Normandy, France, June 1944. A clearing in the woods, outside a village. An American Army squad and a lone German soldier approach each other from opposite directions. The German surrenders, but an American lieutenant quickly orders that he be shot. The officer gives the job to his sharpshooter, who declares the order illegal and hesitates to do the job. After the sharpshooter is threatened with his own execution, he kills the German prisoner—and himself. The American Army squad then moves out, leaving the two dead enemies side by side.