Band of Brothers

It was three years since Lewis Nixon and I decided to join the paratroops.

And more than a year since we went 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 will you do after this? - Get some breakfast.

No. After, after.

Funny you should mention it. 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 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 your interview goes, but a man of your qualifications...

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

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.

The heads of the Third Reich had houses there.

Though Hitler was dead, he had ordered the SS...

...to mount a guerilla resistance against the Allied advance from it.

The first step was blocking the roads.

- When do the engineers arrive? - Half an hour ago.

We're stuck here until they do, Nix.

If you're the SS, you won't let us waltz into Hitler's house.

Probably throw rocks yourself.

Easy Company is willing to find another way up.

Duly noted. I recommended you to Col. Sink.

- Let's find out where Hitler lived. - Ron.

We don't know what's there. The colonel doesn't want us taking risks.

So the French will beat us to the Eagle's Nest?

I just had a talk with Gen. LeClerc.

He said he was first into Paris and wanted to be first into Berchtesgaden.

Told him I understood his point.

Now you outflank that French son of a bitch.

Yes, sir.

Easy Company leads. Assemble on the Autobahn.

Yes, sir.

Eerie.

Not even any natives.

That's because in this town you can't deny being a true Nazi.

- What do you mean? - 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.

Whoever comes after us will take what isn't nailed down.

Well. Wouldn't want that to happen.

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

- Maj. Winters. Sir. - More.

- Permission to climb the mountain? - What is this?

Wait one minute.

Have F Company guard the hotel. Set up roadblocks west of town.

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

- Sgt. Grant. - And Harry...

...nobody gets hurt, not now.

And Easy?

Easy will head up through the Obersalzburg...

...and take the Eagle's Nest.

Hi-yo, Silver!

Yeah! Currahee!

The Eagle's Nest was Hitler's birthday present, 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 he was afraid of heights.

Here's to him.

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 did with the place. Have a drink.

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

Listen up.

From Corps, just came in. "All troops stand fast on present positions."

- Standing fast. - What does that mean?

Wanna hear it?

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

I got a present for you. Come on.

Is it? Yeah?

- What is this place? - Goering's house.

We found it yesterday. Had it on guard since.

- I'll vouch for that. - Eager to get off duty?

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

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

...helped Easy Company mark the day the war in Europe ended.

It's all yours.

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

We're going to Austria. You don't have to leave anything.

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

Yeah.

V-E Day?

Victory in Europe.

Happy V-E Day.

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

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.

What will happen to us, to people like you and me...

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

Have your men collect weapons.

Leave them at the church, school and 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 Army and Marine force dead mark the battlefield of Okinawa...

...where a bloody engagement is being fought.

Thousands of Yanks have been wounded or sacrificed their lives...

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

The Yanks progress slowly, facing one of the fiercest barrages of the war.

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

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

The going is brutal and casualties are high...

...but Okinawa is the next 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 have enough points to go home.

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

I think most of us here will have enough.

Each of us will decide what to do. I don't know how long we'll wait...

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

That means rifle ranges. Daily close-order drills.

Troop reviews. Above all, physical training. Get your NCOs on it.

They're gonna love you.

What are you crouching 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 wrong? Tired of eating dried-up spuds three times a day?

I got an idea. Why don't we just shoot Bull 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. Seems they want me to stay around a while.

- 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 knows many veterans, including Normandy veterans...

...do not have the 85 points needed to be discharged.

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

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

For Easy Company, the winner is...

Come on, come on, come on.

...serial number 13066266.

- Sgt. Darrell C. Powers. - Shifty.

That's how it's done, Shifty.

Congratulations, Shifty.

Sgt. Grant will see 2nd Platoon takes over the checkpoint...

...beginning tonight at 2200.

- So much for our anniversary. - No shit.

Gen. Taylor also announced the 101st Airborne Division...

...will definitely be redeployed to the Pacific.

So beginning tomorrow at 0600, we will begin training to go to war.

Come in.

I don't mean to interrupt you, sir. I just wanted to say goodbye.