The Black Devils, an elite mountain warfare unit made up of American and Canadian commandos, take on heavily entrenched German defenses during World War II in 1943. This is the First Special Service Force in Italy mounting a do-or-die night-time assault up a treacherous mountain, in extreme weather.

The British Light Infantry enters northern France by glider and then must seize and hold two critical bridges from a heavily armed enemy. The Ranville bridge spans the River Orne and the Bénouville bridge crosses the Caen Canal to the west. Operation Deadstick must succeed to secure the beachheads and allow British forces to break out of Normandy.