Downfall (Der Untergang)

DOWNFALL

I feel as if I should be angry with that child, that...

naive young girl. Or that I must not forgive her...

for not recognising the nature of that monster.

For not being aware of what she was getting into.

And especially that I went along without thinking.

Because I wasn't a fanatical Nazi. I could have said, in Berlin:

'No, I'm not doing it. I don't want to go to the Führer's headquarters.'

But I didn't do that. I was too curious.

I also didn't realise...

that destiny would take me somewhere I didn't want to be.

But, nevertheless, I find it hard to forgive myself.

The ladies are here.

It's confirmed. - They can pass.

'Wolfsschanze' headquarters of the Führer

November 1942 Rastenburg, East-Prussia

Sit down, ladies.

One moment. The Führer is feeding his dog. He'll see you in a short while.

Can you tell us... How are we supposed to address the Führer?

The Führer first speaks to you and then you reply: Heil, mein Führer.

And the Nazi salute?

That won't be necessary...

since the Führer isn't looking for a soldier, but for a secretary.

Act as normal and calm as you can.

I'll see if he has time for you.

Mein Führer, the ladies from Berlin are here.

Thank you for coming in the middle of the night.

Sometimes, during a war, one is not in control of time.

Can I ask your name? - Margarethe Lorenz.

Where are you from? - From Fulda.

And what is your name? - Ursula Puttkammer. Heil, mein Führer.

No need for that. Where are you from?

Frankfurt am Main, mein Füh...

Hannah Potrovsky, born and raised in Berlin.

In Pankow, to be precise.

Hedwig Brandt from Crailsheim, Schwaben.

And you are? - Traudl Humps. I'm from Munich.

A lady from Munich.

Shall we start then, Fräulein Humps?

My Blondi won't hurt you. She's very intelligent.

She's much smarter than most people.

First, sit down, please.

Don't be nervous. I make many mistakes during dictation.

You won't make nearly as many.

You're very young.

How old are you? - 22, mein Führer.

My German fellow-countrymen and women...

fellow party members.

It is, I think, rather special...

that, after 20 years of service, a man still stands in front of his supporters...

and that in all those 20 years, his program never needed to be modified.

I suggest we try it again.

I did it. He hired me.

Two and a half years later. Berlin - 20 April 1945, Hitler's 56th birthday.

Take cover.

Hurry. Continue. Get that off the street.

Take cover.

That's artillery fire.

Don't be silly. Where would it be coming from?

You're right. These are no planes, this is artillery.

It's the Russians. What a birthday present.

Where is that cannon fire coming from?

Happy Birthday, mein Führer.

The city centre of Berlin is under fire.

Grenades have hit near the Brandenburger Tor and the Reichstag.

Where did they come from? - We don't know yet.

I have Koller on the line. - Give me Koller.

Koller, do you know Berlin is under artillery fire?

No. - Can't you hear the shooting?

No, I'm in Wildpark-Werder. - Berlin is chaotic.

Apparently, the Russians captured a railway bridge over the Oder.

The enemy has no railway artillery near the Oder.

It's not long-range artillery.

The anti-aircraft defence near the Zoo-Bunker reports they're 10 to 12...

cm calibres. The Russians have positions near Marzahn.

That's only 12 kilometres from the centre. Are the Russians that close?

They should hang the entire Luftwaffe leadership.

This is unheard-of.

The Russians are at 12 kilometres from the city centre.

Nobody told me anything. I had to ask.

Maybe it's long-range artillery, after all.

That railway bridge over the Oder... - Nonsense.

That Himmler, such a pompous buffoon.

Party bosses, everywhere. They make me so sick.

The Führer starts 'Clausewitz' today.

Berlin as a front city. He won't be able to keep the city.

If the Führer stays here, the Reich will go down with him.

We have to talk him out of it. Talk to Hewel.

He's the only diplomat with any influence on him.

Hewel tried everything. It's useless.

Talk to your sister-in-law, then.

Why not? You're married to the sister of Eva Braun.

We must try everything. Berlin is almost surrounded.

You're still young. You'll be a father soon.

Do you want to die here? - Absolutely not.

Gentlemen, the Führer.

Everything out. Quickly. We're leaving in two hours.

What's going on? - We're leaving.

'Clausewitz' has started.

All the ministries and departments are leaving Berlin.

And who's going to look after the people and the soldiers?

Don't ask me, professor. - This is insane.

Professor.

I won't allow the evacuation of my office.

Is that so? - Food supply would collapse.

A good soldier can always find food.

And when there's fighting all over the city, where does he get it? The population.

It's irresponsible. - It's an order from the Führer.

As department head, I report to the SS and to Himmler.

But as a doctor, I'm part of the Wehrmacht and they're not leaving yet.

Keep that in mind.

The professor stays in Berlin. Get him the proper papers.

We're leaving.

Everything for Germany. Heil, mein Führer.

Führer, I... Heil, mein Führer.

They're in such a hurry to get away from here.

The brown nosing is the worst.

They say 'Sieg Heil'. but they think 'Lick my... you know what.'

Mein Führer, I beg you: Leave Berlin. It is not too late yet.

Too late?

Hewel, come here for a moment.

I'm sure you agree we should contact the Allies...

and start conducting politics. - Certainly. We need politics.

Politics? I don't do politics anymore.

I'm fed up with it.

When I'm dead, you'll have plenty of time for politics.

It's good, dear Himmler. My loyal Heinrich.

It's good. Just go.

He has no strength left.

What did you expect from a vegetarian teetotaller?

Seriously, though, Fegelein. I'm taking control now.

Berlin will fall in a couple of days.

When the Führer's dead, who will the Allies negotiate with?

Why do you think they'll negotiate with you?

The Nazi state and my SS are needed to maintain order.

One hour with Eisenhower and he'll feel the same way.

The first contact has been made. - Careful, that's high treason.

Fegelein, I have other concerns.

Should I give Eisenhower the Nazi salute or shake his hand?

Look at that.

The best guests always arrive late.

Leaving already, gentlemen? I wanted to talk to you.

The scorched-earth order... - I really have to go now.

Come and see me one day in Hohenlychen.

I'm going north to help with the battle of Berlin there.

You know, Speer... There's an advantage to those bombings.

It's easier to clean up debris than to demolish everything ourselves.

When the war will be over, reconstruction will be quick.

We spent thousands of hours together with these replicas.

You're a true genius, Speer.

Yes, absolutely. Only you and I know that the Third Reich would be inconceivable...

with only warehouses and factories. Skyscrapers and hotels.

This Third Reich will be a treasury full of art and culture...

that will survive thousands of years.

We see, before us, the ancient cities, the Acropolis...

We see the medieval cities... the cathedrals...

and we know that the people need that.

Indeed, Speer.

That was my vision...

and it still is.

Mein Führer, if you want to realize these plans, you must leave Berlin.

Eva, you say something.

He's the Führer. He knows what's best.

You must leave Berlin. The Russians almost have us isolated.

I can't do that, my child.

I would be like a lama priest with an empty prayer wheel.

I have to solve the problem, here in Berlin, or perish.

Speer...

what do you think?

You have to be on the stage when the curtain falls.

Reload.

Go away. Leave me alone.

How old are you? Twelve? And you? Fourteen?

Why are you here? To play at war? Go home.

Who are you? What do you want? I want my son. Alive.

You should be proud. He destroyed two tanks.

The Führer will decorate him for it, today.

You're still young. At which front did you fight?

I haven't had the honour yet.

Count yourself lucky. Send the children home.

We'll defend this position to the last man.

Which position? This is not a position, it's a trap.

The Russians will come from two sides and you won't be able to get out.

We'll shoot back. - What with?

With the anti-aircraft guns.

The Russians will arrive with several armies, tanks and heavy artillery.

Do you really think you'll last even five minutes?

We promised the Führer.

Don't you understand? The war is lost.

Coward.

Go away. Right now.

If you're still here when the Russians arrive, you'll all be dead.

The 9th army had to retreat or they would have been decimated...

We won't retreat the 9th army. Busse must fight where he stands.

Führer, then the 9th army is lost.

We'll push back the Soviet armies in the north and east...

with a ruthless, mighty attack.

Using which units?

Steiner will attack from the north and join the 9th army.

The 9th army is unable to move.