The German line had held for three days. Sergeant Mike Kowalski's squad was pinned down, unable to advance, unable to retreat. The bunkers ahead were killing fields.

Lieutenant Reed gathered his officers. "We go at dawn. Mortars first, then tanks, then us. No stopping until we're through."

Mike returned to his men. "Tomorrow. Be ready."

Dawn came grey and cold. The mortars opened up, pounding the bunkers. Tanks rumbled forward, firing as they moved. Mike's squad followed, rifles ready.

They reached the first bunker. Grenades tossed. Germans surrendered. Move to the next.

Hours later, they stood on open ground, the German line behind them. Mike counted his squad. Nine from fifteen. Nine alive.

"We did it," someone whispered.

Mike looked back at the bunkers, at the bodies, at the cost. "Yeah. We did it."

The breakthrough was complete. The road to Germany lay open. The war continued, but for one moment, they had won. That was enough.