Plot

When two young American GIs desert their platoon in the final days of World War II, they will find themselves struggling against all odds to stay alive.

Western Europe, 1945. The gentle, thoughtful, and sensitive Losey and the mean, base, and vicious Deming are two radically contrasting American soldiers who desert their platoons during the final days of World War II. The pair stumble across a ragtag group of orphans who have been trained as ruthless killers. The two soldiers, the orphans, and the two adults who serve as surrogate parents to the children are forced to make a desperate stand against a Nazi tank battalion who have them trapped inside an old crumbling building.—Woodyanders

In Europe during World War II, Losey and Deming are deserters. One of the MPs calls Losey "Airborne" because he doesn't think much of the 82nd Airborne, or of "men who jump out of perfectly good airplanes." An explosion knocks the jeep off the road and at least one of the MPs is dead. A couple of others die after they encounter mines trying to get back to civilization. Deming swaps dog tags with one of the dead men, declares himself to be free, and orders Losey to come along.

Deming has no compassion and constantly yells "Quit squawking and start walking." He also uses a lot of other language that won't make it to broadcast TV. Losey does show compassion to others, though. Soon the men encounter a church that is mostly destroyed, and a priest who was driven mad. It appears the priest will come with them, but at some point he is no longer around. The men also find a horse which helps them reach a better destination.

Every now and then the viewer sees what are either flashbacks of a better life in the United States, or visions of the war. One vision takes place in what is left of what appears to be a school. A teacher and happy children, whose lives are devastated by the war, are shown.

Most of the movie takes place in a large industrial looking building, the type preservationists want to save in today's world. This one is in pretty bad shape, but the men see no real value to it for the Germans. Then two civilians show up. The woman has appeared before. Maybe it's the hair, but she looks like Susan Sarandon. She may be Maria, played by Linda Thorson. A man is with her, and he is tough and a leader. His voice sounds like the man who used to introduce Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. What is important that these two are taking care of a group of children, some of whom don't understand this isn't a game. One boy has no legs but has a lot of determination and gets around well. A girl, who Losey realizes was once beautiful when he sees a painting of her, wears a mask.

Deming points a gun at the woman and demands to see everything, but declares her to be no Betty Grable. Later, everyone has to work together when a German unit shows up. And what happens then is pretty amazing.