Escape at Dawn Walkthrough

"These commandos are the bravest men I've ever seen.
People will remember this night, even if we live."
—William Holt, U.S. Army Lieutenant

You and your British compatriots have succeeded in destroying the naval shipyard in St. Nazaire, thus crippling the repair facility that would have been used for the battleship Tirpitz. London's shores are safe—for now—so it's time to get the hell out of there! Fight your way through the bombed-out streets of the city on your way to the French countryside. Take it slow and steady, clearing each street of the Nazi scourge as you go.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, you overhear a report blaring on the radio officer's bulky equipment: "Reinforcements are not coming. Repeat—not coming." His temper tantrum that follows the broadcast does little to allay your fears. According to the scout, a number of Huns have holed up in scattered pockets of resistance around the city. Eliminate them all to have any hope of escaping in one piece.

Exit the radio room and follow your men through the streets. Small squads of Nazi soldiers fire upon your men from behind cover and from the empty shells of burned-out buildings. Take cover and methodically waste them all with your weapon of choice (the M1 Garand is a fine option). Enter and search the first building after killing the soldiers inside. Watch your back as you climb the staircase, because an ambush is likely. Return to the first floor and exit out the back. When you come under immediate attack by a German MG nest across the street, take cover and pick him off. Be alert for any stick grenades he might throw from his window perch.

Advancing to the next intersection, you face a large force of Germans hunkered down behind some debris, along with an MG nest spraying hot lead from the right. Keep your men safe behind cover (and outside of the range of the machine gun) and pick off the Nazis firing on your position from down the street. Once the area across from you is clear, turn your attention to the MG nest on your right. Duck and pop to take it out, but bear in mind that each time you waste the soldier manning the machine gun, the guy next to him takes it over. You can toss grenades, but your best bet is to kill each gunner with a quick shot or two as he grabs the weapon. Enter the house and rid yourself of the last enemy soldier to eliminate the machine gun nest. Heal your men if necessary, and proceed down the street.

Meet up with the boys of second squad. They're your responsibility now, so do your best to keep the men alive. Continue down the cobblestone path until you reach a rather damaged town square. Mortar blasts and machine gun fire erupt around you, sending debris flying. Take cover and waste the MG high up in the window, then pick off each enemy soldier until you've cleared the area. After some men in your squad blow a door off its hinges, you have access to a new area. Enter the building and clear each room of enemy troops. As you exit the building from the second floor terrace, watch for additional soldiers across the alley. Dispatch them quickly and heal your men if necessary. Upon reaching the second floor of the adjacent building, you witness the grisly sight of one of your men getting blown to pieces by a Panzer tank. It seems like the abominable machine will tear the building apart. Just when you think there's no escape, a British plane zooms by and eliminates the Panzer tank. Thanks, mate!

Just because the iron monster has been reduced to a burning hulk, you're still not safe. The courtyard is hot with gunfire as Gerry reinforcements flock to the fight. Clear the courtyard of all enemies from the second floor of the building. Watch out for MG fire—as you kill the operator, another soldier will assume the duty. Keep wasting them until the nest is empty. Climb down the stairs and exit the building. One of your secondary targets—the radio tower—is across the street. To reach it, circle around the square toward the church. Take cover behind the busted fountain and clear the way for your men. Enter the building across the street and prepare for some stiff resistance outside the church. Climb to the second floor to gain a tactical advantage and easily pick off your foes from the higher ground.

Enter the church and clear the place of the Nazi scum. Steer clear of the opposite end until you've sufficiently thinned their ranks because your Nemesis—Erich Koster—waits behind the broken pulpit. Activate your adrenaline and pump him full of lead. Once you eliminate Erich Koster, be sure to obtain the North African shipping manifest he drops. Before you exit the area, walk through the gaping hole on the right side of the church. Plant the charge at its base and destroy the radio tower.

All that's left now is escape. Exit the far side of the church to the eerie grounds of an overgrown graveyard under assault by some Nazi troops and another Panzer tank. Dozens of grenades litter the immediate area, so grab a handful and take cover behind the small mausoleums dotting the grounds. The tank systematically blasts each structure to smithereens, so lob grenades at the tank like there's no tomorrow. It takes a lot of punishment, but eventually the pineapples do the trick. Finish off the remaining enemy soldiers and escape to the French countryside. Excellent job, men!

By Nino Mann