I am also unfamilair with that movie although I probably did see it I jsut dont like to remember movie titels.
I suppose it would be worth it to remember the titles of movies you've seen when you're planning to discuss them with other enthusiasts... Cross of Iron is about a German unit on the Eastern front that is being gradually destroyed by incessant Russian attacks. It gets encircled and has to fight its way back to the German lines.
As already stated, it's willi Heinrich. Das Geduldige Fleisch is a great novel and in my opinion it ranks among the very best things written about WWII. a must read!