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Timeline

Brass Target (1978) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1978 · 111 mins · English
Directed by
John Hough
Starring
John Cassavetes, Robert Vaughn, George Kennedy, Max von Sydow, Sophia Loren, Bruce Davison

After World War II, a massive cache of Nazi gold disappears. General George S. Patton, who survived a 1945 car crash, begins probing the theft. His investigation draws the anger of defeated Nazis, the suspicion of Soviet agents, and the jealousy of a flamboyantly gay colonel and his lover, all fearing what Patton may uncover.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (11)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Brass Target
  5. 5 Every angle

11 events in order · contains spoilers

Brass Target Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Brass Target (1978) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Patton orders Nazi gold transfer

    In post–V-E Day Europe, General Patton orders the hoarded Nazi gold to be moved to the Reichsbank in Frankfurt. The move sets a clock on the security and political implications of the shipment. Different factions begin scheming to seize or control the treasure.

    When
    days after V-E Day
    Where
    Europe (post–V-E Day)
  2. Gold train robbery and massacre

    Before the train reaches Frankfurt, the gold train is robbed. In the same assault, 59 U.S. Army MPs are killed with poison gas in a railroad tunnel. The violence triggers a high-profile investigation and sets the tone for a conspiracy narration.

    When
    during transport to Frankfurt
    Where
    Railroad tunnel, Europe
  3. Conspiracy among American officers

    A group of corrupt American officers, led by a colonel, is behind the crime. The theft points to a deep-rooted corruption within the Allied command. Their exact motives remain hidden, fueling the pursuit.

    When
    early postwar
    Where
    American military circles
  4. Patton's investigation points to De Luca

    Patton launches an investigation that initially points to OSS major Joe De Luca. The thieves used a plan from De Luca's wartime operations to steal the gold, linking him to the case. This creates tension as De Luca becomes a suspect and a target.

    When
    early postwar
    Where
    Patton's headquarters
  5. De Luca pursues leads; meets McCauley

    De Luca begins his own investigation. He visits his old wartime commander, Colonel Mike McCauley, who is living in a requisitioned German castle. The meeting reveals new leads and deeper stakes in Germany.

    When
    early investigation
    Where
    Castle McCauley, Germany
  6. Assassin Webber hired to kill Patton

    As the investigation progresses, the corrupt officers hire a professional assassin named Webber to kill Patton. Their aim is to derail the inquiry and secure the gold.

    When
    as the investigation advances
    Where
    Europe (various locations)
  7. Mara joins the pursuit

    De Luca meets Mara, his former girlfriend, who can help him find the culprits. Mara's knowledge and contacts across Europe prove crucial to tracing the conspiracy.

    When
    during investigation
    Where
    European locations
  8. Webber closes in; chase across Europe

    Webber is on their trail and plans to kill Patton. De Luca, Mara, and their allies race across war-ravaged Europe to stay ahead and catch the villains.

    When
    as chase escalates
    Where
    Across Europe
  9. Patton dies in a staged accident

    Webber kills General Patton in a staged traffic accident. At the moment of impact, he fires a rubber bullet, breaking Patton's neck and ending his life.

    When
    final phase
    Where
    Patton's vehicle route in Europe
  10. De Luca defeats Webber

    De Luca tracks down the assassin and confronts him. He kills Webber with Webber's own weapon, ending the immediate threat.

    When
    after Patton's death
    Where
    Somewhere in Europe
  11. Investigation concludes

    With Webber dead and the trail narrowed, the case reaches a close as the conspiracy's exposure becomes inevitable. The film closes on a note of justice amid continuing postwar turmoil.

    When
    post–Patton assassination
    Where
    Europe

Last updated: February 18, 2026 at 23:46

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Timeline questions answered

Brass Target Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Brass Target (1978): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Major De Luca initially suspected of the gold theft?

De Luca was suspected because the thieves co-opted a wartime plan from his OSS operations to carry out the robbery. The plan's origin pointed directly to him, making him a convenient fall guy for the corrupt officers who actually orchestrated the crime.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, the timeline notes that the investigation points to OSS Maj. Joe De Lucca, from whom the thieves co-opted a wartime plan.

  • de luca
  • oss
  • suspect
  • gold theft
  • framed
Q2

How did the assassin kill General Patton?

Webber staged a traffic accident by posing as an American soldier. At the exact moment of collision, he fired a rubber bullet that broke Patton's neck, making it appear as though the general died from the crash rather than from being shot.

  • patton
  • webber
  • assassination
  • rubber bullet
  • traffic accident
Q3

Who led the conspiracy to steal the Nazi gold?

The conspiracy was led by a colonel within American military circles. This corrupt officer orchestrated the gold train robbery and the mass murder of 59 MPs using poison gas, using his position within the Allied command to cover the operation.

Foreshadowing: The timeline reveals a group of corrupt American officers, led by a colonel, masterminded the crime.

  • colonel
  • conspiracy
  • corrupt officers
  • gold train
  • mp murder
Q4

Why did the conspirators want Patton dead?

Patton was getting close to uncovering the truth behind the gold theft and the mass murder. His investigation threatened to expose the corrupt American officers, so they hired the assassin Webber to derail the inquiry and eliminate him.

  • patton
  • conspiracy
  • investigation
  • kill
  • webber
Q5

How did Mara help De Luca's investigation?

Mara was De Luca's former girlfriend who had knowledge and contacts across war-torn Europe. She provided crucial information that helped trace the conspiracy and locate the assassin Webber, becoming essential to the pursuit.

  • mara
  • de luca
  • investigation
  • europe
  • contacts
Q6

Why were the 59 US Army MPs poisoned in the tunnel?

The MPs were killed with poison gas to facilitate the gold robbery and eliminate witnesses. The conspirators needed to silence a large group of military police to successfully steal the gold shipment without resistance or later testimony.

  • mps
  • poison gas
  • tunnel
  • massacre
  • gold train
Q7

What happened to the Nazi gold after it was stolen?

The gold was stolen during transport to the Reichsbank in Frankfurt. While the exact location is never revealed in the summary, the corrupt officers controlled the stolen treasure, and the investigation was initiated precisely to recover it and identify the thieves.

  • nazi gold
  • reichsbank
  • frankfurt
  • stolen
  • robbery
Q8

How did De Luca manage to find and kill Webber?

De Luca tracked down the assassin through the investigation, following the trail across war-torn Europe. He eventually confronted Webber and killed him with the assassin's own weapon, bringing the case to a decisive end after Patton's death.

  • de luca
  • webber
  • kill
  • weapon
  • confrontation

Movie threads

More Movies Like Brass Target, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Brass Target tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

High-stakes post-war thrillers like Brass Target

Uncovering dangerous secrets in the shadow of a recent war. For viewers who enjoyed the tense investigation and political intrigue of Brass Target, this section features movies like it. Discover similar conspiracy thrillers set in the unstable aftermath of war, where uncovering the truth is a deadly endeavor.

  • tense
  • paranoid
  • dangerous
  • political
  • suspenseful
  • dark
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, dark
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a determined protagonist, often a soldier or investigator, as they peel back layers of corruption and conspiracy in a fragile post-war environment. Their quest for truth puts them at odds with powerful, shadowy forces, leading to a tense cat-and-mouse game with high personal stakes.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared setting of a volatile post-war world, their focus on uncovering deep-seated conspiracies, and the pervasive sense of danger and paranoia that defines the protagonist's journey.

Movies with tragic investigations like Brass Target

A search for truth that ends in profound loss. If the heavy emotional weight and sad ending of Brass Target resonated with you, explore these similar films. This collection features gripping stories where a high-stakes investigation culminates in a sense of tragedy and loss.

  • tragic
  • heavy
  • tense
  • suspenseful
  • investigation
  • betrayal
  • Tone: tense, heavy, tragic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative arc is defined by a protagonist doggedly following clues, often against increasing opposition. While the central mystery may be solved, the resolution is bittersweet or outright tragic, leaving characters and audiences with a feeling of grim inevitability and the heavy price of truth.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films where the core investigative plot is underpinned by a profoundly sad or bleak emotional journey. The similarity lies in the mix of a compelling mystery with an ending that prioritizes historical or personal tragedy over conventional victory.

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Movies Like Brass Target

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Every angle

Brass Target (1978) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Brass Target in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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