Mum's Monday: Battle of the Bulge

After a not so successful start, one scared German and a load of tanks missed, Col. Hessler (Robert Shaw) arrives at a, what can only be described as a ‘Bombed out town’ with a very well kitted out bunker underneath.

This bunker not only has a crystal chandelier and art work on the walls, it has the German’s latest ideas of weapons, that they describe as ‘Toys’. There is a flaw in having all this equipment as we will see later on in the film and I will mention in this review.

This part is told by the German point of view it is clever how they think they have the upper hand over the Americans. The script is well written.

The Americans now are analysing the information they have collected and planning the next step. It is good to see they are not defeated.

The singing is a light-hearted part of this film and a good example of how the German’s were. While the Americans and the British are working on strategies for the war effort the Germans sang and put themselves on high esteem.

Now we meet Sgt. Guffy (Telly Savalas) he intends to make a profit from the war. This film has covered many aspects of the people in world war two.

It is sad to hear that ‘Hunches don’t work in a war’ sometimes they do as history has taught us. For the purpose of this film they couldn’t have the character’s act on a hunch.

There are little snippets we are fed through-out this film regarding the large tanks and the quantity the Germans have and the pitfall. In this part the German prisoners have rubber hoses. This could make you keep watching, unless you can work out the significance of them quite quickly. This is clever either way.

It is good to see the Americans find out what the deceitful Germans dressed as MPs have been up to or not as the bridge hasn’t been blown.

Sgt. Guffy is still out to make a profit, but it is not wise to question how a woman has made so much money. It is sad to see Sgt. Guffy doesn’t feel the same way about her as she him.

Some of the scenes have been unrealistically quickened up like a car scene at the beginning and the train scene now further on.

It seems the Americans are happy to fly cake across the ocean. In a twist Col. Hessler thinks he can break the American spirit with this information. The script is a little twisted and complicated, but I can see the outcome that the Americans are not going to accept defeat.

It is nice to see the nuns acquire what they requested, Col. Hessler showing compassion, sadly, and tragically it doesn’t last long. I don’t agree that the father should suffer the consequences of his son’s actions, not in this case anyway.

It is good to see that Col. Hessler beginning to crack, quoting the ‘Geneva Convention’ helps. Luckily he hasn’t time for prisoners.

It seems the Germans are in need of Gasoline; we now see the flaw in having all them tanks. What a great reply ‘NUTS’. I agree the Americans shouldn’t help the enemy. The reply is simple and effective.

It is heart-warming to see the soldier that escaped the shooting is reunited with a group of soldiers, he quickly finds his purpose again.

The Americans have worked out the German army’s weakness, they are running out of Gas.

How much risk should you take on a surveillance mission? In this case a lot, but the information they collect is very much beneficial, sadly, tragedy strikes.

Let the battle commence. It is clever how weapons are not the only effective battle strategy. ‘Sacrificing their armour’ so the Germans use up even more fuel they can’t spare is a pretty good idea.

Once the German army is at the fuel depot, it doesn’t mean they will get their tanks filled up. after trying to deter someone from getting on your tank and then relenting, only to find out how useful they can be. The moral of this part, don’t dismiss someone too quickly. It is good to see the American soldiers work out that the depot needs to be blown. We find out the German soldiers weren’t going to carry out the orders they received.

Gasoline can be effective in more ways than one, and now the German soldiers are walking back to Germany.

If you get a chance you can visit the area where the Battle of the Bulge took place. I have been on some coach trips, where on the way home, we have travelled between Luxenberg, through Belgium and covering the battle field, and then on to Calais France to catch the ferry back to Dover.