The German troops celebrate the first anniversary of their entry into Paris, and "Dolce" ends in July 1941, when Germany begins its invasion of the Soviet Union. The troops occupying Bussy are posted to the Eastern Front. Lucile and Bruno fear that he will not survive and she has no difficulty in persuading him to give her a travel document and petrol coupon, which (unknown to him) will enable her to drive Benoît to a new refuge. The title of "Dolce", like that of the whole sequence, intentionally recalls musical terminology, "dolce" means "sweet" or "soft" in musicians' Italian. This title is truthful but also ironic, since bitterness exists under the surface, and a far less peaceful sequel was to follow.