Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SCRIPT:
FADE IN:
1. INTRO:
NARRATOR
As the second winter of the German
invasion of the Soviet Union comes to
a close in 1943, the German army finds
itself occupying essentially the same
positions as the previous year. In
February, Field Marshal von Mansteins
bold counteroffensive to stop the
onrushing Soviets after the fall of
2.DESPERATE GAMBLE
NARRATOR
For the German army the last few
months of intense training and
preparation are ready to be put to the
[German]
COLONEL
[Russian]
SENIOR LIEUTENANT
...Morale remains good, Comrade Major.
The protivotankovye opornye punkty
(antitank resistance points) are as
well situated as possible. Machine
pistol ammunition is still low,
however.
(to the German lines)
Strange. Its been unusually quiet all
morning...Last nights sweeps didnt
detect anything odd-
MAJOR
Our reconnaissance isnt always
as...inquisitive as it should be.
(scoffing)
Razvedka Boem (reconnaissance in
force)...No matter. Soon, I suspect.
SENIOR LIEUTENANT
Yes, Comrade Major.
(looking to his watch)
Im not sure if well see anything
coming this late in the day. Its been
like this since we went to full alert
three days ago. Tomorrow
perhaps...Fritz likes to launch his
offensives in the morning...The
battalion will need rest soon. The men
are becoming fatigued-
MAJOR
Absolutely not. General Baksovs
orders were clear. Full alert! Full
vigilance! We are gvardeytsy
(guardsmen) and I intend to see we
live up to that title! Maskirovka...
(implying the well-camouflaged troops
with a wry smirk)
(MONDAY, JULY 5)
[Russian]
ROKOSSOVSKY
(on phone)
Yes...Yes. I understand.
ROKOSSOVSKY
That was General Pukhov. Another yazyk
(tongue) was just picked up from a
mine-clearing patrol south of Tagino
with more hard information. Storys
the same as the others weve been
picking up tonight...The enemy looks
to be preparing to go over to the
offensive at 0330 -after a short
artillery barrage...What shall we do?
Inform Stavka or issue orders for the
preliminary bombardment ourselves?
ZHUKOV
(understanding the situation)
We cant waste time. Give the order
according to plan, and I will call
Stalin and report the information.
MALININ
Ill get General Boikov...
While scores of German infantry settle into their jumpoff positions, a few tankers smoke and chat quietly
before mounting their waiting vehicles. Spaced throughout
the attack zone, German artillery batteries and crews
idle along side piles of ammunition and supplies brought
forward with horse-drawn supplies.
NARRATOR
Expending roughly half of 13th Armys
initial complement of artillery
shells, the Soviet bombardment
essentially delays the German
offensive by two hours but does little
[Russian]
PILOT #1
(to himself)
Perfect. Complete surprise...
NARRATOR
With this single largest air battle of
the war, the Soviets limp away after
losing more than 120 aircraft out of a
total of 417 while the German losses
were unusually minor; around 26. This
unexpected victory allows the German
Fourth Air Fleets VIII Air Corps the
opportunity to provide tactical air
superiority for the entire southern
front.
NARRATOR
With months of extensive training and
preparation behind it, XXXXVIII Panzer
Corps moves into final positions
around the Sumy-Belgorod railway and
the Vorskolets river.
[German]
LAUCHERT
(half emerging from the
cupola on radio)
VOICE ON RADIO
More land mines! Weve apparently run
through another unswept field.
(ricochetting explosion)
Damn!...Radio communication continues
to be a problem as does command and
control. Along the ridge the infantry
has been forced to move up without us.
Second battalions run up against
determined antitank fire- Battalion
strength...
LAUCHERT
(into radio)
Point 210.7 must be taken as rapidly
as possible! First and second
battalions will need to link up!
(listening)
No! No! The vehicles are too bunched
up. The attack front must be
broadened; no less than fifty meters
between each vehicle! The flanks are
becoming too exposed...Get what
vehicles can be moved out of the
LAUCHERT
I need a battery of Nebelwerfer
brought up immediately! Well need to
lay smoke to the front and-
VOICE ON RADIO
Panther II-01 hit. Battalion commander
seriously wounded.
14.
NARRATOR
While the southern German attack is
organized around armor attacking head
of infantry, the attack in the north
is essentially the opposite.
Ninth Armys commander, ColonelGeneral Model, reasons that the
infantry will initially force openings
through which the panzers will race
before driving deep into the Soviet
rear. As a result, his opening moves
see the committal of 9 divisions along
a 50 kilometer front; 8 of which are
infantry. In an attempt to confuse the
Soviets as to the main point of
attack, Model orders General Johannes
Freissners XXIII Corps to make the
opening attack into the enemys first
defensive belt. Striking into the
boundary between the Soviet 13th and
48th Armies, Freissner makes for the
important road junction of
[Russian]
PRIVATE 1
(mesmerized)
Gavno! Theyre enormous.
CORPORAL
Quiet! Just remember the last few
months of training and youll be
alright. Settle down! Vision slits,
tracks- anything that can immobilize
it. Bigger guns will destroy it later.
Should some tanks end up behind us,
you will continue focusing on the ones
to the front. Keep your Ball Charges
at the ready...On my order. Theyre
through the trenches we vacated this
morning.
(looking to a target sketch
map)
500 meters...The surrounding
peteerovtsy (antitank rifleman) will
give support-
PRIVATE 2
Hunchbacks!
CORPORAL
Now! Za Rodinu!