“I’m not looking for treasure
I don’t care much about gold
It’s too flimsy a chain
To hold my unruly heart…”
~ Léo Marjane.
April & May 1941.
Kurt and Sgt. Otto’s “R&R” in Sarajevo is interrupted by a surprise visit from their commanding officer with orders to assist “death squads” sweeping the surrounding countryside. Despite Kurt’s protest, he’s reminded that “order are orders, regardless of how distasteful.” After his superior officer leaves, a sickened Kurt witnesses crowds of Jewish people being herded into open box cars at the station across the street.
In Berlin, Ursula sees Elisabeth one last time before her transfer to Litzmannstadt (Łódź), Poland. Elisabeth, not having received any news from Kurt, frantically checks in with Moshe.
Before making their first patrol outside the city, Kurt issues new orders forbidding his men to cooperate with any Einsatzgruppen they may encounter. But as a group of Yugoslavian troops approach his position while his men swim in a nearby stream, Kurt recognizes Marko as the leader of the ragtag group. Speaking in French, Kurt warns him of death squads sweeping the area and gives him all of his rations.
Later, Kurt visits Berlin on leave for a couple of days and surprises Elisabeth at the hospital. That night they spend a passion-filled night together before he hastily leaves to rejoin his unit which is en-route to Poland.
