Synopsis
Ruthless hand-to-hand combat. Enemy attacks in complete darkness. Conquering massive mountains in the middle of the night with minimal equipment. These were the stock in trade of the elite commando group identified as the First Special Service Force - better known as the “Devil's Brigade”. In 1942, select Canadian soldiers joined the toughest US infantrymen to create a lethal battalion that would wreak havoc upon the enemy. The men were told they were signing up for “hazardous duty”, yet there was no shortage of volunteers. Soldiers traveled across the continent for a chance to be part of this elite group. But the training was arduous and most recruits were forced to drop out and return to their unit. Those who made it through became the First Special Service Force - considered “the best of the best”. Specializing in night time reconnaissance and combat, the members of this legendary force were a terror to their enemies, earning the nickname “The Black Devils”. Utilizing the incredibly successful “living history” production technique (Frantic's seventh such production), a select group of present-day Canadian and US soldiers were taken back in time to face the grueling training and hardship the original Devil's Brigade faced in Montana. Mountain climbing, parachute training and hand-to-hand combat are only some of the challenges the participants face. For those who complete their training - and not all will - there is daunting challenge. They will attempt to complete one of the original Brigade's greatest missions - Monte la Difensa. Without being discovered, they must travel by night and scale the cliffs of the mountain to surprise the real German soldiers awaiting them at the top. The present day experiences of these young soldiers are inter-cut with first-person interviews with Devil's Brigade veterans and compelling archival footage. The innovative blend of techniques gives a comprehensive and dramatic appreciation of the rigorous training and dangerous missions faced by the men of the First Special Service Force. It's not long before the last of the veterans will be gone, so it's an important part of world history to capture this story, told by those who lived it. To honour these men, Devil's Brigade remembers and pays tribute to this elite group who regularly achieved what most called the impossible during the darkest days of the Second World War. Produced in association with History Television. Produced with the participation of The Canadian Television Fund.


Prizes and Awards
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