Fact-based war drama about an American battalion of over 500 men which gets trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest in October 1918 France during the closing weeks of World War I.
In 1918 in World War I, in the Meuse-Argonne Sector in France, the former New York lawyer and Major Charles White Whittlesey is assigned by Gen. Robert Alexander to a massive suicidal attack against the German forces in the Argonne Forest with his five-hundred-man battalion. However, the forces supposed to be giving support through the flanks retreat and the communications with the headquarter of the 77th American Division are cut. Major Wittlesey holds his position with his men, mostly Irish, Polish, Italian and Jewish immigrants from New York, surrounded by the German army. Without food, water, ammunition and medical supplies, only two hundred men survive after five days of siege.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
As the First World War draws to a close, American troops penetrate deep into German held French territory, under pressure from French and British allies to advance quickly and smash the last of the German Army in France. "The Lost Battalion" is the true story of a group of 800 American soldiers, attached to the 77th American Division, who were ordered to advance into the Argonne Forest, against heavy German resistance, and hold their position at whatever the cost.—Anthony Hughes {[email protected]}
In 1917, American forces joined British and French armies to fight the Germans in Europe. The front-line against the Germans is a network of trenches and heavily defended positions on both sides and progress is measured in a few feet.A major breakthrough is elusive, and the US military decides to launch an attack through the Argonne Forest to break the deadlock.
In October 1918, Major Charles Whittlesey is ordered by Major General Robert Alexander to lead roughly 550 soldiers of the United States Army's 77th Infantry Division into the Argonne Forest to repel the German advance.
The force was led by Maj. Charles W. Whittlesey (Rick Schroder), who was disparagingly described as a "New York lawyer" by his commanders. Whittlesey considers it to be suicide to attack through the Argonne when the allies are unprepared, as they are low on food, fuel, ammunition and medicines.Whittlesey's men, part of the American Expeditionary Forces, consist largely of immigrants and poor working-class men from the Lower East Side of New York City. Whittlesey does not command the respect of his men either.
Whittlesey is assisted in command by Captain George McMurty (Phil McKee), a veteran of the Rough Riders, and James Leak (Jay Rodan), an inexperienced lieutenant from Texas.The men include Pvt Bob Yoder (Rhys Miles Thomas), Pvt Frank Lipasti (Andre Vippolis), Pvt. Abraham Krotoshinsky (Arthur Kremer), Pvt. Philip Cepaglia (Daniel Caltagirone), Pvt. Jacob Rosen (Michael Goldstrom), Pvt. Omer Richards (Justin Scot), Pvt. Nat Henchman (Anthony Azizi), Pvt. Lowell R. Hollingshead (George Calil), Pvt. Stanley Chinn (Paul Courtenay Hyu), Pvt. Isidore Swersky (Josh Cohen), Pvt. Ferguson (Finbar Lynch), and others.Leak teaches the men on how to differentiate between US and German artillery as the German pieces make a peculiar sound before hitting the ground.
The entrance to the Argonne is also heavily defended by the Germans and the battalion takes on heavy loses overcoming this obstacle.The battalion was part of what was supposed to be a three-pronged attack through the German lines. The battalion believed another American force led by Col. Johnson (Adam Kotz) was on its right flank and a French force on its left, not knowing that they had both retreated in face of the heavy resistance.They encounter German fortifications within the forest and take them down as they come across them.
The battalion lost contact with headquarters after receiving orders that grounds captured must not be given up under any circumstances. Alexander despite having knowledge of the retreat by the other forces, orders the battalion to push on. Alexander says that the other 2 battalions are ahead of Whittlesey.
Major General (Generalmajor) Freidrich Wilhelm Von Sybel (Wolf Kahler) and Maj. Fritz Heinrich Prinz (Joachim Paul Assbock) put their reserves into action to drive the Americans out of the Argonne.Whittlesey sent several runners to headquarters, but none of them returned. He ended up having to rely on carrier pigeons to communicate. Whittlesey reaches the target area of Charlevaux Mills but does not find any French or American battalion there. His men are already running out of food, ammunition and water.They are soon joined by riflemen commanded by Captain Nelson Holderman (Adam James), who help the battalion repel the first wave of German attack. The Germans shoot any person trying to fill water from a stream nearby.
During the siege, American artillery began firing on the German position in the forest as the Americans cheered. However, the artillery began falling on the American line, killing numerous men in friendly fire. Whittlesey sends a pigeon to headquarters with a message saying they were being hit by their own artillery, saying, "For heaven's sake, stop it". The headquarters receives the message and stops firing. Witnessing the incident, the Germans attack the disoriented American force, but they are repelled by the Americans in fierce fighting and retreat back to their trenches.
After several days and numerous repelled attacks, the Americans are still holding on, despite desperately low supplies, forcing them to reuse bandages and other medical supplies and take food off dead soldiers. The Germans capture two Americans, one of them wounded, and begin using them to try to negotiate with Whittlesey.
The uninjured prisoner, an officer Lt Leak, receives good treatment from a German officer who speaks fluent English, having lived in America for several years. He tries to convince the lieutenant that there is no hope, to which the American responds, "What you're up against, Major, is a bunch of Mick, Dago, Polack and Hebrew gangster from New York city: They'll never surrender."
Later, the second American eventually agrees to take a message from the Germans to Whittlesey urging surrender after his captor says he wants to save lives. The Germans then send him escorted by a German soldier with a white flag back to the American line with the message. Whittlesey responds by throwing the flag back towards the Germans. The Americans continue to hold despite relentless attacks and low supplies.
Eventually, an American pilot is sent out to search for the force, and flies right over their position. Realizing it is an American plane, the Americans make noise to try to get the pilot's attention. The Germans prepare to shoot at the plane, but their commander tells them to hold their fire because if the pilot knew the Germans' location, he would also know the Americans'. The pilot locates the Americans and signals to them, and the Germans begin firing at him. The pilot is critically wounded but manages to circle the location on his map and navigate back to the airfield, dead by the time he lands. The men at the base see his map and take it back to headquarters.
After six days, reinforcements finally arrive at the American lines. The Germans retreated after the fifth day. Major General Robert Alexander (Michael Brandon) arrives in a car, telling Whittlesey that there will be "commendations and promotions for everyone". Whittlesey is furious about the debacle and is further angered by Alexander's insistence that the casualties that they suffered were "acceptable losses".
Alexander reveals that the battalion's hold in the middle of the German line enabled the Americans to break through the entire line. Alexander offers to take Whittlesey back to headquarters in his car, to which Whittlesey responds, "That's not acceptable, sir. I'll stay with my men."
Roughly 197 of the 550 men survive the battle. World War I ends just three weeks later. Whittlesey is awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, and the "Lost Battalion" gains iconic status.
