Decision Before Dawn

Colonel Devlin's unit devises a plan to use German POWs who can slip back into Germany to spy on their former comrades. Tiger, a cynical mercenary, is recruited alongside Happy, a young medical student, and Monique, a former resistance operative, to train them in espionage techniques. Monique leads the training and helps shape believable cover stories for the operation. The objective is to undermine German resistance by gathering intelligence and pressing for surrender from the right officers.

Lieutenant Rennick is chosen to lead the mission, with Tiger and Happy assigned specialized tasks and Monique providing field training. Rennick's wary view of turncoats on both sides informs the operation's cautious approach. The team prepares to locate the 11th Panzer Corps and to bring pressure for a surrender. The stakes are high as the Allies close in on the German front.

The three operatives parachute into German-held territory and immediately split up to maximize their chances of success. They move through bombed towns, using disguises and diversions to avoid detection. Their mission quickly becomes a race against time as the Allied advance grows nearer.

Happy navigates through buses, trains, guest houses, and taverns in search of the 11th Panzer Corps' whereabouts. He encounters defiance from some Germans, like SS courier Scholtz, and resignation from others, such as Hilde, a war widow turned prostitute. Through these encounters, he pieces together the Corps' movements and potential locations.

Posing as a medic, Happy locates the 11th Panzer and is brought to the castle headquarters to treat its commander, Oberst von Ecker. The medical entry provides a plausible contact point for the unit and raises the odds of surrender from the officers. The operation advances as Happy earns the trust needed for further liaison.

After his exposure, Happy narrowly escapes capture by the Gestapo, slipping back into the shadows to rejoin Rennick and Tiger. The escape highlights the constant risk of discovery that shadows the mission. The men press on with their plan despite the danger.

Rennick, Tiger, and Happy hole up in a safe house in the bombed ruins of Mannheim. They learn that the German commander they hoped to contact has been injured and is confined to a hospital under SS guard, making a credible surrender unlikely without him. The setback forces a reassessment of the plan while they stay under cover.

With their radio knocked out, the trio loses direct contact with Allied command and must improvise. They search for alternate ways to coordinate and maintain pressure on the German side. The failure of their communications raises the stakes for the rest of the mission.

Accepting the urgency to reach Allied lines, Happy, Rennick, and Tiger move toward the Rhine to attempt a swim across. The plan hinges on timing and stealth as they approach the river under increasing risk. The river crossing becomes a pivotal moment for the mission.

At the river's edge, Tiger loses his nerve and bolts, threatening to expose the operation. Rennick is forced to confront a grim choice in order to protect the mission's cover. The loss of Tiger reshapes the team's dynamic and tightens the remaining members' resolve.

With Tiger gone, Happy surrenders to the German guards to divert attention away from Rennick. His selfless act buys Rennick the time needed to reach the opposite shore. The sacrifice tests Happy's faith in the mission and its moral costs.

Rennick makes it to the American lines, surviving the perilous crossing with his previous views on treason challenged by Happy's sacrifice. The mission's success reorients his understanding of loyalty and duty. The Allied front closes in as memories of the operation linger.