Band of Brothers

It was more than 3 years since Lewis Nixon...

...and I decided to join the paratroops.

And more than a year since we'd first gone to war.

Not knowing what would happen to us. How long we'd be fighting.

Where we'd end up.

I certainly didn't expect to find myself in a place like this.

I thought it might be you.

Morning.

I heard reports about a redheaded Eskimo.

Thought I'd check it out.

Come to join me for a morning swim?

Yeah. You know me so well.

Here. It's from Zielinski.

Oh, great.

What is that?

Ran into the regimental photographer.

Said he had all these photographs of the 506th...

...going all the way back to Toccoa.

- I traded them for a couple of Lugers. - That's a bargain.

- What do you think you'll do after this? - Get some breakfast.

No. After, after.

Well, it's funny you should mention it because I had a meeting with Col. Sink.

- Really? - Yeah.

Yeah, discussed the possibility of staying.

In the Army?

Yeah. Yeah, as a career.

What'd you say?

I said I'd think about it.

- What do you think about New Jersey? - New Jersey?

There's a company in Nixon, New Jersey. It's called Nixon Nitration Works.

- Sounds picturesque. - Yeah, well...

...oddly enough, I know the owners.

Probably gonna expect me to make something of myself.

I thought maybe I'd drag you with me.

Are you offering me a job?

We'll see how you do in your interview, but a man of your qualifications...

...I think can probably scrape something up commensurate with your current salary level.

Yeah, I'll think about it.

I... I really appreciate it.

Yeah, just think about it.

Yeah.

Job offers.

Hard to fathom.

And the war wasn't even over.

I was still getting used to hot showers and morning swims.

We'd entered Bavaria in early May with the hopes of capturing Berchtesgaden.

This famous town, high in the Alps, was the Nazi Party's symbolic home.

And all the heads of the Third Reich had houses there.

Although Hitler was dead, he had apparently ordered the SS...

...to make it their last stand from which to mount...

...a guerilla resistance against the Allied advance.

The first step was blocking the roads.

When are we expecting the engineers to arrive?

- Half an hour ago. - So we're stuck here until they do, Nix.

Well, if you're the SS, you're not gonna let us waltz into Hitler's house.

Probably throw a few rocks at us yourself.

If you're looking for someone to find another way up that mountain...

- ...Easy Company is ready and willing. - Duly noted.

I already recommended you to Col. Sink.

- Terrific. Let's go find out where Hitler lived. - Ron. We're not sure what's up there.

The colonel doesn't want us taking any unnecessary risks.

So the French are gonna beat us to the Eagle's Nest?

Gents, I just had a conversation with Gen. LeClerc.

He told me he was first into Paris and by God...

...he wanted to be first into Berchtesgaden.

Told him I understood his point.

Now you fire up 2nd Battalion and outflank that French son of a bitch.

Yes, sir.

I want Easy Company in the lead. Have the men assemble down on the Autobahn .

Yes, sir.

Eerie.

Not even any natives.

That's because this is the one town you can't deny being a true Nazi.

- What do you mean? Well, you have to be to live here.

We need to find some place we can put the colonel.

How about right there?

No, no.

Wow.

Kitty would love this.

How many brides get a wedding present from Hitler?

You wanna take half?

I can't carry all this.

You know, whoever comes in here after us is just gonna take whatever isn't nailed down.

- Well. Wouldn't want that to happen. - Heh-heh-heh.

- Nice. - Don't even think about it.

- Maj. Winters. Sir. - More.

Permission to climb the mountain, sir? Eagle's Nest?

- What is this? - Wait one minute.

Harry, have F Company put a double guard on the hotel.

Set up roadblocks on the west side of town.

I want Battalion HQ, seal off the north side, and prepare for prisoners.

- Sgt. Grant. - And Harry...

...nobody gets hurt, not now.

And Easy?

Easy will head up the mountain through the Obersalzburg...

...and take the Eagle's Nest.

Hi-yo, Silver!

Yeah! Currahee!

The Eagle's Nest was a surprise birthday present for Hitler...

...built with Nazi party money.

A mountaintop stone retreat 8000 feet up...

...accessible by a gold-plated elevator.

It was one of the crown jewels of his empire...

...and the man was afraid of heights.

Here's to him.

Ha-ha-ha. No, goddamn it, listen.

Hitler, Hitler... No.

Hitler, Himmler, Goering, Goebbels and the pope walk into a bar...

- Because he drinks too much... That's how it starts.

Hey, Adolf! Love your Eagle's Nest. I hope you don't mind.

We made ourselves at home. Love what you done with the place. Hey, have a drink.

Come on. Just so we can say we saw you do it.

Listen up.

From Corps, just came in. Effective immediately.

"All troops stand fast on present positions."

- Standing fast. - What does that mean?

Wanna hear it? Mm-hm?

Ready for it? Listen up. German army's surrendered.

I got a present for you. Come on.

Is it? Yeah?

What is this place? Hermann Goering's house.

We discovered it yesterday. Had it on double guard ever since.

I can vouch for that, sir. - Oh, anxious to get off duty, O'Keefe?

No, there's just so much to see and do, sir.

10,000 bottles of the world's finest liquor, wine and champagne...

...helped Easy Company mark the day the war in Europe came to an end.

It's all yours.

Take what you want and then have each company take a truckload.

We're heading for Austria in the morning...

...but don't feel you have to leave anything here for whoever comes here next.

- Austria, sir? - Happy V-E Day.

Yeah.

V-E Day?

Victory in Europe.

Happy V-E Day.

Instead of an aggressive combat unit, we became an occupation force.

And no one wanted to leave Berchtesgaden. Until they saw Austria.

So you reckon they'll make us run up those or ski down them?

Hey, how are you? Need a hand there?

Hi! Hi! He loves you.

Hey, lady, how are you?

I think the war is over!

We'll be comfortable here.

I wonder what will happen to us, to people like you and me...

...when there are finally no more wars to occupy us?

Have all your men collect the weapons.

Deposit them at the church, the school and at the airfield.

Very well.

Please accept this as my formal surrender, major.

It is better than to lay it on the desk of a clerk.

You may keep your sidearm, colonel.

Heroic dead of a combined Army and Marine force...

...mark the grim battlefield of Okinawa...

...where one of the bloodiest engagements of the war is being fought.

Thousands of Yanks have been wounded and thousands have sacrificed their lives...

Hey, Sharpe.

...to drive a fanatical foe from this vital base.

Along the Jap's southern defense line, the Yanks progress slowly...

...facing one of the fiercest artillery barrages of the war.

Each small advance is gained by sheer grit in the face of withering fire...

...from a suicidal enemy being slowly hammered back into the hills.

The going is brutal and our casualties are high...

...but Okinawa is the next big step towards victory over Japan.

A victory that can only be won by work, war bonds and heroic sacrifice.

- So when are we going? - We don't have a date yet.

Are we to tell the men right away?

Some of them will have enough points to go home instead.

Not many, if their only medal's a Purple Heart.

I think most of us here will have enough.

And each of us will have to decide what to do.

I don't know how long we're waiting here for orders...

...but I want those veterans who are staying, and all new replacements, ready to fight.

That means rifle ranges. That means daily close-order drills.

That means troop reviews. But above all, it means physical training.

Get your NCOs on it.

They're gonna love you.

What are you crouching down for, Perco?

- Think the deer's gonna shoot back? - Leave me alone.

How about y'all just shut up. Let Shifty kill us some dinner.

What's the matter, Bull? You tired of eating dried-up spuds three times a day?

Hey, you know what, I got an idea. Why don't we just shoot Bull here...

...and feed the company for a week?

Oh, goddamn it, Shifty.

You let him get away. Army ought to be glad to be rid of you.

I wish, you know. Seems they want me to stay around a while.

- You serious? - How many points you need?

- Fifteen. - Fifteen?

Jesus Christ, I thought I had it bad.

No Purple Hearts, never was injured.

Company! Platoon!

Attention!

Right shoulder...

...arms!

Order...

...arms!

At ease.

Gen. Taylor is aware that many veterans, including Normandy veterans...

...still do not have the 85 points required to be discharged.

On this, the anniversary of D-Day, he has authorized a lottery...

...to send one man home in each company, effective immediately.