- To improve the camp's inspection rating, Klink transfers in a stern German sergeant who quickly makes life miserable for staff and prisoners alike with his overly strict and unwavering adherence to all regulations. All want him gone.
- After receiving a "poor" rating from the Inspector General of prison camps, Col. Klink brings in stern new sergeant to discipline the prisoners. How can Hogan and his men make sure the camp's ruthless "discipline machine" has the shortest reign possible?—Anonymous
- At the start, Hogan is looking through the land periscope, and sees tiger tanks, panzers, and ammunition carriers. Stock historical black-and-white footage shows older tanks. Hogan gives the information to Lt. Bigelow, who is going out the tunnel, and will be taking the information to the Underground to get it to England. Hogan and the men get out of the tunnel into the barracks just as the tunnel collapses.. Hogan says that Bigelow was past the collapse point so he should be all right, and be able to get out.
Klink and Schultz enter the barracks. Klink says that he has been trying to get their attention. Hogan asks how, and Schultz blows a loud whistle that deafens Klink, who is standing right next to him. Klink tells Hogan and the men that the Inspector General was here last week. and Klink just got the report: he got a G minus rating, the second lowest possible rating. Klink tells Hogan to join the formation 'if you have time'.
In Klink's office, Klink tells Hogan that he expects to get a EE++ rating, the highest rating, the next time he is rated. Klink tells Hogan that he can not bribe the Inspector General on a colonel's pay. Klink does not seem too concerned about it. He tells Hogan that he has a secret weapon. At that point, Sgt. Reinhold Franks comes in and reports for duty. Franks, a hard core by-the-book Oberfeldwebel, is his new 'secret weapon'. Later, Franks has the prisoners fall out for roll call, and times them. He says that it took them 1 minute and 52 seconds to fall out, and that regulations say it should take no more than 48 seconds. As a result, they will fall out one hour earlier tomorrow. Someone cracks a joke, and Franks says that there is no joking allowed, and tells them they will fall out 2 hours earlier tomorrow. He then has the prisoners start running.
Back om Klink's office, Klink tells Hogan that Major Meiling from STALAG 8 gave him to Klink. STALAG 8 had been getting bad ratings before Franks got there, and now they have been getting EE++ since he was there. The prisoners finish the run tired and collapse in their bunks. Hogan can't use them to clear out the tunnel. Schultz comes in and complains to Hogan about Franks. Hogan asks why Franks is pushing Schultz around as they are the same rank. Then Franks comes in for inspection. Hogan asks Franks to overlook some things, and Franks says he can't do that because it is against regulations. Franks then puts Schultz on report for fraternizing with prisoners, being out of uniform, and taking unauthorized breaks. Franks goes to Klink's office with a report on Schultz, for violating regulations sections 6, 13 Subsection G, and 78. Franks also has another report that Klink at first agrees to sign. Franks is putting Klink on report to the General because his efficiency reports are 6 weeks late. Klink now will not sign it, and gets mad; Klink tries to pull rank on Franks, but Franks tells him that he has a cousin who works in Goring's office. Klink says he will have them typed up, but Franks tells him that they must be written in the Kommandant's own handwriting. Hogan says that Franks would turn his own father in; Franks says that his father is in a labor camp in East Prussia. Franks then tells Klink that the Fuhrer's picture must be 8 inches above eye level (he does not say whose eye; Franks and Klink are different heights). Franks says that anyone can hang the Fuhrer's picture, but they must wear gloves. Hogan says he understands that; he would not want to touch it either.
Later, Franks comes into the barracks for inspection. The bunks are 28 inches apart, regulations state they are supposed to be 27 inches apart. Hogan says they needed the room. Franks puts on white gloves and looks for dirt. He finds some on the window, and puts the barracks on half rations. He tells them to clean up the barracks, and says that he wants to be able to eat off the floor. Hogan makes a comment about his eating habits.
Next, Max, a dog handler with a panel truck (not Oscar Schnitzer as in the past) comes in and tells Hogan that they are waiting for Bigelow, and have been watching the tunnel. Hogan says that he must have been caught in the cave in. Hogan comes into the barracks, wakes everybody up by banging his hand on Carter's upper bunk (which Carter does not like) and tells everybody to start digging out the tunnel, and put the dirt in the rafters.
At Klink's office, Hogan and Klink talk about how to get rid of Franks. Major Meiling does not want him back. Other Kommandants don't want him; when Klink called them, they all laughed. It seems that everybody knows about Franks except Klink. Hogan has an idea, to take a tommy gun and rub him out, just like Cagney does in the movies. Klink does not agree to that, as they might be turned over to the Gestapo. Klink has 6 months of paperwork to catch up on, while Hogan comes up with ideas.
That evening, Franks tells Hogan outside the barracks that the Inspector General is coming tomorrow, and he is expecting to get the top rating. Hogan tells Franks that Franks wants to make himself look good, and Klink look bad; Franks agree with him..
While this is going on, the other prisoners dig Bigelow out of the tunnel; there was a cave in at each end, and Bigelow was luckily in the middle. Bigelow thanks them, and says that he is tired of eating sardines. While they are putting dirt in bags in the rafters, reveille is called 2 hours early. Hogan hustles the men outside; Bigelow stays inside. Franks tells Klink that they are all present. Franks then tells Klink that the Inspector General will be coming today. Franks wants to inspect the barracks; Hogan and some of the men stand in his way at the door for a few seconds, but he pushes past them. He finds the barracks clean; Bigelow threw the dirt back into the tunnel. Franks then gives LeBeau his uniform to press; LeBeau says he will not do it, and throws it on the floor. Hogan picks it up, and says he will do it. After Franks leaves, Hogan asks Carter about the invisible ink that he has. Carter says that it appears at 90 degrees. He then starts to tell them what the plan is.
The Inspector General arrives, and tells Klink that Colonel Feldgaum of STALAG 5 was the last one to get two G minus ratings; he is now at the Russian Front. Franks goes out, and calls for the prisoners to fall out. The compound is a mess; it was neat a few minutes ago, and Franks does not understand it. After the prisoners assemble, Franks turns around and salutes Klink, and his right sleeve detaches from the uniform; LeBeau loosened the stitching while he was cleaning it.. He then clicks his heels, and his pants legs detach and fall down. Then his shirt falls apart, and shows a two-fingered 'V for Victory' sign drawn on the front. Franks can not explain it. The Inspector General then puts Franks under arrest and says to wait for the Gestapo. Franks waddles away with the shredded uniform. Hogan tells Franks that he is violating Article 2 Paragraph 9 of regulations: out of uniform.
At the end, a gestapo agent, actually Lt. Bigelow in a black coat looking like Gestapo, comes in and says that he has come for a prisoner, asking "Which one of you is it?" Klink points to Franks. Bigelow/Gestapo says that his car broke down and he commandeered a truck (the same truck that Max used earlier), and to put him in the back. They then drive off and leave the camp.
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