The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Allied leaders like General Worden recognized the dilemma: if Dietrich succeeded in assassinating Hitler, more competent Nazi commanders might take over and prolong the war. However, they calculated that Hitler's flaws had become an Allied advantage, and removing him could potentially hasten Germany's surrender. The mission was a calculated gamble with uncertain outcomes.

Foreshadowing: Worden learns of the plot through the French Resistance and weighs the conflicting risks.

• allied command
• hitler assassination
• general worden
• dietrich plot
• war strategy

Reisman is coerced into the mission after being pulled from chain of command chastisements. He is warned that refusal means being sent back to face his original charges, which likely include serious military crimes. He agrees only on the condition that he can handpick the twelve men himself, ensuring he has control over who accompanies him on this deadly operation.

Foreshadowing: Worden travels to Marston Tyne Military Prison to recruit Reisman and explain the assignment.

• major reisman
• coercion
• handpick team
• prison sentence
• leadership

Rosen was one of the thirteen men initially selected by Reisman and Bowren from Marston Tyne Military Prison. However, he proved insubordinate and was sent back to the prison, which reduced the group to twelve men. His removal established the mission's uncompromising tone from the start.

Foreshadowing: The initial list includes Rosen among twelve others before being pared down.

• rosen
• insubordination
• marston tyne
• original team
• removal

Valentine's escape attempt during the air raid was actually a sleepwalking episode, not a deliberate desertion. Sixkiller and Wells stopped him and brought him back, which revealed the extreme psychological pressure the condemned men were under. This incident underscored the fragile mental state of the team.

Foreshadowing: The Dozen face internal frictions and psychological strain during training.

• valentine
• sleepwalking
• air raid
• escape attempt
• psychological stress

The gold was a complete fabrication, a psychological ruse created by Reisman to keep the Dozen motivated and unified during the mission. The actual objectives were to eliminate General Dietrich and seize whatever valuables and intelligence they could find. The revelation that there was no gold tested the team's loyalty but ultimately solidified their shared purpose.

Foreshadowing: Reisman reveals the lie about gold while the Dozen rest in a church.

• gold ruse
• lie
• motivation
• treasury
• psychological manipulation

Dregors contemplated shooting Hitler instead of Dietrich because killing the Führer would be a more symbolically significant blow to the Nazi regime. During the church planning session, he considered disregarding the mission parameters entirely. Reisman had to talk him back to the original objective, arguing that striking at Dietrich's regime and seizing the mission's opportunities was more strategically sound.

Foreshadowing: In the church, Dregors shows flashes of independence and considers going after Hitler.

• dregors
• hitler
• disobedience
• original objective
• sniper

Colonel Schmidt was Dietrich's long-time deputy who became suspicious of Dietrich's true motives regarding the assassination plot. When Dietrich's plans were exposed, Schmidt's suspicion threatened to undermine the operation. Dietrich eliminated him by shooting Schmidt to silence the threat and prevent betrayal.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes Schmidt becomes suspicious of Dietrich's motives.

• colonel schmidt
• dietrich
• executed
• treachery
• deputy

During the chaotic escape from the Gestapo pursuit, Wright attempted to kill Reisman, though the exact motivation isn't explicitly detailed in the summary. Sixkiller responded by shooting Wright dead before he could complete the act. This violent internal conflict added to the mission's turmoil and highlighted the fragile cohesion among the condemned men.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes Wright attempts to kill Reisman but is shot dead by Sixkiller.

• wright
• kill reisman
• sixkiller
• murder attempt
• mutiny

The briefcase hidden under a seat contained top-secret intelligence and a bag of jewels, the real cache of value from the mission. This confirmed that the Dozen's risky operation delivered not just a symbolic victory by eliminating Dietrich, but also tangible high-value intelligence and treasure that would benefit the Allied cause.

Foreshadowing: The briefcase is discovered during the return voyage after Dregors dies of his wounds.

• briefcase
• intelligence
• jewels
• real prize
• secret documents

Only five members survived: Reisman, Dregors, Perkins, Valentine, and Wells. However, Dregors died of his wounds during the return voyage to England. The high mortality rate reflects the deadly nature of the suicide mission and the heavy cost of war.

Foreshadowing: Most of the Dozen are killed during the frantic flight home.

• survivors
• deaths
• dregors
• return voyage
• casualties

The surviving soldiers returned to England still wearing their German disguises. When they landed and approached a farmer, he mistook them for Nazis and held them at gunpoint. Reisman had to speak English to prove their true identity, after which the farmer directed them to a nearby pub.

Foreshadowing: The mission ends with the survivors landing in England still in German uniform.

• english farmer
• nazi uniform
• mistaken identity
• reisman
• pub

Dregors was made up to appear wounded with bare hands as part of the cover. A sharp-eyed Gestapo agent noticed this discrepancy, the wound makeup didn't account for his exposed hands, and raised the alarm. This exposed their ruse and triggered a dangerous chase.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes Dregors was made up to appear wounded with bare hands.

• gestapo
• disguise
• dregors
• bare hands
• discovered