None Shall Escape

Unconditional surrender.

The leaders of the Nazi party are today standing trial in Poland

as in the other capitals of Europe.

Today, we sit in judgement over those who caused humanity

unspeakable miseries.

We must be aware of our great responsibility

not only to the past, but to the future.

Throughout the occupation by the Nazis of the invaded countries,

a complete record has been kept of the crimes of the Nazis

and the Nazi collaborationists.

The names of these criminals were recorded,

anticipating the day when judgement would be done.

This court will decide not only whether the accused are innocent or guilty

but the extent of the crime.

This court will determine what penalty the accused must pay.

This, then, is the basis of judgement

with which I open this session of the International Tribunal, District of Warsaw.

The first accused is the former Reich Commissioner of the Western region of Poland,

Wilhelm Grimm.

The accused has been provided with defence counsel

and will enjoy full rights.

Call the accused.

Wilhelm Grimm!

You are Wilhelm Grimm, born October 7, 1890 in Berlin?

Yes.

You have been wounded.

You may sit down.

Wilhelm Grimm,

you are charged with the wanton extermination of human life.

You are charged with the crimes of murder,

unlawful detention, degenerate atrocities,

and common theft.

- How do you plead? - Not guilty.

Where is your attorney?

I shall act as my own counsel.

Do you know these witnesses?

We will proceed.

First witness: Reverend Roman Warecki,

priest of Lidzbark.

If it please the court,

I'd like to make a brief statement before giving my testimony.

I'd like to explain why I am testifying.

The trial of these criminals marks a milestone in human history.

It is being argued today that we, having defeated the Nazis,

should show tolerance and mercy.

That these men are the victims of circumstance and of history

and that they enjoyed no freedom to act

in accordance with the dictates of their own consciences.

I'd like to relate an incident which occurred many years ago

to prove that the accused acted of his own volition

and that he had freedom of choice and of will.

It was very early in the spring of 1919,

following the end of the First World War.

In our little town of Lidzbark, it was market day,

and the first warmth of spring was in the air.

There were few scars of war to be seen on the town itself,

but they were there.

Not on the buildings, but in the hearts and faces

of the mothers and wives whose men would never return

or, returning, were crippled, shattered.

But now it was over.

I had started across the square on my morning stroll.

I stopped to greet my friend, the village rabbi.

In the marketplace, there was the usual activity.

Grouped about the wagons and stalls,

the villagers and farmers discussed the politics of the day.

The big question of course was Poland's future.

I don't care who signs the treaty of Versailles.

I believe that Poland is free when we get back our own boundaries.

Not before.

- The Poles are in the hands of the Lord. - Not the Lord, the Germans.

- Good morning, Father. - Morning. Morning.

It happened! Poland is going to be a republic!

I'm sorry, Father, but I believe in Poland for the Poles.

It happened! It happened!

Paderewski has been sent to Versailles.

Paderewski will get our demands. The whole world will listen to him!

Yes, they'll listen to him - when he plays the piano.

We are going to erect a monument to Paderewski

in the center of the public square

to honor our independence!

At least let's wait until we get it.

Ha-ha, don't worry, we'll get independence.

Who do you mean by "we", Dr. Matek?

All of us, Oremski, thanks to divine providence.

And if you'll forgive me, Father,

thanks also to the treaty they will write in Versailles.

Can't you see how the Versailles treaty will protect Poland?

I don't believe it.

- What don't you believe now? - I don't believe anything.

What about the Germans?

You blockhead, haven't you heard? The war is over.

- German imperialism has been defeated forever. - He's right.

Why, that... Yes, it is!

Our German teacher,

Wilhelm Grimm.

I didn't expect him to return so soon.

This is a surprise, Mr. Grimm.

- Welcome back to Lidzbark. - How very generous to an enemy.

- The war is over. - You think so?

- I see you've suffered a wound. - A wound?

That sound like flesh and bone?

In a minute, the children will come yelling and running out of school.

You know, Wilhelm,

your place as teacher is still open for you.

And Marja?

Your place has not been filled there, either.

Welcome back, Professor Grimm!

You recognized me? After such a long time?

Sure, why not? We're not babies.

Four years ago, you were just a child.

Now you're a young lady.

- What's your name? - Anna Oremska.

- Doesn't he look distinguished? - You mean that medal?

He's been wounded. Don't you feel sorry for him?

No.

Father Warecki says we have not to hate the Germans anymore.

My brother doesn't hate them anymore.

He's dead.

Marja.

Wilhelm.

- Darling, I'm so happy. - Happy?

Why did you stop when you saw me limping?

Darling, I knew nothing about it.

- Why didn't you write me that you... - That I'm a cripple?

Isn't it enough that you know it now?

Would you have waited for me if you'd known?

Don't you know me better than that, Wilhelm?

Do you think you're any different to me because you've been wounded?

Well, you don't understand.

Nothing's the same anymore.

My love is the same, Wilhelm.

- Isn't it peaceful here, darling? - Well, at least there's no Polish hysterics

about Polish independence and Polish republics and Polish peace.

- Have you forgotten, Wilhelm? I'm Polish, too. - In three days, you'll be my wife.

- And then? - Then you'll be German.

- As if it mattered. - What does matter?

Being your wife. More than anything.

Waiting three more days seems like forever, Marja.

After all these years.

- I'm worried, Wilhelm. - What about?

Those curtains I got for the living room. Do you really like them?

Yes.

You couldn't have found a nicer house. It's so small and snug.

On the coldest winter evenings it'll be as warm and lovely...

...as you are.

I can't believe it's true.

All those long four years you were gone, I kept praying you'd come back.

Remember, Wilhelm, it was right here,

at this very table that you asked me to marry you.

And when you were called away to the army so suddenly,

all you left behind for me was hope for the future.

In those days, I still believed in the future.

And now you don't? Our future?

I love you, Marja.

You're the only human being in the world that I love.

The others I hate, all of them.

Not only these village clowns who babble idiotically in the market square,

the German people, too.

They lost the war, not our army.

Today, the German people babble about freedom and democracy

just like the Poles.

But that's the only chance any people have, Wilhelm.

Without freedom, there's no future.

The future lies in victory, not in freedom.

The war will be continued until it's won, that's our destiny.

If Germany had won, would you have come back to me?

Well, if we'd won, I wouldn't have to spend the rest of my life a a country schoolteacher,

rot in this village.

If we'd won, there'd have been a German Middle Europe,

a German Lebensraum from Berlin to Baghdad,

a colonial empire... I was promised a post in the Ministry of Education.

We'd have lived in a big city.

An official mansion with servants and cars.

I'd have had position, responsibility.

- Bringing German culture to the barbarians... - And Poland?

Huh. Poland can benefit by German culture, too, Marja.

Let's go back, Wilhelm.

I think he's on his way over now, Marja.

You've made up your mind? You're sure?

Uncle Roman, I'm afraid.

He's changed so inside himself.

I don't know him anymore.

If I were to marry him now, it would be like marrying a stranger.

I can't do it. He frightens me.

I don't understand him.

If you prefer not to see him, to have me tell him...

- No. - You're sure?

- Is Marja in? - Yes.

Okay, here you are.

I got your note.

Wilhelm...

I've decided to postpone our marriage.

Please understand. Everything's so changed.

I need time. I'm not sure of myself anymore.

My sister in Warsaw's ill.

She's asked me to spend a month or two with her.

When I come back...

You don't have to make it worse with such a lame excuse.

You just don't want to burden yourself with the remnants of a man.