get him down there right away.
00:06:56Captain.
00:06:57Captain.
00:06:57What's up?
00:06:58What is it?
00:06:59Captain Mac Roberts, sir?
00:07:00Yeah, yeah, what is it?
00:07:01Orders from headquarters.
00:07:02Colonel White.
00:07:03What are they?
00:07:05Temporary duty with an Australian company.
00:07:06They're down at the dock now, sir.
00:07:08Australian company?
00:07:09What do they want me to...
00:07:10Never mind.
00:07:12It's even if I find my sergeant.
00:07:13Will you, Donaldson?
00:07:14He's in there, I expect.
00:07:14Leave me your torch.
00:07:15Is it your man, Lieutenant?
00:07:29Why, uh, yes, sir.
00:07:30Then get him under control.
00:07:33All right, you men.
00:07:34Break it up.
00:07:35Pull him up here.
00:07:35Pull in.
00:07:36Come on.
00:07:40I'm, uh, sorry, sir.
00:07:42One of the men fell in the water.
00:07:42I don't care what happened, Lieutenant.
00:07:44This is an assembly area.
00:07:46We'll have all the military police in Tobruk down here.
00:07:48Company!
00:07:50Attain!
00:07:50Come!
00:07:53Ready for inspection, sir.
00:08:03Best you can do, Sergeant.
00:08:05All right now, men.
00:08:06What do you think this is?
00:08:07What's weak?
00:08:08Stay in that line!
00:08:09Well, this is bright-eyed.
00:08:10Shut up, Mick.
00:08:11You're just asking for it.
00:08:15That's better.
00:08:16Now, where's your commanding officer?
00:08:17Captain Currie, down the dock, sir.
00:08:19Let's find you.
00:08:25Put this up!
00:08:26Shut up!
00:08:30Get your head down!
00:08:31Man was seasick, sir.
00:08:41He, uh...
00:08:42That's right, sir.
00:08:42Very weak stomach.
00:08:44As tight as a tick.
00:08:45Look at him.
00:08:49Mr. Bartlett, sir.
00:08:54Tammy.
00:08:54Little Tammy McRuffins.
00:09:01What are you doing here?
00:09:03I was about to ask you the same thing, sir.
00:09:05You all right?
00:09:08Perfectly.
00:09:08Lot of care in the world.
00:09:10We'll take care of him, sir.
00:09:11No, no.
00:09:12He can't march in that condition.
00:09:14Put him in my car.
00:09:14You'll find it up there on the street.
00:09:17I'll give you a lift, sir.
00:09:18Ah, it's a pleasure, I assure you, Tammy.
00:09:23Please.
00:09:23Blast him.
00:09:24Right.
00:09:25Easy, boy.
00:09:26Easy.
00:09:26Easy.
00:09:27Go on.
00:09:28Oh, that's it.
00:09:29Ready.
00:09:30Ready.
00:09:31Ready.
00:09:32Ready.
00:09:33Ready.
00:09:34One.
00:09:35All right, Lieutenant.
00:09:36Let's find your Captain, uh...
00:09:38Curries.
00:09:44My earth, Tom, give us a bit of help.
00:09:46Come on.
00:09:47Lift it up here.
00:09:49In with him, Pete.
00:09:54Comes up smelling like a rose.
00:09:56Every time.
00:09:57He'll ride, and we'll walk.
00:09:59That ruddy Captain will turn out to be his long-lost son.
00:10:16No.
00:10:17No.
00:10:18Where'd you get it, Jim?
00:10:28Must have been a shawlsman.
00:10:29Now, get his coat off quick.
00:10:30All right, stand back.
00:10:31What are you men doing there?
00:10:38We have a man wounded, sir.
00:10:39You'll have five or six more if you let these men bunch up.
00:10:41Now, get him moving.
00:10:42But he's hurt bad, sir.
00:10:43He might not.
00:10:43Let the medics handle it.
00:10:44That's what they're for.
00:10:44But he's my best friend, sir.
00:10:45You gonna get these men out of here?
00:10:47Yes, sir.
00:10:47We...
00:10:47Take cover!
00:10:48Come on!
00:10:54Now, get up and get out of here!
00:10:55Move off!
00:10:56At the double!
00:10:56Come on, move!
00:10:58Then spread out!
00:10:59At the double!
00:11:07Keep moving, though.
00:11:26Noises show you're running, Tammy.
00:11:36The fool of a lieutenant could have had his whole platoon killed.
00:11:39Oh, don't be too hard on him.
00:11:41After all, it's only his first night here.
00:11:42He'll never see another if he doesn't learn something about Rommel's artillery.
00:11:47You're still impatient.
00:11:49You haven't changed much, Tammy.
00:11:53Well, I suppose I haven't either.
00:11:56I see you haven't got a little nip of something, have you?
00:11:59That's all I've got.
00:12:01Oh, I could have done with something stronger.
00:12:06There.
00:12:08What on earth is this?
00:12:09Desert water.
00:12:11You get used to it, sir.
00:12:13No one but a camel could get used to that.
00:12:17Yes, and I wish you'd stop searing me.
00:12:20You know, in our positions, it's, it's, well, a little embarrassing.
00:12:26How did you get into this?
00:12:28I suppose the way I get into everything.
00:12:31A schoolmaster with the nickname of Blind Tom doesn't last long.
00:12:36I got an idea I might find greener pastures in one of the dominions.
00:12:41Unfortunately, I picked Australia, where it appears everyone volunteers.
00:12:45I made my usual mistake of being in a pub the day war was declared, and on a wave of beer
00:12:52suds and...
00:12:53If you're going to make the gesture, you might at least have got yourself a commission.
00:12:55A commission?
00:12:56I'm the perfect private soldier.
00:12:59No worries, no responsibilities.
00:13:02I can't even be demoted.
00:13:04You don't believe that for a minute.
00:13:06Being an infantryman is the toughest job in the army.
00:13:08You'll never...
00:13:10Let me get you a transfer, sir.
00:13:20I know a staff officer in headquarters that...
00:13:22No, it's good of you, Tammy, but no, I'd only miss that up, too.
00:13:28And don't you worry about me, you've got your own job.
00:13:32All right.
00:13:32There's your new home.
00:13:55There's, uh, one thing you might like to know, sir.
00:13:58In school, we all thought you were the best of the lot, when sober.
00:14:05Uh, uh, good night, Tammy.
00:14:06Um, good night, Captain.
00:14:08Thank you, sir.
00:14:28You need about two feet more.
00:14:52Two feet?
00:14:53You wish it were ten when the mortar start dropping.
00:14:55When you finish, put all the fresh dirt in sandbags,
00:14:58sling some sand around, and camouflage the position with brush.
00:15:00Anything else?
00:15:03Sir?
00:15:04Yes.
00:15:06Save that water, that's all you get.
00:15:10Cheerful sort of a bloke.
00:15:13What's an English officer doing with the RC troops, anyway?
00:15:16The last time I heard, we were still on the same side.
00:15:19Now, listen, stow the chatter, mate, and get on that banjo.
00:15:24What's your field of fire, Mr. Carstairs?
00:15:25Full 180, sir.
00:15:27Better clear back here for a full circle.
00:15:29Behind us?
00:15:30Behind you.
00:15:31The Africa Corps is not committed to frontal attack.
00:15:33Uh, yes, sir.
00:15:34How's your ammunition?
00:15:34The men are bringing it up now, sir.
00:15:40Better get plenty.
00:15:43It's practically your entire air support.
00:15:44Bit free with the rough side of his tongue, that pal of yours, Tom.
00:15:54Yeah.
00:15:55I must have a word with him.
00:15:56Oh, Sam, I reckon he's right about him getting him behind us.
00:15:58Let's get it cleared away.
00:15:59We can use the brain gun for back there.
00:16:00All right.
00:16:01All right.
00:16:01On your feet, Digger.
00:16:02All right.
00:16:02Exzellenz, General von Helmholtz.
00:16:11Kaffee.
00:16:12Helmholtz!
00:16:12Letterdienst, nur was Dichtes, Herr Feldmarschall.
00:16:17Schmidt!
00:16:19Herr Feldmarschall, das ist hier am Tisch.
00:16:22Hochdruck hier, Exzellenz.
00:16:23Tiefdruck hier.
00:16:24Windrichtung hauptsächlich von Osten.
00:16:25Und Osten?
00:16:26Sandsturm Richtung Tobruk, Herr Feldmarschall.
00:16:28Sandsturm?
00:16:29Sandsturm.
00:16:30Jawohl, Herr Feldmarschall.
00:16:30Starke Sandsturm.
00:16:31Danke, Sie können abbrechen.
00:16:32Raus.
00:16:33Die Panzer am Zerum mit dem Sturm.
00:16:36Bitte, Herr Feldmarschall?
00:16:38Sandsturm benutzen.
00:16:40Sofort.
00:16:41Los!
00:16:42Hurry!
00:16:52That's a sandstorm, all right.
00:16:54Moving fast.
00:16:55Right.
00:17:01Roger.
00:17:02It's a sandstorm, all right, sir.
00:17:035,000 yards out, they reckon.
00:17:05Think they'll attack under cover of it?
00:17:06If you were wrong, well, wouldn't you?
00:17:07Heavy Colonel White.
00:17:09Yes.
00:17:12Yes, I see.
00:17:13Thank you, Mr. Roberts.
00:17:14Same thing, sir.
00:17:16Sandsturm.
00:17:17He'll come in with it.
00:17:19It may even work for us.
00:17:21Tank men can't hear anything.
00:17:22Now they won't see much, either.
00:17:24They'll come in with it.
00:17:38What's up?
00:17:40Tank!
00:17:40I hear them!
00:17:45Tank!
00:17:45Is this?
00:17:46There's more than one of them.
00:17:47Caster, sir, tanks moving across our front, bearing 65 degrees, about a thousand yards
00:18:00out.
00:18:06Have you double-checked that direction?
00:18:08Yes, sir, with the perimeter observers themselves.
00:18:11Doesn't look as if they'd attack where we thought, sir.
00:18:14No, it doesn't.
00:18:15You better tell all your commanders that it may be necessary to shift our forces at a
00:18:19moment's notice, and get Colonel White here immediately.
00:18:21Yes, sir.
00:18:33Remember now, you're under orders, not to fire!
00:18:45If they don't attack through here, my guns will be useless.
00:18:51And it's going to take me time to move them, sir.
00:18:53Uh-huh.
00:18:54Mechanized equipment ready to move on your orders, sir.
00:18:56All right, hold them.
00:18:58Yes, sir.
00:19:01Sir, don't you think we'd better shift along with them?
00:19:04Nope.
00:19:14Attorney, coming right there with us.
00:19:16Now remember, hold your fire!
00:19:21Column's turning!
00:19:22Coming in!
00:19:23Wow!
00:19:24Wow!
00:19:24Wow!
00:19:24Wow!
00:19:24Wow!
00:19:24Wow!
00:19:24Wow!
00:19:24Wow!
00:19:24Wow!
00:19:25Wow!
00:19:25Wow!
00:19:26Wow!
00:19:26Wow!
00:19:26Wow!
00:19:27Wow!
00:19:27Wow!
00:19:28Wow!
00:19:28Wow!
00:19:29Wow!
00:19:29Wow!
00:19:30Wow!
00:19:30Wow!
00:19:31Wow!
00:19:31Wow!
00:19:32Wow!
00:19:32Wow!
00:19:33Wow!
00:19:34Come in right over us!
00:19:36Get that gun out!
00:19:40Under here, Tom!
00:19:43Tom!
00:19:44Get under here!
00:19:48What's the matter with you?
00:19:59Come out, young man!
00:20:00Come out, young man!
00:20:01Come out, young man!
00:20:01Come out, young man!
00:20:01Come out, young man!
00:20:02Come out, young man!
00:20:03Come out, young man!
00:20:04Come out, young man!
00:20:05Let your artillery barn in!
00:20:06Yes, sir!
00:20:06I want to know the moment the tanks start to fan out!
00:20:08Very well, sir!
00:20:09What about fire discipline?
00:20:10Haven't fired a shot yet, sir!
00:20:11Good!
00:20:12Come out, young man!
00:20:18Go out, young man!
00:20:20Come out, young man!
00:20:21Come out!
00:20:23Come out, young man!
00:20:25Come out, young man!
00:20:25There's two machine guns that we can see, sir!
00:20:27There must be more!
00:20:32There must be more!
00:20:34Leading tanks passing sea battery, sir, within range of the Italian guns.
00:20:53Hold your fire.
00:20:56Hold your fire.
00:21:04Range, 500 yards, and closing.
00:21:11Yes, sir.
00:21:12Hold fire.
00:21:19Range, 450, and closing.
00:21:23Hold fire.
00:21:32On target.
00:21:34On target?
00:21:36What are we waiting for?
00:21:38Order.
00:21:42Yes, I know.
00:21:44They're still coming in, sir.
00:21:45Almost on top of the Italian guns now.
00:21:48Release them to fire.
00:21:49Yes, sir.
00:21:50Open fire.
00:21:51Fire!
00:21:52Fire!
00:21:53Fire!
00:22:04Fire!
00:22:05Fire!
00:22:06Fire!
00:22:06Fire!
00:22:07Fire!
00:22:07Fire!
00:22:08Fire!
00:22:08Fire!
00:22:08Fire!
00:22:09Fire!
00:22:09Fire!
00:22:09Fire!
00:22:09Fire!
00:22:10Fire!
00:22:10Fire!
00:22:10Fire!
00:22:10Fire!
00:22:11Fire!
00:22:11Fire!
00:22:11Fire!
00:22:12Fire!
00:22:12Fire!
00:22:12Fire!
00:22:13Fire!
00:22:13Fire!
00:22:14Fire!
00:22:14Fire!
00:22:14Fire!
00:22:15Fire!
00:22:15Fire!
00:22:15Fire!
00:22:16Fire!
00:22:16Fire!
00:22:17Fire!
00:22:17Fire!
00:22:18Fire!
00:22:18Fire!
00:22:18Fire!
00:22:18Fire!
00:22:19Fire!
00:22:19Fire!
00:22:20Fire!
00:22:20Fire!
00:22:20Fire!
00:22:21Fire!
00:22:22Fire!
00:22:22Fire!
00:22:22Fire!
00:22:22Fire!
00:22:23Fire!
00:22:23Fire!
00:22:23Fire!
00:22:24Fire!
00:22:24Fire!
00:22:24Fire!
00:22:25Fire!
00:22:34get headquarters and tell them to send us an anti-tank gun
00:23:04get your reserves out and ready to move up
00:23:06right
00:23:34hey look there's somebody out there
00:23:58it's captain curry he's alive
00:24:08the dirty they're going after him i need three men cover us
00:24:20look at that sir
00:24:23what's he doing leaving that position
00:24:30must be going out after the captain
00:24:32going out that idiot that fantastic idiot he's left that position wide open
00:24:36take enough reserves to hold it and get up there
00:24:38yes sir yo hardy let's go
00:24:41what about that anti-tank gun they said as soon as they could pull one out of the line
00:24:52what was that new zealanders name that major we worked together in barbara
00:24:56fitz fitz skibber fitz hugh fitz hugh see if we can find him
00:24:59tell him we need that gun badly
00:25:01i'm going to try to get up to the perimeter
00:25:03skibber
00:25:14let's go sir how many men have we got
00:25:21we've got to get into that position before they do
00:25:25let's go sir how many men have we got
00:25:29there should be two more over there hey ginger
00:25:32bull right here blue when we go you go
00:25:36righto
00:25:38when you're ready captain
00:25:41let's go
00:25:44when you're ready captain
00:25:46let's go
00:25:47let's go
00:25:48let's go
00:25:49let's go
00:25:50let's go
00:25:51let's go
00:25:52let's go
00:25:54let's go
00:25:56let's go
00:25:57let's go
00:25:58let's go
00:26:05let's go
00:26:06oh you little beauty
00:26:07oh bless you fitz gibbons or fitz hugh or whatever your name is
00:26:12best cast there sir
00:26:19i reckon the old man must have fought one
00:26:23let's go
00:26:24let's go
00:26:36let's go
00:26:37let's go
00:26:38come on
00:26:40let's go
00:26:42let's go
00:26:51let's go
00:26:53He's got to be the first one, Captain.
00:27:08Grab his left.
00:27:10Grab his left.
00:27:14Grab his left.
00:27:16Have a bit.
00:27:23We'll take care of him, sir.
00:27:48Hey, what about your hand?
00:27:49The position's secured, Captain, and our tanks and carriers are chasing him into the desert.
00:27:53That was a build shot on the tank, sir.
00:27:55Thanks. Have you got ammunition going up?
00:27:57Yes, sir.
00:27:58And the vast battalion headquarters for replacement on our casualties.
00:28:01I want him put in for a decoration.
00:28:03Yes, sir.
00:28:05And I want court-martial charges prepared on Lieutenant Carstairs.
00:28:09Leaving his position against orders and under fire.
00:28:14Yes, sir.
00:28:15He got the old man killed, didn't he?
00:28:24The captain got himself killed.
00:28:26He was there? Why didn't he go?
00:28:28It was the company commander's job, and he wasn't the company commander.
00:28:32Ah.
00:28:32Not then he wasn't.
00:28:34He is now.
00:28:35Yes, he is.
00:28:36And whether you like him or not, he's a good soldier.
00:28:39Well, then let him soldier with the king's flaming guards or whatever he belongs to.
00:28:42Listen, he saved your stinking neck this afternoon.
00:28:44And the position, too.
00:28:45Ah.
00:28:46Now I hear he's court-martialing Carstairs.
00:28:48What about that, Blue?
00:28:50I wouldn't know.
00:28:52Ah, the CO's boy.
00:28:54Why?
00:28:54Sergeant Smith?
00:28:55Yes, sir.
00:28:56Did you get the men out to the forward position?
00:28:57Just moving up, sir.
00:28:59Come on, get going.
00:29:00Come on, move.
00:29:02If any man goes to sleep out there, I'll have him shot.
00:29:07Get going!
00:29:07If there'll be none of that in my company or so, help me, I'll tear you apart with me bare hands.
00:29:14I'd break you down, Bluey.
00:29:17I was only thinking.
00:29:18Never mind thinking.
00:29:19You're a foot slogger.
00:29:21Now get moving.
00:29:27Captain.
00:29:27Who is it?
00:29:29Oh.
00:29:30You, sir.
00:29:32How's your hand, Tally?
00:29:33Oh, burning like brimstone.
00:29:35But how are you, sir?
00:29:35I found a very deep hole.
00:29:37If you can dig deep enough, only your pride gets hurt.
00:29:41Look, Mr. Bartlett, let me get you a trial.
00:29:43No, no, no.
00:29:44Don't say it again.
00:29:45I'm afraid I might take you up on it.
00:29:47I wanted to talk to you about something else.
00:29:49Oh?
00:29:49Harry Carstairs.
00:29:51There's a rumor among the men that he's to be court-martialed.
00:29:54It's no rumor.
00:29:56I forwarded the papers tonight.
00:29:57But why, Tally?
00:29:58It was a perfectly natural and courageous thing to do.
00:30:01Certainly it was.
00:30:03And just as certainly, that has nothing to do with it.
00:30:04He'd disobeyed orders and jeopardize the whole position.
00:30:07But he's just a boy.
00:30:08We've no use for boys here.
00:30:10Particularly not as officers.
00:30:12You can't be much older than he is.
00:30:14I don't know whether I am or not.
00:30:17I do know that I've been here a year.
00:30:19One of the first things I learned was that this isn't a game for children.
00:30:23Men get killed and stay killed.
00:30:27I know that.
00:30:28I don't think you do, sir.
00:30:29Only a line officer knows that any decision he makes in battle may involve somebody being killed or wounded.
00:30:36His job is to follow orders and make decisions without letting sentiment, loyalty, friendship or anything else interfere.
00:30:44When he can't do that, he might as well get rid of whatever he's got up here.
00:30:47But he's no good to himself or anybody else anymore.
00:30:54That's a pretty cold estimate, Tammy.
00:30:56Perhaps it is.
00:30:58It's the truth.
00:30:58They'll just head for the harbor and try to knock out a supply, Convoy.
00:31:11How do you know?
00:31:12I'm just guessing.
00:31:14Would you sooner get in there?
00:31:16Yes.
00:31:16Yes.
00:31:16That's all there is to it.
00:31:35Now, what's all this concern for an officer?
00:31:38I thought you were a confirmed private.
00:31:40I like him.
00:31:41He's honest, fair to his men, and for a young man, very understanding.
00:31:46What'd he do?
00:31:47Let you off a couple of work details?
00:31:48Oh, maybe.
00:31:49But he's done other things.
00:31:51He gave me the bottle that was responsible for my condition and I'd be docked.
00:31:57So that's what's behind it.
00:31:58Well, no, no, not at all.
00:32:00It was the reason he did it.
00:32:03Because he knew I was a coward and that I'd fall apart right.
00:32:07Oh, come off it, sir.
00:32:09You're no more of a coward than anybody else.
00:32:10Yes, I am.
00:32:11You noticed it just now.
00:32:14I'm frightened to death.
00:32:16Well, all of us are afraid part of the time.
00:32:20You'll get used to all of us.
00:32:21No, no, I won't.
00:32:23I get sick, physically sick, and I want to run any place just to get away.
00:32:29That's not right, sir.
00:32:31You shouldn't be in the army.
00:32:32You should get a medical discharge.
00:32:33The psychiatrist of some sort of a...
00:32:34No, I'm afraid of that, too.
00:32:37You don't know much about real fear, dammit.
00:32:39Maybe it comes with age or the bottle.
00:32:44You don't know what it is to be a coward.
00:32:46Really a coward.
00:32:48To know it and get to hope that one day something will happen to prove that you're not.
00:32:52And yet half the time not really believing that either.
00:32:57Oh, but I'm off the point and I'm embarrassing him.
00:33:00What I really wanted to ask you was to withdraw the charges against Caster.
00:33:06Withdraw them?
00:33:08Didn't you hear anything I said out there?
00:33:10Yes, I heard.
00:33:11Then you ought to understand why I can't.
00:33:13I know how you feel about him, sir, but...
00:33:15I can't.
00:33:17No.
00:33:17Tammy.
00:33:21Tammy.
00:33:27Do you remember a long time ago your coming to my study before a final exam?
00:33:33At the time I thought I was going to fail.
00:33:36It seemed a terrible thing to me at the time.
00:33:38Ruined me for life.
00:33:39You might have.
00:33:41You gave me a real going over.
00:33:43I remember that particularly.
00:33:45I thought you were worth it.
00:33:48I think Caster's is too.
00:33:51That was in school.
00:33:52In peacetime.
00:33:53Not in the middle of a war.
00:33:56Besides, I passed the exam.
00:34:00But I did, didn't I?
00:34:04Yes.
00:34:05You passed.
00:34:17Congratulations.
00:34:25Thank you, sir.
00:34:27Gentlemen, one of the few real pleasures of rank is the ability to make promotions in the field.
00:34:33There's no question of your deserving them.
00:34:35I congratulate you.
00:34:37And I thank you.
00:34:40Yes.
00:34:41That'll be all.
00:34:42Thank you, gentlemen.
00:34:43Up.
00:34:44If you gentlemen will follow me, I'll give you a new order.
00:34:48Congratulations, Mac.
00:34:49Thank you, sir.
00:34:50Gentlemen, will you come in for a minute?
00:34:51I have a few matters I want to discuss with you.
00:34:58At ease, McRoberts.
00:35:02I have here court martial papers on Lieutenant Carstairs signed by you.
00:35:05I also have a request for the dismissal of the charges, also signed by you.
00:35:11Yes, sir.
00:35:12If these charges were as specified, the young man endangered the entire operation.
00:35:17And you still wish to withdraw the charges?
00:35:19Yes, sir.
00:35:23You realize, of course, that he will succeed as company commander.
00:35:26Sir?
00:35:27He's a senior lieutenant from the battalion.
00:35:29Of course, you'll have a highly competent battalion commander, sir.
00:35:31Of course.
00:35:32You'll need one.
00:35:33Yes, yes.
00:35:34As you know, Major, we're extremely short of field officers.
00:35:39So on the advice of Colonel White, I'm giving you the battalion.
00:35:42You'll assume the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
00:35:45Yes, sir.
00:35:46Fast-moving war, isn't it, Major?
00:35:47Now, you'll have three Australian companies.
00:35:50Congratulations, Colonel.
00:35:51I might have noticed.
00:35:52Uh-uh.
00:35:52Careful, Colonel.
00:35:54You may have seen the press dispatches on our magnificent defense, McRoberts.
00:35:57I don't like them.
00:35:59Defense is a state of mind, and I don't want our troops to fall into this type of thinking.
00:36:02Practically, we're committed to holding to Brook for two months.
00:36:05But unless we take the offensive, Rommel will overcome us in a week.
00:36:09Or less.
00:36:09Yes.
00:36:11We're in no position to mount a major attack.
00:36:13But we can hit and run.
00:36:16There are the German positions as accurately as our intelligence can give them to us.
00:36:20From now on, every company on the perimeter will raid at least one of these positions every night.
00:36:24It's going to be up to the battalion commanders to select the targets, brief the companies,
00:36:29and send intelligence a daily assessment of damage done.
00:36:33Can you handle it?
00:36:35That's it.
00:36:35That's it, sir.
00:36:36But?
00:36:37Well, casualties may be high.
00:36:40These troops have been blooded, but they're still green.
00:36:42They won't be for long.
00:36:44And I look to you to keep casualties down.
00:36:47Yes, sir.
00:36:48That's all, Colonel.
00:36:50And good luck.
00:36:50Thank you, sir.
00:36:53Good luck, Mac.
00:36:54Yeah.
00:36:59Well, now, what?
00:37:01Hmm?
00:37:02Oh, I was just thinking how happy I am I'm not an infantryman.
00:37:05Well.
00:37:07So we'll start with those.
00:37:10All right.
00:37:11I won't light you.
00:37:13This is hard, dirty work.
00:37:15But if it's done and done right, it'll pay off.
00:37:17The jetties don't like people wandering about in the dark.
00:37:21There's one thing you've got to remember.
00:37:24If a man is killed or badly wounded, you've got to leave him.
00:37:28You can't endanger the rest of your patrol for one man.
00:37:33Understood?
00:37:35Yes, sir.
00:37:35All right.
00:37:36That's it.
00:37:44Colonel.
00:37:46Hello.
00:37:46Well, I, uh, I wanted to, uh, thank you for dropping those charges.
00:37:50Don't thank me.
00:37:51Thank the general.
00:37:51I had nothing to do with it.
00:37:53Well, the copy of your letters in the company files.
00:37:56Ah.
00:37:58Well, I could have made a mistake.
00:38:00Maybe you did.
00:38:02But the thanks still goes.
00:38:04Good night, sir.
00:38:06Night.
00:38:06Well, he did drop the court marshal proceedings, didn't he?
00:38:25How do I know he did?
00:38:26Maybe the general told him to.
00:38:28Hmm.
00:38:29And what about his orders for tonight?
00:38:31If a bloke cops won't, you flame him while leaving there.
00:38:35You reckon he'd be so free with English troops?
00:38:38Put a soggy then back there.
00:38:39Let's go.
00:38:40Night after night, through the months of May and June,
00:38:49little bands of desperate men went out from Tobruk
00:38:51to spread havoc, confusion, and fear among the enemy.
00:38:55On the vast, dark stretches of the Libyan desert,
00:38:58they ranged like their freebooter ancestors
00:39:00who had once made England mistress of the seas.
00:39:04They struck in the darkness
00:39:06and disappeared into darkness.
00:39:10They struck in the darkness.
00:39:40Then the cold light of dawn
00:39:59came back to their shell-pitted refuge.
00:40:01Go on, get a move on, Pritz.
00:40:18You reckon this will make the colonel happy?
00:40:19Oh, hysterical.
00:40:21He might even let us go out tonight with our parents.
00:40:24Pritz!
00:40:24Come on, you've got to move on.
00:40:26Get moving!
00:40:28You're a difficult man, Herr Oberleutnant.
00:40:31Also an intelligent one.
00:40:33I think further questioning is quite useless, don't you, Captain?
00:40:35Deference, sir.
00:40:36Take him out, John.
00:40:38I regret that I was of no assistance to you, gentlemen.
00:40:40Come on.
00:40:45Oh, my.
00:40:46Give me those clever ones every time.
00:40:48The minute they get away from name, rank, and serial number...
00:40:51Yes, I cross-checked at least eight outright lies
00:40:53in that business of being a tank man.
00:40:55His collar tabs clearly show me...
00:40:56Oh, stop taking bows.
00:40:57Come along.
00:40:57The general's waiting for us.
00:40:58No doubt about it, sir.
00:41:03He's an artillery officer,
00:41:04and Rommel's moved his long-range guns up against us.
00:41:07It's obvious from the pounding we've been taking.
00:41:08From what he said,
00:41:09rather from the lies he told us,
00:41:11I'd bet a month's pay that that's their encampment.
00:41:14We thought it might be a rest area,
00:41:16but that over here could be a camouflaged gun emplacement,
00:41:19and that, and that.
00:41:22And this spot here that we thought was a firing range
00:41:24could be an underground ammunition dump.
00:41:26Barney?
00:41:27I haven't got a thing that could touch them.
00:41:29They're way out of our range.
00:41:32Could you find out if Rommel was planning a new attack?
00:41:34I mean, a major one?
00:41:35Nothing as definite as that, but...
00:41:37It sounded awfully like it to me, sir.
00:41:39No other reason for moving up heavy artillery.
00:41:44I think we'll have to get that ammunition dump, sir.
00:41:46Commanders could never get in and out of there in a night.
00:41:48Must be 20 miles from the perimeter.
00:41:50If we could get an airstrike,
00:41:52not much use against an underground dump.
00:41:54That line there.
00:41:56That's a highway?
00:41:57Hmm, supply route from Benghazi.
00:41:59There are still some Italian vehicles
00:42:01they left behind with their guns, sir.
00:42:02If we took them and could break through here
00:42:05where that Italian regiment is holding,
00:42:07we could cut across to the highway
00:42:08and drive right down it.
00:42:09And lose your whole expedition
00:42:10the first time it was challenged.
00:42:12I'm not so sure, sir.
00:42:13There must be men here who speak Italian.
00:42:15Of course.
00:42:16And German.
00:42:16I've got a couple of Arabs in my section.
00:42:18They could lead you across that desert blindfold.
00:42:20Simple.
00:42:21Delightfully simple.
00:42:22It has about one chance in a hundred.
00:42:24Perhaps.
00:42:25What were the chances of Rommel
00:42:26sending his panzer division
00:42:27in exactly where you said he would, sir?
00:42:29Ha!
00:42:33If your men are as cocksure as you are, McRoberts,
00:42:35they might just get through.
00:42:36They've had two months of commando work, sir.
00:42:38And they're getting pretty tired
00:42:39of being shelled 24 hours a day.
00:42:41So am I.
00:42:44It's a calculated risk.
00:42:46Then that's the whole theory of warfare.
00:42:49If we broke out here...
00:42:51Yes.
00:42:51And you could give us a diversionary attack,
00:42:53say, here...
00:42:54Mm-hmm.
00:42:56All right, fellas.
00:42:57Make it, Snappy.
00:42:58See, I've got all your papers ready.
00:43:01Come on, come on, hurry.
00:43:03And any of you new men remember,
00:43:04you take nothing with you.
00:43:06No identification.
00:43:07No letters.
00:43:08No pictures of the kids or the old ladies.
00:43:10And don't take all day.
00:43:11The trucks are waiting.
00:43:13Uh, uh, Tom.
00:43:14That's for the old lady.
00:43:16Just in case.
00:43:16I'll give it back to you in the morning.
00:43:19Marsh.
00:43:20There's four months' pay there, mate,
00:43:21and I'd like to see it again.
00:43:22Don't worry about the doge, chum.
00:43:24Just worry about getting back here in one piece.
00:43:27Tom will have it for you, won't you, Tom?
00:43:28Yes, I will.
00:43:29Tom's always here.
00:43:30No fear of that.
00:43:31Just don't take no chances while I'm gone.
00:43:33All right, all right.
00:43:36What's the matter, Tommy?
00:43:38Oh, nothing, nothing.
00:43:39I'm sorry.
00:43:50Yes, come in.
00:43:51Oh, it's you, sir.
00:43:52What's up?
00:43:54I've come to ask you a favor, Tammy.
00:43:55If I can do it, it's yours.
00:43:56I want to go on this raid.
00:43:58Now, honestly, it's important to me.
00:44:01I believe it is.
00:44:03But why?
00:44:04Well, for one thing,
00:44:05I'm the only man in this company
00:44:06that's never been on one.
00:44:07Are they trying to suggest that you...
00:44:08No, no, no, it's nothing like that.
00:44:10It's just seeing the men go each time
00:44:11and, well, looking after their valuables and letters.
00:44:15Oh, please, Tammy,
00:44:15I'll try not to disgrace you.
00:44:17Oh, it's not that.
00:44:19It's just that I...
00:44:20Well, I need you for something else.
00:44:24I've just put through a request for you to be transferred to me.
00:44:27My paperwork's in a mess.
00:44:28I need someone I know and trust on the files.
00:44:31That's a lie, Tammy, isn't it?
00:44:32You just made it up.
00:44:34Well, part of it.
00:44:36I am transferring you.
00:44:39But this is a rough assignment.
00:44:40The chances are that most of them won't come back.
00:44:42Well, there's no reason...
00:44:42You're not a go and that's it.
00:44:45I suppose truthfully,
00:44:47that's what I hoped you'd say.
00:44:51You're probably right, too.
00:44:54Look,
00:44:56you'll be four times as valuable to me in an office
00:44:58as you would be thrashing about with a gun.
00:45:00And, uh,
00:45:04four times less dangerous.
00:45:10Hmm.
00:45:11Pretty girl.
00:45:13Yes.
00:45:14Someone from home?
00:45:16Yes, from Scotland, it is.
00:45:18My wife.
00:45:20I didn't know you were married.
00:45:24Water's such a lovely girl.
00:45:27Not much time for an announcement.
00:45:30We did it in 39.
00:45:32Just before I went to France.
00:45:34Have you seen her since?
00:45:36A week.
00:45:37After Dunkirk.
00:45:38Any children?
00:45:39One.
00:45:41Little boy.
00:45:42And you've never seen it?
00:45:45No.
00:45:46That's tough.
00:45:47But all wars come to an end sometime.
00:45:50This one will, too.
00:45:52If I have anything to do with it,
00:45:54it will.
00:45:56Come on.
00:46:00Look after me, Swan.
00:46:01Yeah.
00:46:05If I don't...
00:46:07I'll see you tomorrow.
00:46:14And so, on the 9th of July, 1941,
00:46:17began one of the most daring raids
00:46:19of the North African campaign.
00:46:21With their sole objective,
00:46:22a gigantic ammunition dump,
00:46:2454 picked men jammed into
00:46:26three captured Italian trucks
00:46:28and prepared themselves
00:46:29for a wild ride.
00:46:4530 seconds.
00:46:47Remember,
00:46:48once that dump blows,
00:46:49you're on your own.
00:46:50Never mind about anybody else.
00:46:51Get your men out.
00:46:52Good luck.
00:47:02Get that back up, Bill.
00:47:10Easy one to all units.
00:47:11Follow me.
00:47:12Stay close.
00:47:13Let's go.
00:47:16Let's go.
00:47:17Yes, sir.
00:47:17Yes, sir.
00:47:19Yes, sir.
00:47:45Yes, sir.
00:48:16Looks like a Hobart, sir.
00:48:21Slow down, but keep rolling whatever happens.
00:48:23Yes, sir.
00:48:24Easy one to all units.
00:48:25Proceed with plan C.
00:48:27Keep moving.
00:48:28Follow us.
00:48:34Sperre, outrides.
00:48:36Ordeniamo un gruppo di Firenze.
00:48:38Stiamo procedendo questa fronte.
00:48:40I marchi per il Piter.
00:48:41Keep talking, keep talking.
00:48:43Abbiamo ordine offert marci.
00:48:44Capite?
00:48:44Ordeno del generale Romo.
00:48:46Ordeno del generale Romo.
00:48:47Ordeno del generale Romo.
00:48:48Ordeno del generale Romo.
00:48:49Ordeno del generale Romo.
00:48:53What's going on, Schüller?
00:48:55Verrückte Italiener.
00:48:58Die wissen gar nicht einmal, wohin sie wollen.
00:49:01Harder Teufel soll sie holen.
00:49:03We'll be there in a minute.
00:49:11Keep your eyes peeled for a wadi.
00:49:12Yes, sir.
00:49:16That's it ahead.
00:49:17Pull in.
00:49:18Give the rest of them room to clear.
00:49:19The camp is 200 yards down the road.
00:49:30All those detailed dismount and proceed to stations.
00:49:33Convoy will follow in three minutes.
00:49:35No contact until you see the flare.
00:49:38Get going.
00:49:38Doc.
00:51:53All right, men, let's get them.
00:52:41Take care of those wounded.
00:52:58Come on.
00:52:58She wouldn't get that gun working.
00:53:06She wouldn't get that gun working.
00:53:14Take care of those wounded.
00:53:20Quickly now.
00:53:22Come on.
00:53:23Come on.
00:53:24Come on.
00:53:28Come on.
00:53:29Come on.
00:53:34Come on.
00:53:36Let's go.
00:53:37Come on.
00:53:38Let's go.
00:53:42Get them out of here.
00:53:43Get them out of here.
00:53:48Get moving.
00:53:49Get moving.
00:53:50Get moving.
00:53:51Get moving.
00:53:52Get moving.
00:53:53Get moving.
00:53:54Get moving.
00:53:55Get moving.
00:53:56Get moving.
00:53:57Get moving.
00:53:58Get moving.
00:53:59Get in there.
00:54:00Get in there.
00:54:01Get them out of here.
00:54:02Get them out of here.
00:54:03Get out of here.
00:54:04Get out of here.
00:54:05Get out of here.
00:54:06Get out of here.
00:54:07Oh.
00:54:08Oh.
00:54:09Oh.
00:54:10Oh.
00:54:11Oh.
00:54:12Oh.
00:54:13Oh.
00:54:14Oh.
00:54:15Oh.
00:54:16Oh.
00:54:17Oh.
00:54:18Ready, turtle.
00:54:19That's it. Get in the trucks.
00:54:20Get in there.
00:54:25Gotta go.
00:54:28Get him out of here.
00:54:31Get him out of here.
00:54:39Aren't you ever to bear an order?
00:54:40I told you to get out of here.
00:54:41Shut up and push the running plunger.
00:54:48Get in there.
00:55:01Come on.
00:55:02We can still get out.
00:55:04Faster.
00:55:05We can still get out.
00:55:06We can still get out of here.
00:55:08Where is this?
00:55:10Gefangene festnehmen!
00:55:12Gefangene festnehmen!
00:55:14Schafften ja die Gefangene!
00:55:16Stand hin!
00:55:18Joke!
00:55:20Da ist da einer!
00:55:22An den Zettbeeren nass spritzen!
00:55:26Sieh da! Obergabe!
00:55:28We are waiting in the house!
00:55:30An den Zettbeeren nass spritzen!
00:55:32Weckspann an den Schub!
00:55:38An den Zettbeeren!
00:56:00You filthy butcher! Keep your hands off me!
00:56:02Nice! Colonel, beat me!
00:56:04I'm a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army and I demand to be treated according to my rank!
00:56:07If that idiot touches me again, I'll break every bone in his body!
00:56:09Now, Colonel, if your wound is to be treated!
00:56:11Get a doctor here!
00:56:13By the terms of the Geneva Convention, I'm entitled to one!
00:56:15Now, get a doctor here, you incompetent clown!
00:56:17Wo will Sie den Herrn Oberghals sehen?
00:56:23A doctor will come, Colonel.
00:56:25That's better.
00:56:27Hey!
00:56:28Come, Daniel!
00:56:29And then...
00:56:30Him, Him, Him...
00:56:31Him, Him, Him, Him!
00:56:32Herr Oberghals!
00:56:33A sergeant is a prisoner of the English officer, wounded!
00:56:35Is he the doctor a reason of...
00:56:36Geneva Convention?
00:56:37Geneva Convention, he's thus!
00:56:39You will always be a traitor!
00:56:42Yes, Herr Oberghals!
00:56:43There are certain questions I must ask you, Father!
00:56:44There are certain questions I must ask you, Father.
00:56:47When you get a doctor here, I'll be happy to discuss them, Herr Leutnant, not until.
00:56:51Hätte er sowas nicht ohne mich machen, Herr Leutnant?
00:56:54He will doctor or another faith healer?
00:56:56A doctor. Are you a reputable doctor?
00:56:59Was will er von mir?
00:57:00Er möchte wissen, ob Sie ein wirklicher Arzt sind.
00:57:04Ich habe in Heidelberg studiert und bei Toasten in Wien.
00:57:08Say, Herr Leutnant, as die Flutband...
00:57:10Herr Leutnant!
00:57:12Now, let's not party into things too quickly.
00:57:13Herr Leutnant, stillhäuten.
00:57:15Gänzen, eine Sonde.
00:57:22Knapp an der Arterie vorbei.
00:57:25Schwierige Lage.
00:57:27Etwas höher.
00:57:29Schönste Knochen-Splitter.
00:57:38I hope he'll roast in the flaming fires.
00:57:42Nein, nein, nein.
00:57:43Nur noch einen Augenblick.
00:57:45Und...
00:57:45Konjunkt.
00:57:51Danke.
00:57:54Bitte nicht schmecken.
00:58:04Fertig.
00:58:05Gut.
00:58:06Very good, Herr Doktor.
00:58:07No, Sandy.
00:58:08Obviously, you got your training before Hitler.
00:58:10Was will it from Hitler?
00:58:15Herr Feldmarschall.
00:58:17Herr Oberars.
00:58:18Herr Oberars, schnell!
00:58:20Ja, Moment, Moment, bitte.
00:58:22Herr Feldmarschall ist verbundet.
00:58:25Jensen.
00:58:25Fertig.
00:58:26Was ist denn passiert?
00:58:30Maschinengewehrkugel.
00:58:31Was ist denn passiert?
00:58:31Maschinengewehrkugel.
00:58:32Ein Spitfire.
00:58:33Nothing trivial, I trust.
00:58:34Shut up, you!
00:58:35Schweigensee.
00:58:37You have the advantage of me.
00:58:39Colonel McRoberts, sir.
00:58:40A pleasure.
00:58:41I lighted to gesternach
00:58:42den Angriff auf das Munitionslager, Exzellent.
00:58:44Ach so?
00:58:46I have not yet inspected the damage,
00:58:48but from what I hear,
00:58:49you are to be complimented.
00:58:51Thank you, sir.
00:58:52My heavy artillery must have interested you.
00:58:55It was perhaps making life exciting in Tobruk.
00:58:58I be confined to name, rank, and serial number.
00:59:02Only when you touch a tender spot, sir.
00:59:04Aha.
00:59:06Well, we will devote ourselves to General Sergeants.
00:59:10Your commanding general, for instance.
00:59:12Tell me, McRoberts, since it is now long past,
00:59:16was it he who organized the defense
00:59:18against my Panzer attack, or was it Cairo?
00:59:21It was the general.
00:59:23If I remember correctly,
00:59:24he described your attack
00:59:25as a highly limited tactical maneuver.
00:59:27Yes, yes.
00:59:29It had worked well for us,
00:59:31but I used it once too often.
00:59:33I underestimated your man, Colonel.
00:59:35Grave mistake, sir.
00:59:37Yes.
00:59:38But he is Australian,
00:59:40and you are English, no?
00:59:42My intelligence has given me to understand
00:59:45that there was considerable friction between the two.
00:59:48I would suggest some changes in your staff, sir.
00:59:51Well, it will be interesting to meet this man
00:59:53the British thinks so highly of.
00:59:55And when will that be, sir?
00:59:56Hmm?
00:59:57Well, I imagine whenever I decide
00:59:59we've had enough of your Tobruk.
01:00:00I would have thought that might have been some weeks ago.
01:00:03Colonel,
01:00:03I fully understand your natural pride
01:00:06in holding a position.
01:00:07And since it is the only position
01:00:09the British hold,
01:00:10I can understand the extravagant claims for it.
01:00:13Actually, it plays very little part in our plans.
01:00:16Yes, excellent.
01:00:17Uh-huh.
01:00:18I'm afraid my general has other ideas.
01:00:21I suppose he has.
01:00:22But even you must be aware
01:00:24that my forward elements
01:00:25are within 200 kilometers of Alexandria,
01:00:27and that within the month
01:00:29we will have taken Cairo.
01:00:31Not until you take Tobruk.
01:00:33Oh, now, Mac Roberts.
01:00:36I respect your pride
01:00:37in this little rat hole you call Tobruk.
01:00:40But don't insult my intelligence
01:00:41by telling me
01:00:42that if it stood in my way
01:00:44I couldn't crush it like that.
01:00:46Sir.
01:00:49Normally I would defer to your rank
01:00:51and the fact that I'm your prisoner.
01:00:54If you can crush Tobruk,
01:00:56crush it.
01:00:57But don't tell me
01:00:58it isn't a constant threat
01:00:59to your supply line.
01:01:01That it isn't an open sore in your side.
01:01:04Or that you can take Egypt
01:01:05without first smashing it.
01:01:06Silence you.
01:01:07You are addressing excellency.
01:01:08Rush come.
01:01:09Lassen Sie ihn reden.
01:01:11This is what keeps you
01:01:12in those flea-redden caves.
01:01:14That's part of it.
01:01:16And the rest?
01:01:17Well, the rest is
01:01:18that by holding Tobruk
01:01:20we prevent you
01:01:21from taking the Suez.
01:01:23And if you don't take the Suez
01:01:25I suggest you start planning
01:01:27for the next war.
01:01:31Cognac for the field marshal.
01:01:32You British pig!
01:01:34Turn it up!
01:01:36Halt!
01:01:41Thank you a minute.
01:01:45Colonel,
01:01:46you are a brave man.
01:01:48And were you not so stubborn
01:01:49I might have enjoyed
01:01:50your conversation more.
01:01:53When I brought your country
01:01:54to its knees
01:01:55it is possible
01:01:56we may meet again.
01:01:57This gentleman seems
01:01:58to have other ideas.
01:02:00You are a prisoner of war
01:02:01and will be treated as such.
01:02:02Come.
01:02:03Sogen Sie da für you.
01:02:04Yeah, we're thanks.
01:02:07Thank you, sir.
01:02:07I'm here.
01:02:12I'm here.
01:02:14Thank you, sir.
01:02:21Let's go.
01:02:51Let's go.
01:03:21Let's go.
01:03:51Let's go.
01:03:52Let's go.
01:03:53Let's go.
01:03:54Let's go.
01:03:55Let's go.
01:03:56Let's go.
01:03:57Let's go.
01:03:58Let's go.
01:03:59Let's go.
01:04:00Let's go.
01:04:01Let's go.
01:04:02Let's go.
01:04:03Let's go.
01:04:04Let's go.
01:04:05Let's go.
01:04:06Let's go.
01:04:07Let's go.
01:04:08Let's go.
01:04:09Let's go.
01:04:10Let's go.
01:04:11Let's go.
01:04:12Let's go.
01:04:13Let's go.
01:04:14Let's go.
01:04:15Let's go.
01:04:16Let's go.
01:04:17Let's go.
01:04:18Let's go.
01:04:19Let's go.
01:04:20Let's go.
01:04:21Let's go.
01:04:22Let's go.
01:04:23Let's go.
01:04:24Let's go.
01:04:25Let's go.
01:04:26Let's go.
01:04:27Let's go.
01:04:28Let's go.
01:04:29Let's go.
01:04:30Yeah.
01:04:51Who is there?
01:04:54And now.
01:04:55I heard something out there.
01:04:57Take place.
01:05:00I'm sure I heard something out there.
01:05:21I'll give him a stripe for a mouthful of water.
01:05:49You'll have a bellyful when you get to Dubroque.
01:05:53If I don't take the wrong turning.
01:05:54Somebody out there.
01:06:17Where?
01:06:18Down by the wire.
01:06:19Put a burst over their heads and maybe our patrol.
01:06:21Who goes there?
01:06:24Oh, break it down, you mugs.
01:06:26I had me flaming foot caught in a flaming wire.
01:06:28It's Bluey.
01:06:32Stone the crows.
01:06:33It's the Colonel, too.
01:06:36What about Harry?
01:06:37I mean, the captain, sir.
01:06:40He bought one.
01:06:41I'm sorry.
01:06:51If you'd lowered your aim a bit, you could have got me, too.
01:06:55The heavy and desperate fist of Rommel fell on Dubroque again and again.
01:07:19Through the Luftwaffe, massed artillery, frontal attack.
01:07:28The men of Dubroque had been asked to hold for two months.
01:07:31By July, they had held for four.
01:07:32Through August, they held.
01:07:39September.
01:07:40October.
01:07:42In Egypt, an army was being rebuilt during these precious months.
01:07:46In November...
01:07:48Our relief column under General Orkinleck has broken out of Egypt.
01:07:51And is quite definitely on the move.
01:07:54The general will push straight across here to us.
01:07:56Our supply convoy, already at sea, will arrive here tomorrow night.
01:08:02I don't need to tell you your jobs.
01:08:05Nor do I need to tell you.
01:08:07This column will be in vital need of supplies.
01:08:12I think that both Rommel and I can promise you a very interesting week ahead.
01:08:18McRoberts.
01:08:19Same thing last night, sir.
01:08:20On the move all along the front.
01:08:22Yes.
01:08:23I think you'll find pressure all around our defenses.
01:08:26However, it seems to me that this hill,
01:08:28Ed Duda,
01:08:30is a key position.
01:08:31It commands the Bardia Road.
01:08:34And our supply road to the harbor.
01:08:36Consequently, I'll have to move troops to hold it.
01:08:39But I can only spare one battalion.
01:08:42So it'll have to be our best and most experienced one.
01:08:47That's it, gentlemen.
01:08:49We will hold for three days or until relieved.
01:08:52We will need every round of ammunition we can carry.
01:08:55Start moving the men out right away.
01:08:57Yes.
01:08:59Any questions?
01:09:00Well, I...
01:09:01Well, I just wondered why it had to be us.
01:09:04After all, we've been in the line a long time.
01:09:05In the first place, it's an order.
01:09:07In the second, if it's any good to you,
01:09:08the general asks for the best and most experienced troops.
01:09:13Is that all?
01:09:14Yes, sir.
01:09:21Well, that'll put the cap on it if nothing else does.
01:09:23There'll be some choice comment on this.
01:09:25Oh, come off it, sir.
01:09:26It's only an order.
01:09:28They may even get a kick out of the general choosing their battalion.
01:09:30And I may even run for prime minister of Australia.
01:09:39What's up, Blue?
01:09:40What over, Blue?
01:09:41We getting relieved?
01:09:42Beer ration?
01:09:44Don't sit on until it hatches, Blue.
01:09:46You gents will be proud and happy to know
01:09:48the general considers you the pick of the garrison.
01:09:51Here we go again.
01:09:52Another dirty deal.
01:09:54Consequently, you've been selected to hold the key position
01:09:57in the coming festivities.
01:09:59We're moving out.
01:09:59Oh, that ruddy Mick Roberts.
01:10:01He's volunteered us again.
01:10:03He's pushing for general.
01:10:06Here, rally round and I'll tell you the points of interest.
01:10:09Now, this is Ed Duda.
01:10:11The mob's supposed to be coming up from Cairo
01:10:13and we've got to hold it for three days.
01:10:16They were asked to hold for three days.
01:10:18They held for eight.
01:10:20Eight freezing nights of roaring gunfire.
01:10:23Eight blazing days of searching the horizon
01:10:25for a sign of the relief column.
01:10:27On the morning of the ninth day,
01:10:29See anything?
01:10:42Another ruddy thing.
01:10:43Just hold it for three days
01:10:59and the relief column will be alone.
01:11:04Well, there's eight flaming days now
01:11:05and there ain't a side home.
01:11:09Going back to ruddy Egypt, I reckon.
01:11:11One more night of this
01:11:14and they'll take me off in a sack.
01:11:17They'll be alone in a bit.
01:11:18In a bit?
01:11:19Yeah, in a bit.
01:11:20Always in a bit.
01:11:22Well, I ain't waiting.
01:11:23I get...
01:11:23I get...
01:11:24Let me up.
01:11:35All right now?
01:11:37Yeah.
01:11:38Give me another tin of grunt.
01:11:53Three wounded and two dead.
01:12:17Company strength down to 57 men.
01:12:19About a thousand rounds of small arms ammo
01:12:23and 23 mortar bombs.
01:12:26And C Company?
01:12:27Lost four more last night.
01:12:30Down to 41 men, one officer.
01:12:331,200 rounds, 17 mortar.
01:12:36One machine gun completely destroyed.
01:12:39You'll have to take them out of A Company.
01:12:40What about the forward post?
01:12:42That's where we lost two of our four, sir.
01:12:44Is it manned now?
01:12:49Well, no, I...
01:12:50I haven't been able to pick the men, Colonel.
01:12:53Four hours is about as long as anyone lasts out there.
01:12:57I thought after they had breakfast...
01:12:59All right.
01:13:00Let it go.
01:13:02If headquarters could send us some replacement...
01:13:04They can't.
01:13:06Rommel's throwing everything he's got all around the perimeter.
01:13:17I don't suppose there'll be any change in orders, Colonel.
01:13:20If there is, I'll tell you.
01:13:24Change, change.
01:13:25What are they asking me for?
01:13:27I don't give any orders.
01:13:27I just obey them.
01:13:29Headquarters told me to hold.
01:13:30I can't.
01:13:30I can't.
01:13:30I can't.
01:13:35There'll be headquarters.
01:13:39Then decide.
01:13:41Colonel Orton.
01:13:43Yes.
01:13:44Diamond Red.
01:13:47Coming on.
01:13:52Mr. Roberts here.
01:13:55It was a tank roadblock, but they knocked it out last night.
01:13:57They're moving now, Mac.
01:14:00By nine o'clock, Mac.
01:14:01Noon of the latest.
01:14:02No good, Orton.
01:14:04You told me that four days ago.
01:14:06No.
01:14:08We've had it.
01:14:09We're through.
01:14:10Finished.
01:14:11The first attack will sweep the hill.
01:14:12Look, there may be a chance we can detach a unit to try...
01:14:14No, try to him.
01:14:15Let me have it.
01:14:18Mac Roberts?
01:14:20Yes, sir?
01:14:21There isn't a chance of getting anything to you for at least six hours.
01:14:24Maybe not then.
01:14:26I've called for airstrikes over your position, but...
01:14:28They've been pounded for eight days, General.
01:14:30I'm down to less than a company.
01:14:32I know.
01:14:32All I can tell you is the relief column is moving.
01:14:36Maybe one hour, maybe four.
01:14:39All I can do is release you to make your own estimate of the situation.
01:14:44Whatever you do, I'll back your judgment.
01:14:46Yes, sir.
01:14:50Thank you, sir.
01:14:56Thank you for what?
01:14:59Dumping it back in my lap.
01:15:00The old army game.
01:15:03My estimate of my estimate of the situation.
01:15:06Well, what else can he do?
01:15:08He's not here.
01:15:09He can only trust your judgment and hope...
01:15:11And hope that I pull off a miracle.
01:15:13That I can take what's left of a battalion...
01:15:15Make the right decision, then.
01:15:16The right decision, the right decision...
01:15:17I'll stay until removing out in the desert, sir.
01:15:19And plenty of it.
01:15:22Tell the platoon commanders to stand by for orders.
01:15:24Right, sir.
01:15:25Get the artillery in.
01:15:26Tell them we want covering fire while we pull out.
01:15:29Well, call them.
01:15:30What are you waiting for?
01:15:31Are you sure that's what you want?
01:15:33Suppose they stand off one more attack.
01:15:35The general...
01:15:35Are you out of your mind?
01:15:36They'd be lucky if they had the Sphinx to march out of here...
01:15:38Let alone stand off Germans.
01:15:39Well, they might if you asked them.
01:15:41If I asked them.
01:15:46I might have known it.
01:15:48Now, let's forget the old school Thai nonsense...
01:15:50And face reality for once.
01:15:52I'm the English colonel that got their captain killed.
01:15:54That got Carstairs killed.
01:15:56The pommy officer that's whipped them in and out of these mangy caves...
01:15:58For the last nine months.
01:16:00They'd rather see me dead than Rommel.
01:16:02No, Tammy.
01:16:04You don't understand men yet.
01:16:06Oh, I don't say they love you.
01:16:08But they do know you.
01:16:10You're authority to them.
01:16:11The general...
01:16:12Why, he's just a name.
01:16:15You're the one that's running their war.
01:16:18If you give the order...
01:16:20They won't like it.
01:16:21But they're just stubborn enough to follow it.
01:16:24Uh-huh.
01:16:25My order is to pull out.
01:16:26Get the artillery.
01:16:28That's an order.
01:16:29You know that if Rommel takes this hill...
01:16:31The advance could be held up for days.
01:16:34Why, the tactician.
01:16:35Get the artillery.
01:16:36The general says that it may be enough...
01:16:38You drunk and old fool!
01:16:40There are over a hundred men out there...
01:16:42And I'm responsible for them.
01:16:43If I order them to say they'll all be killed...
01:16:45It's senseless to ask them for what they haven't got.
01:16:47I can't do it and I won't do it!
01:16:52I'm old, I'm a drunk...
01:16:54And maybe I'm a fool.
01:16:56But I do know what I'm talking about.
01:17:00Don't take all this on yourself, Tammy.
01:17:03Everybody needs help sometimes.
01:17:07Let them help you.
01:17:09Ask them.
01:17:10No.
01:17:12I've had it.
01:17:13I can't.
01:17:17All right.
01:17:20It's your decision.
01:17:22But if you make it, you'll be no good to yourself or to anybody else.
01:17:25You told me that yourself once.
01:17:27Remember?
01:17:28Then I'll be no good to myself.
01:17:30Ah, Tammy, an hour...
01:17:32Don't call me that!
01:17:34Get out there and tell each of the commanders we'll move out of here in twenty minutes.
01:17:38And that's an order.
01:17:38Yes, sir.
01:17:40Yes, sir.
01:18:08Devil, give me Colonel White.
01:18:14Barney, I'm pulling out in twenty minutes.
01:18:19Give me all the covering fire you can spare.
01:18:21It's that rough, Mac.
01:18:23It's that rough.
01:18:26I'll put up a green flare when we're ready.
01:18:28Let's get up.
01:18:54I think they have an O.P. dug in on this first rise.
01:19:18Well, if that's the case, perhaps we can manage to get some...
01:19:24What's the matter with you? I ordered you to get these men out of here.
01:19:27Where's Bartlett? I'll have him caught my...
01:19:29He told us, sir. But it don't make no difference. The men won't go.
01:19:33We ain't going either.
01:19:44I'll go.
01:19:55I am.
01:19:59Where's Bartlett?
01:20:01He went out to the forward position, sir. Alone.
01:20:05That'll be him.
01:20:09Farage! Farage! Farage!
01:20:12Farage!
01:20:17In there!
01:20:18I...
01:20:19I serve you here!
01:20:21Come on!
01:20:22What about you?
01:20:25Come on!
01:20:28Come on!
01:20:29Come on!
01:20:31Come on!
01:20:34Come on!
01:20:35Come on!
01:20:37Come on!
01:20:39Come on!
01:20:41Conかos ahh!
01:20:44You right?
01:20:45Come on!
01:20:46Let's go.
01:21:16Let's go.
01:21:46Let's go.
01:22:16Let's go.
01:22:46Let's go.
01:23:16Let's go.
01:23:46Let's go.
01:24:16Let's go.