Director：Sam Peckinpah｜Cast：James Coburn / Maximilian Schell / James Mason｜UK / West Germany｜1977

In 1943 on the Russian front, decorated soldier Rolf Steiner is promoted to sergeant after a successful mission. His squad is assigned arrogant Prussian Captain Stransky as their new commander. After a brutal battle where Steiner's unit defeats Russian forces, the cowardly Stransky falsely claims leadership of the victory to pursue the Iron Cross for personal glory. He names Steiner and Lieutenant Triebig as witnesses, but Steiner refuses to endorse the lie. When retreat orders arrive, Stransky deliberately withholds them from Steiner's squad, abandoning them to face encircling enemy forces alone in a desperate fight for survival. The story explores military hierarchy clashes and moral integrity amid war's brutality.