War and Remembrance (1988) s01e05 Episode Script
Part V - 11.2.1942 - 12.1.1942
Tell me how you did this.
What's that thing? You'll hear everything.
Where's the kid? Up here! There.
That's your son.
What do you think of him? Yeah.
l guess he looks like me.
God, does he ever.
He's a stamped-out miniature.
Will he be afraid if l pick him up? Try it.
Hi, boy.
I'm your dad.
He's heavy.
What have you been feeding him? You wouldn't believe me if l told you.
Octopus, blackbirds.
Anything.
He's a traveling man, you know? You have to see Aaron and meet everybody.
[singing.]
Byron! This is utterly incredible.
Aaron.
l would like you to meet my husband, my American husband Byron Henry.
Bineman.
Natalie's husband! Oh, Natalie's husband.
Welcome! Sholom aleichem.
You are so welcome.
Please sit down.
Oh, Louis, your papa is here.
Have something to eat.
Louis that's your papa.
Papa's here.
Oh, isn't this wonderful? Why don't you eat, please? You must be hungry.
Here.
Here is something.
Please eat something.
Your papa.
Louis, look who's here.
Your papa.
Excuse me.
How's the baby? Well, he was very tired.
Oh, what a shame.
Oh, well, I'm afraid your uncle will have to sleep somewhere else tonight.
Good shabbas.
Good night.
Thanks.
Now there is a fine woman.
Sweetie Yeah? He's up, and he's watching us.
It's all right.
He's only a year old.
He's just curious as a raccoon.
A raccoon, hell.
l think he's taking notes.
That kid has got grown-up eyes.
Why don't l just put him back to bed? Would you mind that? Then we can talk, and l can get a little used to you.
Sure.
Go ahead.
You should be reassured.
The procedure is obviously quite new to him.
Does he really walk and talk? Walk to daddy.
Walk to daddy.
Come on.
Walk to daddy.
You're supposed to clap when he does that.
Well done, sprout.
How about saying something? [gurgles.]
Oh, you wouldn't understand him.
It's all a jumble of Yiddish, Italian, French, and a little English.
What about your father and Warren? Have you heard from them? Didn't the Red Cross forward my letters? l haven't had any letters since May.
Warren's dead.
He was killed in the battle of Midway.
Oh, my darling.
He received the posthumous navy cross.
Oh, Byron.
Byron, l can't believe it.
Listen.
The train for Lisbon leaves at midnight.
Start packing.
You mean we're leaving now? Tonight? Yeah.
Now.
Aaron will have to wait for clearance, but I'm taking you and the baby with me.
Did the Consul General say you could? Not yet.
We're going to his apartment now.
But the charge d'affaires in Vichy has the exit visas.
We should be getting it any day now.
Why can't l take Natalie and the baby along now? I'm convinced l can get them on a plane back to the states.
He's good at that.
No doubt, but the problem is crossing the borders.
Sir, my diplomatic passport cuts through immigration red tape easily.
You know that yourself.
Not always.
Suppose you run into a nasty French border inspector or a German agent? I'll have a story.
I'd like to hear it.
The baby got sick in Gibraltar.
We rushed him to Marseilles.
We didn't bother with visas.
I'll talk in broken French.
I'll be the dumb American official.
I'll make it stick.
Unfortunately for your story, I've never seen a healthier-looking baby.
Mrs.
Henry, are you willing to back up this story? Once we're on the train, we'll have it rehearsed and down cold.
Please don't worry.
Lieutenant l want to talk plainly to your wife.
Go ahead.
Mrs.
Henry, as l said, there are Gestapo agents on the train and at the border.
They do exactly as they please.
You may be pulled off the train.
I'd go with her.
And something else.
Should this happen, it's possible that your baby will be taken from you while you're questioned.
That's how the Germans operate.
Once you are in custody, l can't help you.
We have a file of such cases pending now.
People halted with questionable American documents.
Some of them are already in Rive Sates.
The concentration camp? You are trying to frighten her.
I'm trying to be honest with her.
Are you? I'm willing to take the risks.
It's not up to you.
We're going to chance it.
You are not! You are carrying top-secret war documents.
lf you fail in your bluff, the Gestapo can arrest you and confiscate that pouch.
As senior officer in this area, I'm ordering you not to do this.
I'm very sorry.
Byron, it's only a few more days.
Why take such a risk? Go, please.
Wait for us in Lisbon.
All hell's about to break loose in the Mediterranean.
At the first sign of trouble, they'll close the borders.
We went from Krakow to Warsaw during a war.
You never turned a hair.
We have Louis now.
What do you think, Avram? Are you asking me? Yeah.
I've been taken off that train to Lisbon by the Germans.
That's why you told me to come here first.
Yes.
Byron, she needs the exit visas.
l know what you're feeling.
But please try not to worry.
The visas will be here, and everything will work out fine.
l hope so.
I'm sorry.
l have to go now.
I'll have Mrs.
Henry's luggage brought in.
She better remain here until the visas come.
Tomorrow, I'll send for Dr.
Jastrow.
When they're ready, I'll escort them to the border myself.
I'll have my driver take you to the train.
Would you like some time alone with your family? Yeah.
Thanks.
You're terribly angry with me, aren't you? Well, not really.
But l still think we could've made it.
I'm sorry, Byron.
I'm just too frightened for Louis.
l know.
Honey, don't worry.
I've got 30 days leave.
I'll wait for you.
I'll check the embassy every day.
l doubt l can book that honeymoon suite in Estoril.
Try.
l will.
Well, l better think about shoving off.
Byron, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
l can't help it.
I'll be there in a week or less.
Wait for me.
Forgive me.
Love me for God sakes.
I'll love you till the day l die.
Natalie the two of us will never die.
Don't you know that? So long, Sprout.
I'm glad l got a look at you.
November 3, 1942.
A grand armada steams from the United States and the British isles- 300 warships, 370 transports and support vessels, and over 100,000 troops.
Destination- French North Africa.
Originally scheduled for October 30th, the invasion has now been put back a week to the night of November 7th when the combined forces will sweep ashore on the beaches of Algiers, Oran, and Casablanca.
The new world, with all its power and might, sailing forth to the rescue of the old.
Hello, Mr.
President.
Hello, Harry.
Midnight swim, Mr.
President? Relaxes me like nothing else.
l was having the collywobbles waiting for the returns.
What's the news? Still too close to call, sir.
There's another long cable from Churchill.
Get me out.
Any word from the navy on the torch forces? They've got to keep radio silence, sir.
Well, no news is good news, l suppose.
We'd be hearing plenty if the u-boats had attacked them.
It's a miracle, Harry.
The u-boats sank nearly a million tons last month, and yet that gigantic torch sails on undetected.
But it's still five days from Africa.
You know, Eisenhower said that the decision on Torch may go down as the blackest day in history.
Generals get paid to worry, Harry.
I've been reading Thucydides.
Athens launched a sea expedition against Sicily very much like Torch, you know.
It was a total disaster.
And you know why? Because back home political support fell apart.
That's why it's so damn important that the Democrats hold onto their majority in the house.
Well, what does Winston have on his mind? Well, first, Montgomery is definitely forcing Rommel back at El-Alamein.
We've been hearing that for two weeks.
Two more 1,000-plane bombing raids are scheduled for November- Hamburg and Stuttgart.
You win a war on the ground.
And Churchill is very worried about Stalin's long silence.
Stalingrad's picture is grim, and Churchill's always been concerned about the separate peace in the East.
Lenin gave away half of Russia to the Germans in 1917 to make a separate peace.
We have to hang onto Stalin.
[telephone rings.]
Mr.
Hopkins, for you.
London.
Oh.
Excuse me, Mr.
President.
Mr.
President.
Hello, Ed.
What's the word from Democratic headquarters? Senate's okay.
Governorships, not so good, and they sure played hell with us in the house.
l don't like these off-year elections.
How bad is it? They've gained, tops, 47 seats.
Then they didn't make it.
We've held the house by 11 seats.
By thunder, I've got my Congress! Not by much, but you still have your congress.
Absolutely! I'll tell him right now.
Thank you.
Mr.
President.
That was General Allan Brooke calling from Churchill's war room.
The eighth army has broken through at El-Alamein.
Rommel's forces are in retreat.
Well, splendid.
You know what, Harry, l think we're going to rewrite Thucydides.
The sun hangs huge and red above the far, dust-streaked horizon.
The desert cold is already falling on Kidney Ridge.
Here, not only did these German and British soldiers die who litter the ground in the fading red light.
Here at El-Alameln, the Africa Korps died.
The Korps was a legend.
A dashing, clean-cut enemy, a menace, and at the same time, a sort of glory.
in Churchillian rhetoric, a gallant foe worthy of our steel.
We have won here, in the great Western desert, a victory to stand with Crecy, Agincourt, Blenheim, and Waterloo.
Lines from Southey's Battle of Benhelm are haunting me here on Kidney Ridge.
They say it was a shocking sight after the field was won.
For many thousand bodies here lay rotting in the sun.
But things like that, you know, must be after a famous victory.
l am very tired.
A voice that l don't want to listen to tells me that this is England's last triumph, that our military history ends here with a victory to stand with the greatest.
lf history is but the clash of arms, we leave the stage with honor.
The sun going down on Kidney Ridge is setting on the British empire, on which, so we learned to say as schoolboys, the sun never sets.
l take a last look around at the dead of El-Alameln and mutter a prayer for all these poor devils- Germans, British, who sang Lili Marlene in the cafes of Tobruk.
And again from Southey, ''it was a very wicked thing, said little Wilhelmine.
Nay, nay, my little girl, quote he-'' [telephone rings.]
Pamela Tudsbury.
Oh, thank you, Colonel.
Yes.
He'll be very pleased.
Good news.
The interview with Monty is on.
They're sending a jeep for us.
Us? Why, yes.
I've been cleared, too.
Look impressed.
Quite a landmark occasion for a female.
Absolutely not.
Out of the question.
You're not going, Pamela.
Of course I'm going.
Of course you're not.
Much too dangerous.
Dangerous? We're only going to his field headquarters, miles from the front.
l don't want to hear another word about it.
Ready, Mr.
Tudsbury, sir? Talky.
Father.
Pamela go back inside.
Watch your step, men.
Come on.
No.
[Pamela Tudsbury.]
I'm writing this in my hotel room in Cairo.
As a World War l reserve officer, my father was burled with honors in the British military cemetery outside Alexandra.
The London Observer asked me to complete the Kidney Ridge piece my father was working on when he was summoned to the Montgomery interview.
l have tried, but l cannot.
l can, however complete Southey's verse for him.
''it was a famous victory.
'' Professor, Mrs.
Henry, here we are.
Your exit visas properly endorsed by the Vichy government as promised.
Superb.
Mr.
Gaither, l assure you my niece and l will be forever in your debt.
l don't know how to thank you.
Not necessary.
I've booked you both to Barcelona tomorrow and thence to Lisbon, where your husband is.
I'm to call him when everything's set.
Use my phone.
Professor, may l offer you a drink to celebrate? With greatest pleasure.
Thank you, Mr.
Gaither.
Natalie? Oh, honey, that's terrific! Yeah, tell Gaither l owe him one.
I'm trying to wangle our way out of here.
You remember Bunky Thurston? Leslie's friend at the embassy.
Right.
He's still here.
I'll talk to him in the morning.
Maybe he can help.
l called the hotel.
l think l can get the honeymoon suite.
Oh, Byron.
Okay.
Tomorrow it is.
You'd better start teaching that kid of mine some American.
And all those convoys passing Gibraltar.
The Fuhrer knows about it.
He's not concerned.
But where are they heading for? Intelligence says maybe it's a landing in Sardinia.
The Fuhrer thinks it may be an attempt to put troops behind Rommel.
Therefore, I've ordered defenses around Tripoli.
Mussolini is quite sure it will be French North Africa.
Mussolini his judgment is clouded by two things, his ulcer and his whore.
[speaking German.]
Unbelievable.
At most, a feint.
Well, Jodl, l think you'd better show this to the Fuhrer immediately.
You're the one who should tell him as headquarters Commander in Chief.
No, no.
The Fuhrer is busy with his party speech.
is it worth disturbing him? He should be told immediately.
Of course he must.
Report this dispatch to the Fuhrer, but don't be alarmist or pessimistic.
It's no big development.
in all German history, our position has never been so powerful.
Our new order rules all of Europe.
My armies threaten the Volga, the Caucasus, and, despite momentary setbacks, the Nile, and beyond.
My u-boats have sunk almost eight million tons this year.
The Atlantic is becoming impassable to the enemy.
As for Stalingrad [knock on door.]
[knock knock.]
Ja! Mein Fuhrer, we have an urgent submarine report.
Large sections of those Gibraltar convoys have turned south.
French North Africa.
lf it isn't a deception.
One of our u-boats? No, Mein Fuhrer.
Italian.
Italian intelligence.
As about as reliable as Italian troops.
Still, Keitel is to telephone French army headquarters in Vichy, report this intelligence, and tell them l demand a full war alert of all Admiral Darlan's land and sea forces in North Africa.
Zu befehl, Mein Fuhrer.
Meanwhile, we will proceed on to Munich until this little nonsense takes clearer shape.
French North Africa.
Knock Italy out of the war.
The weak opponent.
Not a bad move if that's it.
Roosevelt! Sieg heil! 7:46 P.
M.
Adolf Hitler addresses the party faithful on the 19th anniversary of his famous beer hall putsch.
Mein Fuhrer! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! This is the best speech you've made in your political career.
People will recall this speech and play it to their grandchildren.
Roon, what news? Mein Fuhrer, l regret to report absolute betrayal.
British and Americans are wading ashore, and Darlan has ordered cease-fire throughout French North Africa.
Darlan! Our man.
How could he suddenly turn so rotten? The treacherous swine! l understand that most forces there are obeying him, laying down their arms.
Vichy, apparently, is impotent.
Have Ribbentrop notify Mussolini and Laval.
They're to come to Munich immediately.
We confer tomorrow morning.
Yes, Mein Fuhrer.
Keitel! Mein Fuhrer.
Make plans to land in Tunisia in 48 hours.
lf the cowardly French won't fight Roosevelt's green draftees, we will.
Zu befehl, Mein Fuhrer.
Also, alert units for the execution of plan Anton.
Highest urgency.
We occupy the rest of France! Yes, Fuhrer! l want my best panzers thrown into Tunisia! The Deutschland, the Adolf Hitler Leibstandarte, yes, and the Herman Goering panzers, too.
That cowardly, bloodthirsty lunatic Roosevelt and his drunken lap dog, Churchill, have stepped into the quicksand! North Africa will be their political graveyard.
And with Rommel taking overall command, he'll push Roosevelt's nigger troops back into the sea! And with those extra forces, I'll roll across! We'll push him right back, this time to the Nile! Mein Fuhrer, with you, the world's greatest military genius leading us, this will be a very positive development.
Oh, yes.
True turning point.
Excuse me.
Where can l find Mr.
Thurston? First secretary? Second floor.
Yeah, that's what it says.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
No, no.
You guys got to deal with it, right? Byron Henry! Hey, Bunky.
What are you doing in Lisbon? Natalie's coming from Marseilles.
l thought she was in Siena.
A lot's happened.
l need air priorities for us on the next Pan Am.
Byron, nobody's coming from Marseilles today.
What's going on? Haven't you heard? The allies invaded North Africa.
The Vichy government's broken relations with the United States.
As of 5 A.
M.
this morning, the borders are closed.
I'm afraid l have very serious news.
I've just been informed that the German army has crossed the borders to begin the occupation of Vichy, France.
Furthermore, l was also informed that we are to be interned by the Vichy government.
Please, let me finish! You are correct.
Technically speaking, they have no right.
Although they did break relations after the landings, we're not at war with Vichy, France.
However, we will be taken by bus to Lourdes, where we will be confined with other Americans until the Vichy government decides what to do with us.
As most of you are aware, the usual drill in these circumstances is for the belligerent countries to exchange internees.
Many Vichy personnel are still in our country.
Vichy wants them to be sent back safely.
So there's no reason - l repeat, no reason to assume this situation is in any way different.
We will be going home, and soon.
Of that l can assure you.
All right.
The buses will leave tomorrow morning at 8:00.
lf anyone has problem, Mr.
Jones will talk to you.
Professor Jastrow, Mrs.
Henry.
May l see you in my office? l know how difficult these past few days have been, but Avram has good news.
is that true, Avram? Yes, l have documents for you.
Forged, but of excellent quality.
l didn't tell you because l wasn't sure Avram would get them done.
it was very risky.
Professor, these certify that you have been, for a number of years, a correspondent for life magazine.
l have written for them.
You, Mrs.
Henry, are credentialed as Dr.
Jastrow's editorial assistant.
As journalists, you qualify as internees.
But we're fugitives.
How could any document protect us if the Germans discover we're here? Fortunately, the Germans are rather busy with North Africa and Stalingrad.
And our stay in Lourdes, as l said, should be brief.
But Mr.
Gaither- besides, there'll be almost 200 Americans, and we'll undoubtedly be dealing with very low-grade Frenchmen and Germans.
Not the kind of people that would be familiar with your reputation, Professor.
Therefore, l believe these papers will suffice.
Avram, isn't there anywhere else we could go? Back to the Mendelson's until we find a way out.
With the Germans coming, occupied France is no place for alien Jews.
When l think of our names on lists, and Germans reading them l should've gone with Byron.
God, why didn't l go? Natalie.
Natalie, your best chance now is with the Americans.
This exchange will be made.
What will you do? Play hide-and-seek with the Germans for a while.
Then l go back into business.
Remember.
''Next year in Jerusalem.
'' it was, of course, the most ghastly misfortune that we falled by only hours to leave Vichy, France legally.
En route to Lourdes, November 12, 1942.
l write this entry as l sit on the bus with the other American internees.
My only hope is this pilgrimage town will hold for us the same miracles it supposedly has held for so many down the years.
Yet, as my journey continues, l find myself thinking, not of Lourdes, but strangely, of a place of my youth- Oswleclm.
During our stay in the Mendelson apartment, we heard much grisly talk about the rumored atrocities in the East mass shootings, gassings, death camps.
And it was almost always the name of one place kept recurring, never uttered except in hushed terms of the most profound horror and dread.
My Oswleclm.
But now, in its ugly Germanization, Auschwitz.
So lf these rumors are more than paranoid fears, the place where l studied as a boy, the place of so many fond childhood memories, may well be the center of the whole horror.
And the ultimate menace that could be facing us is transportation to the mysterious and frightful camp at Oswleclm.
That would, indeed, be a neat closing of the circle.
My one consolation is that our random existence on this petty planet does not move in such artistic patterns.
We are a continent away from Oswleclm and only 30 miles from Spain.
l still have faith that we will end by going home.
Ah, Professor, would you step here a moment? I'd like you both to meet Pinckney Tuck.
He's formerly our charge in Vichy.
Now he's responsible for us all at Lourdes.
Pinck, Dr.
Aaron Jastrow and his niece Mrs.
Natalie Henry.
My pleasure, Professor.
Mrs.
Henry.
That's a fine-looking young man.
Thank you.
Tell me, Mr.
Tuck, what can we expect? The Vichy government does intend to swap us for their personnel in the United States.
That's encouraging.
isn't it, Natalie? Yes.
Doctor, I'd like a moment with you.
Those Frenchmen in the United States may elect to stay there rather than return to the gentle rule of the Hun.
That's rather alarming, but why tell me now? You're senior among us in age and renown.
lf you keep your spirits up, make no demands for actions l can't take, bear yourself cheerfully in tight moments, you'll be a strengthening influence when we may need one.
l shall be glad to be of any assistance.
Thank you.
Shall we go in? Where's our room? l think down here.
Oh, Tom, I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes.
Getting settled in? Yes.
Fine.
Everything all right, professor? Fine, thank you.
I'm finding this mountain air rather invigorating.
How's the baby, Mrs.
Henry? Sound asleep already.
Well, it was a tiring trip.
Professor, this afternoon we'll be setting up our routine for the stay here.
it will be helpful if you could join me with some others and help organize.
I'd be very glad to.
Good.
Mr.
Gaither.
Who are those men? I'm afraid they're Gestapo, Mrs.
Henry.
They're being posted at all four hotels.
They'll start examining our papers.
They have no right to, and those documents will hold up.
Professor, this is a roster of the rooms should you want to contact anybody.
Thank you so much.
I'll contact you later.
On the eastern front, Hitler continues to feed whole armies into the meat grinder of Stalingrad's ruined streets.
Meanwhile, Stalin grimly positions a million and a half fresh troops with masses of tanks and artillery north and south of the embattled city.
Under the cover of a heavy blizzard in subzero weather, the Red Army attacks.
General.
Colonel General Kurt Zeltzler, Hitler's replacement for Halder, the new Chief of Staff.
Keitel, this just came in.
We must show the Fuhrer immediately.
Even so, Zeitzler, l strongly advise that you do not disturb the Fuhrer at this time.
It's long after midnight.
He didn't sleep well on the train.
The sixth army's fate may be sealed soon.
Manstein and Goering arrive this morning.
Plenty of time to discuss this at the situation conference.
l will see the Fuhrer immediately.
I'm Chief of Staff.
The southern front's threatened with collapse.
Very well.
George.
[ring.]
Der Fuhrer, Bitte.
Steady, Zeitzler.
You're new to the job.
We've been through tougher ones than this on the eastern front.
You'll prepare a full situation report tomorrow.
Now let us get some much-needed rest.
This is extremely urgent.
l must give General Paulus freedom of action now to fight his way out of Stalingrad to the west.
Leave the Volga you mean? Only if Paulus decides it is necessary.
To save the sixth army! At least let him plan a breakout.
Where the German soldier sets his foot, there he remains! l am not leaving the Volga.
Tell that to Paulus.
Fuhrer, it grieves me, but l must tell you this.
The sixth army is almost encircled.
300,000 men- your most powerful mobile force, trapped.
Nonsense! What is this nonsense? It's true, Mein Fuhrer.
The Russians tore open the Rumanian front and are mounting a pincer attack.
You yourself assured me by telephone not- six hours ago, Zeitzler, that the 48th corps was closing that breach.
l said they were counterattacking.
They fought hard, but they were cut off and surrounded.
Overwhelming superior numbers.
A whole Panzer Corps cut off? By the Russians? Who commands that corps? General Ferdinand Heim, a very capable officer.
You will order General Heim to report here to Rasternburg immediately.
He will be court-martialed upon arrival and executed by firing squad.
Oh, Mein Fuhrer, surely an inquiry into the circumstances first.
Goering will head the court-martial.
He will choose his own court.
Zu Befehl, Mein Fuhrer.
Situation conference at 1000 hours.
Tomorrow morning! You wanted to see him.
You saw him.
Then l don't have to leave the Volga.
I'd like to point out another advantage of this plan.
There speaks the Conqueror of Sevastapol.
Army group Don will drive up from the southwest with powerful, fresh forces to relieve Paulus.
Meantime, sixth army should form a hedgehog at Stalingrad.
Field Marshal Eric Von Manstein, mastermind of the conquest of France.
Germany's most brilliant and successful professional officer.
it will be possible, but all this absolutely depends on keeping the sixth army supplied by air until my relief columns break through.
Four to six weeks.
No problem.
Reichsmarshal, with all respect an airlift of 500 tons a day in this weather? With the Luftwaffe already tied up in Tunisia? Mein Fuhrer, supply by air to Paulus' army is a matter of life and death.
Mein Fuhrer, l will supply the sixth army at Stalingrad.
Then it is all decided.
The sixth army will hedgehog where it stands.
General Paulus' command will henceforth be known as Fortress Stalingrad.
The relief of Fortress Stalingrad will be the mission of army group Don under Field Marshal Von Manstein.
l will supply the necessary fresh, powerful forces.
Fortress Stalingrad.
Goering's airlift is nothing but empty talk.
It's hopeless.
He simply says whatever the Fuhrer wishes to hear.
in only six of the Nazi concentration camps, all in the Polish back country, does the SS murder Jews in mass upon arrival with an elaborate hygienic hoax of disinfection.
The German names for these places are Chelmo, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Maldenek, and Auschwitz.
But Auschwitz is in a class by itself.
At once the biggest asphyxiation center, the biggest corpse-robbing center, and the biggest slave-factory center in all of German-ruled Europe.
You can't see it now, but in the Spring all of this grass and flowers.
Please.
Where is the chief engineer? Our chief engineer Herr Pruefer.
Standartenfuhrer Blobel.
Heil Hitler, Herr Standartenfuhrer.
Herr Pruefer's with Topf and Son.
l know the firm.
When do we fire? We start the blowers in an hour, ignition shortly thereafter.
Everything ready for your approval.
How many will this hold, 2,000-3,000? Yes.
210 square meters.
And the other three installations? Approximately the same.
Depending on the special requirements, on a 24-hour basis, you could conceivably process as many as 60,000.
The escape.
It's on.
When? Tomorrow night.
Come.
The zyclon-b caps dropped in from above.
And the gas comes out through this wire netting.
The furnace room.
Efficient.
Examination and collection.
Gold teeth.
Hair.
Once finished in the other room, the disposables are taken here and inserted for combustion.
Adults.
Two or three at a time.
Children.
Four or five.
Three-stage furnaces.
Stage one.
Powerful electric motors force air to stage two.
Lumber and waste oil create such super heat that the disposables in stage three, in burning, turn to fuel themselves, speeding up combustion time by a factor of three.
The capacity? Theoretically, in a 24-hour period, 3,000, and in all four facilities between 8,000 or 9,000.
Your chimney linings won't take such heat.
Special super-tested ceramic bricks.
We guarantee the linings.
Well, l do things differently, more simply, but, uh [speaking German.]
in actuality, the highest dally number ever to be gassed and cremated will occur in 1944 during the extermination of the Hungarian Jews.
in one day- 24,000 men, women, and children.
How did he get these pictures? The less you know, the better.
That swine engineer.
Civilian idiot in his comfortable tweed overcoat and English shoes.
One month behind in delivery.
Tests postponed twice.
He needs a few months in Auschwitz.
Straight to the political block.
Surely not flame throwers? So inefficient.
So wasteful.
Some of these pits were dug in 1940.
Those old bodies just won't burn, yet the orders from Berlin are to eradicate all traces of mass graves.
My dear Kommandant, that's exactly what my Kommando 1005 is doing all over Poland and Russia.
Let me give you some tips.
You are a gentleman, a man of culture.
Not like those damn paper pushers from Berlin.
l am an architect by profession.
Let me at least give you a good dinner.
Dinner? Maybe a little drop first.
l thought you would never say it.
My compliments, Frau Hoess.
The finest wine, the best food l have eaten since before the war.
Such a distinguished guest.
Oh, what a lovely cake.
Inga, [speaking German.]
Hannah is a wonderful cook, too.
You like chocolate cake, eh, Hans? Ja.
Special treat.
He got an ''A'' in German today.
An ''A.
'' That's very good.
What for? Sir, for reciting Schiller's poem, Die Glockner.
[siren.]
Of all times.
Excuse me.
Well, why don't we all eat our dessert? [siren.]
[bell clanging.]
Get up, you bastards! Who? l don't know.
Get out! Get out! Let him go! Let him go! Stop it! [speaking German.]
Two hours.
Heads will roll if they don't catch him.
This has been a continual problem, hasn't it, Rudy? Reichsfuhrer Himmler has mentioned it on a number of occasions.
[ring.]
Yes.
Yes.
Splendid.
Where? No.
Well done.
Well done.
Caught him.
Wait till you hear this.
He tried to get out in the latrine wagon.
Three men had to take turns hosing him off.
And, Paul, l wish you could see what we do with these escaped prisoners.
We dress them up in a clown suit.
We'll hang a sign on them- ''Hurrah! l am back.
'' [laughs.]
[speaking German.]
An escape that fails is good for discipline.
Haig & Haig.
l still can't get over it, such luxury.
Plenty more where that comes from.
You should see what these Jews bring with them.
As a gift to you, a case along with decent brandy and some Havana cigars will be delivered to your airplane.
Fine, Rudy, fine.
Thank you.
Now sit down.
Let's talk business.
Auschwitz is supposed to supply my Kommando 1005 with workers.
Correct? Yes, of course.
Well, you have been sending me rubbish! They don't last three weeks.
l need strong men.
500 able-bodied Jews in the next shipment, Rudy.
500, or the Reichs Fuhrer and l will have to have another little talk.
Crematorium.
What about it? The guys who built it, the Klinger gang.
Best fellows I've got.
400 or 500 of them due for immediate liquidation.
You can get four five solid months work out of those guys before l get rid of them.
Will that do? Fine, Rudy.
That will be fine.
Excellent.
Haig & Haig.
Just another postponed sentence of death.
The guy in the labor section told me escapes are easier from 1005.
Yeah? You got the film? Yeah.
The address in Prague? God be with us.
Amen.
The battle for Guadalcanal is in its fourth month.
Despite the heavy toll, the United States is gradually gaining the upper hand.
The Japanese have lost over 20,000 of their best troops, 500 aircraft, 15 warships, and large numbers of transports and troop carriers.
The United States- 2,000 dead or missing, 300 aircraft, 20 combat vessels including the fleet carriers, Hornet and Wasp, and, like the Japanese, many more transports and troop ships.
So many ships of both sides have been sunk that the marines dug in on the island call the waters off Guadalcanal ''iron bottom sound.
'' And the end is not yet in sight.
We're zeroing in now.
Our salvos are bracketing them.
November 30, 1942.
American naval intelligence has learned that the Tokyo express is steaming again.
This time, a force of heavily escorted Japanese transports to reinforce with fresh troops, their starved, sick, doomed garrison ashore off Tassafaronga Point.
And Admiral Halsey has ordered Task Force 67, five cruisers, six destroyers, to intercept and destroy.
Relatively new to the South Pacific, Admiral Wright, Task Force Commander, ignores hard information that the Japanese carry an engineering marvel, the long-lance torpedo, capable of striking with deadly accuracy at 20,000 yards.
He has closed to well within that range before opening fire.
Caught by surprise, the Japanese have but one option- a desperation, murderous shotgun blast of long-lance torpedoes.
And within minutes, Tassafaronga turns into one of the worst disasters the American navy will experience in the course of World War ll.
Front rudder aye, aye, sir.
The new course is 090.
New course 090.
Aye, aye, sir.
Oh, my God, Captain.
The Pensacola, too.
Three heavy cruisers.
For one Jap destroyer.
Three magnificent ships.
Belay that change of course.
All ahead full.
Left full rudder.
All ahead full, sir.
Left full rudder on.
Left, sir? Yes.
This is total disaster.
We straddled those bastards with our last salvo.
They're in sight.
I'm closing.
Radar shows range to target 11,000 and closing.
Torpedoes! Torpedoes on the port bow bearing 350! Left full rudder.
Left full rudder aye, sir! Port back full! Aye, sir! lf we swing fast enough, we'll comb them.
This is the Captain speaking.
Flood magazines on number three turret and jettison 5-inch ready ammo.
Repeat.
Flood magazines on number three turret and jettison 5-inch ready ammo.
Acknowledge.
All ahead 1/3, sir.
What have we got? Not good, Captain.
We got three propeller shafts stopped, communication and power failing, oil and water flooding the fourth and fifth decks.
We've got to hold together till we get to Tulagi 18 miles.
Seal off the main fuel bunkers.
Aft fire room.
Secure all fuel and steam lines.
Pump overboard all port holder ballasts.
Sir, shaft port commander aboard Honolulu.
Griffin, Griffin, this is Hawkeye.
Over.
Pug, is that you? Yes, Admiral.
How you doing, fellow? You look pretty bad from over here.
I've got one engine and one propeller, Admiral.
We've got a chance.
Admiral Wright thinks his group can make Tulagi.
They're still making steam.
We're effecting repairs as we go.
We'll head for Tulagi.
That's one hell of a fire there.
Yes.
We're fighting it.
Do you require assistance? No, Admiral.
Radar shows these bandits retiring westward.
I'll sweep around Savo island with my destroyers and engage them.
Now listen, Pug.
lf you need help, holler.
I'll send you my small boys.
Aye, aye.
Good hunting.
It's been one hellish night.
Yes, sir, it has.
Good luck, Pug.
Thank you, sir.
What's the list now? 18 degrees, sir.
We'd better lie to.
Lie to? l just got her on course.
lf we can keep her afloat till dawn, we might make Tulagi.
Shoring is giving way, sir.
Then do we let her drift filling up with seawater? I'll take some turns off the engines.
No matter what, we won't hold out the sea.
Captain, the lube supply is failing.
The pumps can't overcome the list.
Maybe l will ask the Admiral for a couple of destroyers.
l guess you should.
I'm going below and see for myself.
Ask Griffin for those destroyers.
Tell him we're afire, dead in the water, and down hard by the stern.
Aye, aye, sir.
Griffin, griffin, this is Hawkeye.
Over.
The destroyers are on their way, Captain.
Very well.
Prepare to abandon ship.
But, sir - we've done everything we can.
She's not making it.
We better get the wounded off.
Aye, aye, sir.
Now hear this.
All hands, prepare to abandon ship.
Repeat.
Prepare to abandon ship.
Captain? Last of the logs and codes, sir.
Crew is mustered at abandon ship stations.
Count is taken of killed, missing, wounded.
Roster is complete.
As complete as it can be, sir.
Okay, Jim.
Abandon ship.
Aye, aye, sir.
Abandon ship.
Abandon ship.
Pass the word forward.
Abandon ship.
After you, sir.
No.
Oh, I'm not going down with her.
Couldn't do much for the war under 400 fathoms.
l rounded up volunteers.
lf we can keep her afloat till dawn, we might get a towline on her.
I'd like to volunteer.
Some pumps are still working.
lf l could counter flood - Negative, Commander Grigg.
You're needed in the boats.
Aye, aye, sir.
What was that last count? 54, Captain.
Dead or missing.
217 wounded.
We should have hauled ass like the Honolulu.
No, sir.
You couldn't have done anything else.
You couldn't let the bastards get off scott-free.
On your way, Jim.
I'll miss Thenora-maru, sir.
Jim.
Here.
You take the battle flag.
Fly it on your next command.
Aye, aye, sir.
Go ahead.
Over the side with you.
Those destroyers have started fishing our men out.
Yeah.
[explosion.]
Chief, she could capsize any minute.
I'm afraid you're right.
Let's abandon ship.
Aye, aye, sir.
Abandon ship.
Let's go! Abandon ship.
Move it.
Abandon ship.
Captain.
Get moving, chief.
You heard the boss man.
Let's go! Over the side! Keep it moving.
Steady! Next one.
All right.
Cast off.
Aye, aye, sir.
Cast off.
Captain.
Captain, she looks like she's starting to go.
Johnson, flag to.
What's that thing? You'll hear everything.
Where's the kid? Up here! There.
That's your son.
What do you think of him? Yeah.
l guess he looks like me.
God, does he ever.
He's a stamped-out miniature.
Will he be afraid if l pick him up? Try it.
Hi, boy.
I'm your dad.
He's heavy.
What have you been feeding him? You wouldn't believe me if l told you.
Octopus, blackbirds.
Anything.
He's a traveling man, you know? You have to see Aaron and meet everybody.
[singing.]
Byron! This is utterly incredible.
Aaron.
l would like you to meet my husband, my American husband Byron Henry.
Bineman.
Natalie's husband! Oh, Natalie's husband.
Welcome! Sholom aleichem.
You are so welcome.
Please sit down.
Oh, Louis, your papa is here.
Have something to eat.
Louis that's your papa.
Papa's here.
Oh, isn't this wonderful? Why don't you eat, please? You must be hungry.
Here.
Here is something.
Please eat something.
Your papa.
Louis, look who's here.
Your papa.
Excuse me.
How's the baby? Well, he was very tired.
Oh, what a shame.
Oh, well, I'm afraid your uncle will have to sleep somewhere else tonight.
Good shabbas.
Good night.
Thanks.
Now there is a fine woman.
Sweetie Yeah? He's up, and he's watching us.
It's all right.
He's only a year old.
He's just curious as a raccoon.
A raccoon, hell.
l think he's taking notes.
That kid has got grown-up eyes.
Why don't l just put him back to bed? Would you mind that? Then we can talk, and l can get a little used to you.
Sure.
Go ahead.
You should be reassured.
The procedure is obviously quite new to him.
Does he really walk and talk? Walk to daddy.
Walk to daddy.
Come on.
Walk to daddy.
You're supposed to clap when he does that.
Well done, sprout.
How about saying something? [gurgles.]
Oh, you wouldn't understand him.
It's all a jumble of Yiddish, Italian, French, and a little English.
What about your father and Warren? Have you heard from them? Didn't the Red Cross forward my letters? l haven't had any letters since May.
Warren's dead.
He was killed in the battle of Midway.
Oh, my darling.
He received the posthumous navy cross.
Oh, Byron.
Byron, l can't believe it.
Listen.
The train for Lisbon leaves at midnight.
Start packing.
You mean we're leaving now? Tonight? Yeah.
Now.
Aaron will have to wait for clearance, but I'm taking you and the baby with me.
Did the Consul General say you could? Not yet.
We're going to his apartment now.
But the charge d'affaires in Vichy has the exit visas.
We should be getting it any day now.
Why can't l take Natalie and the baby along now? I'm convinced l can get them on a plane back to the states.
He's good at that.
No doubt, but the problem is crossing the borders.
Sir, my diplomatic passport cuts through immigration red tape easily.
You know that yourself.
Not always.
Suppose you run into a nasty French border inspector or a German agent? I'll have a story.
I'd like to hear it.
The baby got sick in Gibraltar.
We rushed him to Marseilles.
We didn't bother with visas.
I'll talk in broken French.
I'll be the dumb American official.
I'll make it stick.
Unfortunately for your story, I've never seen a healthier-looking baby.
Mrs.
Henry, are you willing to back up this story? Once we're on the train, we'll have it rehearsed and down cold.
Please don't worry.
Lieutenant l want to talk plainly to your wife.
Go ahead.
Mrs.
Henry, as l said, there are Gestapo agents on the train and at the border.
They do exactly as they please.
You may be pulled off the train.
I'd go with her.
And something else.
Should this happen, it's possible that your baby will be taken from you while you're questioned.
That's how the Germans operate.
Once you are in custody, l can't help you.
We have a file of such cases pending now.
People halted with questionable American documents.
Some of them are already in Rive Sates.
The concentration camp? You are trying to frighten her.
I'm trying to be honest with her.
Are you? I'm willing to take the risks.
It's not up to you.
We're going to chance it.
You are not! You are carrying top-secret war documents.
lf you fail in your bluff, the Gestapo can arrest you and confiscate that pouch.
As senior officer in this area, I'm ordering you not to do this.
I'm very sorry.
Byron, it's only a few more days.
Why take such a risk? Go, please.
Wait for us in Lisbon.
All hell's about to break loose in the Mediterranean.
At the first sign of trouble, they'll close the borders.
We went from Krakow to Warsaw during a war.
You never turned a hair.
We have Louis now.
What do you think, Avram? Are you asking me? Yeah.
I've been taken off that train to Lisbon by the Germans.
That's why you told me to come here first.
Yes.
Byron, she needs the exit visas.
l know what you're feeling.
But please try not to worry.
The visas will be here, and everything will work out fine.
l hope so.
I'm sorry.
l have to go now.
I'll have Mrs.
Henry's luggage brought in.
She better remain here until the visas come.
Tomorrow, I'll send for Dr.
Jastrow.
When they're ready, I'll escort them to the border myself.
I'll have my driver take you to the train.
Would you like some time alone with your family? Yeah.
Thanks.
You're terribly angry with me, aren't you? Well, not really.
But l still think we could've made it.
I'm sorry, Byron.
I'm just too frightened for Louis.
l know.
Honey, don't worry.
I've got 30 days leave.
I'll wait for you.
I'll check the embassy every day.
l doubt l can book that honeymoon suite in Estoril.
Try.
l will.
Well, l better think about shoving off.
Byron, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
l can't help it.
I'll be there in a week or less.
Wait for me.
Forgive me.
Love me for God sakes.
I'll love you till the day l die.
Natalie the two of us will never die.
Don't you know that? So long, Sprout.
I'm glad l got a look at you.
November 3, 1942.
A grand armada steams from the United States and the British isles- 300 warships, 370 transports and support vessels, and over 100,000 troops.
Destination- French North Africa.
Originally scheduled for October 30th, the invasion has now been put back a week to the night of November 7th when the combined forces will sweep ashore on the beaches of Algiers, Oran, and Casablanca.
The new world, with all its power and might, sailing forth to the rescue of the old.
Hello, Mr.
President.
Hello, Harry.
Midnight swim, Mr.
President? Relaxes me like nothing else.
l was having the collywobbles waiting for the returns.
What's the news? Still too close to call, sir.
There's another long cable from Churchill.
Get me out.
Any word from the navy on the torch forces? They've got to keep radio silence, sir.
Well, no news is good news, l suppose.
We'd be hearing plenty if the u-boats had attacked them.
It's a miracle, Harry.
The u-boats sank nearly a million tons last month, and yet that gigantic torch sails on undetected.
But it's still five days from Africa.
You know, Eisenhower said that the decision on Torch may go down as the blackest day in history.
Generals get paid to worry, Harry.
I've been reading Thucydides.
Athens launched a sea expedition against Sicily very much like Torch, you know.
It was a total disaster.
And you know why? Because back home political support fell apart.
That's why it's so damn important that the Democrats hold onto their majority in the house.
Well, what does Winston have on his mind? Well, first, Montgomery is definitely forcing Rommel back at El-Alamein.
We've been hearing that for two weeks.
Two more 1,000-plane bombing raids are scheduled for November- Hamburg and Stuttgart.
You win a war on the ground.
And Churchill is very worried about Stalin's long silence.
Stalingrad's picture is grim, and Churchill's always been concerned about the separate peace in the East.
Lenin gave away half of Russia to the Germans in 1917 to make a separate peace.
We have to hang onto Stalin.
[telephone rings.]
Mr.
Hopkins, for you.
London.
Oh.
Excuse me, Mr.
President.
Mr.
President.
Hello, Ed.
What's the word from Democratic headquarters? Senate's okay.
Governorships, not so good, and they sure played hell with us in the house.
l don't like these off-year elections.
How bad is it? They've gained, tops, 47 seats.
Then they didn't make it.
We've held the house by 11 seats.
By thunder, I've got my Congress! Not by much, but you still have your congress.
Absolutely! I'll tell him right now.
Thank you.
Mr.
President.
That was General Allan Brooke calling from Churchill's war room.
The eighth army has broken through at El-Alamein.
Rommel's forces are in retreat.
Well, splendid.
You know what, Harry, l think we're going to rewrite Thucydides.
The sun hangs huge and red above the far, dust-streaked horizon.
The desert cold is already falling on Kidney Ridge.
Here, not only did these German and British soldiers die who litter the ground in the fading red light.
Here at El-Alameln, the Africa Korps died.
The Korps was a legend.
A dashing, clean-cut enemy, a menace, and at the same time, a sort of glory.
in Churchillian rhetoric, a gallant foe worthy of our steel.
We have won here, in the great Western desert, a victory to stand with Crecy, Agincourt, Blenheim, and Waterloo.
Lines from Southey's Battle of Benhelm are haunting me here on Kidney Ridge.
They say it was a shocking sight after the field was won.
For many thousand bodies here lay rotting in the sun.
But things like that, you know, must be after a famous victory.
l am very tired.
A voice that l don't want to listen to tells me that this is England's last triumph, that our military history ends here with a victory to stand with the greatest.
lf history is but the clash of arms, we leave the stage with honor.
The sun going down on Kidney Ridge is setting on the British empire, on which, so we learned to say as schoolboys, the sun never sets.
l take a last look around at the dead of El-Alameln and mutter a prayer for all these poor devils- Germans, British, who sang Lili Marlene in the cafes of Tobruk.
And again from Southey, ''it was a very wicked thing, said little Wilhelmine.
Nay, nay, my little girl, quote he-'' [telephone rings.]
Pamela Tudsbury.
Oh, thank you, Colonel.
Yes.
He'll be very pleased.
Good news.
The interview with Monty is on.
They're sending a jeep for us.
Us? Why, yes.
I've been cleared, too.
Look impressed.
Quite a landmark occasion for a female.
Absolutely not.
Out of the question.
You're not going, Pamela.
Of course I'm going.
Of course you're not.
Much too dangerous.
Dangerous? We're only going to his field headquarters, miles from the front.
l don't want to hear another word about it.
Ready, Mr.
Tudsbury, sir? Talky.
Father.
Pamela go back inside.
Watch your step, men.
Come on.
No.
[Pamela Tudsbury.]
I'm writing this in my hotel room in Cairo.
As a World War l reserve officer, my father was burled with honors in the British military cemetery outside Alexandra.
The London Observer asked me to complete the Kidney Ridge piece my father was working on when he was summoned to the Montgomery interview.
l have tried, but l cannot.
l can, however complete Southey's verse for him.
''it was a famous victory.
'' Professor, Mrs.
Henry, here we are.
Your exit visas properly endorsed by the Vichy government as promised.
Superb.
Mr.
Gaither, l assure you my niece and l will be forever in your debt.
l don't know how to thank you.
Not necessary.
I've booked you both to Barcelona tomorrow and thence to Lisbon, where your husband is.
I'm to call him when everything's set.
Use my phone.
Professor, may l offer you a drink to celebrate? With greatest pleasure.
Thank you, Mr.
Gaither.
Natalie? Oh, honey, that's terrific! Yeah, tell Gaither l owe him one.
I'm trying to wangle our way out of here.
You remember Bunky Thurston? Leslie's friend at the embassy.
Right.
He's still here.
I'll talk to him in the morning.
Maybe he can help.
l called the hotel.
l think l can get the honeymoon suite.
Oh, Byron.
Okay.
Tomorrow it is.
You'd better start teaching that kid of mine some American.
And all those convoys passing Gibraltar.
The Fuhrer knows about it.
He's not concerned.
But where are they heading for? Intelligence says maybe it's a landing in Sardinia.
The Fuhrer thinks it may be an attempt to put troops behind Rommel.
Therefore, I've ordered defenses around Tripoli.
Mussolini is quite sure it will be French North Africa.
Mussolini his judgment is clouded by two things, his ulcer and his whore.
[speaking German.]
Unbelievable.
At most, a feint.
Well, Jodl, l think you'd better show this to the Fuhrer immediately.
You're the one who should tell him as headquarters Commander in Chief.
No, no.
The Fuhrer is busy with his party speech.
is it worth disturbing him? He should be told immediately.
Of course he must.
Report this dispatch to the Fuhrer, but don't be alarmist or pessimistic.
It's no big development.
in all German history, our position has never been so powerful.
Our new order rules all of Europe.
My armies threaten the Volga, the Caucasus, and, despite momentary setbacks, the Nile, and beyond.
My u-boats have sunk almost eight million tons this year.
The Atlantic is becoming impassable to the enemy.
As for Stalingrad [knock on door.]
[knock knock.]
Ja! Mein Fuhrer, we have an urgent submarine report.
Large sections of those Gibraltar convoys have turned south.
French North Africa.
lf it isn't a deception.
One of our u-boats? No, Mein Fuhrer.
Italian.
Italian intelligence.
As about as reliable as Italian troops.
Still, Keitel is to telephone French army headquarters in Vichy, report this intelligence, and tell them l demand a full war alert of all Admiral Darlan's land and sea forces in North Africa.
Zu befehl, Mein Fuhrer.
Meanwhile, we will proceed on to Munich until this little nonsense takes clearer shape.
French North Africa.
Knock Italy out of the war.
The weak opponent.
Not a bad move if that's it.
Roosevelt! Sieg heil! 7:46 P.
M.
Adolf Hitler addresses the party faithful on the 19th anniversary of his famous beer hall putsch.
Mein Fuhrer! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! This is the best speech you've made in your political career.
People will recall this speech and play it to their grandchildren.
Roon, what news? Mein Fuhrer, l regret to report absolute betrayal.
British and Americans are wading ashore, and Darlan has ordered cease-fire throughout French North Africa.
Darlan! Our man.
How could he suddenly turn so rotten? The treacherous swine! l understand that most forces there are obeying him, laying down their arms.
Vichy, apparently, is impotent.
Have Ribbentrop notify Mussolini and Laval.
They're to come to Munich immediately.
We confer tomorrow morning.
Yes, Mein Fuhrer.
Keitel! Mein Fuhrer.
Make plans to land in Tunisia in 48 hours.
lf the cowardly French won't fight Roosevelt's green draftees, we will.
Zu befehl, Mein Fuhrer.
Also, alert units for the execution of plan Anton.
Highest urgency.
We occupy the rest of France! Yes, Fuhrer! l want my best panzers thrown into Tunisia! The Deutschland, the Adolf Hitler Leibstandarte, yes, and the Herman Goering panzers, too.
That cowardly, bloodthirsty lunatic Roosevelt and his drunken lap dog, Churchill, have stepped into the quicksand! North Africa will be their political graveyard.
And with Rommel taking overall command, he'll push Roosevelt's nigger troops back into the sea! And with those extra forces, I'll roll across! We'll push him right back, this time to the Nile! Mein Fuhrer, with you, the world's greatest military genius leading us, this will be a very positive development.
Oh, yes.
True turning point.
Excuse me.
Where can l find Mr.
Thurston? First secretary? Second floor.
Yeah, that's what it says.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
No, no.
You guys got to deal with it, right? Byron Henry! Hey, Bunky.
What are you doing in Lisbon? Natalie's coming from Marseilles.
l thought she was in Siena.
A lot's happened.
l need air priorities for us on the next Pan Am.
Byron, nobody's coming from Marseilles today.
What's going on? Haven't you heard? The allies invaded North Africa.
The Vichy government's broken relations with the United States.
As of 5 A.
M.
this morning, the borders are closed.
I'm afraid l have very serious news.
I've just been informed that the German army has crossed the borders to begin the occupation of Vichy, France.
Furthermore, l was also informed that we are to be interned by the Vichy government.
Please, let me finish! You are correct.
Technically speaking, they have no right.
Although they did break relations after the landings, we're not at war with Vichy, France.
However, we will be taken by bus to Lourdes, where we will be confined with other Americans until the Vichy government decides what to do with us.
As most of you are aware, the usual drill in these circumstances is for the belligerent countries to exchange internees.
Many Vichy personnel are still in our country.
Vichy wants them to be sent back safely.
So there's no reason - l repeat, no reason to assume this situation is in any way different.
We will be going home, and soon.
Of that l can assure you.
All right.
The buses will leave tomorrow morning at 8:00.
lf anyone has problem, Mr.
Jones will talk to you.
Professor Jastrow, Mrs.
Henry.
May l see you in my office? l know how difficult these past few days have been, but Avram has good news.
is that true, Avram? Yes, l have documents for you.
Forged, but of excellent quality.
l didn't tell you because l wasn't sure Avram would get them done.
it was very risky.
Professor, these certify that you have been, for a number of years, a correspondent for life magazine.
l have written for them.
You, Mrs.
Henry, are credentialed as Dr.
Jastrow's editorial assistant.
As journalists, you qualify as internees.
But we're fugitives.
How could any document protect us if the Germans discover we're here? Fortunately, the Germans are rather busy with North Africa and Stalingrad.
And our stay in Lourdes, as l said, should be brief.
But Mr.
Gaither- besides, there'll be almost 200 Americans, and we'll undoubtedly be dealing with very low-grade Frenchmen and Germans.
Not the kind of people that would be familiar with your reputation, Professor.
Therefore, l believe these papers will suffice.
Avram, isn't there anywhere else we could go? Back to the Mendelson's until we find a way out.
With the Germans coming, occupied France is no place for alien Jews.
When l think of our names on lists, and Germans reading them l should've gone with Byron.
God, why didn't l go? Natalie.
Natalie, your best chance now is with the Americans.
This exchange will be made.
What will you do? Play hide-and-seek with the Germans for a while.
Then l go back into business.
Remember.
''Next year in Jerusalem.
'' it was, of course, the most ghastly misfortune that we falled by only hours to leave Vichy, France legally.
En route to Lourdes, November 12, 1942.
l write this entry as l sit on the bus with the other American internees.
My only hope is this pilgrimage town will hold for us the same miracles it supposedly has held for so many down the years.
Yet, as my journey continues, l find myself thinking, not of Lourdes, but strangely, of a place of my youth- Oswleclm.
During our stay in the Mendelson apartment, we heard much grisly talk about the rumored atrocities in the East mass shootings, gassings, death camps.
And it was almost always the name of one place kept recurring, never uttered except in hushed terms of the most profound horror and dread.
My Oswleclm.
But now, in its ugly Germanization, Auschwitz.
So lf these rumors are more than paranoid fears, the place where l studied as a boy, the place of so many fond childhood memories, may well be the center of the whole horror.
And the ultimate menace that could be facing us is transportation to the mysterious and frightful camp at Oswleclm.
That would, indeed, be a neat closing of the circle.
My one consolation is that our random existence on this petty planet does not move in such artistic patterns.
We are a continent away from Oswleclm and only 30 miles from Spain.
l still have faith that we will end by going home.
Ah, Professor, would you step here a moment? I'd like you both to meet Pinckney Tuck.
He's formerly our charge in Vichy.
Now he's responsible for us all at Lourdes.
Pinck, Dr.
Aaron Jastrow and his niece Mrs.
Natalie Henry.
My pleasure, Professor.
Mrs.
Henry.
That's a fine-looking young man.
Thank you.
Tell me, Mr.
Tuck, what can we expect? The Vichy government does intend to swap us for their personnel in the United States.
That's encouraging.
isn't it, Natalie? Yes.
Doctor, I'd like a moment with you.
Those Frenchmen in the United States may elect to stay there rather than return to the gentle rule of the Hun.
That's rather alarming, but why tell me now? You're senior among us in age and renown.
lf you keep your spirits up, make no demands for actions l can't take, bear yourself cheerfully in tight moments, you'll be a strengthening influence when we may need one.
l shall be glad to be of any assistance.
Thank you.
Shall we go in? Where's our room? l think down here.
Oh, Tom, I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes.
Getting settled in? Yes.
Fine.
Everything all right, professor? Fine, thank you.
I'm finding this mountain air rather invigorating.
How's the baby, Mrs.
Henry? Sound asleep already.
Well, it was a tiring trip.
Professor, this afternoon we'll be setting up our routine for the stay here.
it will be helpful if you could join me with some others and help organize.
I'd be very glad to.
Good.
Mr.
Gaither.
Who are those men? I'm afraid they're Gestapo, Mrs.
Henry.
They're being posted at all four hotels.
They'll start examining our papers.
They have no right to, and those documents will hold up.
Professor, this is a roster of the rooms should you want to contact anybody.
Thank you so much.
I'll contact you later.
On the eastern front, Hitler continues to feed whole armies into the meat grinder of Stalingrad's ruined streets.
Meanwhile, Stalin grimly positions a million and a half fresh troops with masses of tanks and artillery north and south of the embattled city.
Under the cover of a heavy blizzard in subzero weather, the Red Army attacks.
General.
Colonel General Kurt Zeltzler, Hitler's replacement for Halder, the new Chief of Staff.
Keitel, this just came in.
We must show the Fuhrer immediately.
Even so, Zeitzler, l strongly advise that you do not disturb the Fuhrer at this time.
It's long after midnight.
He didn't sleep well on the train.
The sixth army's fate may be sealed soon.
Manstein and Goering arrive this morning.
Plenty of time to discuss this at the situation conference.
l will see the Fuhrer immediately.
I'm Chief of Staff.
The southern front's threatened with collapse.
Very well.
George.
[ring.]
Der Fuhrer, Bitte.
Steady, Zeitzler.
You're new to the job.
We've been through tougher ones than this on the eastern front.
You'll prepare a full situation report tomorrow.
Now let us get some much-needed rest.
This is extremely urgent.
l must give General Paulus freedom of action now to fight his way out of Stalingrad to the west.
Leave the Volga you mean? Only if Paulus decides it is necessary.
To save the sixth army! At least let him plan a breakout.
Where the German soldier sets his foot, there he remains! l am not leaving the Volga.
Tell that to Paulus.
Fuhrer, it grieves me, but l must tell you this.
The sixth army is almost encircled.
300,000 men- your most powerful mobile force, trapped.
Nonsense! What is this nonsense? It's true, Mein Fuhrer.
The Russians tore open the Rumanian front and are mounting a pincer attack.
You yourself assured me by telephone not- six hours ago, Zeitzler, that the 48th corps was closing that breach.
l said they were counterattacking.
They fought hard, but they were cut off and surrounded.
Overwhelming superior numbers.
A whole Panzer Corps cut off? By the Russians? Who commands that corps? General Ferdinand Heim, a very capable officer.
You will order General Heim to report here to Rasternburg immediately.
He will be court-martialed upon arrival and executed by firing squad.
Oh, Mein Fuhrer, surely an inquiry into the circumstances first.
Goering will head the court-martial.
He will choose his own court.
Zu Befehl, Mein Fuhrer.
Situation conference at 1000 hours.
Tomorrow morning! You wanted to see him.
You saw him.
Then l don't have to leave the Volga.
I'd like to point out another advantage of this plan.
There speaks the Conqueror of Sevastapol.
Army group Don will drive up from the southwest with powerful, fresh forces to relieve Paulus.
Meantime, sixth army should form a hedgehog at Stalingrad.
Field Marshal Eric Von Manstein, mastermind of the conquest of France.
Germany's most brilliant and successful professional officer.
it will be possible, but all this absolutely depends on keeping the sixth army supplied by air until my relief columns break through.
Four to six weeks.
No problem.
Reichsmarshal, with all respect an airlift of 500 tons a day in this weather? With the Luftwaffe already tied up in Tunisia? Mein Fuhrer, supply by air to Paulus' army is a matter of life and death.
Mein Fuhrer, l will supply the sixth army at Stalingrad.
Then it is all decided.
The sixth army will hedgehog where it stands.
General Paulus' command will henceforth be known as Fortress Stalingrad.
The relief of Fortress Stalingrad will be the mission of army group Don under Field Marshal Von Manstein.
l will supply the necessary fresh, powerful forces.
Fortress Stalingrad.
Goering's airlift is nothing but empty talk.
It's hopeless.
He simply says whatever the Fuhrer wishes to hear.
in only six of the Nazi concentration camps, all in the Polish back country, does the SS murder Jews in mass upon arrival with an elaborate hygienic hoax of disinfection.
The German names for these places are Chelmo, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Maldenek, and Auschwitz.
But Auschwitz is in a class by itself.
At once the biggest asphyxiation center, the biggest corpse-robbing center, and the biggest slave-factory center in all of German-ruled Europe.
You can't see it now, but in the Spring all of this grass and flowers.
Please.
Where is the chief engineer? Our chief engineer Herr Pruefer.
Standartenfuhrer Blobel.
Heil Hitler, Herr Standartenfuhrer.
Herr Pruefer's with Topf and Son.
l know the firm.
When do we fire? We start the blowers in an hour, ignition shortly thereafter.
Everything ready for your approval.
How many will this hold, 2,000-3,000? Yes.
210 square meters.
And the other three installations? Approximately the same.
Depending on the special requirements, on a 24-hour basis, you could conceivably process as many as 60,000.
The escape.
It's on.
When? Tomorrow night.
Come.
The zyclon-b caps dropped in from above.
And the gas comes out through this wire netting.
The furnace room.
Efficient.
Examination and collection.
Gold teeth.
Hair.
Once finished in the other room, the disposables are taken here and inserted for combustion.
Adults.
Two or three at a time.
Children.
Four or five.
Three-stage furnaces.
Stage one.
Powerful electric motors force air to stage two.
Lumber and waste oil create such super heat that the disposables in stage three, in burning, turn to fuel themselves, speeding up combustion time by a factor of three.
The capacity? Theoretically, in a 24-hour period, 3,000, and in all four facilities between 8,000 or 9,000.
Your chimney linings won't take such heat.
Special super-tested ceramic bricks.
We guarantee the linings.
Well, l do things differently, more simply, but, uh [speaking German.]
in actuality, the highest dally number ever to be gassed and cremated will occur in 1944 during the extermination of the Hungarian Jews.
in one day- 24,000 men, women, and children.
How did he get these pictures? The less you know, the better.
That swine engineer.
Civilian idiot in his comfortable tweed overcoat and English shoes.
One month behind in delivery.
Tests postponed twice.
He needs a few months in Auschwitz.
Straight to the political block.
Surely not flame throwers? So inefficient.
So wasteful.
Some of these pits were dug in 1940.
Those old bodies just won't burn, yet the orders from Berlin are to eradicate all traces of mass graves.
My dear Kommandant, that's exactly what my Kommando 1005 is doing all over Poland and Russia.
Let me give you some tips.
You are a gentleman, a man of culture.
Not like those damn paper pushers from Berlin.
l am an architect by profession.
Let me at least give you a good dinner.
Dinner? Maybe a little drop first.
l thought you would never say it.
My compliments, Frau Hoess.
The finest wine, the best food l have eaten since before the war.
Such a distinguished guest.
Oh, what a lovely cake.
Inga, [speaking German.]
Hannah is a wonderful cook, too.
You like chocolate cake, eh, Hans? Ja.
Special treat.
He got an ''A'' in German today.
An ''A.
'' That's very good.
What for? Sir, for reciting Schiller's poem, Die Glockner.
[siren.]
Of all times.
Excuse me.
Well, why don't we all eat our dessert? [siren.]
[bell clanging.]
Get up, you bastards! Who? l don't know.
Get out! Get out! Let him go! Let him go! Stop it! [speaking German.]
Two hours.
Heads will roll if they don't catch him.
This has been a continual problem, hasn't it, Rudy? Reichsfuhrer Himmler has mentioned it on a number of occasions.
[ring.]
Yes.
Yes.
Splendid.
Where? No.
Well done.
Well done.
Caught him.
Wait till you hear this.
He tried to get out in the latrine wagon.
Three men had to take turns hosing him off.
And, Paul, l wish you could see what we do with these escaped prisoners.
We dress them up in a clown suit.
We'll hang a sign on them- ''Hurrah! l am back.
'' [laughs.]
[speaking German.]
An escape that fails is good for discipline.
Haig & Haig.
l still can't get over it, such luxury.
Plenty more where that comes from.
You should see what these Jews bring with them.
As a gift to you, a case along with decent brandy and some Havana cigars will be delivered to your airplane.
Fine, Rudy, fine.
Thank you.
Now sit down.
Let's talk business.
Auschwitz is supposed to supply my Kommando 1005 with workers.
Correct? Yes, of course.
Well, you have been sending me rubbish! They don't last three weeks.
l need strong men.
500 able-bodied Jews in the next shipment, Rudy.
500, or the Reichs Fuhrer and l will have to have another little talk.
Crematorium.
What about it? The guys who built it, the Klinger gang.
Best fellows I've got.
400 or 500 of them due for immediate liquidation.
You can get four five solid months work out of those guys before l get rid of them.
Will that do? Fine, Rudy.
That will be fine.
Excellent.
Haig & Haig.
Just another postponed sentence of death.
The guy in the labor section told me escapes are easier from 1005.
Yeah? You got the film? Yeah.
The address in Prague? God be with us.
Amen.
The battle for Guadalcanal is in its fourth month.
Despite the heavy toll, the United States is gradually gaining the upper hand.
The Japanese have lost over 20,000 of their best troops, 500 aircraft, 15 warships, and large numbers of transports and troop carriers.
The United States- 2,000 dead or missing, 300 aircraft, 20 combat vessels including the fleet carriers, Hornet and Wasp, and, like the Japanese, many more transports and troop ships.
So many ships of both sides have been sunk that the marines dug in on the island call the waters off Guadalcanal ''iron bottom sound.
'' And the end is not yet in sight.
We're zeroing in now.
Our salvos are bracketing them.
November 30, 1942.
American naval intelligence has learned that the Tokyo express is steaming again.
This time, a force of heavily escorted Japanese transports to reinforce with fresh troops, their starved, sick, doomed garrison ashore off Tassafaronga Point.
And Admiral Halsey has ordered Task Force 67, five cruisers, six destroyers, to intercept and destroy.
Relatively new to the South Pacific, Admiral Wright, Task Force Commander, ignores hard information that the Japanese carry an engineering marvel, the long-lance torpedo, capable of striking with deadly accuracy at 20,000 yards.
He has closed to well within that range before opening fire.
Caught by surprise, the Japanese have but one option- a desperation, murderous shotgun blast of long-lance torpedoes.
And within minutes, Tassafaronga turns into one of the worst disasters the American navy will experience in the course of World War ll.
Front rudder aye, aye, sir.
The new course is 090.
New course 090.
Aye, aye, sir.
Oh, my God, Captain.
The Pensacola, too.
Three heavy cruisers.
For one Jap destroyer.
Three magnificent ships.
Belay that change of course.
All ahead full.
Left full rudder.
All ahead full, sir.
Left full rudder on.
Left, sir? Yes.
This is total disaster.
We straddled those bastards with our last salvo.
They're in sight.
I'm closing.
Radar shows range to target 11,000 and closing.
Torpedoes! Torpedoes on the port bow bearing 350! Left full rudder.
Left full rudder aye, sir! Port back full! Aye, sir! lf we swing fast enough, we'll comb them.
This is the Captain speaking.
Flood magazines on number three turret and jettison 5-inch ready ammo.
Repeat.
Flood magazines on number three turret and jettison 5-inch ready ammo.
Acknowledge.
All ahead 1/3, sir.
What have we got? Not good, Captain.
We got three propeller shafts stopped, communication and power failing, oil and water flooding the fourth and fifth decks.
We've got to hold together till we get to Tulagi 18 miles.
Seal off the main fuel bunkers.
Aft fire room.
Secure all fuel and steam lines.
Pump overboard all port holder ballasts.
Sir, shaft port commander aboard Honolulu.
Griffin, Griffin, this is Hawkeye.
Over.
Pug, is that you? Yes, Admiral.
How you doing, fellow? You look pretty bad from over here.
I've got one engine and one propeller, Admiral.
We've got a chance.
Admiral Wright thinks his group can make Tulagi.
They're still making steam.
We're effecting repairs as we go.
We'll head for Tulagi.
That's one hell of a fire there.
Yes.
We're fighting it.
Do you require assistance? No, Admiral.
Radar shows these bandits retiring westward.
I'll sweep around Savo island with my destroyers and engage them.
Now listen, Pug.
lf you need help, holler.
I'll send you my small boys.
Aye, aye.
Good hunting.
It's been one hellish night.
Yes, sir, it has.
Good luck, Pug.
Thank you, sir.
What's the list now? 18 degrees, sir.
We'd better lie to.
Lie to? l just got her on course.
lf we can keep her afloat till dawn, we might make Tulagi.
Shoring is giving way, sir.
Then do we let her drift filling up with seawater? I'll take some turns off the engines.
No matter what, we won't hold out the sea.
Captain, the lube supply is failing.
The pumps can't overcome the list.
Maybe l will ask the Admiral for a couple of destroyers.
l guess you should.
I'm going below and see for myself.
Ask Griffin for those destroyers.
Tell him we're afire, dead in the water, and down hard by the stern.
Aye, aye, sir.
Griffin, griffin, this is Hawkeye.
Over.
The destroyers are on their way, Captain.
Very well.
Prepare to abandon ship.
But, sir - we've done everything we can.
She's not making it.
We better get the wounded off.
Aye, aye, sir.
Now hear this.
All hands, prepare to abandon ship.
Repeat.
Prepare to abandon ship.
Captain? Last of the logs and codes, sir.
Crew is mustered at abandon ship stations.
Count is taken of killed, missing, wounded.
Roster is complete.
As complete as it can be, sir.
Okay, Jim.
Abandon ship.
Aye, aye, sir.
Abandon ship.
Abandon ship.
Pass the word forward.
Abandon ship.
After you, sir.
No.
Oh, I'm not going down with her.
Couldn't do much for the war under 400 fathoms.
l rounded up volunteers.
lf we can keep her afloat till dawn, we might get a towline on her.
I'd like to volunteer.
Some pumps are still working.
lf l could counter flood - Negative, Commander Grigg.
You're needed in the boats.
Aye, aye, sir.
What was that last count? 54, Captain.
Dead or missing.
217 wounded.
We should have hauled ass like the Honolulu.
No, sir.
You couldn't have done anything else.
You couldn't let the bastards get off scott-free.
On your way, Jim.
I'll miss Thenora-maru, sir.
Jim.
Here.
You take the battle flag.
Fly it on your next command.
Aye, aye, sir.
Go ahead.
Over the side with you.
Those destroyers have started fishing our men out.
Yeah.
[explosion.]
Chief, she could capsize any minute.
I'm afraid you're right.
Let's abandon ship.
Aye, aye, sir.
Abandon ship.
Let's go! Abandon ship.
Move it.
Abandon ship.
Captain.
Get moving, chief.
You heard the boss man.
Let's go! Over the side! Keep it moving.
Steady! Next one.
All right.
Cast off.
Aye, aye, sir.
Cast off.
Captain.
Captain, she looks like she's starting to go.
Johnson, flag to.