In the summer of 1943, the Allied forces concentrated large forces in coastal ports in North Africa to prepare for the implementation of the Sicily landing operation plan code-named "Husky". Responsible for implementing the plan is the 15th Army Group commanded by British General Harold Alexander, which includes the British 8th Army and the US 7th Army, with a total of 13 divisions (including 10 infantry divisions, 1 Armored division and two airborne divisions) and three independent brigades, with a total strength of 478,000 troops, more than 4,000 combat aircraft, and about 3,200 combat ships and auxiliary ships. The British 8th Army was commanded by Montgomery, and its mission was to land in the area from Siracusa to Pachino in the southeast of the island and advance towards Messina; the US 7th Army was commanded by Patton, and its mission was to land from Gela to Li in the southwest of the island. Land at Kata, cut the enemy in half through the center of the island, and clear the northwest corner of the island. The landing was scheduled for July 10, 1943.
As D-Day approached, the Allies began a series of strikes against air force installations in Sicily and nearby islands to clear out the outer defenders. The island of Pantelleria is the base for Italian aircraft and torpedo boats, located between Tunisia and Sicily. In order to seize this forward base, the Allied forces successfully landed on the island on June 11, 1943, after a 10-day bombing campaign. They captured 11,000 Italian troops and kicked off the Battle of Sicily. The Allies lost only 40 pilots and less than 20 aircraft. Two days later, the Allies captured the nearby islands of Linosa and Lampione. At this point, the Allies controlled all the islands in the Sicilian Strait and cleared the Axis outposts. Following the Allied forces' strategic bombing of Sicily and Calabria before the landing, a total of 4,000 aircraft were dispatched to conduct day and night bombings of airports and facilities on Sicily in the three weeks before the landing.
The three-week bombing also affected "The Battle", which had completed most of the filming plan.
Sicily, on the set of "Battlefield."
Many of the studios built a few months ago were mistakenly bombed as military targets. The entire crew's hard work was ruined.
Fortunately, Italian director Giovanni, who has been rushing to shoot the interior scenes of "The Beauty", shot enough material. As long as it is edited, it will be a film destined to shock the world. The only thing missing is a perfect anti-landing or landing showdown at the end.
Yes, what is missing is "a decisive battle" as the colorful closing ceremony of "Troubled Times".
After all, no matter how realistic the actual shooting is, it is still not perfect for filmmakers who have witnessed World War II with their own eyes. But this sudden large-scale air raid by the Allies gave the director from Venice a golden opportunity. Standing on a devastated set. Director Giovanni, holding a cigar in his mouth, made the most important decision in his director's career: "Katie, you go first."
"Mr. Giovanni?" Mrs. Katie asked, lowering her head subconsciously.
"Bring the film to Leni." Director Giovanni flicked off the cigar ashes: "If I'm not here anymore, let Leni finish the rest of the work. Sign our names."
"Okay, director." Mrs. Katie didn't say much.
"No matter who has watched this film, they will remember this era and these filmmakers." Director Giovanni wrapped his nightgown tightly and returned to his director's car: "This fucking world!"
"Director Giovanni actually prefers to shoot 'Beautiful Women'. Right, madam?" Margaret, the "salon girl" standing upright behind her, asked softly.
"Yes. In my opinion, he is a pure artist." Mrs. Katie said, changing her tone: "But in this era of confrontation between camps, if you don't have a position, you won't be trusted by both sides."
"'In this era of confrontation between camps, if you don't have a position, you will not be trusted by both sides'..." Repeating Mrs. Katie's words, "Salon Girl" Margaret also had her own experience.
June 15, 1943.
The "Great Battle" train was allowed to return to Berlin. It was a special train for heads of state when it arrived, but it was changed to a special train of the same name when it left. The heat never stops. All the actors who participated in the filming of "Beauty" also returned in the same car. Prepare for subsequent reshoots, dubbing and other post-production. As for the decisive battle in "Troubled Times", it was a group performance by the Italian Coast Division supervised by Venice chief director Giovanni. Most of the filming crew has been replaced by military photographers. Together with the staff under the Italian Film Department, the remaining crew of "Troubled Times" can perfectly support the location shooting. As the first assistant casting director, Mrs. Katie can leave with peace of mind.
After a brief stop in Milan, the "Grand Battle" special train drove into the broad-gauge proving ground of the GGL Grossdeutsche Locomotive Manufacturers Association in Berlin on the night of June 16, 1943. Join director Leni Riefenstahl.
"Thank you, Katie." The female director sent her sincere greetings as soon as they met.
"Ah..." When their eyes met, Mrs. Katie was immediately sure that she was one of her own.
The female reporter smiled and stepped forward: "To ensure post-production, the shooting location will be under military control. No one is allowed to leave their post without your warrant."
"Whose order?" Mrs. Katie had already foreseen it.
"It was an order from the Minister of Propaganda." Surprisingly, it was not the Gestapo that Mrs. Kitty was secretly loyal to. Rather, it came from the personal order of Joseph Goebbels, the second-in-command in the Third Reich and the "lame" Propaganda Minister.
"The Great Battle is the Propaganda Department's plan?" Katie then realized.
"Yes." The female reporter's expression said it all: "I just found out."
"Oh my god..." Originally, Mrs. Katie thought that the action plan originally codenamed "Lily Marlene" came from the level of SS General Jürgens. It now appears that the entire plan came from the No. 2 figure in the Third Reich.
"Katie, don't forget that this is the 'cross-plot fusion time and space' of the 'World War II plot fragmented time and space'." Danielle, a war girl who arrived in the "Salon Car" later, reminded: "I think it was indeed the SS at first The 'Lily Marlene' operation planned by General Jürgens was later promoted to the level of the Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, the second-largest figure in the Third Reich, due to plot integration, and became the "Battle" project. This is very likely It’s a derived plot line.”
"So that's it..." Mrs. Katie hurriedly asked: "Lisa, where did you get the news?"
"Joseph Goebbels himself." The female reporter told the sisters who had just arrived from Sicily about her experiences these days: "A few days ago I was asked to interview Joseph Goebbels himself. He used a show-off tone to express his gratitude for himself. Add another achievement.”
"No wonder it was the head of state's special train. On the way, the Italian Film Minister personally attended the Milan press conference, and after arriving in Sicily, a large-scale filming with 'unlimited funds' was mobilized." Mrs. Katie gradually figured everything out: "In other words, this third party The number two figure in the empire is the mastermind behind this.”
"Maybe the person behind him is the mastermind." War Girl Danielle reminded her meaningfully.
"That mysterious player." Mrs. Katie suddenly woke up.
