Cross of Iron (1977)
Set in 1943, as the beleaguered German army retreats from the Eastern Front, tensions rise between the aristocratic Captain Stransky and the brave Corporal Steiner. Stransky clings to the belief in the superiority of the Third Reich over the Russian forces, yet beneath his haughty exterior lies a coward desperate for the Iron Cross to secure his glory in Berlin. In contrast, Steiner embodies a cynical defiance, prioritizing the well-being of his men over the hollow accolades offered by higher-ups, showcasing a stark divide in their values amid the chaos of war.
