Operacja Dunaj (2009)

The story begins on the night of August 20–21, 1968. In response to the policies of Alexander Dubček, the Czechoslovak First Secretary, and the so-called Prague Spring, the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries set out to intervene in the country in what became known as Operation Danube. Biedroneczka—a veteran T-34/85 that had destroyed several German Tigers in Czechoslovakia during World War II and had since served as a monument at its home unit—also heads for Hradec Králové. Its crew consists of Sergeant Edward Kotwicz, a veteran who is now the tank commander and also the uncle of Jaś, another crew member. Jaś is constantly comparing himself to Janek from Four Tank-Men and a Dog, and believes they are going to Prague to save the Czechs from the Germans. Also aboard Biedroneczka are Florian, a student and admirer of the Czechs, and Romek, the driver. But the ill-fated T-34 never reaches its destination: a few kilometers beyond the border, it arrives in a quiet village and accidentally crashes its gun barrel into an inn. One of its tracks is damaged in the collision, leaving Biedroneczka immobilized for a long time. The accident interrupts a farewell party at the inn for Michal Kulka, the stationmaster who is retiring, attended by a large part of the village. The arrival of the foreign soldiers turns the lives of the entire local community upside down. Relations between the locals and the occupiers evolve from extreme hostility to deep friendships and mutual understanding, and in some cases, love.