Intercutting dramatic vignettes with newsreel footage, the story follows the characters from an infantry squad as they make their way from Sicily to Germany during the end of World War II.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Eli WallachSgt. Craig | Sgt. Craig |
 George HamiltonTrower | Trower |
 George PeppardCpl. Chase | Cpl. Chase |
 Jeanne MoreauFrench Woman | French Woman |
 Romy SchneiderRegine | Regine |
 Maurice RonetFrench Lieutenant | French Lieutenant |
 Peter FondaWeaver | Weaver |
 Albert FinneyRussian Soldier | Russian Soldier |
 Vince EdwardsBaker | Baker |
 Melina MercouriMagda | Magda |
 Rosanna SchiaffinoMaria | Maria |
 Elke SommerHelga | Helga |
 Michael CallanEldridge | Eldridge |
 James MitchumGrogan | Grogan |
 Senta BergerTrudi | Trudi |
 Albert LievenHerr Metzger | Herr Metzger |
 Marianne StoneProstitute at Hotel de Flandre | Prostitute at Hotel de Flandre |
 Peter VaughanPoliceman | Policeman |
 Elizabeth ErcyYoung French Girl | Young French Girl |
| JJames PayneGerman Soldier at Pill Box (uncredited) | German Soldier at Pill Box (uncredited) |
| JJames ChaseCondemned Soldier | Condemned Soldier |