He was a simple soldier, an infantryman or a boy, I suppose.

He was quite young, having joined the Hitler Youth early, maybe age 11 or so.

Hitler had made quite an impression on young Reinhold Schulz, just as he had on the rest of the population.

So my infantry service started later in the war.

My parents were very proud of me, though I must say that my training with the Hitler.

Union was tempered a bit by my father and mother's political views.

Most people felt Hitler started off doing good things for Germany.

What I mean to say is that we believed.

But we were not fanatics.

Hitler's propaganda machine held wartime Germany in a tight grip.

It was something.

Well, it was like hypnosis.

But by the time Reinhold was put into his service uniform, he was beginning to become aware that things with Hitler were not as advertised.

Still, he was loyal.

It was best to be loyal.

However, soon cracks began to form.

In the future, his plans and his grip on the country was weakening.

But Reinhold remained steadfast.

It is hard to explain.

He was a young man from Tennessee.

It wasn't unusual after Pearl Harbor for a young man like him to lie about his age in order to serve in the war.

It was the right thing to do to fight for your country and do your duty against the enemy.

He killed his first man with a knife.

Not long after landing in North Africa.

I had no choice.

It was more enemy resistance.

When we landed in Sicily.

I was lucky and learned a lot about how to survive.

Our unit was then sent to England for additional training.

Eventually, we learned we were going to Normandy.

Take part in the D-Day invasion.

Having already experienced so much war and he learned how to bury his emotions.

His nerves, however, were much like a wire stretched to its limit.

Although an experienced soldier and steeled for battle, he still had no perception of what awaited him on that beach.

Getting on to Omaha Beach was a grim task.

It's complete chaos.

Your head is buried in the sand.

Looking around at all the dead bodies and devastation.

It's like you are someone else entirely an observer, disconnected.

Keep moving.

Get off that beach very quickly.

He found himself separated from his unit.

I wound up assisting a corpsman.

Litters on the beach.

It's madness.

Along with the noise of the battle.

The word I heard most was medic shouted, screamed continuously dying soldiers calling out for their mothers.

As I got older, age 15 or 16, school for me was part letters and numbers, part adventures.

You can imagine what the Hitler young men were being taught.

It wasn't long before activities were more of a military nature.

When American bombers flew over, we'd leave the classroom and help load guns.

They were being schooled to define courage.

They were learning to survive.

We shot down more than one bomber during this time.

B 24 crashed near our gunman place.

It was the first time I saw a dead enemy.

This made things real for me.

Germany was running low on experienced soldiers.

This is one reason the Hitler Youth were thrown into battle, sometimes as virtual cannon fodder.

Many of the boys were fierce fanatic.

3000 died just in the invasion of Normandy.

America helped out on the beach.

I noticed him later crawling into a minefield to save six injured men.

Got five out safely.

Last one reached out to him, hit a bouncing Betty mine.

The medic managed to crawl away.

Cover up for second trigger.

Let go when it did.

A soldier just disappeared.

We cheered the death of that young bomber crew inside.

I felt sorry for them.

They lived to be about the same age as me.

But I cheered along with the rest.

Those who did not show their loyalty often times simply disappeared behind Omaha Beach struck me as hell on earth.

Fighting through, it seemed, the very definition of courage.

Dead, gone.

Men everywhere.

Bullets followed.

The water shells exploded in a constant barrage that turned the sand into almost seemed like a living thing over ever changing.

On the water.

On the sand.

In the air.

For God's sake.

Liberty and justice for all.

It's hard to feel the presence of God in the midst of slaughter.

You can pray to him.

You can ask him for help or forgiveness or mercy if you're wounded.

But since his presence, regardless, there was a lot of praying.

Years and years of war have savaged the people we condemn.

The man still, we are made to feel all this GSP lost and for what not.

By the time the Battle of the Bulge rolled around, Germans were as my daddy, You say, hanging on like ticks to dull.

Sometimes.

I swear I wanted to kill them all.

December 1944 and opposing troops converged for what was to be the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War Two was War.

Change to kill.

Kill, kill, kill.

But whose name is it?

Bullets kill the German.

Despite the fact that the Allies had managed to gain a strong foothold in Western Europe, Germany was still resisting, hoping to inflict heavy casualties and change the flow of the war.

Hitler's army was concentrating his forces for a decisive counterattack near the Ardennes forest along the French and Belgium border.

That was to become the Battle of the Bulge.

Then go get the bastards you bold muscle shunting this gun on America's.

You are traitor.

Traitor.

Later, I am a soldier of the German army.

100% French for Thomas in the have sung page of 18 zero C. So why do you have this when I pray for you, my little brother.

I suppose now you are fighting with the resistance.

We no longer tilt your way.

Never high.

Have been hiding in the barn on and off, along with the most hideous rights you ever saw.

Course I could not let on in front of the Russian you children.

This scared me after death.

Summer, I said.

Oh, la la.

They are so big one.

Suppose we should give him a name?

They named the ugly thing Jaclyn performs in.

Thank you, children.

And I did.

I tell you, come tomorrow to bicycle all this way just to be sure I was safe.

Of course, it would be a foolish soldier who tried to confiscated bike.

Scram.

I hope you both have it.

I'm going to sleep in tonight.

Please.

But you have to know.

I swear I don't.

I have not my brother.

We're not sitting right here with us.

I would tell you how much I miss you.

But from now with, I shall make the wheelbarrow and £60 and go.

I'm counting the days.

Anyway, the Germans have finally left the area.

So good to be safe again.

You see, they did not get any activity.

I brought it with me in the old pram.

You wish things were better.

Suffer.

Snowy weather means we can continue our support from the Allies.

Still to night is glorious.

And I pray that wherever you are, you Christmas star keeps you safe.

Chuckling.

Is it time to have that nice cheese you hid away to celebrate the crest birth?

Maybe.

What a clever guy you are.

Thank you.

No, thank you.

By the way, my taps apps.

You have noticed this rather strange of a cloud of talking to myself comes from being alone.

And this, of course it is senility.

Do not go away.

I should be back to Sweden.

I wish you one of these.

Nice touch towards new Bosnia.

Do you speak English?

Well, this.

There is no one here.

Do you see?

You do not see.

There are three places I could see this.

We have.

She says you are precious and I mean frightened.

Listen to me.

I am a soldier of the German army.

I have a knife on her.

But use it unless you come out with your hands up.

I miss you.

You are talking to a few.

Hold hands out in the barn.

I am giving you a chance.

Who is the one?

I can say.

And my brother are operating system.

So it is only that I noticed you are bleeding.

It is nothing.

I won't have you bleeding on my kitchen floor.

If you have put this knife aside for me, I will take care of it.

Need some antiseptic?

You course stole it out.

Some with vinegar.

What did you.

Oh, sorry.

I'm sorry.

Oh.

Oh, Should not be frightened.

Fallen.

I will not harm you.

You, you, you.

Somehow you will protect your.

I know it stings about nine.

If you do nothing should prevent infection.

I only go to look for a soft cloth.

I took some things while I was staying away.

Nights.

It has not been so good here.

Not good anywhere.

Yes, but it is here.

I'm talking about just the planes to destroy the roads, they said.

But everywhere else they bombed human beings never will forget this first scrutiny, then the people.

That was the worst broken people crying for a doctor to hit.

Oh, the people crying like babies for their mothers.

The bodies of children stir emotion.

Listen.

And when the German troops came, they were everywhere day and night.

Just finally, one morning, it was quite just many days since there were many German troops here.

So what are you doing?

Well, tell mothering me like this.

I have walked a very long way.

So the forest for many days, I suppose.

You have not eaten.

Yeah.

Christmas Eve.

No one should go hungry.

It is Christmas Eve.

You did not know.

Please eat.

Stay right where you walk.

Speaks English, Speak and understand well enough, monsieur.

So your absent French fighter is American?

I do not know him.

Please stay right where you are.

Both of you.

I only wish to tell you.

You don't need to tell me anything until I have looked around for my son.

Got taken in by a child.

I think you have nothing to show yourself to.

To.

I am a soldier of the German army.

Quiet about the German army base.

The holiday can not speak to me like that.

Yes, I think you both forget ways to go now.

Who are you and what's going on here?

I am Jacqueline Boulay and I live here.

I do not want any trouble in this house, so I would like everyone to come down.

You don't make the rules for me.

How long you've been in cahoots with the Nazi?

She was only helping.

The soldier came in here just as you do.

And since this Christmas Eve, I was giving him something to eat.

It's Christmas Eve.

And since this is my home, we will all sit right as we're going do.

I'll sit down.

Don't forget, guns don't have manners like this gun.

Scott.

The first last word here.

I was about to cut some right?

Of course.

It's not his fault.

We can get a few cheese.

It's good.

You got any vehicles around here in the side?

Not here.

We still use fasten wagon on the farm.

Okay.

You stay here with me.

I'm gonna need some provisions for the road, blankets, some sort of transport.

You got that straight.

Did you have in mind?

Do you fancy carriage?

We don't have to be fancy parties, Lucky.

Whatever goes fastest, that will be up to you, mister, since you will be pulling it yourself.

These slip.

I am market through days crap.

So if you're not for the enemy better picture.

I suggest you remember who your friends are.

Of course.

And if you do not speak to me that quick, it will be easier.

Sorry.

The morning's your fastest horse.

Dammit, Listen to me.

I see you've got some mountain.

That bone that's got legs.

So whatever it is, you should to wag, you know, make the best time I can show.

I want to explain me what's so funny.

You know, to me, this war is no joke.

I left because I am too tired to even feel much fear anymore.

I'm tired and hungry and lonely.

And I am so tired of this war when I try to pretend it's enjoying Christmas Eve.

What do I get you to?

So I hope a little smiling was permissible as a picture to be put through the countryside.

But your skinny little hands.

You said the red horses since so just came off.

I looked my cut and the chickens, which have said on this beautiful holy night you are all separated from your units lost in the forest.

Oh, no, I would not mind.

Not lost.

They know if I am, it will be very soon here.

Oh yeah.

They ready for a little skirmish?

I'm going to be here any minute.

Yeah.

So that's why you were so eager to get away.

Shut up!

What the hell are you doing?

They were carved by my grandfather, each one by hand.

On a Christmas Eve, we are allowed to place one finger in the creche.

One thing for good deed we have done during Advent.

We do it this way.

You see.

Blessed Mary.

I knew this night is difficult for you.

Do not be afraid.

This little sheep will keep your new baby warm and wise men are on their way.

Sheep is from me Jaclyn, fully earned by seeing her prize last night, even though she was very tired and this is from this year.

Your name?

Reinhold Schulz.

You know, as a good Kraut name.

His good deed is don't worry, you can use the same as mine.

He was also very tired last night, but.

I know he said his prayers and this is from this year.

Come.

Mary is waiting Miller Eddie Miller.

Miller.

You have also a good count name.

Miller As American as apple pie.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And you so this is of you are a traitor to fight against your own blood.

A grandfather came to the USA a long time ago, which makes me 100% American.

So you say something like that again.

We spit in your teeth.

You understand?

Stop.

He were not the enemies in this house.

Not to be enemies.

Which hopefully, yes, it can use in no position to take prisoners.

So as soon as it pleases, he is going to kill me and he will enjoy it.

It was heard perhaps because the Americans kept bombing the south of France.

Even then that was Alpha.

The need acceptable but enjoys a destruction and never stuff like that.

I can tell you what I have seen the Germans now late and everyone on sight, all for the glory of air fuel, raw.

I wish you could meet my Francois.

He believes that a war makes good people on all sides commit unspeakable atrocities.

And I believe he is right.

Well, if you stop playing enemy homes.

Not on this night, not on Christmas Eve.

Do you know what happened during the first war?

In the trenches on this night?

Crest on any given day here.

Eddie Miller, look here.

The Germans, they are the allies.

The Germans can be from across the field.

It is the British soldiers singing.

Silent Night, Holy Night.

Oh, so the British can hear the German singing, shouting and not.

I like both sides begin to sing together.

One by one, the men appear from the safety of their trenches.

The guns are quiet, The sounds of killing our still.

It is a silence night is surely good.

It tends to be the soldiers walk toward one another until they are close enough to say with that is the British soldiers would have said it this way in English.

Come, Eddie.

What did they say to the Germans?

Well, said.

Say to him.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Mercy.

And the Germans for Reinhard s lunch baloney.

No, just speaks the truth.

I remember hearing something from it.

Yes.

Very good to smile for a change.

They are so tired of the killing.

When men offer Cigarets as a gift to another his coins.

They shall photographs, the exchange, whatever they have seen.

These are my children.

These beautiful children are yours.

You are a lucky man.

And this is my beautiful wife.

Yes.

You can see she is as lovely as my wife.

You are a lucky man yourself.

Remember?

These are men taught to call one another the enemy.

So what happened.

Eventually they must return to their trenches.

Then what?

The next day they must resume fighting with one another.

You you your touching though stored no one.

You don't know a thing about love.

I had found out in a hurry that finishes up high school so we can have future.

Is that too much to expect?

Uncle Sam grabs you, shove you overseas before you know what hit you until you better go get the bastards before they get you the way.

A soldier walked right up to the bulletin.

Unless you're dead, you go see Things are going to give you not marriage for the rest of your life.

I can tell you.

I was right next to me.

Pieces of that all over me.

I've lost a cousin and a couple of bodies already.

So you could have come out of here.

Little Mary's waiting dream world.

Join the rest of us.

My parents caught in the crossfire.

Innocent victims of this war, we all know.

But whose innocent bullets killed them?

German, American, maybe even French were crossing a route.

My father is always walked with.

You see, since the first war, they told me that with within bullets started.

He tried, but was unable to move fast enough.

They cried to him, run, run!

He tried his best.

Mama.

She would not leave him.

They never heard a so one of them and I would never see them again.

Never.

No.

Listen to me, both of you.

It is Christmas Eve.

A good time to remember.

Yet is the enemy not people new to any of us?

So we are going to sit at this table and have some kind of a Christmas cup.

Everyone be thankful that we will not be enemies.

I do not know sometimes what Israel.

I barely remember what it is like to be clean, civilized, the same bitter.

Duncan wear clothes on with life, sit on toilet seat deep food for over here.

My hands are always covered with blood and filth.

Uh oh.

Tonight no one is the enemy.

When you leave, you will go peacefully on two separate parts without looking back.

I'm sorry.

It is not my festive for Christmas.

A course I expected no one here but myself.

You forgot the hand because.

I should have decorated.

I have known few hands when I decorations.

Because you protect our partner with the theater, you will have to fill them with snow instead of candy.

My very first memory of candy smoked chocolate that Natwar left in my little brown shoe.

Advent is the only time of year I had power of my brother to.

He was afraid that if I told he had been bad next door put would use a switch.

Oh, I don't understand.

We told about that in America.

I believe you put your shoes in the window ledge.

Tell me where to put sweets if you have been a good boy.

Oh, hi.

It's not shoes is stockings.

Hang our stockings.

My fireplace and stockings hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas will soon be there.

You are your true stockings.

Scuse me for Angel.

I know I left.

You see such a thing fall on you.

You do not still.

Oh, no.

I learn the truth.

Last year, when my shoes were empty, I was here.

My mother used to let us paint pinecones for decoration.

But all we had was this silver radiator paint.

You.

We almost passed out from the fumes, but.

But we thought that our silver cones were fancy enough for John de Rockefeller.

Kids don't do stuff like that anymore.

I got tinsel.

You have to stop.

In Germany so many years there has been no money since the first one.

My grandmother says the world is bleeding.

Germany making us to pay for when we had no work, no food.

Our children were dying from starvation until finally Hitler came along with put us back on our feet.

My family was luckier than some others.

You see, my father is a surgeon.

Yes, I will be also, it is is my mother that one day he will hang a sign in the parlor window.

Little dining lights that will say shirts and sun surgeons and Mama Schultz at the piano.

But that must wait seven months.

Wait for when God decides it is time for us to win the war.

I am sure it.

Emilia believes just too strongly that God is on his side.

So perhaps we had better not make good part of such a conversation.

As soon as the war is over and swine, they will be married.

His parents are willing for us to take over the farm.

And I will have food as the boy's own.

In what is here is Daddy.

And soon as we get married, we're heading out for a little spot.

I got picked out in the mountain where we are going to raise kids and horses when we shipped out a border, a dam, and we'll get another one.

They one for our first day anniversary.

Yeah.

I am one lucky son of a bitch.

Oh, excuse me.

That's us.

Jackman.

I know.

Stars of Soap.

Bright.

I remember on Christmas Eve walking to the village for a mass.

So excited to be up for midnight hop.

I would bring the wagon for the ride home and Mama would tuck us under this big, scratchy blanket.

And then when we were home and asleep, they would put a little tree right here in this room for anyone to decorate.

When it came to fill the shoes, let us have a tree.

Now come.

It's a little one, but it would bring us joy.

Why don't you sit there?

Let me.

It has to go right there.

Go and move the tippet and just put it on the mic.

Don't you look, I can.

Yes, I can.

That our tree.

That's a tree.

Douglas fir.

Just put that right there.

I can.

The.

Anybody gone.

Yes.

No, I don't have anything to decorate.

I've got to have some.

Look.

Oh there we are.

I remember when Mama and Papa were ready to decorate the tree, they would say to us, I'll hide.

Now you're too shy to contend.

I must wait upstairs until it is time to go.

Then we would follow each other to be the first to come to the parlor door.

It was a sight.

I'll talk inside, except for the candles on the tree.

Then later, after the gifts.

Uncle Boris would circle the trees.

We should all join in.

Yes, you come.

You are in your eyes now.

You cannot be shy.

I will walk behind you.

I will not be doing much of this dance.

Maurice ain't my boy.

I made the song.

I was pretty good Jitterbug back.

What happens next?

There we go.

All right, So stay right there.

Yeah, that's right.

That's good.

This is how we go back.

They go one, one.

We don't get fancy.

I know that I must make jackets, but we must stop.

Oh, when we got too wild, mamma would say to us, I'll hide.

No little ones at this time shall be singing Count to greet the Christ King.

Oh, so stays.

We were happy.

We hated no one.

I will get something for our Christmas supper.

Right.

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!

What happened?

What happened?

He took off.

Didn't do that.

Know.

What do we do?

Oh, have something in here.

Look at you screaming.

It means a damned head.

Yeah.

Take some of this.

Two of the bowel dysentery from malnutrition, from scavenging.

I was lucky to steal potato skins from a farmer's pig.

Potato skins and maggots.

I also found cabbage soup and some chocolate from the body of a soldier.

Such things no longer make me shudder.

I'm sorry.

I thought you made a room for.

I just couldn't blame you.

My wife.

An important bump there.

But it is not serious.

Some cold water on a strip of cloth.

My woolen hooch will not make everyone feel better.

Thank you.

We'll make a real good doctor.

And I hope it will be soon.

And you and your power base.

Happy children and horses.

I'll put them out by Christmas.

They're separate and some meat.

It is only coleslaw, but it will make you strong.

You're a good person.

Chicken.

It is a handsome Christmas supper.

If Emilia, may peace be with you this night and for evermore.

Why not?

Should make peace be with you this night and for evermore.

Peace to you.

His name is Eddie.

Peace to you.

Eddie Miller.

Same to you.

And hope is short.

It is time, little ones.

It is time.

We sing account to create the Christ King lesson.

We sometimes we don't unless last.

But we settle fast.

Live by one Donny and me scar on us.

Secondly, singing in heavenly peace.

Sleep in heaven only to steal Na hi log again Na oh less left and some the newer dust hotter home I like palm home their number ye law he can leave in heavenly sloth in him the share she lost him leave her gently room sloughing.

He shed shed.

He took us almost six months before the slightest touch so many it was not seen in us this time of year.

If I hear.

Rush on the table and down, they mean so all of these years.

I have faith.

I know and Eddie are safe.

Often I have perhaps I could be found.

And if so, how?

I wouldn't invite them to visit here.

Eddie would sit here.

We could talk about his horse farm and just wife.

I got in.

How name?

Perhaps nine was recovered.

He has well, and I would say to him, Welcome in Findhorn.

How was your journey?

So good.

Thank you.

Very enjoyable.

Much easier than it was in 1944.

I help with something.

Yes.

Could you get the anti-abortion corkscrew from the country?

He will play, of course.

Dottie, What it is for a name?

I think it was Dottie, of course.

He's just before he left.

When you arrive this time, he knocked no weapons since my manners having for this one sit left if place this.

I think.

Please.

Oh, Uh, so you see, I am still here on the family farm.

Still pending.

The old pump still feeding the chickens.

I'll get more wine from my friends.

So much has changed in these years, it seems the wounds of war.

Stay with us.

Only.

I'm sorry you did not return home uninjured.

It was war changed everything.

The moment came for me.

After Christmas Eve in the Battle of the Bulge.

When it happened, it startled me, but I felt nothing so strange to feel nothing looked down.

Bone and muscle shattered, the whole arm completely destroyed the end of shorts and son surgeons almost killed my father.

But the worst was later, when we got the news that.

Gunter would never be returning home from the Russian front.

I'm so sorry.

At least your time of war was short.

I'm sorry to tell you that the war took your fiancee so big loss.

I know.

I have her and his wife have with me often.

And their joyous little boy, they named him Transfer.

Have a tough time putting the pieces in the right place.

So many bad memories, so much guilt.

You made it home.

You have your health, the ones behind you.

We live now with lots of all left us, You know, not far from here is Aachen.

Beautiful place destroyed when Hitler said Defend it to the last man.

Thank you.

Then that man.

I received a minor wound.

I went to a very busy aid station where so happened I ran into a medic and helped out on Omaha Beach.

You a much older, tired woman came to the door.

Tears said her son was dying.

Need help at medic jumped at the chance.

I followed him as back.

We finally reached her house and no, there was two three year old boy struggling for breath.

Joe, the medic, wrapped up, ran back to the aid station.

He laid this beautiful little child down.

Doctor came over.

Listen with the stethoscope, straightened up, shook his head.

The boy had died in the medics arm on the way back.

That was the first time I cried.

My brother.

He will never know the joys of life, the software, getting married, having children, perhaps.

I miss him.

I miss him in the man who would have become, as you say, all of the innocent people on all sides.

A madness.

I often feel guilty that I am living exactly.

The death of that child was the death of humanity in its purest form.

Jacqueline saved you that not had she not been there, I would have shot, you know.

Yeah.

The guy who came through that door was killer.

It was a long war for me.

I was too ill trained.

Would have been a simple reaction.

You see, the enemy, you kill him.

I think.

God, when was.

I'm so sorry.

For what?

You know what she.

I'm sorry for so many things.

I was at war.

I know.

I met a good man in this farmhouse.

If only for a few hours at night.

You know, you were young.

You had to kill.

It was your duty.

It was survival.

My wounds on the outside for you, it is the wounds on the inside.

You are far more severe.

I wish you peace for what remains in your life.

So soon.

When you could turn home.

Don't forget, you have friends in Germany and France and laugh back in the US.

This is a journey.

A horse farm.

Giddyup.

I know.

You know.

Oh, we thought her name was.

Things changed a bit.

Well, I was way above folks.

I'd heard the rumor that my unit had been wiped out at the boat, so.

I turned up and world peace.

It was a daily celebration.

Nobody celebrate except Daddy wouldn't in the house.

My mother was one with me.

She got herself pregnant.

She don't marry some soldier out with God.

Forget about it just like that.

It's getting bad.

Ready?

She turned out to be no good.

I guess I felt part out of my head.

Well, they had me over at the V.A.

till I could finally get back on my feet and.

And I did go and get married.

We're living in a new development at the bill now.

The yards out back, cutting some tomato plants, nutrition for Jenny.

I go out there some time look at the stars life it's okay.

I'm a schoolteacher now third garden I spend control it is good And Morgan Schultz and Duncan Schultz.

Until they think I cannot hear them, then they call me out.

I tried to light the fire of learning under them.

And then we studied the sky.

At night.

I say to them, not just children are the stars in the sky can exist amongst one other not need to destroy one another and cut my future scientist.

He looks up at those bright eyes and the stars.

They're good for wishing on.

Now I say they are the best for wishing on and you must never stop.

Not time to talk about the war.

I prepare and I.

But on a cold winter's night after I have said my evening prayers.

I look up at the stars and I whisper peace be with you.

Peace be with you.

Peace be with you.