The Conference (Die Wannseekonferenz)

This film is based on minutes from a meeting

which has gone down in history as the Wannsee Conference.

The so-called statesmen of the enemy spoke.

They could allow themselves to be silent, because their cannons spoke.

And their soldiers won victories on a tremendous scale,

which is unparalleled in history.

It is a pleasure for us as Berliners to express our warm gratitude

to you, my Führer, on behalf of the entire German people.

I think I speak for the whole people when I say, my Führer:

We stood by your side when they were silent, in difficult and in happy moments,

and we will stand with you through all disasters

till the proud hour of our victory...

Berlin, war winter 1942.

The persecution and murder of Europe's Jewish population began a long time ago.

On January 20, the highest representatives of the SS meet,

The NSDAP and the ministerial bureaucracy

at a conference in a villa at Großer Wannsee.

The person who invited to this breakfast meeting is Reinhard Heydrich,

the head of the National Security Agency, RSHA.

On the agenda is "the final solution to the Jewish question".

Hail Hitler. - Good morning.

- Has Obergruppenführer Heydrich landed? - No.

Notify me when he does. Who is here?

Dr. Freisler, Secretary of State Neumann and Herr Luther of the State Department.

I can't keep them waiting...

- Where is Obersturmbannführer Eichmann? - In the meeting room.

Please go ahead.

Entertain the gentlemen with some civilized conversation.

Tell stories from the East.

The Secretary of State may find them distasteful.

You can handle it.

- Comrade Eichmann. - Good morning, Gruppenführer.

- It looks orderly. - We are almost done.

Heydrich at the end of the table?

You to his right, Gruppenführer Hofmann to his left.

Then Hofmann will be happy. And here next to him?

Ministry of the East:

Gauleiter Meyer, Dr Leibbrandt and Dr Bühler from the General Government.

- We place Meyer a little further away. - I thought that as a Gauleiter...

Otherwise he feels too important. Further.

Dr Schöngarth and Dr Lange.

Fine.

- And the desktop riders opposite? - Yes.

And you?

I will sit down with Fräulein Werlemann, so that we can resolve matters of protocol directly.

At the side table, I see.

- I'm glad you're here. - Me too, Gruppenführer.

It's different.

For my part, we can hold all conferences here.

- You don't like Herr Eichmann's office? - I didn't say that.

Do something about the work environment, Eichmann. A trip to the zoo.

I will investigate the possibilities.

- Did your trip to Theresienstadt go well? - Very good. I came home last night.

- Was everything as expected? - It's not as crowded as people say.

- That's what I said. - The new bunk beds work perfectly.

The inmates are allowed to huddle together.

First Mölder's plane crash and now Field Marshal Reichenau.

I left the coat at the laundry, and now we already have the next state funeral.

- A terrible loss, especially now. - Yes.

- Apparently a stroke. - Deep in the Ukrainian forests.

- What was he doing in the forest? - Run.

- In minus 40 degrees, like every morning. - You're kidding.

A Reichenau is not stopped by freezing temperatures. A tough devil.

40 degrees below zero, good god. And our men outside Moscow...

It is not warmer for the Russians. Moscow falls on Easter at the latest.

Right, Dr Schöngarth?

Of course.

Excuse me.

- It was a surprise! - Dr. Schöngarth?

- I thought you were in Latvia? - That's me.

I am here in place of Dr. Stahlecker.

- You are climbing in the career. - Well...

- I'm not happy with conferences. - You get used to it.

- Where do you live? - Here. My room is up there.

You should have told me! This is the wish.

I only arrived last night.

- Lots of work at your place? - Yes.

You are hardly finished with your Jews until more arrive. 900 more yesterday, Czech.

Where do you place them? The ghetto in Riga?

Hardly. We take a walk in the forest, and that's it.

Mr. Kritzinger. - Dr. Klopfer.

I never thought I would make it!

Be careful what you say. The Gestapo is watching us.

As far as I know, we have nothing on you, Dr. Klopfer.

It was a relief.

- Minister Kritzinger... - Gruppenführer.

I didn't know your agency operates a branch out here.

- A former factory villa. - Aryanized?

Not in this case.

Gentlemen.

Obergruppenführer Heydrich has just landed.

We start at twelve o'clock as planned. Notify the kitchen.

Yes, Obersturmbannführer.

We expect 90 minutes. Prepare snacks in the saloon when the doors close.

Gauleiter. - Gruppenführer.

Dr. Buhler.

- Dr. Leibbrandt. - Gruppenführer.

Where have you kidnapped us to, Müller? It looks downright feudal.

It is a guest house that belongs to RSHA.

The East Ministry should also have a guesthouse at Wannsee.

I agree.

Are you doing just as well in Kraków, Dr. Bühler?

The General Government has other concerns: two million Polish Jews.

- You can say that again. - We wait in vain for reinforcements.

- That is why we are here today. - Governor-General Frank wants results.

Gentlemen.

Gruppenführer Müller.

Dr. Stuckart. Let me congratulate you on the addition.

As well informed as always.

Why are we honored to be here? Repainting on Prinz-Albrecht-Straße?

We wanted to give a little change.

You want to impress us, but don't get your hopes up.

The house has central heating.

- For God's sake! - Can you orient me?

Gauleiter Meyer. You must know him. Ministry of the East.

- He hasn't introduced himself. - It will. He thinks he is important.

Leibbrandt works for him. He speaks seven languages.

And next to him?

Dr. Buhler. I have to constantly spar with him in Kraków.

- The General Government. Civil administration. - And the other costume elves?

Doubters in service. Secretary of State and stuff like that. Göring's office for the four-year plan.

The Ministry of Justice, the National Chancellery and the Party Chancellery.

Luther, he's nice. Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

- I hope I don't have to remember them all. - But you must remember him.

Stucco art. He will be interior minister one day.

- Yes, this will be fun. - It's like a friends night out.

In the end, it's about who wears the hat, albeit without beer.

That was unfortunate.

- I was wondering if you would come by bicycle. - I considered it.

Do you live here by the lake?

Two kilometers. A beautiful house. A wonderful family.

Who is the young man?

- A Sturmbannführer if I see correctly. - In this party?

- They probably both belong to the rough crew. - Heydrich's "fighting administration".

I don't want to know what our soldiers in the east have to experience.

- Hail Hitler. - Gruppenführer Hofmann.

- A pleasure. - It is my pleasure. And in the east?

- Too many Jews, but we are working on it. - That is why we are here today.

According to the invitation, Mr. Heydrich is to draw up an overall plan

to solve the Jewish question. Do you know more about the matter?

He seems serious. Otherwise he wouldn't have invited us here.

Göring himself entrusted him with it.

Yes, Heydrich's path to Reich Marshal has been short.

- He is an ambitious man. - That's what I want to say!

An incredible career, and he's not even a graduate.

- He has success. That is the important thing. - He is welcome to have that.

But I dislike poachers in my area of ​​responsibility.

Let me introduce Sturmbannführer Lange.

- And you represent...? - Brigadeführer Stahlecker.

I know him. Welcome.

Hail Hitler.

- Welcome to Berlin. - How are you?

- Very good thanks. Did the flight go well? - Yes.

- Are all the others here? - Yes, we are full.

An excellent idea to invite to a second breakfast. Now at least they are punctual.

- How is the mood? - Dr. Stuckart is as combative as ever.

Dr. Bühler complains about the Jews in the General Government.

As usual, that is.

Make sure you are well taken care of in the kitchen, Hauptsturmführer.

- Do you have the numbers I asked for? - They are ready in the study.

I have noted that the accuracy varies.

An impression of correctness is enough.

- Gauleiter. - Obergruppenführer.

Good morning. Sorry I am late. My departure in Prague was delayed.

We have a lot to do. I'll be there in a minute.

Mr. Luther. Dr. Lange.

Excuse me.

Please close the door.

Mr. Luther, surely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has its own ideas about the Jewish question?

That's right.

I hope they are in line with what we discussed.

- I don't want to start from scratch. - Everything is as we have discussed.

On the whole, it's about

that we must have full access to all Jews of all nationalities,

provided they are within our sphere of interest.

The time for international considerations is over.

So true.

The United States and England have taken decisions against us. The Jews can no longer be used as hostages.

They should have been taken from us while it was possible.

It fits well with our thoughts. I like the last paragraph best:

"The measures are carried out in agreement with the state secret police."

Our collaboration with Herr Eichmann has been extremely constructive.

Maybe it's because I've also worked in transport.

I can only imagine the work that the current measures require.

I am glad to hear.

Our tactics in the Jewish question are too rapid for the delicate sensibilities abroad.

I like to do a proper job.

- Can you excuse us for a moment? - Of course.

- Recorder? - Fräulein Werlemann from Eichmann's office.

- Reliable? - One hundred percent.

- Day officer? - Handpicked people.

Dr. Lange, come closer. You don't have to hide.

I only hear good things from the Baltics.

The commander of Task Force A, Brigadeführer Stahlecker,

as well as Higher SS and Police Commander in the East, Obergruppenführer Jeckeln,

has authorized me to inform you: Estonia is free of Jews.

Lithuania and Latvia, apart from a few remaining working Jews, are also free.

What can I say? Good news.

May I?

What is this?