Breakthrough 1979

Starting in late May 1944, during the German retreat on the Eastern Front, Captain Stransky, Helmut Griem, orders Sergeant Steiner, Richard Burton, to blow up a railway tunnel to prevent Russian forces from using it. Steiner’s platoon runs into trouble when a Russian tank halts their mission, and after this setback he takes a furlough to Paris just as the Allies launch their invasion of Normandy.

Steiner’s unit is then moved to France, where they occupy the village of St Bologne. General Hofmann, Curd Jürgens, instructs Steiner to cross into nearby enemy territory and confer with American Colonel Rogers, Robert Mitchum, and General Webster, Rod Steiger. They reveal that the High Command of the Wehrmacht is plotting to assassinate Hitler and would welcome a surrender. The plan falters, and American forces proceed to attack German positions in St Bologne, a town that Stransky has targeted with an explosion intended to wipe out both the Americans and the civilian population.

Colonel Rogers and Sergeant Anderson, Michael Parks, take a jeep with a white flag and approach St Bologne. The Germans fire on them, acting on Stransky’s orders. Rogers and Anderson retreat to the tanks, and the Americans advance toward St. Bologne, unaware of the explosives that have been planted in the town.

Steiner urges Stransky not to proceed with the planned explosions. Stransky shoots Steiner and then leaves the scene.

The look-outs on the German side are killed. As the Americans enter the town square, the Germans prepare to trigger the dynamite. Steiner, still alive, disconnects the main switch that would detonate the explosives. He climbs the stairs, defeats the German soldiers, and shoots Stransky, saving Rogers’ life. The Germans then open fire on the tanks. Steiner helps move civilians out of the crossfire. The remaining Germans surrender.

Steiner walks through the burning town. One of the German soldiers shoots Anderson, and Steiner returns fire, killing the assailant and once again saving Rogers.

Throughout these events, Steiner’s actions reveal a clear tilt toward the Americans, showing sympathy that goes beyond duty and into personal restraint and mercy, even when it means standing against his own unit.