The Devil’s Brigade

In the summer of 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Frederick, a staff officer with no prior combat experience, is selected by Admiral Mountbatten to build a commando force from American and Canadian personnel for operations in German-occupied Norway. He heads to Britain to plan the mission and considers how to blend the two national groups into one elite unit. The assignment places him at the center of a daring and untested enterprise.

Back in the United States, Frederick reports to Fort William Henry Harrison in Montana, where he begins to recruit his American troops. The ranks are filled with jailbirds, ne'er-do-wells, and misfits, a far cry from traditional soldiers. He must earn their trust and shape them into a viable fighting force.

When the hand-picked elite Canadian contingent arrives, immediate friction erupts with the American troops. The clash of personalities and backgrounds creates chaos and threatens to derail Frederick's mission. He must navigate the tensions while laying the groundwork for a unified team.

By pushing discipline and joint training, Frederick begins to mold the disparate soldiers into a cohesive force. The unit evolves into a highly trained commando, capable of operating with speed and precision. The initial animosities gradually fade as they experience success together.

The Allied High Command shifts plans toward Norwegian operations and informs the brigade that British troops will take the Norway mission. The unit is ordered disbanded and its men reassigned, a setback that tests Frederick's resolve. Despite the setback, he remains determined to find a path forward.

Frederick refuses to give up and persuades Lieutenant General Mark Clark to give his men a chance on an Italian mission. Clark grants the brigade a second opportunity to prove itself, choosing Italy as the proving ground. This marks a pivotal shift from failed plans to active combat testing.

Assigned by Major General Maxwell Hunter to reconnoiter a Wehrmacht garrison, Frederick goes beyond the brief and captures the entire Italian town. The audacious victory earns the unit the nickname Die Teufelsbrigade, The Devil's Brigade. The feat demonstrates the unit's growing effectiveness and nerve.

Impressed by the growing capability of Frederick's men, Lieutenant General Clark promotes him to full colonel. He is given a task no other Allied troops have managed: to capture Monte la Difensa. The assignment tests the brigade's limits and leadership.

Facing severe obstacles, the Devil's Brigade attacks the eastern side of Monte la Difensa, a cliff the Germans believed impossible to climb. They reach the summit together, taking the stronghold despite significant losses. The victory clears the way for the Allied northern Italian advance.

The film emphasizes the initial rivalry between Canadian and American soldiers, but the shared peril of combat forges them into a cohesive team. They rally around a common enemy, learning to trust one another and work as a single fighting force. This transformation is central to their effectiveness in subsequent operations.

With Monte la Difensa secured and the unit functioning as a true special force, Frederick's men earn a hard-won reputation among Allied commands. Their rapid, aggressive actions demonstrate the value of cross-national cooperation on dangerous terrain. The brigade's achievements help accelerate the Allied campaign in Italy.

The Devil's Brigade's story showcases how leadership, adaptability, and unity under pressure can turn misfits into an effective fighting force. Though born from friction, they prove that diverse troops can operate as a single, lethal unit behind enemy lines. The film closes by highlighting the lasting impact of their aggressive, innovative approach.