The Eagle Has Landed

In 1943, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris orchestrated the clever abduction of Benito Mussolini, which showcased his strategic prowess. This event set the stage for further high-stakes operations within Nazi Germany's military intelligence.

Canaris received a high-level command to explore capturing British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Although Canaris viewed the order as unlikely to be fulfilled, he was cautious of Heinrich Himmler’s determination in carrying it out.

Oberst Franz Radl took charge of Operation Eagle, gathering intelligence on Churchill's whereabouts. Through an Abwehr sleeper agent in England, Radl discovered that Churchill would be in a peaceful Norfolk village.

Recognizing the operation's potential, Radl sought help from Liam Devlin, an engaging IRA lecturer. Radl knew that Devlin's unique skills would enhance the mission's success in capturing Churchill.

Kurt Steiner, an experienced Fallschirmjäger officer, was brought in to lead the operation. Just as he prepared for the mission, he was diverted to a dangerous assignment in occupied Poland to rescue a Jewish girl.

After a failed rescue attempt, Steiner faced a court-martial and was sent to a penal unit on German-occupied Alderney. There, he and his comrades were forced into high-risk human torpedo attacks against Allied ships.

Radl secretly met with Himmler, who revealed his awareness of Operation Eagle. Himmler gave Radl a letter of authority signed by Hitler, granting him the power to ensure the operation's success by any means necessary.

German commandos, disguised as Polish paratroopers, infiltrated the unsuspecting Norfolk village to capture Churchill. Their clever disguise included wearing German uniforms underneath to prevent being discovered.

During their descent, one of Steiner's men heroically attempted to save a girl near an ancient waterwheel. This act led to his grim discovery by villagers, revealing the true nature of the infiltration.

Steiner's men took control of the village church, holding the residents captive. The vicar's sister, Pamela Verecker, plotted to escape and alert American units in the area about the German presence.

Under Colonel Pitts's command, inexperienced American soldiers attacked the church in a badly planned operation. The assault resulted in heavy casualties, and Pitts was killed by Joanna Grey, a covert Abwehr agent.

Following Colonel Pitts's death, Captain Harry Clark took command and led a successful counterattack against the Germans. His strategic maneuvering overwhelmed the German forces and trapped them inside the church.

In the chaos, Steiner and his men made the ultimate sacrifice to allow Devlin and his injured comrade to flee. They discovered a hidden passage that facilitated their desperate escape from the church.

Back on Alderney, Radl was notified that the mission had failed and that Himmler lacked Hitler's endorsement for the operation. Facing imminent execution by an SS firing squad, Radl was branded a traitor.

In England, Steiner mistakenly killed a body double of Churchill, leading to his own demise shortly thereafter. The real Churchill was en route to the Tehran Conference, escaping the danger posed by Steiner’s actions.