The Last Act (Der letzte Akt)

This film tells the story of a time as it must never happen again.

The screenplay is based on historical sources and accounts of survivors

THE LAST ACT

Your papers, Herr Hauptmann (Captain)!

Hauptmann Wuest?

Has just been sent for rapport, Untersturmfuehrer!

Four men.

Only two by now.

Colonel Hartwig and one sergeant were killed by an aerial attack.

Your arms, Herr Hauptmann!

Still the 20th of July?

Your papers!

We are packing.

Leaving for Berchtesgarden.

Thanks!

Is this the way to General Burgdorf?

Jawohl, Herr Hauptmann!

You wait in the canteen.

Jawohl, waiting in the canteena.

Hauptmann Wuest at your service to report to the Fuehrer.

Colonel Hartwig and another man were killed by an aerial attack.

I demand obediently to report to the Fuehrer instead.

Considering the situation General Busse needs information urgently.

Papers?

Jawohl, Herr General.

You are breaking the chain of command

Herr General...

General Busse has given me direct orders

Allright, show me.

Yes?

Yes!

I'll be there immediately.

Herr General...

The situation has become critical, especially in the Wriezen area

Herr Wuest, I am informed.

Wait for me in the corridor.

The Fuehrer awaits me.

I will see what I can do for you.

Jawohl, Herr General.

Snowy Rose Ten... yes, connecting to Snowy Rose One

Major Wenner speaking

Some Hauptmann Wuest has just entered the bunker

Why is he here?

Aha... thanks, over.

Finally!

It will start anytime.- I had troubles on my way.

Everything ready for Kuland? - Yes, excellent!

Doenitz provided the ships necessary for the transport back.

Koller provides the Luftwaffe.

The operation will take no more than fourteen days.

We will gain 500,000 men to defend Berlin

Great, the commanders of the 9th Army will be relieved.

Any news from Busse? - Yes, a Hauptmann of his just arrived.

He gave me this stuff here.- And what does he want?

Troop enforcements.

The Fuehrer took away his tanks and gave them to Schoerner

The second line is made up of mere children,

ammunition and gas are scarce. - The old story!

He is afraid of being encircled. Indeed, he will be soon!

If the Fuehrer allows the pull-out of the Kuland army

we can enforce the 9th Army

If it isn't gone by then!

Berlin stays under German rule, Vienna will be again

The whole of the German people is looking at you, warriors in the East

and counts on your steadfastness and fanaticism

on your arms and your leadership

in order to drench the Bolshevik attack in a blood bath.

This is today's Fuehrer order for the soldiers of the Eastern front.

Within 14 days, the last man of the Kuland army can reach Stettin

Enough, Jodl!

And you, Keitel?

Krebs?

Burgdorf?

It won't work this way,

my genius Generals.

You tell me to withdraw the Kuland army to support the 9th at the Oder.

In order to defend Berlin

I tell you, I am not defending

but attacking!

You tell me the withdrawal can be done within 14 days

Jawohl, mein Fuehrer.

I tell you:

I will need this army in no less than eight days!

Exactly here

where it stands!

At Kuland!

I know, that you, as usual in the recent years...

consider the situation as eminently dangerous

To calm you down -

I have not only expected this attack

I have almost wished for it!

Once the Russians march towards Berlin

the trap closes behind their backs!

The 9th from the West, Steiner from the North

Wenk from the South

The only way to escape will be towards Northeast

where the Kuland army waits

- which you Gentlemen want to throw into the water -

and destroys them for good.

It is impossible, mein Fuehrer, to maintain the Kuland army

from a distance of 400 miles by the Navy and the Luftwaffe

The army maintains itself!

It is encircled! -That's what you say, Herr Jodl!

But I say

it keeps half a dozen of Russian armies in check!

And if it will be annihilated?

There are 500,000 men

Then let it be annihilated

to fulfill its fate!

Why did you become officers?

To receive medals?

To become Generals?

Gentlemen! One becomes an officer

to die an honorable death.

How sad that it takes a nameless private

to tell you this. - Mein Fuehrer!

About 50 officers are falling each day by now

If you care to look at the reports, please.

I hate reports! They only put sand into my eyes!

How can you see the bigger picture?

If nothing matters to you but captured lieutenants

and destroyed vehicles?

Stop bothering me with trivialities!

Master the situation instead!

I am not interested in what you cannot do.

I forbid you this cowardly and petty defeatism!

Withdrawals!

Retreats!

I hear of nothing else for months!

Where is your sense of vigour?

Or are you telling me how incompetent you are?

Learn from the SS! Learn from me!

Dismissed!

How can he talk of a 'bigger picture'

and not look at the number of destroyed vehicles?

Not to mention the lieutenants. - Treating us like school boys!

Herr General...

Look, it's Busse's man!

Get yourself a bed and try again tomorrow

C'mon, spare a bottle of Cognac for me, I'll pay!

Too late, it is all paid for, ask again at Berchtesgarden

Packed your things already?

Always fresh as a daisy and chirpy as a puppy, huh?

Don't let him spoil your mood. We'll be in trouble soon enough.

Lily calls Snowy Rose

Tulip in need of Acacia

Are you still talking? I cut!

Herr Hauptmann, you must not receive any calls

You must not even enter this room!

Herr Hauptmann, may I speak to you?

Yes, I am connecting!

Are you still talking?

Herr Major?- Busse sent you to report to the Fuehrer?

Jawohl, Herr Major! - Cut the show!

Stop saying 'Herr Major'!

Is that an order?

If you please: yes.

One cannot be careful enough in here!

It is not necessary with me. I know you.

But in front of everybody else -

Utmost caution, clear? - Jawohl, Herr Major!

How long will you stay?

No idea, I have orders to take a bed and wait until

the Greatest Commander of All Time is in the right mood

The bed comes in here, so I can watch over you!

That you have different political opinions

nobody must know!

You shut up!

I don't want to see you being put against the wall.

A quite honorable place nowadays.

Not for my brother!

We have the same mother after all.

But not the same father.

You... know what to do.

Jawohl, Herr Major.

Mein Fuehrer!

Fate has spoken!

Roosevelt has died today!

Victory!

Victory!

Victory.

Achtung!

Mein Führer -

I announce the representatives of the Party, the government, and the Wehrmacht

We salute you on this celebration day with a triple Sieg -

Heil!

Thank you.

Thank you also for your presents.

But today is no day

to think about things like that.

I have just left my working desk

and in a few minutes

I shall return to this working desk.

I stand before you to tell you this:

In these grave hours I need only one gift:

Your unflinching fanaticism!

We have had glamorous birthday celebrations

Up in the glorious ballrooms of the Reichskanzlei

Today we are down here, amidst bare walls

But it is exactly this atmosphere