Winter War

INSPIRED BY ACTUAL EVENTS

The 1st regiment of paratroopers was in Alsace since December the 8th

and with every passing day, this hell was darkening more and more.

COLMAR

Damn fine scenery.

In other circumstances one could have appreciated the ride.

Hey, Corporal, what would you think?

In civilian with just a few buddies, no rifle, no hidden Germans,

that'll be worth something, no?

This would be a neat idea.

Hey, Corporal,

what would you think?

This would be a neat idea, wouldn't it?

Corporal Henaq wasn't the only one starting to lose it.

Considering what we'd just gone through in the Vosges, and now here, in Alsace,

we were all pretty beat up.

After all these months of training,

we jumped right into what was a real war.

We all had been eager to go into action

after all the campaigns we missed.

But now, we had to accept the obvious.

To see your friends shredded by mortars,

limbs and flesh scattered, bodies mutilated by bullets…

lives brutally ended.

When striding through French territory,

we had this feeling that most wouldn't come back.

But right this moment, we knew it to be the truth.

In the Vosges, the regiment had already lost 40% of its manpower

and the slaughter continued here.

The taskforce was completed as it went with volunteers

and new recruits from Interior French Force.

For most of them, it was their first contact with fight.

Fucking hell.

When is it gonna stop?

These come directly from the cradle. You need rookies to make war.

On the contrary,

you need wars to make rookies.

The more this fucking war will last,

-the younger they'll get. -They won't stay young too long.

The older ones wondered how many new faces

would pass before the end of this nightmare.

But most importantly, we all wondered when our turn would come.

Hi, my name is Cédric.

I don't wanna know your name.

You just call me Corporal.

And I'll call you...

I won't call you.

It'll be better.

So if I ever have to pick pieces of your flesh up...

I won't have a name for them.

I prefer that.

Go see chief Lieutenant Morel over there. He'll take care of you.

Come on.

No need to be so harsh with them.

They volunteered like we did when we joined, François.

It's not against them.

I just don't wanna get to know them and watch them die right then.

These kids aren't even trained.

You ask your big boss up there to watch over them.

He's not been too successful these past few weeks.

So here's his chance to prove his worth.

And while you're at it, you can ask him to make it a little warmer here.

You would not be able to warm up yourself with six girls from the village.

Respect, chaplain, but flesh is weak.

Except for our old Carlo

who wouldn't get by without us.

Mind it, guys, we'll end up offending our man of faith.

It's all that's happening around here that should offend him.

I couldn't agree more.

Fucking hell, we waited for that moment...

finally come to fight...

and free our country.

But today, nothing makes sense any more.

I fuck this fucking war.

Is it me or are the Yankees over there making fools of us?

Damn, you're right.

Who the fuck do they think they are?

-I'll break their faces. -Don't be stupid, Carlo.

These guys traveled thousands of kilometers to help us,

so they have all the rights in my mind.

Don't forget this thing… For them we still represent

-the army that capitulated facing Hitler. -I piss on them,

and so do all our friends who aren't here anymore.

We surrender to no one.

Do we have to get killed to prove them something?

Give it up, Carlo. Don't start pulling shit.

We're here to kill some krauts, nothing more to it.

Corporal, we're short of officers.

This is your home, so I'm gonna need your experience of this country.

Come with me, there's a meeting in HQ with the guys from the 254th US infantry.

Lieutenant, what are we expecting?

What kind of question is that? Don't expect a cake party.

-We're gonna do our job, Baillard. -Yes, sir.

Don't get used to the warmth, guys, this might not last.

Why did the lieutenant tell Henaq this was his home?

What, he never told you? He's from Alsace.

Well, partly I believe.

Never heard him talk about it.

You know Henaq, he's never been the one to talk.

I'm pretty sure I heard him talk about it once or twice

when he was training us with the 82nd.

This must be weird for him to end up here.

I'd have given everything to be in Normandy.

Later I could tell my kids that I was there to free my land.

You'll be happy enough if you get a "later"

to tell anything.

This guy gives me the creeps.

You make me laugh, guys, it sounds like you still have faith in something.

Personally I resigned myself to it,

I'm gonna do what I was trained for but I believe we're just survivors.

-I think Merignac got it. -Your bullshit pisses me off.

So, guys, do you have a jump set up today?

Settle down, Jenkins, no need to push it.

They say only paratroopers and bird shit fall from the sky.

How long are we going to hear this?

-We're in the same team. -Nothing too mean here, Lieutenant,

we like jokes, it's in our nature.

But if you keep on turning up to fields of operations by trucks,

you might wanna think about changing the paint on your helmet.

With all due respect for your rank, Lieutenant...

-go fuck yourself. -Calm down, Henaq.

-Cover! -Cover!

Mortar!

They're over there!

Fuck!

Mortar!

Medic!

-Medic! -Fuck! I'm gonna die!

Medic!

Please, don't let me die here!

Mayer! what are you doing? Don't stay out in the open!

The kid doesn't need you, he needs a medic. Medic!

Get away!

-Is it okay? -Do you see what I see?

This guy is the craziest of us all.

In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit,

as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end.

No more than a mortar division.

A message from our German friends

saying don't bother, guys, we're here and we're waiting for you.

-What should we do, Lieutenant? -Send them our answer.

We're also here and we're gonna kick your ass. Go fetch me Jona and Felder.

Lieutenant, my men can move on the right side.

I spotted a trail coming from the road.

It should lead us to the German position by the opposite flank.

Alright.

Ok, there they are. A mortar...

I see only one MG but I'm not sure.

-Should we dash ahead? -No, we'll follow Morel's orders.

We wait for the Americans to open fire.

Baillard, Martin, Merignac,

circle round this copse and cover to the right,

50 meters back to prevent any retreat.

You'll open fire at the American signal. Don't leave the position.

Go!

Jona, Felder, take this position over there on your left.

As soon as we open fire, throw grenades, and you move in semi-circles.

Keep moving as much as possible.

-Lieutenant, the guys are in position. -Here we go.

Come on.

Are you hit? Go!

Grenade!

Carlo!

Carlo!

Wake up! Carlo!

Calm! Calm down!

It's me! It's Moretti! You're not bleeding? It's okay.

We must go, we don't have time! Go, get up!

Get up, fuck! Take your gun!

Come on!

-Come with me! -Wait! Are you sure about that?

We'll do what we have to. No time to think about it.

Come with me!

No kill! Take me prisoner.

Don't kill me. Prisoner.

-Take me prisoner. -Shut up!

-Take me prisoner. -Shut up!

-I tell you to shut up! -Don't shoot!

Please.

Shut your mouth, you motherfucker!

-No, don't shoot! -Don't kill me.

What's your problem, Corporal? Too sensitive?

A prisoner can prove more talkative than a cadaver...

Lieutenant.

We took another one!

Well done, boys.

Are you ok, Corporal?

See you later.

You were with him, don't tell me his reactions are normal.

Will you stop fixating on that?

See Moretti, see us.

Fixating? He's not the same anymore.

Go on, say it! You mean to say he's gone crazy, cuckoo?

Sorry, I won't go down that path with you.

The real madmen are on the other side I'd have you remember.

Fuck.

-What's with the corporal? -Nothing.

He's tired like the rest of us.

-It's not just that and you know it. -So what then?

We just joined the platoon and he doesn't seem to like us.