The War to End All Wars: The Movie (2023) Movie Script
1
[MUSIC]
[CROWS CAWING]
[INTENSE MUSIC]
[THUDS]
Come on! We are
going to battle!
[MUSIC]
Remember son, be brave
and fight well for Belgium.
[MUSIC]
Your Majesty, this is the
message that I need you to see.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC BUILDS UP]
Its 1914.
War is raging in Europe.
Early on in the conflict the
King of Belgium, Albert I
refused to allow the Germans
passage through the country
in order to attack France...
The Germans responded
by invading Belgium.
The King stood
shoulder to shoulder
with his men at the front.
Even his son, Prince Leopold,
enlisted at the age of 12 as a
private to fight for Belgium.
When Albert took command
of the Belgium forces
he held off the Germans
buying essential time for
the French and the British...
But the price was severe.
Repeatedly pushed back, the
remaining army are exhausted,
with minimal ammunition
and weapons that have
seen better days.
Now, in October 1914,
the Belgians have lost
95% of their land
and are just hanging
on to a tiny strip
near the North Sea
near the Yser River.
Unable to dig in as the
water level is so high,
the defenders are demoralised
and pushed back from the river.
By the 26th of October,
the battered Belgians
consider withdrawal.
But King Albert refuses.
He knows a fateful decision
has to be made.
If the Belgians can't have
this land, then no one can.
On me, men!
Were keeping the kingdom free
As an archduke falls
and the battle horn calls
our lives would never
be the same
We were looking down
the barrel of a gun
Now the war has come
and the battles begun
we are desperate and overrun
To the war drum well be
marching until its done
Lead the way, we will
follow into the fray
We will hold the line
we will not be led astray
For king and for country we,
are flooding the river
Our stand at Yser will be,
the end of the race to the sea
The last piece of Belgiums
free, were keeping a sliver
A cog in the war machine,
October of 1914
As our foe draws forth we
are moving on north
we will never let
them have it all
Theres a price for freedom
paid by Belgiums sons
They may take our towns,
they may conquer our grounds
well defend the nation
and the crown
Well uphold our independence
with our guns
All the way, on to triumph
or to judgement day
Ive got you son, dont worry.
For king and for country we,
are flooding the river
Our stand at Yser will be,
the end of the race to the sea
The last piece of Belgiums free,
were keeping a sliver
A cog in the war
machine, October of 1914
[MUSIC]
We are beaten!
Flood it all!
No, its a terrible idea.
Flood it all.
[MUSIC]
See a king and a soldier,
Go on, man!
Yes, sir!
See a king and a soldier,
fighting shoulder to shoulder
He overruled his commanders,
he made a last stand in Flanders
We see our king and a soldier,
theyre fighting shoulder to shoulder
To keep the last piece
of Belgium free
All the way, on to triumph
or to judgement day
We will follow and we
will not be led astray
For king and for country
we are flooding the river
Our stand at Yser will be,
the end of the race to the sea
The last piece of Belgiums free,
were keeping a sliver
A cog in the war
machine, October of 1914
For king and for country
we are flooding the river
Our stand at Yser will be,
the end of the race to the sea
Were free
For king and for country
we are flooding the river
No more of our country lost, the
line will be held at all cost
With the King's decision to
flood the front lines,
they now sit under water
over 2 km wide.
The Germans were
forced to withdraw.
The fight to keep the
last piece of Belgium free
was successful, but came
at great cost,
but from now on,
the line along the Yser River
is held by the Belgians.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[GUNSHOT]
[MISSLE FIRES]
[MISSILE FIRES]
[EXPLOSION]
[TRAIN HONKING]
In November 1914,
Austro-Hungarian troops
invaded Serbia.
They have reached
the Kolubara River.
The elite Serbian Iron Regiment
are one of many
valiantly defending
their homeland
from the foreign invaders.
The Iron Regiments assault
bomber squad of
shock attack troops,
has a commander thats tough,
battle-hardened and
a fierce fighter.
Milunka Savi, a woman
in a man's uniform
has proven again and again
her bravery and determination.
Her expertise with grenades makes
her a match for any man
and she is both feared
and respected.
The Serbs are outnumbered and overwhelmed
and despite the pleas
from her comrades
she decides to cross
no mans land.
Armed with a rifle and three
bandoliers of grenades
she is determined to take
the fight to the enemy.
[MUSIC]
Who shall be remembered,
In the ancient house of war?
All the medals, all those stories,
In the alley of the greats
Celebrated hero, who has
wandered through the dark
She stand before you, all
that metal shining bright
Lost in time,
returning to the light
I got him! Hes down!
this lady fights for life
So sister
Raise your hand,
Grenade!
Soldier with no will to kill,
with a philanthropic heart
Forever break the norm,
Shes the girl in uniform
Fighting side by side with men,
she will fight until the end
Lied to be respected, and
to change her brothers fate
Took a bullet, earned her freedom,
and a place among the stars
Served the Iron squadron,
served the toughest of them all
- Stay down!
No fear of dying,
for the frontline she was born
Sacrifice, she took
her brothers place
War to war, a place
where she belongs...
For Serbia!
So brother
Raise your hand,
For the lady of the dark
Soldier with no will to kill,
with a philanthropic heart
Forever break the norm,
Shes the girl in uniform
Fighting side by side with men,
she will fight until the end
[MUSIC]
Dont fear the reaper,
dont fear the war
She spared the life of brothers
Shell fight for honour
Shell fight for life
A lady goes to war
For Serbia!
Raise your hand,
For the lady of the dark
Raise your hand,
For the lady of the dark
Soldier with no will to kill,
with a philanthropic heart
Forever break the norm,
Shes the girl in uniform
Fighting side by side with men,
she will fight until the end
The Serbs drove the Austrians
from their land.
For single-handedly taking
an Austrian trench
and capturing 20 of the enemy,
as well as taking out multiple
machine gun nests
from a great distance,
she was given the name
The Bomber of Kolubara,
and awarded the
Karaore Star with Swords,
the highest military honor
of the Kingdom of Serbia.
After recovering from
her injuries,
she continued her incredible
military career
of which this was just
the opening chapter.
Hm, what do we have here?
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
Here, take this to
the front line!
Hey, this is from
the Serbian front!
[MUSIC]
[EXPLOSION]
[GUNSHOTS]
Fire!
It's Christmas.
-Yes, merry Christmas.
Silent night, holy night,
everything is asleep...
Silent night, holy night...
I miss my wife.
Silence
Oh, I remember the silence
On a cold winter day
After many months
on the battlefield
And we were used to the violence
Then all the cannons went silent
And the snow fell
Voices sang to me
from no mans land
We are all, we are all,
we are all, we are all friends
And today were all brothers
Stop!
Tonight were all friends
A moment of peace in
a war that never ends
Today were all brothers
We drink and unite
Now Christmas has arrived and
the snow turns the ground white
Hear carols from the trenches,
we sing O holy night
Our guns laid to rest
among snowflakes
A Christmas in the trenches,
a Christmas on the
front far from home
Madness
Oh I remember the sadness
We were hiding our tears
In a foreign land where
we faced our fears
We were soldiers
Carried the war on our shoulders
For our nations
Is that why we bury our friends?
We were all, we were all,
we were all, we were all friends
And today were all brothers
Tonight were all friends
A moment of peace in
a war that never ends
Today were all brothers
We drink and unite
Now Christmas has arrived and
the snow turns the ground white
Hear carols from the trenches,
we sing O holy night
Our guns laid to rest
among snowflakes
A Christmas in the trenches,
a Christmas on the front far from home
[MUSIC]
Cheers mate! Dont mind if I do.
Adolph!
[MUSIC]
Sir! Sir! The men, they're
fraternising with the enemy!
We are all, we are all,
we are all, we are all friends
And today were all brothers
Tonight were all friends
A moment of peace in a
war that never ends
Hey, weve got to
capture this moment!
and the snow turns
the ground white
A Christmas on the frontline,
we walk among our friends,
we dont think
about tomorrow,
the battle will commence
When we celebrated Christmas,
we thought about
our friends, those who
never made it home,
when the battle had commenced
[MUSIC FADES]
Fire!
Fire!
[EXPLOSION]
[EXPLOSIONS]
[EXPLOSIONS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
[MUSIC FADES]
The truce quickly ended
never to be repeated
and the war continued on
with ferocity never seen before.
As winter turned to spring,
the memories of the Christmas
truce melted along with the snow.
With the arrival of March 1915
came new battles that
were fought using
the old tactics of war.
Long lines of men
going over the top
and making their way
across no man's land...
Only to be cut down
by the devastating
fire of weapons of
the modern age.
The old generals know
something isn't working
but still they persist
with the "traditional ways".
The tried and tested ways
versus industrial warfare
on a level never seen before...
The price of this mismatch of tactics
versus technology is the lives
of the men they command.
Isn't there a better way
than the slow lumbering
cannon fodder that
they have become?
Some German officers and
NCOs start experimenting.
Modern tactics against
modern weapons.
Small groups of men well-trained
in close range weapons.
Men that could open holes
in the enemy's defences
and surge through.
Fast men.
Tough men.
That would strike shock and fear
into the hearts of the defenders.
The name of the unit?
Sturmabteilung.
But they would become known
by a far more feared name.
Sturmtruppen.
Stormtroopers.
[MUSIC]
Now theres a standstill
in the war,
repeating whats been done before
It must come to an end,
a few will transcend
They were under twenty five,
and under fire they would thrive
The Sturmmann is born,
their enemies scorn
A glimpse of the future,
new tactics in war
New doctrine in combat explored
As fast as lightning,
theres no time to mourn
A glimpse of the future
and Blitzkrieg is born
Strike at zero hour
With overwhelming firepower
Theyre fueled by the fear
in their enemies eyes
Its a Shock Troop infiltration
A fast and violent escalation
Out of the trenches
the stormtroopers rise
Jgers led the way, the pioneers
would join the fray
Initiative gained,
advancement sustained
Lead through direct command,
as theyre advancing
through the land
Encircling their flanks,
and ravage their ranks
Expose their reinforcements,
destroying their lines
New doctrine in combat aligns
Infantry attacks,
exposing the cracks
New combat ideals, on
the Kaiserschlachts fields
Strike at zero hour
With overwhelming firepower
Theyre fueled by the fear
in their enemies eyes
Its a Shock Troop infiltration
A fast and violent escalation
Out of the trenches
the stormtroopers rise
[MUSIC FADES]
[GUNSHOTS]
[MUSIC]
[EXPLOSION]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
A glimpse of the future,
new tactics in war
New doctrine in combat explored
As fast as lightning,
theres no time to mourn
A glimpse of the future
and Blitzkrieg is born
Strike at zero hour
With overwhelming firepower
Theyre fueled by the fear
in their enemies eyes
Its a Shock Troop infiltration
A fast and violent escalation
Out of the trenches
the stormtroopers rise
Strike at zero hour
With overwhelming firepower
Theyre fueled by the fear
in their enemies eyes
Its a Shock Troop infiltration
A fast and violent escalation
Out of the trenches
the stormtroopers rise
[MUSIC FADES]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC STARTS]
The industrial and
technological prowess
of the early 20th century has
been directed in an arms race.
A race that has resulted
in a war machine
of unprecedented
size and armament.
Built to lay waste
and destruction,
these floating leviathans
are given a name to
match their presence
and intent, and to show that
all other ships are beneath them.
Dreadnought.
Both the Germans and
the British have them.
And in the Battle of Jutland,
these monsters of
steel and steam
are pitted against each other.
Who would come out on top?
The HMS Black Prince has been
separated from the British fleet.
On the night of May
the 31st, 1916,
she is searching in
the darkness,
desperately hoping to find
friends in the black of the night.
There is hope when out of the
gloom she spots a line of ships.
[MUSIC STARTS]
Its the Germans!
Weve got to fight them.
Full steam ahead!
A shadow moves across
the water in pursuit
It splits the waves,
commands the sea
Its the fight we cant win.
Fire!
among its prey,
feels nought for itself
Ahead the sea lies calm
awaiting the storm
Displace the water
in its path
Reveal the cannons, align
the guns, unleash their wrath
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time
their legend will rise
And their foes cant
believe their eyes,
believe their size, as they fall
And the Dreadnoughts
dread nothing at all
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Hard a-starboard!
A hull of steel and all big
guns to serve the fleet
Unrivalled firepower
riding the waves to war
A devastating blow will
send their foes down below
Fearless armada now
bombarding their shore
Light up the night
when cannons roar
In fear of nothing, they
lead the navy into war
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time
their legend will rise
And their foes cant
believe their eyes,
believe their size, as they fall
And the Dreadnoughts
dread nothing at all
[MUSIC]
[EXPLOSION]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Please, help!
Give me your hand!
No!
[EXPLOSION]
The North Sea has
drawn them near
The Fleet of the
High Seas approach
A contest of titans commence
These days will
dictate their fate
The Grand Fleet
prepares their guns
Unleashed as the
Dreadnoughts clash at last
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time
their legend will rise
And their foes cant
believe their eyes,
believe their size, as they fall
And the Dreadnoughts
dread nothing at all
[EXPLOSIONS]
[EXPLOSIONS]
[MUSIC FADES]
HMS Black Prince went down
with all 857 of her crew lost.
The titanic clash of the
Dreadnoughts continued at Jutland.
Both the British and the
Germans claimed victory,
but ultimately, the high cost
of the battle was paid
in the lives of the young men
who were claimed by the sea.
[MUSIC FADES]
What a devil is this?
Come on Ben, weve got
to get to the Somme!
What? Yeah, yeah, Im coming.
Its July 1916
and the Battle of the
Somme is in the early stages.
The 8th Gloucesters have
a new commander -
Lieutenant-Colonel
Adrian Carton de Wiart.
It may be a new command
but he is an old soldier.
Having previously seen action,
he's not escaped injury,
losing one hand earlier
in the Great War.
Hes been hit multiple times.
He has lost an eye and
even part of his ear.
To his men though,
hes known simply as
"The Man They Couldnt Kill.
He cuts a dashing figure,
and with one eye patch he's
likened to a gentleman pirate.
A legendary figure.
Hello Dear, with a new
command is a new manservant
Holmes.
He is a delightful scoundrel
and provides me with
endless amusement.
[MUSIC]
What the hell are you doing man?
Making an infernal noise!
Sorry sir, couldn't resist
having a go.
Give me that!
From now on, you shall
only be armed
with my primus stove
and blanket!
Don't look so glum man,
I only ever carry a
stick into battle.
Really sir? Why is that?
Well, I somewhat lose my
temper in the heat of the fight,
and I fear I might shoot
one of our own! Ha-ha-ha.
We'll make a fine couple
marching into battle,
don't you worry!
Yes, sir!
We have good men with good spirit.
We'll win the day!
What say you men?
Hoorah!
After me!
Into the fire through trenches and mud
Son of Belgium and Ireland
with war in his blood
Leading the charge
into hostile barrage
By design, he was made for the frontline
Studied law, with a thirst for war
Fought in Africa, wanted more
Back in Europe then straight to France
Hes joining the allied advance
Through the Somme and the Devils Wood
All the battles that he withstood
Born a soldier enjoyed the war
He always kept coming for more
Never die, shot through the eye
Never surrender however they try
How they try, shot through the eye
Hell never die
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
An immortal soldier, finds his home
Proven under fire, over trench and wire
No fear of death hes unshakeable
In the battles, when he was shot
Kept on fighting, and never stopped
In Arras, Cambrai, Passchendaele
Ignoring his wounds he prevailed
Save the day, hell never stray
Facing the foes that are coming his way
Come his way, hell never stray
Saving the day
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
An immortal soldier, finds his home
Proven under fire, over trench and wire
Forged for the war hes unbreakable
At the edge of madness,
he will show no sadness
Never broken, hell be back for more
Proven under fire,
over trench and wire
No fear of death hes unshakeable
He's amazing!
[MUSIC]
Forward!
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Into the fire through
trenches and mud
Son of Belgium and Ireland
with war in his blood
Leading the charge
into hostile barrage
By design, he was
made for the frontline
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
Never die, shot through the eye
Never surrender however they try
How they try,
shot through the eye
Hell never die
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
An immortal soldier,
edge of madness,
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
An immortal soldier,
finds his home
Proven under fire,
over trench and wire
Forged for the war
hes unbreakable
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
Never broken, hell
be back for more
Proven under fire,
over trench and wire
No fear of death,
he is forged for the war,
he will always be
coming for more
[MUSIC FADES]
For his actions on that day,
Lieutenant-Colonel
Adrian Carton de Wiart
was awarded the Victoria Cross.
His gallantry was
inspiring to all.
Frankly, I had enjoyed the war.
Sir, sir! Take a look at this!
Something I have found,
it was in a bottle.
Let me take a look at that.
Hm, seems like a vital
part is missing.
Anyway, it seems important.
Holmes! Deal with it, man.
Yes, sir!
Here you go,
take it to high command.
[PLANE ENGINE ROARS]
[PLANE ENGINE ROARS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
24 hours earlier
[WIND WHISTLING]
Its winter 1916 in the
mountains on the Italian front.
On the other side,
the Austro-Hungarians.
Each side has been
pushing their troops
further up the mountains to
gain the high ground advantage.
A deadly game that
has no winners.
The men are pushed to the
limits in this harsh environment
that would become
known as The White War.
The snowfall is the
heaviest in memory,
piling up to 12 metres deep on
the summit of mount Marmolada.
321 mountain infantry
and Bosnian troops
are crowded into wooden
barracks on the mountain side.
And now, ominously,
theres a thaw.
[DOOR SHUTS]
[PLANE ENGINE ROARS]
[FAN RUSTLING]
[SCREAMS]
[CRASHES]
Over there, come on!
Meat's back on the menu, boys!
Dont spook him, dont spook him!
Get him!
Shoot him!
[GUNSHOT]
[MUSIC]
I wont be coming home
I wont be going anywhere
I will guard this post forever
Here on the alpine slope
where I did my final
stand I shall remain
Among the ice and snow that
binds me to this mountain
Avalanche! Avalanche! Is coming!
sent from above
Where spirits lead the way,
the winds will never fade
White Friday, Ill take the
Stairway to heaven
Im sky high, when I die
Ill be immortal
Forever, I never
I wont return to
Blood Mountain, I am the
Soldier of heaven
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Bloody hell!
I saw the end of war
I watched the soldiers
come and go
Avalanche! Avalanche!
So many brave men
fell in the battles
That were raging down below
I have seen it all but none
will hear my story
All of these years I have
been frozen in time
I cried for spring to come
but here, winter remain
White Friday, Ill take the
Stairway to heaven
Im sky high, when I die
Ill be immortal
Forever, I never
I wont return to
Blood Mountain, I am the
Soldier of heaven
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[SCREAMS]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
I always dreamed that I
would, serve high above
Where spirits lead the way,
the winds will never fade
White Friday, Ill take the
Stairway to heaven
Im sky high, when I die
Ill be immortal
Forever, I never
I wont return to
Blood Mountain,
I got you brother.
Soldier of heaven
White Friday, Ill take the
Stairway to heaven
Im sky high, when I die
Ill be immortal
Forever, I never
I wont return to
Blood Mountain, I am the
Soldier of heaven
[MUSIC FADES]
There were many avalanches
on and around that day.
"White Friday", as the tragedy
would become known,
caused in total over 10
thousands deaths on both sides.
Taken by the mountain,
many soldiers guard
their posts forever,
bound to the mountain
by ice and snow.
[MUSIC]
[RAIL COOING]
Spring 1917 and the
British under command of
Lieutenant General
George Francis Milne
are preparing to break
through the Macedonian front.
With 3 divisions, they consist
of over 40,000 men
and 160 guns.
They are more than ready
to face their enemy.
The Bulgarian defenders are
outnumbered with just 30,000 men
but are commanded by
the military strategist,
Colonel Vladimir Vazov.
He's been preparing for months
and under his command
the Bulgarians have constructed
a system of trenches
that are 2 metres deep and
linked with passages.
In front of the trenches is a
system of wire entanglements
And in between, are machine
gun nests and watch points.
Then, behind these defences
are concrete galleries
with firing positions
for artillery
and platforms for ammunition.
The Bulgarians were
ready for whatever
the British would throw at them.
For 4 days the British
rained down artillery
on the Bulgarian positions,
firing over 100,000 shells.
And on the night of the 24th
of April, the British advanced.
The Battle of Doiran would last
many days and nights.
A battle that the British would
come to call The Valley of Death.
- Incoming!
[EXPLOSIONS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
- Get ready!
- Yes, sir!
Dug in deep, equipped for attack
Outnumbered, determined to win
Double trench lines
that wont give in
Theyre prepared let
the battle begin
Here again theyve
done this before
A lesson that they should
have learned by now
Reinforced with new
men and guns
Who are ready for
death when it comes
United theyre strong,
united theyre holding the line
The Valley of Death,
awaiting the British as
they come their way
Their attack is coming
fight them back
Bulgarians holding the line
Facing wave after wave,
will never surrender
Again, again, again, again
They attack, Bulgaria
held them back
Unleash their counter barrage
Let it rain artillery
pounding the trenches
No surrender, fight them till the end
Fortified, and made to defy
Protected by wires and guns
Troops as far as the eye can see
They advance under
Vazovs command
Row on row, as they
come from below
Twice they attack,
twice theyre beaten back
Every time they try,
they will die
Their line of defence
is still intact
For white, green and red
For the nation theyre fighting for
The British are done
Three times the defence
of Doiran has been won
Advance!
Their attack is coming
fight them back
Bulgarians holding
Hold the line!
wave, will never surrender
Again, again, again, again
They attack, Bulgaria
held them back
Unleash their counter barrage
Let it rain artillery
pounding the trenches
No surrender, fight
them till the end
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
For white, green and red
for the nation theyre
fighting for
The British are done
three times the defence
of Doiran has been won
Their attack is coming
Hold the line!
Bulgarians holding the line
Facing wave after wave,
will never surrender
Again, again, again, again
They attack, Bulgaria
held them back
Unleash their counter barrage
Let it rain artillery
pounding the trenches
No surrender, fight
them till the end
fight them till the end
Vazov became a hero
to the Bulgarians,
and despite inflicting
a crushing defeat
upon the British, they
too respected him.
Milne later said
of the Bulgarians:
Even though we were
enemies, you - like us -
fought not only like brave men,
but also like gentlemen.
I did what I had to
do for my country.
[MUSIC]
Pesky bird!
May the 15th,1918,
and the 369th Infantry Regiment
are near the Argonne Forest.
This American outfit is under
command of the French
with French helmets
and equipment.
They are made up of black
and Puerto Rican Americans
from the tough
streets of Harlem.
Many white American
soldiers were unwilling
to fight alongside
the black regiments
and so, they were handed to
the French to command.
The French soon came to
respect these young men
and called them Homme de Bronze.
The Men of Bronze.
To the Germans they were
known by a far more
menacing name - Hllenkmpfer.
Hellfighters.
I need two men to stand
watch. You, Anry Johnson
Henry, sir.
Anry, Henry. Do your job.
Take Roberts with you and
take watch. Over there.
Crazy...
We'll tackle the job, sir.
Now it is midnight. You will be
relieved in 4 hours. Now go.
Why are they sending us out here?
We got less training than them
others and you Henry,
you are only 5 foot 4
in your army boots.
What we gonna do, man?
Don't worry Needham.
Foolish as this is,
we tougher than any one
of 'em and you know it.
If those Germans start coming,
we don't let them take
either one of us.
- Deal?
- Deal.
[CLOUDS THUNDERING]
[MUSIC]
From a land across the ocean,
to the western front
where they served
Fought with courage and
devotion, preconceptions turned
As the spring offensive
kept churning,
where the men would
earn their name
See the tides of battle turning,
and their foes
ignite their flame
Hear the toll of the bell,
kept fighting for
six months in hell
As the war rages on, they fight
at the edge of the Argonne
Hear the toll of the bell,
over six months in hell
Out of the trenches they came
As the war rages on, at the
edge of the Argonne
Hellfighters earning their name
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[EXPLOSION]
They would have no
prisoners taken,
and they never lost any ground
Earned the cross of war
unshaken, never turned around
As the armistice is drawing
closer, the 369th
Kept on fighting until it was over,
and they were first to
reach the Rhine
Hear the toll of the bell, kept
fighting for six months in hell
As the war rages on, they fight
at the edge of the Argonne
Hear the toll of the bell,
over six months in hell
Out of the trenches they came
As the war rages on, at
the edge of the Argonne
Hellfighters earning their name
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
Hear the toll of the bell,
over six months in hell
Out of the trenches they came
As the war rages on, at
the edge of the Argonne
Hellfighters earning their name
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[THUNDER]
- Henry, Henry! You are a fine man.
You are death, black death.
The Black Death.
There wasnt anything
so fine about it.
Just fought for my life.
A rabbit would have done that.
Having saved his friend from
capture and interrogation,
Henry passed out just
as reinforcements arrived.
As dawn rose,
the aftermath of
Henry and Needhams
epic battle became evident.
It was estimated that
Henry had killed
or wounded around 20 Germans
in hand to hand combat.
Halting the enemy from busting
through the lines he
had given his all
and had received 21
wounds in the process.
He was awarded Frances
highest military honor
for his extraordinary valour.
[MUSIC FADES]
[CLAPS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Brussels, Belgium
Present Day
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Hello!
- Hi, Mr. Brodn?
Yes, its me.
Ive got a message for you.
Oh, really? What is it?
Well, you will see when
you open it, sir.
Cool! Thank you very much, man.
Thank you, have a nice day.
[DOOR SHUTS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
[MUSIC FADES]
Please tell everyone this must
be the war to end all wars!
The war to end all wars ended
at 11AM on 11.11.1918
Henry Johnson passed
away in poverty in 1929
He was posthumously awarded
the medal of honor
by President Obama in 2015
No next of kin were found
to receive the medal
Milunka Savi continued to
fight in the Great War,
with incredible feats of bravery
In WW2 she was imprisoned in a
concentration camp by the Germans
Surviving both wars,
she died in 1973 aged 85
After the war ended, Milne
and Vazov became friends
The British still consider
Vazov one of their
most brave and worthy opponents
Soldiers still remain
in the mountains
Buried under the snow, they
guard their posts forever in time
Signed a treaty to
change the world
Tensions fall and a
peace is unfurled
Nothing like what
had come before
Its the deal, its the treaty
that will end the war!
Signed a treaty to
change the world
Tensions fall and a
peace is unfurled
Nothing like what
had come before
Its the deal, its the treaty
that will end the war!
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
From a shot that would
change the world
Tensions rise and
a war is unfurled
Nothing like what
had come before
Its the war that
will end all war!
From a shot that would
change the world
Tensions rise and
a war is unfurled
Nothing like what
had come before
Its the war that
will end all war!
Will this war really
end all wars?
Can a war really end all war?
Will this war bring another war?
Its the war that will
end all wars!
Will this war really
end all wars?
Can a war really
end all war?
Will this war bring
another war?
Its the war that
will end all wars!
Will this war really
end all wars?
Can a war really
end all war?
Will this war bring
another war?
Its the war that will
end all wars!
[SOUNDTRACK FADING]
[MUSIC]
[CROWS CAWING]
[INTENSE MUSIC]
[THUDS]
Come on! We are
going to battle!
[MUSIC]
Remember son, be brave
and fight well for Belgium.
[MUSIC]
Your Majesty, this is the
message that I need you to see.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC BUILDS UP]
Its 1914.
War is raging in Europe.
Early on in the conflict the
King of Belgium, Albert I
refused to allow the Germans
passage through the country
in order to attack France...
The Germans responded
by invading Belgium.
The King stood
shoulder to shoulder
with his men at the front.
Even his son, Prince Leopold,
enlisted at the age of 12 as a
private to fight for Belgium.
When Albert took command
of the Belgium forces
he held off the Germans
buying essential time for
the French and the British...
But the price was severe.
Repeatedly pushed back, the
remaining army are exhausted,
with minimal ammunition
and weapons that have
seen better days.
Now, in October 1914,
the Belgians have lost
95% of their land
and are just hanging
on to a tiny strip
near the North Sea
near the Yser River.
Unable to dig in as the
water level is so high,
the defenders are demoralised
and pushed back from the river.
By the 26th of October,
the battered Belgians
consider withdrawal.
But King Albert refuses.
He knows a fateful decision
has to be made.
If the Belgians can't have
this land, then no one can.
On me, men!
Were keeping the kingdom free
As an archduke falls
and the battle horn calls
our lives would never
be the same
We were looking down
the barrel of a gun
Now the war has come
and the battles begun
we are desperate and overrun
To the war drum well be
marching until its done
Lead the way, we will
follow into the fray
We will hold the line
we will not be led astray
For king and for country we,
are flooding the river
Our stand at Yser will be,
the end of the race to the sea
The last piece of Belgiums
free, were keeping a sliver
A cog in the war machine,
October of 1914
As our foe draws forth we
are moving on north
we will never let
them have it all
Theres a price for freedom
paid by Belgiums sons
They may take our towns,
they may conquer our grounds
well defend the nation
and the crown
Well uphold our independence
with our guns
All the way, on to triumph
or to judgement day
Ive got you son, dont worry.
For king and for country we,
are flooding the river
Our stand at Yser will be,
the end of the race to the sea
The last piece of Belgiums free,
were keeping a sliver
A cog in the war
machine, October of 1914
[MUSIC]
We are beaten!
Flood it all!
No, its a terrible idea.
Flood it all.
[MUSIC]
See a king and a soldier,
Go on, man!
Yes, sir!
See a king and a soldier,
fighting shoulder to shoulder
He overruled his commanders,
he made a last stand in Flanders
We see our king and a soldier,
theyre fighting shoulder to shoulder
To keep the last piece
of Belgium free
All the way, on to triumph
or to judgement day
We will follow and we
will not be led astray
For king and for country
we are flooding the river
Our stand at Yser will be,
the end of the race to the sea
The last piece of Belgiums free,
were keeping a sliver
A cog in the war
machine, October of 1914
For king and for country
we are flooding the river
Our stand at Yser will be,
the end of the race to the sea
Were free
For king and for country
we are flooding the river
No more of our country lost, the
line will be held at all cost
With the King's decision to
flood the front lines,
they now sit under water
over 2 km wide.
The Germans were
forced to withdraw.
The fight to keep the
last piece of Belgium free
was successful, but came
at great cost,
but from now on,
the line along the Yser River
is held by the Belgians.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[GUNSHOT]
[MISSLE FIRES]
[MISSILE FIRES]
[EXPLOSION]
[TRAIN HONKING]
In November 1914,
Austro-Hungarian troops
invaded Serbia.
They have reached
the Kolubara River.
The elite Serbian Iron Regiment
are one of many
valiantly defending
their homeland
from the foreign invaders.
The Iron Regiments assault
bomber squad of
shock attack troops,
has a commander thats tough,
battle-hardened and
a fierce fighter.
Milunka Savi, a woman
in a man's uniform
has proven again and again
her bravery and determination.
Her expertise with grenades makes
her a match for any man
and she is both feared
and respected.
The Serbs are outnumbered and overwhelmed
and despite the pleas
from her comrades
she decides to cross
no mans land.
Armed with a rifle and three
bandoliers of grenades
she is determined to take
the fight to the enemy.
[MUSIC]
Who shall be remembered,
In the ancient house of war?
All the medals, all those stories,
In the alley of the greats
Celebrated hero, who has
wandered through the dark
She stand before you, all
that metal shining bright
Lost in time,
returning to the light
I got him! Hes down!
this lady fights for life
So sister
Raise your hand,
Grenade!
Soldier with no will to kill,
with a philanthropic heart
Forever break the norm,
Shes the girl in uniform
Fighting side by side with men,
she will fight until the end
Lied to be respected, and
to change her brothers fate
Took a bullet, earned her freedom,
and a place among the stars
Served the Iron squadron,
served the toughest of them all
- Stay down!
No fear of dying,
for the frontline she was born
Sacrifice, she took
her brothers place
War to war, a place
where she belongs...
For Serbia!
So brother
Raise your hand,
For the lady of the dark
Soldier with no will to kill,
with a philanthropic heart
Forever break the norm,
Shes the girl in uniform
Fighting side by side with men,
she will fight until the end
[MUSIC]
Dont fear the reaper,
dont fear the war
She spared the life of brothers
Shell fight for honour
Shell fight for life
A lady goes to war
For Serbia!
Raise your hand,
For the lady of the dark
Raise your hand,
For the lady of the dark
Soldier with no will to kill,
with a philanthropic heart
Forever break the norm,
Shes the girl in uniform
Fighting side by side with men,
she will fight until the end
The Serbs drove the Austrians
from their land.
For single-handedly taking
an Austrian trench
and capturing 20 of the enemy,
as well as taking out multiple
machine gun nests
from a great distance,
she was given the name
The Bomber of Kolubara,
and awarded the
Karaore Star with Swords,
the highest military honor
of the Kingdom of Serbia.
After recovering from
her injuries,
she continued her incredible
military career
of which this was just
the opening chapter.
Hm, what do we have here?
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
Here, take this to
the front line!
Hey, this is from
the Serbian front!
[MUSIC]
[EXPLOSION]
[GUNSHOTS]
Fire!
It's Christmas.
-Yes, merry Christmas.
Silent night, holy night,
everything is asleep...
Silent night, holy night...
I miss my wife.
Silence
Oh, I remember the silence
On a cold winter day
After many months
on the battlefield
And we were used to the violence
Then all the cannons went silent
And the snow fell
Voices sang to me
from no mans land
We are all, we are all,
we are all, we are all friends
And today were all brothers
Stop!
Tonight were all friends
A moment of peace in
a war that never ends
Today were all brothers
We drink and unite
Now Christmas has arrived and
the snow turns the ground white
Hear carols from the trenches,
we sing O holy night
Our guns laid to rest
among snowflakes
A Christmas in the trenches,
a Christmas on the
front far from home
Madness
Oh I remember the sadness
We were hiding our tears
In a foreign land where
we faced our fears
We were soldiers
Carried the war on our shoulders
For our nations
Is that why we bury our friends?
We were all, we were all,
we were all, we were all friends
And today were all brothers
Tonight were all friends
A moment of peace in
a war that never ends
Today were all brothers
We drink and unite
Now Christmas has arrived and
the snow turns the ground white
Hear carols from the trenches,
we sing O holy night
Our guns laid to rest
among snowflakes
A Christmas in the trenches,
a Christmas on the front far from home
[MUSIC]
Cheers mate! Dont mind if I do.
Adolph!
[MUSIC]
Sir! Sir! The men, they're
fraternising with the enemy!
We are all, we are all,
we are all, we are all friends
And today were all brothers
Tonight were all friends
A moment of peace in a
war that never ends
Hey, weve got to
capture this moment!
and the snow turns
the ground white
A Christmas on the frontline,
we walk among our friends,
we dont think
about tomorrow,
the battle will commence
When we celebrated Christmas,
we thought about
our friends, those who
never made it home,
when the battle had commenced
[MUSIC FADES]
Fire!
Fire!
[EXPLOSION]
[EXPLOSIONS]
[EXPLOSIONS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
[MUSIC FADES]
The truce quickly ended
never to be repeated
and the war continued on
with ferocity never seen before.
As winter turned to spring,
the memories of the Christmas
truce melted along with the snow.
With the arrival of March 1915
came new battles that
were fought using
the old tactics of war.
Long lines of men
going over the top
and making their way
across no man's land...
Only to be cut down
by the devastating
fire of weapons of
the modern age.
The old generals know
something isn't working
but still they persist
with the "traditional ways".
The tried and tested ways
versus industrial warfare
on a level never seen before...
The price of this mismatch of tactics
versus technology is the lives
of the men they command.
Isn't there a better way
than the slow lumbering
cannon fodder that
they have become?
Some German officers and
NCOs start experimenting.
Modern tactics against
modern weapons.
Small groups of men well-trained
in close range weapons.
Men that could open holes
in the enemy's defences
and surge through.
Fast men.
Tough men.
That would strike shock and fear
into the hearts of the defenders.
The name of the unit?
Sturmabteilung.
But they would become known
by a far more feared name.
Sturmtruppen.
Stormtroopers.
[MUSIC]
Now theres a standstill
in the war,
repeating whats been done before
It must come to an end,
a few will transcend
They were under twenty five,
and under fire they would thrive
The Sturmmann is born,
their enemies scorn
A glimpse of the future,
new tactics in war
New doctrine in combat explored
As fast as lightning,
theres no time to mourn
A glimpse of the future
and Blitzkrieg is born
Strike at zero hour
With overwhelming firepower
Theyre fueled by the fear
in their enemies eyes
Its a Shock Troop infiltration
A fast and violent escalation
Out of the trenches
the stormtroopers rise
Jgers led the way, the pioneers
would join the fray
Initiative gained,
advancement sustained
Lead through direct command,
as theyre advancing
through the land
Encircling their flanks,
and ravage their ranks
Expose their reinforcements,
destroying their lines
New doctrine in combat aligns
Infantry attacks,
exposing the cracks
New combat ideals, on
the Kaiserschlachts fields
Strike at zero hour
With overwhelming firepower
Theyre fueled by the fear
in their enemies eyes
Its a Shock Troop infiltration
A fast and violent escalation
Out of the trenches
the stormtroopers rise
[MUSIC FADES]
[GUNSHOTS]
[MUSIC]
[EXPLOSION]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
A glimpse of the future,
new tactics in war
New doctrine in combat explored
As fast as lightning,
theres no time to mourn
A glimpse of the future
and Blitzkrieg is born
Strike at zero hour
With overwhelming firepower
Theyre fueled by the fear
in their enemies eyes
Its a Shock Troop infiltration
A fast and violent escalation
Out of the trenches
the stormtroopers rise
Strike at zero hour
With overwhelming firepower
Theyre fueled by the fear
in their enemies eyes
Its a Shock Troop infiltration
A fast and violent escalation
Out of the trenches
the stormtroopers rise
[MUSIC FADES]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC STARTS]
The industrial and
technological prowess
of the early 20th century has
been directed in an arms race.
A race that has resulted
in a war machine
of unprecedented
size and armament.
Built to lay waste
and destruction,
these floating leviathans
are given a name to
match their presence
and intent, and to show that
all other ships are beneath them.
Dreadnought.
Both the Germans and
the British have them.
And in the Battle of Jutland,
these monsters of
steel and steam
are pitted against each other.
Who would come out on top?
The HMS Black Prince has been
separated from the British fleet.
On the night of May
the 31st, 1916,
she is searching in
the darkness,
desperately hoping to find
friends in the black of the night.
There is hope when out of the
gloom she spots a line of ships.
[MUSIC STARTS]
Its the Germans!
Weve got to fight them.
Full steam ahead!
A shadow moves across
the water in pursuit
It splits the waves,
commands the sea
Its the fight we cant win.
Fire!
among its prey,
feels nought for itself
Ahead the sea lies calm
awaiting the storm
Displace the water
in its path
Reveal the cannons, align
the guns, unleash their wrath
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time
their legend will rise
And their foes cant
believe their eyes,
believe their size, as they fall
And the Dreadnoughts
dread nothing at all
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Hard a-starboard!
A hull of steel and all big
guns to serve the fleet
Unrivalled firepower
riding the waves to war
A devastating blow will
send their foes down below
Fearless armada now
bombarding their shore
Light up the night
when cannons roar
In fear of nothing, they
lead the navy into war
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time
their legend will rise
And their foes cant
believe their eyes,
believe their size, as they fall
And the Dreadnoughts
dread nothing at all
[MUSIC]
[EXPLOSION]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Please, help!
Give me your hand!
No!
[EXPLOSION]
The North Sea has
drawn them near
The Fleet of the
High Seas approach
A contest of titans commence
These days will
dictate their fate
The Grand Fleet
prepares their guns
Unleashed as the
Dreadnoughts clash at last
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time
their legend will rise
And their foes cant
believe their eyes,
believe their size, as they fall
And the Dreadnoughts
dread nothing at all
[EXPLOSIONS]
[EXPLOSIONS]
[MUSIC FADES]
HMS Black Prince went down
with all 857 of her crew lost.
The titanic clash of the
Dreadnoughts continued at Jutland.
Both the British and the
Germans claimed victory,
but ultimately, the high cost
of the battle was paid
in the lives of the young men
who were claimed by the sea.
[MUSIC FADES]
What a devil is this?
Come on Ben, weve got
to get to the Somme!
What? Yeah, yeah, Im coming.
Its July 1916
and the Battle of the
Somme is in the early stages.
The 8th Gloucesters have
a new commander -
Lieutenant-Colonel
Adrian Carton de Wiart.
It may be a new command
but he is an old soldier.
Having previously seen action,
he's not escaped injury,
losing one hand earlier
in the Great War.
Hes been hit multiple times.
He has lost an eye and
even part of his ear.
To his men though,
hes known simply as
"The Man They Couldnt Kill.
He cuts a dashing figure,
and with one eye patch he's
likened to a gentleman pirate.
A legendary figure.
Hello Dear, with a new
command is a new manservant
Holmes.
He is a delightful scoundrel
and provides me with
endless amusement.
[MUSIC]
What the hell are you doing man?
Making an infernal noise!
Sorry sir, couldn't resist
having a go.
Give me that!
From now on, you shall
only be armed
with my primus stove
and blanket!
Don't look so glum man,
I only ever carry a
stick into battle.
Really sir? Why is that?
Well, I somewhat lose my
temper in the heat of the fight,
and I fear I might shoot
one of our own! Ha-ha-ha.
We'll make a fine couple
marching into battle,
don't you worry!
Yes, sir!
We have good men with good spirit.
We'll win the day!
What say you men?
Hoorah!
After me!
Into the fire through trenches and mud
Son of Belgium and Ireland
with war in his blood
Leading the charge
into hostile barrage
By design, he was made for the frontline
Studied law, with a thirst for war
Fought in Africa, wanted more
Back in Europe then straight to France
Hes joining the allied advance
Through the Somme and the Devils Wood
All the battles that he withstood
Born a soldier enjoyed the war
He always kept coming for more
Never die, shot through the eye
Never surrender however they try
How they try, shot through the eye
Hell never die
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
An immortal soldier, finds his home
Proven under fire, over trench and wire
No fear of death hes unshakeable
In the battles, when he was shot
Kept on fighting, and never stopped
In Arras, Cambrai, Passchendaele
Ignoring his wounds he prevailed
Save the day, hell never stray
Facing the foes that are coming his way
Come his way, hell never stray
Saving the day
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
An immortal soldier, finds his home
Proven under fire, over trench and wire
Forged for the war hes unbreakable
At the edge of madness,
he will show no sadness
Never broken, hell be back for more
Proven under fire,
over trench and wire
No fear of death hes unshakeable
He's amazing!
[MUSIC]
Forward!
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Into the fire through
trenches and mud
Son of Belgium and Ireland
with war in his blood
Leading the charge
into hostile barrage
By design, he was
made for the frontline
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
Never die, shot through the eye
Never surrender however they try
How they try,
shot through the eye
Hell never die
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
An immortal soldier,
edge of madness,
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
An immortal soldier,
finds his home
Proven under fire,
over trench and wire
Forged for the war
hes unbreakable
At the edge of madness,
in a time of sadness
Never broken, hell
be back for more
Proven under fire,
over trench and wire
No fear of death,
he is forged for the war,
he will always be
coming for more
[MUSIC FADES]
For his actions on that day,
Lieutenant-Colonel
Adrian Carton de Wiart
was awarded the Victoria Cross.
His gallantry was
inspiring to all.
Frankly, I had enjoyed the war.
Sir, sir! Take a look at this!
Something I have found,
it was in a bottle.
Let me take a look at that.
Hm, seems like a vital
part is missing.
Anyway, it seems important.
Holmes! Deal with it, man.
Yes, sir!
Here you go,
take it to high command.
[PLANE ENGINE ROARS]
[PLANE ENGINE ROARS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
24 hours earlier
[WIND WHISTLING]
Its winter 1916 in the
mountains on the Italian front.
On the other side,
the Austro-Hungarians.
Each side has been
pushing their troops
further up the mountains to
gain the high ground advantage.
A deadly game that
has no winners.
The men are pushed to the
limits in this harsh environment
that would become
known as The White War.
The snowfall is the
heaviest in memory,
piling up to 12 metres deep on
the summit of mount Marmolada.
321 mountain infantry
and Bosnian troops
are crowded into wooden
barracks on the mountain side.
And now, ominously,
theres a thaw.
[DOOR SHUTS]
[PLANE ENGINE ROARS]
[FAN RUSTLING]
[SCREAMS]
[CRASHES]
Over there, come on!
Meat's back on the menu, boys!
Dont spook him, dont spook him!
Get him!
Shoot him!
[GUNSHOT]
[MUSIC]
I wont be coming home
I wont be going anywhere
I will guard this post forever
Here on the alpine slope
where I did my final
stand I shall remain
Among the ice and snow that
binds me to this mountain
Avalanche! Avalanche! Is coming!
sent from above
Where spirits lead the way,
the winds will never fade
White Friday, Ill take the
Stairway to heaven
Im sky high, when I die
Ill be immortal
Forever, I never
I wont return to
Blood Mountain, I am the
Soldier of heaven
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Bloody hell!
I saw the end of war
I watched the soldiers
come and go
Avalanche! Avalanche!
So many brave men
fell in the battles
That were raging down below
I have seen it all but none
will hear my story
All of these years I have
been frozen in time
I cried for spring to come
but here, winter remain
White Friday, Ill take the
Stairway to heaven
Im sky high, when I die
Ill be immortal
Forever, I never
I wont return to
Blood Mountain, I am the
Soldier of heaven
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[SCREAMS]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
I always dreamed that I
would, serve high above
Where spirits lead the way,
the winds will never fade
White Friday, Ill take the
Stairway to heaven
Im sky high, when I die
Ill be immortal
Forever, I never
I wont return to
Blood Mountain,
I got you brother.
Soldier of heaven
White Friday, Ill take the
Stairway to heaven
Im sky high, when I die
Ill be immortal
Forever, I never
I wont return to
Blood Mountain, I am the
Soldier of heaven
[MUSIC FADES]
There were many avalanches
on and around that day.
"White Friday", as the tragedy
would become known,
caused in total over 10
thousands deaths on both sides.
Taken by the mountain,
many soldiers guard
their posts forever,
bound to the mountain
by ice and snow.
[MUSIC]
[RAIL COOING]
Spring 1917 and the
British under command of
Lieutenant General
George Francis Milne
are preparing to break
through the Macedonian front.
With 3 divisions, they consist
of over 40,000 men
and 160 guns.
They are more than ready
to face their enemy.
The Bulgarian defenders are
outnumbered with just 30,000 men
but are commanded by
the military strategist,
Colonel Vladimir Vazov.
He's been preparing for months
and under his command
the Bulgarians have constructed
a system of trenches
that are 2 metres deep and
linked with passages.
In front of the trenches is a
system of wire entanglements
And in between, are machine
gun nests and watch points.
Then, behind these defences
are concrete galleries
with firing positions
for artillery
and platforms for ammunition.
The Bulgarians were
ready for whatever
the British would throw at them.
For 4 days the British
rained down artillery
on the Bulgarian positions,
firing over 100,000 shells.
And on the night of the 24th
of April, the British advanced.
The Battle of Doiran would last
many days and nights.
A battle that the British would
come to call The Valley of Death.
- Incoming!
[EXPLOSIONS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
- Get ready!
- Yes, sir!
Dug in deep, equipped for attack
Outnumbered, determined to win
Double trench lines
that wont give in
Theyre prepared let
the battle begin
Here again theyve
done this before
A lesson that they should
have learned by now
Reinforced with new
men and guns
Who are ready for
death when it comes
United theyre strong,
united theyre holding the line
The Valley of Death,
awaiting the British as
they come their way
Their attack is coming
fight them back
Bulgarians holding the line
Facing wave after wave,
will never surrender
Again, again, again, again
They attack, Bulgaria
held them back
Unleash their counter barrage
Let it rain artillery
pounding the trenches
No surrender, fight them till the end
Fortified, and made to defy
Protected by wires and guns
Troops as far as the eye can see
They advance under
Vazovs command
Row on row, as they
come from below
Twice they attack,
twice theyre beaten back
Every time they try,
they will die
Their line of defence
is still intact
For white, green and red
For the nation theyre fighting for
The British are done
Three times the defence
of Doiran has been won
Advance!
Their attack is coming
fight them back
Bulgarians holding
Hold the line!
wave, will never surrender
Again, again, again, again
They attack, Bulgaria
held them back
Unleash their counter barrage
Let it rain artillery
pounding the trenches
No surrender, fight
them till the end
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
For white, green and red
for the nation theyre
fighting for
The British are done
three times the defence
of Doiran has been won
Their attack is coming
Hold the line!
Bulgarians holding the line
Facing wave after wave,
will never surrender
Again, again, again, again
They attack, Bulgaria
held them back
Unleash their counter barrage
Let it rain artillery
pounding the trenches
No surrender, fight
them till the end
fight them till the end
Vazov became a hero
to the Bulgarians,
and despite inflicting
a crushing defeat
upon the British, they
too respected him.
Milne later said
of the Bulgarians:
Even though we were
enemies, you - like us -
fought not only like brave men,
but also like gentlemen.
I did what I had to
do for my country.
[MUSIC]
Pesky bird!
May the 15th,1918,
and the 369th Infantry Regiment
are near the Argonne Forest.
This American outfit is under
command of the French
with French helmets
and equipment.
They are made up of black
and Puerto Rican Americans
from the tough
streets of Harlem.
Many white American
soldiers were unwilling
to fight alongside
the black regiments
and so, they were handed to
the French to command.
The French soon came to
respect these young men
and called them Homme de Bronze.
The Men of Bronze.
To the Germans they were
known by a far more
menacing name - Hllenkmpfer.
Hellfighters.
I need two men to stand
watch. You, Anry Johnson
Henry, sir.
Anry, Henry. Do your job.
Take Roberts with you and
take watch. Over there.
Crazy...
We'll tackle the job, sir.
Now it is midnight. You will be
relieved in 4 hours. Now go.
Why are they sending us out here?
We got less training than them
others and you Henry,
you are only 5 foot 4
in your army boots.
What we gonna do, man?
Don't worry Needham.
Foolish as this is,
we tougher than any one
of 'em and you know it.
If those Germans start coming,
we don't let them take
either one of us.
- Deal?
- Deal.
[CLOUDS THUNDERING]
[MUSIC]
From a land across the ocean,
to the western front
where they served
Fought with courage and
devotion, preconceptions turned
As the spring offensive
kept churning,
where the men would
earn their name
See the tides of battle turning,
and their foes
ignite their flame
Hear the toll of the bell,
kept fighting for
six months in hell
As the war rages on, they fight
at the edge of the Argonne
Hear the toll of the bell,
over six months in hell
Out of the trenches they came
As the war rages on, at the
edge of the Argonne
Hellfighters earning their name
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[EXPLOSION]
They would have no
prisoners taken,
and they never lost any ground
Earned the cross of war
unshaken, never turned around
As the armistice is drawing
closer, the 369th
Kept on fighting until it was over,
and they were first to
reach the Rhine
Hear the toll of the bell, kept
fighting for six months in hell
As the war rages on, they fight
at the edge of the Argonne
Hear the toll of the bell,
over six months in hell
Out of the trenches they came
As the war rages on, at
the edge of the Argonne
Hellfighters earning their name
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
Hear the toll of the bell,
over six months in hell
Out of the trenches they came
As the war rages on, at
the edge of the Argonne
Hellfighters earning their name
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[THUNDER]
- Henry, Henry! You are a fine man.
You are death, black death.
The Black Death.
There wasnt anything
so fine about it.
Just fought for my life.
A rabbit would have done that.
Having saved his friend from
capture and interrogation,
Henry passed out just
as reinforcements arrived.
As dawn rose,
the aftermath of
Henry and Needhams
epic battle became evident.
It was estimated that
Henry had killed
or wounded around 20 Germans
in hand to hand combat.
Halting the enemy from busting
through the lines he
had given his all
and had received 21
wounds in the process.
He was awarded Frances
highest military honor
for his extraordinary valour.
[MUSIC FADES]
[CLAPS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Brussels, Belgium
Present Day
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Hello!
- Hi, Mr. Brodn?
Yes, its me.
Ive got a message for you.
Oh, really? What is it?
Well, you will see when
you open it, sir.
Cool! Thank you very much, man.
Thank you, have a nice day.
[DOOR SHUTS]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
[MUSIC FADES]
Please tell everyone this must
be the war to end all wars!
The war to end all wars ended
at 11AM on 11.11.1918
Henry Johnson passed
away in poverty in 1929
He was posthumously awarded
the medal of honor
by President Obama in 2015
No next of kin were found
to receive the medal
Milunka Savi continued to
fight in the Great War,
with incredible feats of bravery
In WW2 she was imprisoned in a
concentration camp by the Germans
Surviving both wars,
she died in 1973 aged 85
After the war ended, Milne
and Vazov became friends
The British still consider
Vazov one of their
most brave and worthy opponents
Soldiers still remain
in the mountains
Buried under the snow, they
guard their posts forever in time
Signed a treaty to
change the world
Tensions fall and a
peace is unfurled
Nothing like what
had come before
Its the deal, its the treaty
that will end the war!
Signed a treaty to
change the world
Tensions fall and a
peace is unfurled
Nothing like what
had come before
Its the deal, its the treaty
that will end the war!
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
From a shot that would
change the world
Tensions rise and
a war is unfurled
Nothing like what
had come before
Its the war that
will end all war!
From a shot that would
change the world
Tensions rise and
a war is unfurled
Nothing like what
had come before
Its the war that
will end all war!
Will this war really
end all wars?
Can a war really end all war?
Will this war bring another war?
Its the war that will
end all wars!
Will this war really
end all wars?
Can a war really
end all war?
Will this war bring
another war?
Its the war that
will end all wars!
Will this war really
end all wars?
Can a war really
end all war?
Will this war bring
another war?
Its the war that will
end all wars!
[SOUNDTRACK FADING]