Handlung

In the dead of winter, the men of Easy Company fend off frostbite and hunger - in addition to the enemy - while holding the line in a forest outside of Bastogne. Meanwhile, exhausted medic Eugene Roe finds friendship with a Belgian nurse.

It's a cold, harsh Christmas 1944 for the men of Easy Company as they try to hold the line around Bastogne against attacking German forces. They have no winter clothing, limited rations and little ammunition. For Eugene Roe, one of the medics, the problem is getting basic medical supplies. He's been scrounging what he can, but it simply isn't enough. He's managed to get supplies from a Belgian nurse in Bastogne, Renée, but as the casualties mount, he finds himself lacking even the most basic supplies. The men of Easy Company are left on their own much of the time as the Company commander, Lt. Dike, spends most of his in his foxhole.—garykmcd

In the days surrounding Christmas, 1944, Easy Company is stationed near the small town of Bastogne, Belgium, to prevent a German advance during the Battle of the Bulge. A surprise German attack several days prior has split the Allied Forces' line of advance, resulting in many Allied casualties. Easy Company was called up to aid in the defense of Bastogne, a key position at the intersection of seven major roads. Allied forces have set up a perimeter around Bastogne and are barely holding their line, despite constant artillery fire from the German lines.

The story largely follows combat medic Eugene "Doc" Roe (Shane Taylor) as he scrounges for much needed medical supplies amongst the men and in a local village. In the opening scene, Roe loses his way and finds a group of dead German soldiers. He quickly returns to Captain Winters' (Damian Lewis) position, where Winters is engaged in taking a young German soldier prisoner. Among the German's possessions, Winters finds a bandage, which he gives to the under-supplied Roe.

Colonel Sink (Dale Dye) arrives for a quick debriefing; with him is General Anthony McAuliffe, the Commanding Officer of the defense effort in the area. Winters reports that the defense lines are full of gaps and that the Germans often advance beyond them to make use of Allied trenches. The men are also short on food, ammunition and lack winter clothing. McAuliffe orders Winters to hold the line, whatever the cost.

The German shelling continues, resulting in many deaths and injuries. Roe happens to be one of only two medics assigned and is busy much of the time attending to his fellow troops. He often returns to the town of Bastogne, where a poorly arranged hospital has been established. He befriends a nice looking, local woman, Renee (Lucie Jeanne), who works as a nurse. During a run back to the hospital with a wounded man, the driver informs Roe that the Germans have captured the 362nd medical unit, leaving the Army even more shorthanded.

In the trenches and foxholes, the men are hungry, freezing, & unable to light fires for fear of giving away their positions. Roe discovers the men have other problems besides enemy fire; Joe Toye (Kirk Acevedo) has lost his boots; men are suffering from frostbite and jungle rot (fungal infections on their feet) and Bill Guarnere (Frank John Hughes) has a urinary tract infection that Roe is unable to treat without penicillin. A patrol is sent out to probe German positions and a Private, Julian, is hit in the neck. The rest of the squad is unable to reach him and watch helplessly as he bleeds to death. Private Julian's death has a heavy effect on Babe Heffron (Robin Laing). Lieutenant Harry Welsh (Rick Warden) is also severely wounded in the attack and Roe, who'd been asleep, has difficulty reacting quickly to the situation. Winters orders him to Bastogne to get a hot meal and more supplies.

Roe rushes back into Bastogne with a wounded transport and sees the hospital, set up in the village church, hit by German aerial bombardment. He is unable to find Renee in the wreckage, but does find her bandanna, which he keeps. Back at the front line, Roe finds Babe Heffron, whose hand he'd stepped on and cut earlier. He uses the nurse's bandanna to bandage Babe's hand, while telling Babe to keep his eyes on the German front line.