A particular snag of the plot

It is a particular snag of the plot, that one well-meaning superior of the boys manages to have them not sent to the front (where they would have been killed or would have received orders to retreat), but to 'defend' that useless bridge, intending to protect them from death or captivity. When the front retreats, they are forgotten and receive no orders to retreat, and THAT is why they stay there.

A German participant of the war, probably at the end of the war a year or two older then the boys in the film watched the film with me. He was very long quiet after seeing the film. He then said:" That's the way it was. Exactly like that" and left the room.

From other stories from that person, I also know that the American reaction in the film was accurate: when they encountered resistance, the pulled back, had the position shelled or bombed. If something still moved, there was a second wave, before infantry moved forward again.

A most impressive film against war, because war is not about glory, but aboput misery.