How I Won the War is a satirical comedy film that was released in 1967. It is based on a novel of the same name by Patrick Ryan. The film is set during World War II and follows the misadventures of a bumbling British officer named Lieutenant Goodbody, played by Michael Crawford.
Goodbody is put in charge of a group of soldiers who are sent to North Africa to fight against the Germans. However, he is completely inept and has no grasp of military tactics or strategy. He makes a series of disastrous decisions, including an ill-fated mission to blow up a German outpost that results in the deaths of most of his men.
Despite his incompetence, Goodbody manages to survive and is sent to Europe to continue the fight. There, he leads his troops on a madcap mission to capture a German town, which ends in chaos and confusion. Along the way, he encounters a series of oddball characters, including a soldier who believes he is a bird and a group of hippies who are protesting the war.
The film is a biting satire of war and the military establishment, and it skewers the idea of heroism and glory in battle. It is also notable for its use of surrealistic elements, such as a recurring scene in which the characters break the fourth wall and address the audience directly.
Despite its critical acclaim, How I Won the War was not a box office success. However, it has since become a cult classic and is regarded as an important work in the history of anti-war cinema.