Doktor Sommer is relieved that he has been able to convince the SS officers to leave Dietrich in his care over night after they have dragged him half-drowned and unconscious into his medical unit again last night. The young Captain's state is deteriorating from the constant torture as well as the lack of proper nutrition. Several times in the last days, Ludwig Sommer has given him soup, as they both have known that Dietrich would not be able to keep any heavier food down long enough during his torture sessions with the two SS officers. By now, Dietrich looks gaunt, his cheeks fallen, his eyes deep in their sockets with dark rims hidden mostly by the bruises darkening a large proportion of his face. Under the watchful eyes of an SS guard, the doctor wakes Dietrich who reacts disoriented for a few moments. This is speaking volumes of his deteriorating mental state of health. If this continues, Sommer thinks, there will be not much left for an execution squad anyways, that is under the assumption that they ever manage to torture a confession out of the proud and stubborn young officer before killing him.
While Hans Dietrich gathers with wits and sits up gingerly, his second in command, Oberleutnant Wagner, strolls into the medical unit ordering the SS guard to stand back at the door. With a worried expression the Bavarian officer takes in the sight of his battered and bruised former commanding officer. "Hauptmann, so kann das nicht weitergehen", he gives a whispered report to the man he still considers his Captain. "Sie haben uns schon vor ein paar Tagen alle Juden auf die Straßen treiben lassen und uns befohlen, ihnen die Sterne anzukleben. Kruzitürken", he curses in his Bavarian dialect. "Nicht nur die Juden, auch die Araber hätten uns am liebsten umgebracht. Wenn uns die Alliierten nicht erwischen, dann haben wir bald eine Revolte am Hals!"
Hauptmann Dietrich frowns worriedly, when he hears that the command to mark all the town's Jews with stars, as ordered by Berlin, has already been carried out days ago and that the Arabs and their Sheikh have reacted just as infuriated as he has expected. Like many officers of the Afrikakorps, Hans Dietrich has avoided such actions citing Rommel's command which has discouraged them from antagonising the natives on whom they have often relied in this desert war. The fact that Wagner is starting to fear an uprisal of the townspeople cannot be disregarded. If angered enough, the Bedouins with their allied tribes, armed with rifles and on the back of their swift horses, are definitely a force to be reckoned with. True to their own preached propaganda of not striking deals with inferior races the SS officers now in charge of the base have disregarded the Oberleutnant's warning.
Unable to give any commands, Dietrich can just observe the catastrophe unfolding. Unlike the allied forces, the Bedouins would not allow his men to surrender and show them any mercy which Dietrich can even understand given the anatagonistic behaviour of the current SS leaders. "Schlimmstenfalls lassen Sie sich nicht auf Gefechte mit den Beduinenstämmen und ihren Verbündeten in ihren eigenen Dünen ein, Wagner, sondern steuern auf die Alliierten zu und ergeben sich. Dadurch kann den meisten Männern das Leben gerettet werden", Dietrich recommends surrendering to the allies rather than fighting the bedouins out in the dunes to save the lives of as many of their men as possible rather than having them die needlessly.
Wagner frowns at the suggestion of disobeying standing order from Berlin to fight to the death and never surrender. "Hauptmann, wir haben Befehl aus Berlin, bis zum letzten Mann durchzuhalten und uns nicht zu ergeben." Unlike Dietrich, he is struggling far more with the thought of disobeying Berlin's orders and secondguessing the Führer which has made him a good second in command, but confronts him with unexpected challenges in command. Dietrich can see the warring emotions written on his former officer's face and sympathizes with his internal struggle which he so often faces himself. "Diese Männer sind uns anvertraut, Oberleutnant. Über hundert Familien, die von uns erwarten, dass wir ihre Jungs lebend durch und zu ihnen zurück bringen. Das ist unsere verdammte Pflicht." Dietrich reminds his second in command that the families have entrusted them as commanding officers with the lives of their sons and that it is their obligation to take care of them and bring them back alive if possible and at least not throw their lives away needlessly. Getting Dietrich's code of honor spelled out so clearly is a novelty for Wagner and he regards his battered and bruised commanding officer with new-found admiration. "Das Heer ist aus gutem Grund nicht politisch. Vergessen Sie das nicht!", the young officer reminds his Oberleutnant imploringly that the army is not political for a good reason.
Leaning toward the skinny Hauptmann, Wagner whispers about the Germans' retreat towards Tunisia: "Wir haben auch gemeldet bekommen, dass das gesamte Korps am Rückzug nach Tunesien ist. Wird nur eine Frage von ein paar Tagen sein, bis wir das Lager hier abbrechen müssen. Halten Sie noch ein paar Tage durch, Hauptmann!" Repeating Dietrich's own thoughts that the camp will have to move in a few days at the latest and rescue could come in the form of the retreating Afrikakorps troops, Wagner encourages his Captain to hold on. Trying to reassure both himself and his second in command, Dietrich nods and promises to do just that. "Das werde ich, so gut ich kann, Oberleutnant Wagner."
They are interrupted by the SS officers entering. "Meine Herren. Wie praktisch, Sie alle hier zu finden", Obersturmbannführer Waldheim sneers, mocking them to be found here together. "Ich habe neue Befehle für Sie, Herr Oberleutnant." Wagner and Dietrich exchange glances as the SS officer mentions new orders for Wagner. "Treiben Sie alle Juden auf dem Hauptplatz zusammen! Es wird Zeit für eine Demonstration." Both Oberleutnant and Hauptmann have a premonition that this day will turn into a catastrophe, as Waldheim commands all Jews to be rallied on the main square of town for a demonstration.
"Herr Hauptmann, ich hoffe, Sie begleiten uns", he 'invites' Dietrich to join them. The Hauptmanns's stomach is turning, as he tries to envision what the two sadistic Nazi fanatics would have in store. Trying one last effort, Hans Dietrich repeats Wagner's argument of potential uprisal to dissuade Waldheim in the interest of his own command post, but is stopped by Metzlich striking him in the solarplexus, effectively knocking all air from his lungs. "Aufhören!", Doktor Sommer protests the manhandling of his patient in front of his own eyes.
Staring at Dietrich with contempt, Metzlich just orders to get him clean clothes to keep the German army from being further disgraced by the Hauptmann's ragged appearance. Without waiting for his orders to be executed, Metzlich strides out of the door in the close wake of his superior officer leaving his obligatory SS guard behind. Allowing Dietrich to get washed and dressed is a small mercy, if only to keep up outward appearances in front of the locals rather than to show respect to a fellow officer. Doktor Sommer whispers in Hauptmann Dietrich's ear to keep out of earshot of the SS guard: "Das muss enden, egal wie. Es wird sonst noch weit mehr Männer das Leben kosten." Hans Dietrich could not agree more. This must end. One way or another. The only problem is that he has neither a plan nor the means to end this charade except for confirming their accusations of treason and admit to a crime he has not actually committed getting himself executed in disgrace rather than dying honorably in battle.
Leaving Dietrich unrestrained two SS guards escort him alongside Metzlich and Waldheim and another four SS soldiers. Out in the courtyard they meet Oberleutnant Wagner, Leutnant Brunner and five more Wehrmacht soldiers. All of them stare rather uncomfortably at their Hauptmann who is treated as a criminal and bears the bruises of beatings openly in his face. "Treiben Sie das Judengesindel am Hauptplatz zusammen!", Waldheim orders the Jews to be driven to the main square of the town. The four SS soldiers dash off eagerly followed by the Afrikakorps soldiers who move with much more reluctance and caution. Oberleutnant Wagner shares a quick glance with Hauptmann Dietrich, before following the group of his men. As Leutnant Brunner turns to follow close behind, Waldheim calls him back and orders him to stand next to them under guard like his Hauptmann.
With a feeling of foreboding, Dietrich watches the movements between tents and on the flat roofs of the clay huts and shanties. Years of experience have instilled an instinct in him that warns him of lurking presences and this instinct is practically screaming at him now. Remembering Wagner's warning of the Arabs' discontent, he considers his options in case Waldheim actually wants to perform the atrocity Dietrich is beginning to suspect. The sheikh will not take a massacre of some of his townspeople lightly, even if they are Jews and not Muslims.
Screams and yells accompany the small groups of families. Dietrich recognises several of the people now driven through the streets at gunpoint from his delivery and administration of the amoebic dysentery antibiotics. Levi, Rachel and their four children are forced onto the square with the mother wrapping her arms protectively around her two younger children. As they notice Dietrich standing next to the SS officers their faces turn into frowns until they notice the bruises coloring his skin unnaturally dark in the glaring desert sunlight.
Tensing visibly, the Hauptmann turns one last time toward Waldheim intent to stop this madness. "Herr Obersturmbannführer. Ich bitte Sie, diesen Schritt noch einmal zu überdenken. Die Sicherheit meiner und Ihrer Männer steht..." The SS officer interrupts Dietrich's argument about their men's safety, reminding him that the Hauptmann has no men to command any more. "Sie haben keine Männer mehr, Herr Hauptmann. Und ich dachte das Afrikakorps sei nicht so feig, sich vor einem Haufen zerlumpter Araber zu fürchten. Aber das muss wohl an der ehrlosen Verräternatur liegen." Every muscle in Dietrich's body has tensed and he briefly appears like a cobra coiled to up strike, as he faces Waldheim with a murderous glare, when the SS officer accuses him and the whole Afrikakorps of dishonor and cowardice to turn tail from a handful of ragged Arabs, blaming the attitude finally on his flawed and treacherous character. Metzlich moves in to strike at Dietrich, but Waldheim signs to him to keep it at a single slap in the face to keep appearances in front of the inferiors.
Obersturmbannführer Waldheim casually pulls his Luger from his holster and points it at Leutnant Brunner's head who is too surprised to even act. "Sie werden 'Ihre' Männer anweisen, ein Erschießungskommando für diese Juden zusammenzustellen, Hauptmann Dietrich!", the Obersturmbannführer commands Dietrich to order 'his' men to create a firing squad, straining 'his' sardonically. Exchanging a long gaze with Oberleutnant Wagner, Dietrich keeps his stare level until the other officer nods imperceptibly. His other men have observed the wordless exchange between their commanding officers. Dietrich's and Wagner's eyes move from each other's face to linger at one SS soldier after the other.
"Machen Sie weiter, Hauptmann Dietrich!", Waldheim orders Dietrich impatiently to continue. "Anlegen!", Dietrich commands his men sharply to ready their arms. "Zielen!" Now several soldiers exchange glances. Ordering to aim is rather unusual for a firing squad. A glance at their senior officer's face and his eyes directed at the SS guards rather than the Jews is tipping them off. "Feuer!", Dietrich finally commands. All six of his men fire at the SS soldiers and immediately all hell breaks lose, as several collapse mortally wounded. Panicked Jewish inhabitants try to flee knocking each other over or simply running off headlessly while the soldiers fire another salve at the SS guards who have kept them covered rather than at their intended victims.
Before Dietrich has even fully uttered his final command, a shot rings out next to him and Leutnant Brunner collapses dead. Dietrich's anger about Waldheim's ruthless brutality is finally driving him beyond caring about consequences, as he physically slams into the older SS officer, knocking him over. Wrestling with the man for the gun with his left hand, the Hauptmann narrowly escapes being shot by Metzlich, as he dodges to the side. Even though still struggling for the hold of gun, Dietrich fires several shots mid-movement at the second SS officer, with one scraping Metzlich's left arm. Waldheim changes his strategy, releases the gun and slams both his fists into Dietrich's injured right shoulder with full force. With a strangled cry of pain the Hauptmann stumbles and fights to stay on his feet. Meanwhile, Metzlich grabs his Luger and hits Dietrich square aginst the temple with the gun butt using such force that the Captain is briefly knocked out and collapses into the sand.
Hans Dietrich comes to a few seconds later, lying in the sand with Metzlich's Luger trained at his head. "Waffen fallen lassen!", sounds the harsh command to drop their guns uttered by the older SS officer, as several more SS soldiers appear who Dietrich has never seen before. The game is over, as two MP40s are trained at Wagner who has been shot in the leg. The rest of his partially wounded troops raise their hands in the air and drop their weapons, as they see both their officers incapacitated.
With their forces restored, Metzlich feels confident enough, to kick the Hauptmann on the ground in the ribs, while promising revenge for the shot at his arm. Meanwhile, Waldheim directs Dietrich's soldiers to stand or lean next to the Jews held at gunpoint by the additional force of SS soldiers who seemingly have appeared out of thin air. While Dietrich has suspected the Arabs to sneak up to them, it has all been an SS trap all along and has walked right into it. All Afrikakorps soldiers know that their lives are forfeited now after such an open act of treason.
Metzlich grabs a curled up Dietrich by the collar and drags him to his feet forcing the Afrikakorps officer to take a good look at his men and the prisoners. Without any option of acting, Hans Dietrich can only watch the drama unfold, as the SS soldiers ready their arms and fire at Jews and German soldiers alike without mercy or regret. Hans Dietrich winces as his loyal men are killed without trial or honor in this senseless struggle, closing his eyes with a feeling of despair. Waldheim and Metzlich however seem to enjoy the sight and drink in the suffering and pain they cause making the Hauptmann feel an even greater amount of disgust towards them.
When the bulk of people is reduced to a heap of empty husks, Waldheim orders that every single person is shot through the head again to assure their death, before a group of Wehrmacht soldiers are to be sent out to dig graves and bury the bodies outside town. Then, he turns toward Dietrich with an evil grin. "Damit haben wir Sie auf frischer Tat beim Verrat ertappt. Weder Ihre Familie noch der Feldmarschall können Sie nun noch retten." Dietrich drops his head, as he is well aware that through this open act of treason his life has become forfeited with neither his family nor Fieldmarshal Rommel able to save him. If only he could at least have died standing at his men's side.
Within two hours Waldheim has not only finished the internal trial of Hauptmann Hans Dietrich, but also sentenced the Afrikakorps officer to be executed the next day at noon as a demonstration to his soldiers and the natives alike how traitors are dealt with in the German army. Until then the SS officers intend to gain as much information as possible from their resilient prisoner.