Well that is all fiction and the narrative of events is not remotely accurate.
That’s Battle of the Bulge for sure. There was no -last stand- at Ambleve, and it’s not even a real town. (Though the area has been called that on occassion)
The Malemedy “massacre” was nothing like what’s desribed in the film.
And Pieper
The story is about people, and that’s what drives the plot.
The love story between the tank-commander and his girlfriend
The wanton relentlessness of the allied colonel who refuses to admit he’s wrong and who will prove himself right no matter what.
The talks between Hessler and his Aide, and life, victory, and what the meaning of the war is.
The Lieutenant who’s a flake, until he realizes what leadership means
The Desire of Hessler to achieve success and fame at any cost, and hows his lust for namesake kills him in the end.
so on and so forth…
Important events, like Patton’s Column, and the battle of Bastogne, are barely mentioned, IF EVER.
In fact, this work of fiction describes the Americans holding thier tank columns in reserve, to make it to a final frontal battle in a final blow out, as oppossed to what actually happend, which was a column from the south led by patton to relieve the focal point of the battle, bastogne. The same Bastogne that became the strategic objective of the offensive, as soon as Hitler realized Antwerp could not be reached.
BOTB uses the war as a back drop, to resolve a number of characters flaws, and personal battles within themselves and their relationships. Without denial.
That said, according to the definition you are providing, all quiet on the western front isn’t a war movie either. Nor Cross of Iron.
