Ep 13. Hogan's Hofbrau

Set during World War II, Hogan's Heroes follows a group of Allied POWs held in Stalag 13, a German prisoner of war camp. Led by Colonel Robert Hogan, played by Bob Crane, the prisoners run a secret operation from within the camp, seeking to sabotage the German war effort and aid the Allies. In season 1, episode 13, titled "Hogan's Hofbrau," the prisoners attempt to steal a secret formula for synthetic rubber from a German scientist traveling through the area.

The episode begins with Hogan receiving a message from London informing him that a German scientist named Dr. Schwartz will be traveling through the area, carrying a top-secret formula for synthetic rubber. This formula is essential to the German war effort and Hogan and his crew see it as an opportunity to steal it and pass it along to the Allies. Hogan develops a plan to lure Dr. Schwartz to Stalag 13 by opening a secret beer hall in the camp known as "Hogan's Hofbrau."

Hogan assigns Corporal LeBeau, played by Robert Clary, the task of brewing the beer, while Sergeant Schultz, played by John Banner, is tasked with finding the necessary ingredients. Schultz is initially hesitant to aid Hogan's scheme, but Hogan convinces him to help by offering him a share of the profits they will make by selling the beer to German soldiers.

Meanwhile, Newkirk, played by Richard Dawson, poses as a German radio operator to intercept a message detailing Dr. Schwartz's travel plans. Armed with this information, Hogan and his team are able to lay a trap for Dr. Schwartz. They fake a Nazi checkpoint and stop the scientist's car, where they manage to obtain the briefcase containing the formula.

However, their theft is discovered by a Gestapo agent named Major Hochstetter, played by Howard Caine, who begins a search of the camp. Hogan and his crew hide the formula in the beer barrels and sell them to the German soldiers through Hogan's Hofbrau. Hochstetter is suspicious of the sale and demands to taste the beer. The plan almost falls apart as Hogan and his men drink too much of their own product and become too drunk to keep up the charade.

In the end, Hogan and his team manage to pull off their plan successfully. Dr. Schwartz is safely escorted out of the area and the secret formula is in the hands of the Allies. Despite the close call with Major Hochstetter, Hogan's Hofbrau is a huge success and the prisoners celebrate their victory with a few more rounds of beer.

"Hogan's Hofbrau" is a classic episode of Hogan's Heroes, showcasing the wily tactics of Colonel Hogan and his crew as they work to undermine the German war effort from within. The humor and ingenuity of the prisoners, combined with the tense atmosphere of their situation, makes for a thrilling and entertaining episode.