The movie begins rather slowly, focusing on a battle between German and Russians in Poland. TThe pace quickens when Andrew (Hugh Dale), a British attaché observing the Russian soldiers, accidentally discovers that they have executed the members of the Polish government who were in exile.
In the meantime, Klaus (Tino Struckmann), a German Captain, is taken prisoner and he and Andrew end up in the same dark cell. All of the other prisoners in the cell are murdered, but Klaus is spared. His Masonic tattoo saves his life. Brothers are brothers.
Andrew and Klaus escape and become unlikely allies in their attempt to reach a safe location, away from the Russians, who are hot on their trail. Both men know things about the Russian’s that, if divulged to the Allies, would not be helpful to Stalin. Andrew needs to inform the Allies that after the war, Stalin is planning to take over Germany permanently.
Masonic Brotherhood
Klaus and Andrew are not the best of friends. Their only common ground is that they both want to get away from the Russians. Andrew is confused as to why Klaus’ life was spared, until he realizes that the Masonic tattoo saved his new friend from death. Hitler first went after the Jews, then the Masons, and Klaus is very much a foe of Hitler. He loves his country, but not what Hitler is doing to it and its people.
Then, Klaus discovers that Andrew is also a Mason. When Andrew is in need of assistance, he asks Klaus to “help a fellow traveler,” which is a code phrase for freemasons. This makes the bond between the two men even stronger.
During their flight from their Russian captors, the two men meet Anna, a Polish nurse who has fled her home because the Germans have taken over. Their abusive tactics themselves constitute War Crimes, but more than anything, Anna wishes to help wounded soldiers with her medical knowledge, and the Germans will not let her do that.
Americans To Their Rescue
The trio now sets their sites on escaping together. They finally hear American soldiers in the distance and they realize they are almost free. If they can get to the Americans and let them know what is going on, then everything will be all right. But getting to the Americans proves to be a lethal act for one of the three.
In the November 2008 issue of In Hollywood Magazine for the AFM, Paul Winslow said “Brother’s War is our pick for the Best War Film of the Year.” It is intense and dramatic, but the unlikely alliance between Klaus and Andrew against the brutalities of the Russians and Germans is the theme, which revolves around brotherhood.
