The Night of the Generals

< WOMAN WAILS

DOOR CLOSES

FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

FOOTSTEPS FADE INTO THE DISTANCE

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

WOMAN SCREAMS

SHOUTING

There's some more, over there!

Back up, around the other way.

SPEAKS POLISH

What's the odd smell in this house, inspector?

The smell of war, Major Grau.

-Good morning, inspector.

-Major.

I'm sorry to call you at such an ungodly hour.

Not very nice, I'm afraid.

The work of an amateur butcher, I should say.

Why have you called me?

The dead woman's Polish, isn't she?

This is not a case for the German authorities.

Her name was Kupiecka. Maria Kupiecka.

Kupiecka?

Oh, yes, she was a prostitute and a good friend to us.

She was also a German agent.

Killed by a Polish patriot?

Providing the Polish patriot was also a sexual degenerate.

Patriotism has been known to have its vicious side.

100 knife wounds goes beyond normal patriotic zeal.

-100?

-That's just my guess, sir.

It would be impossible to count.

As you can see, the focus of the murderer's attack

was on the woman's sexual organs,

using what appears to have been a large clasp knife...

Thank you, doctor, there's no need to be vivid.

SPEAKING IN POLISH

-Find anything?

-No, not yet.

-Who reported the murder?

-A voice on the telephone.

A man. He heard screams at about 11.10.

-Identify himself?

-No.

Who lives in this house?

One of you...

One of you heard a scream and telephoned the police.

One of you knows something about the way in which this woman died.

If that person does not tell us everything he knows,

we shall assume that her death was political.

That she was killed by a member of the Polish underground

and that you are all accomplices.

In which case, it will be my sad duty

to turn the whole lot of you over to the Gestapo.

The man who telephoned the police

has one minute in which to make himself known.

I heard the scream.

This one terrible scream.

And then, well, I... I hid in the lavatory.

Then later, perhaps 10 minutes later,

I telephoned the police. That's all.

You did not give the police your name.

That means that there was something you didn't want them to know.

-What could that something be?

-Well, there's a...

There's this crack in the door to the lavatory.

And naturally, you put your eye to the crack and you saw...?

I saw a man coming down the stairs.

-Describe him, please.

-Well, it... It was dark.

-Describe him, please.

-I couldn't see all of him.

Just the lower part, the trousers.

Why are you so frightened by what you saw?

Because it was a uniform, sir.

-Like yours.

-Like mine?

A German officer? The man's a liar.

German officers can commit murders like anyone else.

Is that all you noticed?

That the trousers were like mine?

-Exactly like mine?

-No.

Not exactly, sir. No.

There was a...

There was a red stripe running down the leg.

He's lying.

Are you aware that only German generals wear the red stripe?

Yes, sir. That's why I was afraid.

I see.

-It's impossible.

-Nothing is impossible.

A German general. Well, well.

I don't think we need to take this testimony too seriously.

-After all, it was dark on the stairs.

-Sir, I swear...

I swear, I'm telling the truth.

And I believe you, until there's evidence to the contrary.

Why would he tell a dangerous lie? I want a complete investigation.

But what happens if the murderer really is a general?

What happens? Well, justice is blind, my dear inspector.

Justice cannot see the red stripe or the gold braid,

but justice can sometimes hear the cry of a murdered woman.

If a general is responsible, why, we shall have to hang him.

Don't worry, Liesowski, the responsibility is mine.

Good night.

LIESOWSKI: 'Well, Inspector Morand, you can't blame me

'for not quite remembering a case that occurred almost a generation ago.'

But as they say, it's the long arm of the law.

It's... It's 23 years ago.

My God, how time passes.

When I left the police, right after the war

I managed to keep some of my files.

Always glad to help a colleague.

Ah, here we are, inspector.

"Kupiecka, Maria. Murdered. Unsolved. "

The suspects were...

Oh, yes. Yes, now I remember.

A German general was seen allegedly leaving her room.

And of all the generals in Warsaw,

only three had no alibis for the night in question.

'Here, this is the Lichnowsky Palace.

'It used to belong to the Polish kings.

'Then later it became a museum.

'As you can see, today it's still a museum.

'During the war,

'the German headquarters in Warsaw was located here.

'As I was saying, we were quite thorough, I thought,

'in the way we eliminated suspects.

'Had to proceed tactfully, of course.

'They were generals, after all, and it was war.

'And Poland was occupied.'

-SOLDIER:

-Ready for inspection, sir.

'One of them was General von Seidlitz-Gabler,'

'7th Corps commander.

'He was a Junker of the old school.

'He lived like royalty in the palace, with his wife and daughter.

'The night of the murder, he was not in his quarters.

'His chief of staff, Major General Klaus Kahlenberge

'also had no alibi that night.

'Of all the generals, he was the least disagreeable.

'An interesting man. No wife, no children.

-General Gabler, a message.

-Yes?

A message from General Tanz, sir.

Thank you, Fraulein Neumaier.

It seems we have failed to keep proper order in the city.

-You have read it?

-Oh, yes.

And because of our notorious incompetence...

Incompetence?

They don't realize that this is a garrison post,

that I am given only the dregs of the army, the misfits.

Well, that was General Tanz's word. "Incompetence."

Not to mention subordinates who shirk responsibility.

And because of our failure, the Fuehrer has ordered General Tanz to solve the problem of Warsaw.

-How?

-Meticulously.

In three phases.

Using the most drastic means, I suppose.

Drastic?

Monstrous.

LIESOWSKI: 'Lieutenant General Tanz commanded the Nibelungen Division.

'He was the youngest Wehrmacht general.

'A hero at Leningrad, a pet of Hitler, a remarkable officer.

'We Poles detested him.

'He arrived in Warsaw on the day the woman was killed.

'He, too, was unaccounted for that night.'

-First roadblock, set up there.

-Yes, sir.

The sniping last night came from a street two blocks away.

The entire quarter is to be sealed off.

We shall take a leaf from the fisherman's book.

First, we'll mark out a wide perimeter, then we'll start combing the outlying streets.

That should set the fish in motion.

Of course, they'll try to make off in the opposite direction,

but we'll have roadblocks there to cut them off.

By the time we've closed the net,

we'll have them exactly where we want them.

With their backs to the ghetto wall.

Excuse me, general, what about the civilian population?

The latest estimate, this section of the city contains about 80,000 inhabitants.

One can hardly talk of a normal civilian population in this place.

I regard the experience to be gained from this operation

as absolutely indispensable. Hold it at 20.

Now, about those flamethrowers, sir,

to be on the safe side, I've requested three times as many as needed.

What are you scared of, children?

I think they're hungry.

-What food do we have?

-Some sandwiches, sir.

-Bring them to me.

-Yes, sir.

Yes, you're quite right, they do look hungry.

Poor little devils.

Your lunch, sir.

-Open.

-Yes, sir.

Filth.

CHILDREN YELLING

Your hands.

Look at those nails.

Not even Polish children should be given such muck.

Make a note.

Food and sweets to be carried at all times for the children.

It does no harm to win their confidence.

As for him, he's relieved as my orderly. Home leave cancelled.

Filthy pig. Last week he offered me an unwashed glass.

Now he enters my sight looking as though he just exhumed his grandmother with his bare hands.

Absolute cleanliness, that's what I demand from the people around me.

-Do I make myself clear?

-Yes, sir.

As for our immediate requirements, see they're fully met.

Once they are, I shall seal off the district

and put the inhabitants through a sieve.

All 80,000?

General Tanz, forgive me,

but just as a matter of curiosity,

what do you feel is the exact purpose of this exercise?

-You've read the memorandum.

-Oh, yes. Yes, I have...

And what does the memorandum say?

That phase one is intended to intimidate the population

to search houses, to find and arrest resistance.

Then that is the exact purpose of the exercise.

An excellent plan, by the way. Much like my own when I first came here,

only I was never given the ultimate authority to implement it.

But am I to understand that if there is resistance during phase one,

you would then go to phase two and even to phase three,

which would mean the destruction of the entire city?

You are to understand exactly that.

Well, uh, isn't that somewhat excessive?

Excessive.

You will be aware that we are 30 miles from Moscow.

We are moving ahead on a 5,000-mile front.

Every available soldier is needed if we are to conquer Russia.

Yet here in Warsaw, three divisions are rotting,

because of a few thousand criminal Poles and Jews hiding in slums.

It is excessive to permit this state of affairs.

KNOCKING

-Who is it?

-You have my full list of requirements.

-Eleanore, come in. Come in, my dear.

-I hope I'm not disturbing.

My wife arrived early this morning from Berlin.

How was Berlin?

Eager to hear the good news

that always follows in the wake of a good soldier.

When I heard you were with my husband, I came straight here.

I wanted to tell you myself what an inspiration you've been to us all at home.

-I am flattered, ma'am.

-Oh, no, I'm not flattering you.

I'm honouring you as you deserve.

If you're not too busy, I shall need your help

with the arrangements for the soiree tonight.

-In your honour, General Tanz.

-I'll look forward to it, ma'am.

Oh, incidentally, our daughter, Ulrike, is here in Warsaw.

-She'll be at the soiree too.

-Yes?

Well, you remember her, don't you?

In Berlin, at the garden party at General Jodl's house.

Oh, yes, I do remember her. My compliments, ma'am.

Sorry. I suppose that was obvious.

But you know how mothers are.

Anxious to become mothers-in-law, I should think.

A splendid officer, no doubt of that.

Any mother would be proud to see her daughter...

Married to a war memorial?

Excuse me, ma'am.

I shall continue to study General Tanz's plan.

With sinking heart.

I detest that man.

What does he mean, "with sinking heart"?

Oh, the black book.

What were you saying, my dear?

I don't dare say anything when you've got your book out.

One must protect one's reputation.

Another mess like the one you've made here in Warsaw

and you won't have a reputation to protect.

10.42.

-What's the date?

-The 13th.

Fortunately, I still have some influence at Supreme Headquarters.

Indeed you have, for which I am grateful.

-How nice that you are here at last.

-I want to talk to you about Ulrike.

And I want to talk to you about the soiree tonight.

I think you should know that this morning Ulrike was extremely rude to me.

Considering where you are sending her, I'm not surprised.

KNOCKING

Excuse me, general, but there is a Major Grau from Intelligence.

He would like to see you.

What does he want?

He said it was personal.

He's most persistent.

Tell him, some other time.

Yes, sir.

By the way, what did you do to your uniform last night?

Do? To my uniform?

Yes, there was a stain on the jacket. A red stain.

But since you obviously didn't cut yourself shaving,

it could only have been lipstick.

Shall I match the colour with the seductive shade Fraulein Neumaier wears?

Don't be absurd.

Anyway, the evidence is destroyed. I've sent everything to be cleaned.

Aren't you glad that I am here now to look after you?

Of course I am, dear Eleanore.

We are well-suited, aren't we?

DOOR SLAMS

-I wish you'd remember to knock.

-Sorry, sir.

Major Grau of Intelligence just rang from downstairs, sir. He asked to see you.

-What about?

-He wouldn't say, sir.

-Tell him I'm busy.

-I already told him, sir.

I took the liberty.

Good.

Well?

Apparently, he rang the motor pool this morning.

Wanted to see the log for last night to see if anyone had used the car.

I told the officer in charge that no information could be released

without clearing it first with us.

Good. Yes, that's very good.

Thank you, sergeant.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Yes?

Sir, um, about my cousin Hartmann.

-Your cousin Hartmann?

-Yes, sir.

You have his record, sir. On your desk, sir.

Oh, yes.

He's just out of hospital, sir. He was wounded at Voronezh.

He's on temporary duty in Warsaw.

I had hoped that we could make his duty with us permanent.

And by some extraordinary coincidence,

he's waiting in your office to see me.

Yes, sir.

-Show him in.

-Thank you, sir.

KNOCKING

Come in.

Hartmann, Kurt, lance corporal. Reporting as ordered, sir.

At ease.

Well, it's a distinguished record, corporal.

I see from your press clippings,

Otto is obviously keeping a scrapbook for you.

I see that you are "the reincarnation of Siegfried,

a German hero from the golden age."

Do you feel like Siegfried?

Well, I'm not at all certain, sir, how Siegfried felt.

Well, that's a sensible answer. I see they've given you the Iron Cross.

He killed 40 Russians single-handed, sir.

Splendid. Well, now, as to your future,

I imagine that, as a university man, you'd want to become an officer.

Therefore, I shall be happy to send you to...

Erm...

You don't want to go to officers school?

I should prefer to remain a corporal, sir.

Actually, general, he doesn't mean that.

-What he means is...

-What do you mean?

I mean, I don't want to become an officer. That's all, sir.

I'm shattered.

My world is toppling.

What is the point of being a general when corporals prefer to be corporals?

He's still a bit shaky, after the hospital.

Yes, apparently.

Now, your cousin suggested that you join us here at headquarters,

but I should think you'd be anxious to get back to the fighting.

-No?

-No, sir.

-General, what he really means is...

-Leave us, sergeant.

I, um...

I don't seem to understand you, corporal.

I want to survive, sir. I want to live through the war.

Well, naturally. We all do.

-But we are soldiers, we must fight.

-Yes, sir. And I have.

And you don't want to go back.

Is this the "reincarnation of Siegfried"?

I'm sorry, sir, but I have a horror of death.

Even in a good cause?

Let me see now...

According to your papers, in civilian life you were

a student at Dresden?

Music conservatory, yes, sir. I studied piano.

Music, piano, yes. Yes.

Yes. I think I have an assignment for you.

But one which requires great courage.

Only a man who has killed...

How many was it? Let me see.

Yes, 40 Russians single-handed, would be equal to the task.

Now, what about Chopin, wasn't he Polish?

Didn't he write the Polonaises?

-Can you play them?

-Yes, madam.

You don't sound very enthusiastic.

Well, madam, they were patriotic pieces,

celebrating the glory of Poland.

Well, the glory of Poland isn't precisely what we're here to celebrate.

No, madam. So I thought that perhaps we might play...

Wagner.

I remember the Fuehrer saying to me after a performance of Parsifal,

"There's no such thing as too much Wagner."

After Parsifal?

I must say, it's unusual to find a fighting man

-who also knows about music.

-Thank you, madam.

Oh, no, don't thank me, wait until I've thanked you.

And I won't until after the soiree.

-I dislike being a bore, major.

-You never bore me, Engel.

But I can't help wondering what you're trying to prove.

-Just what do you think you're doing?

-My job.

But if you say anything to any of them, he'll know...

The murderer will know that you're after him.

That's the point of the exercise.

-Good evening, sergeant.

-Sir.

But look, sir, why do you care who killed that bitch?

She's better off dead anyway.

Have you ever heard of the Eumenides?

-The what?

-Greek mythology.

A number of disagreeable ladies, sometimes known as the Furies.

They believe that spilled blood calls out for vengeance.

That's how justice began.

Well, we don't want it to end, do we, just because there's a war on?

Wait for me here. I'm afraid I won't be long.

Mad.

-MAN:

-Grau.

-Colonel Mannheim.

-What on Earth are you doing here?

You must be out of your mind.

If the generals won't see me, I must come here to see them.

Well, God help you, Grau. I won't.

Better have some champagne. You'll need it.

You may be right, sir.

General Tanz, to my mind you're a model man in every respect.

Except one. You've not married.

-May I ask why not?

-No opportunity. Greatly regret it.

Well, perhaps you've allowed opportunities to slip by.

My dear, General Tanz is a young man whose life has been spent as a soldier.

His generation has been denied the pleasures of domesticity.

We live in a period which makes great demands upon us.

Consequently, there is little time for what is commonly known as private life.

-Quite right. Champagne, general?

-Water.

-Water?

-A glass of water for General Tanz.

Ah. Here comes Ulrike.

-You remember her from Berlin.

-Good evening, general.

She's been with me over a year now, as a soldier.

-An excellent soldier.

-Thank you, Father.

I must say, I still find it hard to get used to the idea of young girls in the army.

We're building a new world order, and women should not be exempt from playing their part.

I knew you would understand, general.

Ulrike has now decided to become a nurse

in a military hospital run by an order of nuns in Bavaria.

We're very proud of our girl.

Tell me, general, is it true that in the battle of Leningrad

you used frozen bodies instead of sandbags for your artillery?

The story is exaggerated.

Oh, I am sorry.

Some soldiers lie and rot in the battlefield.

I thought it most imaginative, putting the dead to work, you might say.

Nobody rots with me.

Your water, general.

Thank you.

My compliments. I liked the bit about the frozen bodies.

-Oh, thank you, general.

-Be careful.

Ulrike has a most original way of expressing herself.

Needless to say, I shall miss not having her with me.

Then why let her go?

Come along, general, let's have some supper.

You'll join us, too, Kahlenberge?

-Courage.

-Is not enough.

How dare you speak like that to General Tanz?

It serves you right, Mother, for what you're doing to me.

Whatever I do is for your own good. I think only of you.

Only of me? You have changed.

When did I begin to interest you so much?

Good evening.

-You've become vicious.

-Yes, it's the war, Mother.

Well, the nuns will soon improve your manners.

Suppose I refuse to go?

You will be ordered to go. I have seen to that already. You have no choice.

You really are a terrible woman, Mother.

I suppose we deserve each other.

Colonel Mannheim!

Good evening. Yes, I'd love to dance with you.

In my memoirs, I keep a record of everything.

Yours will be the place of honour in the Warsaw chapter.

-GRAU:

-General von Seidlitz-Gabler?

Sir. Oh, yes, you are Major...?

Grau, Intelligence. Under Colonel Mannheim.

I tried to see you today.

In fact, I tried to see each of you, without much success, I'm afraid.

I'm sorry, major, but general officers are sometimes busy, you know?

Of course.

What was it you wanted to see us about?

Last night, a prostitute was murdered.

A prostitute? That's an occupational hazard, isn't it?

When you hear the details, I'm sure you'll agree it's a unique case.

Unique? You can't be serious.

We live in an age in which bodies lie around streets like cobblestones.

What's so unique about this case?

All right, all right, come to the point, major.

Last night, a woman was murdered.

Yes, general, in Bulkowa Street, number 27, fourth-floor apartment,

Maria Kupiecka, a prostitute, also one of our agents.

She was stabbed to death most brutally. Cut to pieces, in fact.

A charming story. But what has that to do with us?

Preliminary investigation has established that each of you was...

well, unaccounted for last night.

To whom should we be accountable, major?

I fail to see what my...

What our movements should have to do with you or with this woman's death.

Well, the murderer was seen leaving the woman's room.

In that case, you must know who he is.

Not exactly. The face was not visible, but the uniform was.

It was the uniform of a German officer.

In fact, a German general.

This is a serious charge. I hope you know what you're doing.

Oh, yes, sir, my duty.

Then consider your duty done, major. Good night.

Are you, by any chance, using perfume?

I occasionally use a strong eau de cologne after shaving.

Good night, sir.

I will, of course, want to see each of you tomorrow, if I may, in line of duty.

It is quite possible we've been misled,

but we don't want to leave any loose ends dangling, do we?

Until tomorrow. Good night, generals.

Astonishing behaviour!

-Who invited him?

-Not I.

Socially, Major Grau has not been a success.

I'm sorry, general. I should have had him arrested.

Why? He was merely doing his duty.

Yes.

Well...

Now, there are some officers I should like to present to you.

Some sauerbraten, general?

Make yourself comfortable, inspector.

This is my third restaurant in Berlin.

That's if you count the sausage shop I had down by the station right after the war.

We were really on our arse then.

Now look, Germany is booming. We made it.

Well, come along, inspector, do sit down.

One large Munchen, please.

Now, then, you asked me about General Kahlenberge.

Well, I don't suppose there was anyone who knew him better than me.

Hartmann's doing a good job, isn't he, sir?

Yes. What?

Oh, yes! Apparently.

-OTTO:

-'Of course, inspector, as I said before,

'I haven't seen Hartmann since the war.

'Don't want to see him, after what he did.'

'But I'll say one thing, he had the most extraordinary effect on women.

'I don't know why.

'Well, he wasn't what you'd call really handsome.

'Too skinny.'

'But whatever it was he had, it worked out all right with women.

'I think they must have got together almost from the first moment they met.

'Well, things were like that in the war.

'I remember once in Paris, meeting this girl in the Metro.

'Well, anyway, you didn't waste time, not with knowing maybe tomorrow

'you'd be sent to the fronts or the damned Allies would drop a bomb on you.

'Oh, worry, I didn't mean that about the Allies.

'After all, where would we be now without Americans?'

-Nice.

-I'd forgotten how nice.

Would you say there were no girls in Russia?

Girls? I was too scared.

I'm hopeless when I'm scared.

Well, it's a good thing I don't scare you, isn't it?

Yes, it's just that this room makes me nervous.

-Nervous?

-Mm.

Oh, you have no sense of history.

Do you realize this used to be the bed of the king of Poland.

-Did it really?

-Mm-hm.

It's like sleeping on the floor.

It's freezing in here.

Ah, but the king and the queen never slept. They just made love.

They were never cold.

Do you like the war?

Do I like the war?

Good God, no. Do you?

If it weren't for the war, I'd be on the marriage circuit now, living on some army post,

making conversation with dreary young officers.

Instead of making love with dreary young corporals.

Oh, not dreary. Not at all.

-In fact, the best so far.

-Oh?

-Do you specialize in corporals?

-No.

Only heroes like you.

Just think, all this bravery in my arms.

It must be very inspiring.

What's the matter?

You know, we mustn't like each other too much.

Why? Because I'm a corporal and you're a general's daughter?

No. It's because...

It's a man, a girl, a war.

Two boys I knew are already dead in Russia.

It's funny.

In the dark, you feel just like them to me.

And you like this war?

No. I like this.

CLOCK CHIMES

ENGINE BACKFIRES

No, no!

What's wrong?

Nothing. I thought they were firing at me.

You're shaking like a leaf.

I'm all right now.

What's it like having people try to kill you?

Noisy bastards.

Good morning.

Good morning, king of Poland.

What's it like having people try to kill you?

-Well, what do you think it's like?

-Terrible.

Yes.

I'm glad...

-Well, I'm glad that you're here.

-So am I.

But you'll be going back soon, I suppose?

Not if I can help it, I won't.

Can you bear the truth?

Probably not.

-I'm a fraud.

-Impossible.

When they opened fire on us at Voronezh, I ran away.

It's as simple as that.

Then, I've no idea how, I was hit.

It was like a door slamming in my head, and I thought I was dead.

Next thing I remember waking up in the hospital

and there was this general congratulating me

on having killed 40 Russians single-handed.

You see, they were all killed that day, the whole company.

Everyone was killed except me, and I suppose

it didn't look too good in dispatches, a whole company being wiped out,

so they decided to make a hero of the survivor.

The one who ran away.

So now what do you think of all that bravery?

Well, that's a lovely story. I think it's marvellous.

-Marvellous?

-Yes.

For once, the joke's on them.

Come, make love to the queen of Poland.

I must say you are, well, unexpected.

It's lucky we met.

What's lucky is right now.

You know, when this war is over...

Mm-mm. It will never end.

Well, what happened?

Did you see them?

Generals Gabler and Kahlenberge are in conference and cannot be disturbed.

I told you they wouldn't see you.

Where's General Tanz?

Look, why don't we forget about this? It's not as if we don't have other things to do.

Where's General Tanz?

In the old city, conducting a tactical exercise.

I don't trust him.

Naturally, in the field, he must use his discretion.

He has no discretion. He is ruthless.

Now, now, you exaggerate. He will only go to phase two if phase one should prove to be a failure.

What is a failure?

Well, if the Poles, the Jews try to retaliate.

What constitutes retaliation, a rock thrown at his golden head?

Is that sufficient warrant for the demolition of the city?

You always overstate things, Kahlenberge.

General Tanz is a responsible officer...

KNOCKING

Come in.

Sorry, sir. Colonel Mannheim to see General Kahlenberge, sir.

We'll discuss this later.

And don't worry about Tanz. I'll take care of him.

Colonel Mannheim, sir.

-You wanted to see me, general.

-Yes, yes.

Yes, I did, colonel. I wanted to see you about...

Damn it, what was it about?

Yes.

Yes, I remember now.

You have an officer on your staff, a Major Grau.

Halt! Halt!

Major Grau to see General Tanz.

Major Grau?

Just a minute, sir.

Get me CP, Colonel Sandauer, urgent.

Roadblock 4 calling CP. Roadblock 4 calling CP.

Can you hear me? Over.

Get your hands up.

Hands up.

-SOLDIER 1:

-Colonel Sandauer on the line, sergeant.

Colonel Sandauer, there's a Major Grau here.

Wants to see the general. My orders were...

What? Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

You may pass, major.

Stop!

Go ahead.

-Well, at least you have one friend.

-So it would seem.

Hands up!

Keep moving. Keep moving.

-Have them over here.

-Over here. Over here.

Get back!

Name?

First name?

-Profession?

-Halt!

-Major Grau.

-Go ahead, sir.

Wait for me here.

'This is Wehrmacht's radio unit

'assigned to the Reich's general government of Poland.'

This broadcast is coming to you directly from Warsaw.

A few yards from where I am, I see General Tanz, the hero of Leningrad.

'He is conducting manoeuvres in the streets of the city.

'An entire area is being temporarily evacuated in the interest of public order and safety.'

Sector one reports phase one successful.

Sector three, no resistance encountered.

Thank you, Sandauer.

-ANNOUNCER:

-The soldiers, of course, are dedicated to their commander.

He is a superb craftsman of war

and his presence alone inspires men to extraordinary valour.

The exercise is being carried out with meticulous precision according to plan.

The population is extremely cooperative and friendly.

-SANDAUER:

-Sector four reports phase one operative.

Sector two, flamethrowers ready to action.

Phase one to continue until further orders.

Yes, sir.

All sectors, from commanding general, phase one to continue until further orders.

-Main sector, flamethrowers ready, sir.

-Go ahead.

Forward march.

General Tanz?

A few more minutes.

-SOLDIER 2:

-Halt!

-SOLDIER 3:

-Stop!

Get him!

Stop! Fire!

GUNSHOTS

-Sandauer!

-SANDAUER:

-Sir?

-Stand by for phase two.

-Phase two, sir?

Stand by for phase two.

Yes, sir.

Notify all units. Phase one completed.

-Stand by for phase two.

-Yes, sir.

CP to all sectors, stand by for phase two.

Phase two!

Phase two.

Yes, sir. Phase two.

Phase two.

Fire!

Fire!

Now the major may put his questions.

He's gone, sir.

That maniac is blowing up half the city.

Let's go.

Did you say there was no real resistance?

No, I was there.

One shot from one sniper, that was all, and he blows up the city!

Now, now, we're not the generals.

It is their business, you know, not ours.

We're here just to keep the papers moving.

And yours have arrived.

Congratulations.

For what?

You've been promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Promoted?

And transferred to Paris as of this date.

-Lucky fellow.

-Transferred, but why?

Who signed the transfer?

General Gabler, naturally.

What are you doing?

I'm going to find out where the order originated.

-On whose recommendation here.

-Calm down. I've already checked.

General Kahlenberge. He recommended your transfer.

Did he indeed?

You must have made quite an impression last night.

It would seem so. Thank you, colonel.

It's just as well, you know.

That's a matter of opinion.

Above all, Major Grau, not too much zeal.

I have a zealous nature, sir. I can't help it.

Yes, inspector, I was in Warsaw with General Tanz.

And I resent those cheap journalists

who try to make him out to be some sort of inhuman monster. He was not.

SPEAKS SPANISH

Forgive me, inspector. We hire a lot of foreigners nowadays.

We can't get Germans any more, not for real work.

I've seen General Tanz in the field, with the wounded, the dying.

He was extraordinary.

Compassionate, gentle.

Do you know that, after Leningrad,

Hitler ordered the general not to expose himself to enemy fire.

Of course, he found this a great hardship.

He was only happy in battle.

-KNOCKING

-Yes?

SPEAKS SPANISH

Ah, gracias. Gracias.

I'm also learning Spanish.

Well, soon everything will be automated.

Except the manager, of course.

And then, in July 1944, we were transferred to Paris.

The Allies were in Normandy by then

and Hitler ordered us to stop them in front of Paris.

We nearly did too, except that the army was betrayed, as usual.

But we mustn't talk politics. It's bad for business, isn't it?

You asked me about Paris.

'It was a paradise to us, particularly after Russia.

'I remember that summer as though it were yesterday.

'The empty streets, the heat, the quiet.

'Everything cheap.

'By the way, I was in Paris last summer, and my God, the prices.

'When they gave me my hotel bill, I couldn't believe it.

'But in July '44, Paris was still our city.

'I suppose that's a tactless thing to say, but we did love Paris.

'In any case, General Tanz and I were due to arrive on July 20th.

'But at the last moment, the general decided to come a few days early.

'So I sent a messenger to 7th Corps headquarters at Versailles

'to say that we would be in Paris on the 17th.

'I think you know why I'm giving you the exact dates.

'As it turned out, it was a good thing we arrived when we did.

'However, there were those who were not at all pleased

'to learn of our early arrival.'

Thank you, that will be all.

-Heil Hitler.

-Heil Hitler.

-Oh, I shall be with General Gabler in the War Room.

-Yes, sir.

What about my pass? Is it all right?

For God's sake, relax!

Operation Hartmann, phase one, will begin tomorrow, 18 July, at 0915

-when the lance corporal reports to the railway station.

-With a car.

With a car duly requisitioned from the motor pool. Phase two,

the lance corporal will then meet the secret consignment from Berlin.

-Then?

-Then phase three.

A 24-hour pass for the lance corporal will begin tomorrow at noon.

-You've got it?

-Here.

A corporal and a general's daughter.

You know, you really are asking for trouble.

But it's your funeral, not mine!

OFFICER: The British second army has been advancing towards the left,

trying to cut off two of our panzer divisions from our main supply route.

During the last 48 hours, the enemy has succeeded

in crossing the Ohm River, here and here.

However, we were able to stop them here,

with help from the 12th SS Panzer Division,

-which is counterattacking at the moment.

-Well?

-Now what do we do?

-To be precise, what do YOU do?

-We. You're in this too.

-General Gabler?

-The field marshal will see you at 4:00.

-Thank you, major.

I admit that it's inconvenient for you.

It's a good deal more than that. Why?

Just why is General Tanz arriving three days earlier than was planned?

-You suspect something odd?

-He comes straight from Hitler.

-Isn't that odd enough?

-I want to hear this.

The American 1st Army occupied the town of Saint-Claude.

Our troops are withdrawing to new positions south and southeast.

GRAU: General Gabler, General Kahlenberge.

I never had the opportunity to thank you for my promotion.

I'm sorry. Grau, Intelligence, Warsaw 1942.

Oh, yes, yes. Good to see you again, colonel.

You once had the vision to transfer me to Paris.

We do our best to give pleasure, colonel. Good day.

I understand we're soon to be joined by General Tanz.

Quite like old times.

Excuse me. I just wanted to greet you.

General.

-Tiresome fellow.

-Strange, isn't it?

Everybody seems to be aware that Tanz is coming here.

I don't like it.

-I don't like it at all.

-Obviously not.

It's always disagreeable when the cat gets back

to find the mice have been playing.

We could, of course, distract the cat

by suggesting that he take a few days off to play a little too.

Particularly after all...

'After all that you've been through, my dear general,

'these past few months in Russia,

'I know it must have been perfect hell for you.'

I want 4,000 men by the end of the week.

And you shall have them. Your Colonel Sandauer

has been working closely with General Kahlenberge.

We are scraping the sides of the barrel, but you'll have 4,000.

Meanwhile, why don't you take a few days off?

Rest a bit, see the sights of Paris. It's your first visit.

I want only combat troops, no decaying old men or children.

Yes, sir. We are making good progress, General Kahlenberge and I.

After all, it may be your last chance to see Paris.

It may be anyone's last chance. Such a pity.

A necessity.

But of course. Of course it's necessary.

Stern measures, the only thing people respect.

All I'm suggesting is that you leave everything to us.

-A commander does not...

-And your excellent Colonel Sandauer.

We've arranged a suite for you at the... Kahlenberge?

-At your hotel.

-At the Excelsior.

You'll have a car, a driver and whatever else strikes your fancy.

-One must relax occasionally, general.

-I can't afford to.

You give me no alternative but to compel you to enjoy yourself.

Must I order you?

Because if I must, I'm afraid I shall have to.

Yes, sir.

Evidently, you are not ready for me.

Very well.

I shall devote one day to seeing the city.

I shall return to headquarters at 0800 hours

on the morning of the 19th.

Heil, Hitler.

-GABLER:

-Heil Hitler.

Well, that wasn't so bad. You now have one day's grace.

We need two, until the 20th.

Come and have dinner with me and Eleanore tomorrow.

-Ulrike's arriving.

-This is bad luck.

-Naturally, she forgot to say which train she'd be on.

-I assume...

-I assume you're with us now.

-In spirit, of course, but...

You'll have to make up your mind. Soon.

Making up one's mind is one thing, speaking it is another.

You worry too much.

Patience is one of the few virtues that I possess.

At ease.

Sergeant, get me the military governor's office on the telephone.

-Corporal?

-Sir.

I have an assignment for you.

Come in.

Get me the military governor's office.

For General Kahlenberge.

You're to stay with him every minute of the day.

-24-hour call, do you understand?

-Yes, sir.

He may want to go out at night.

Do you know anything which might interest General Tanz?

Nightclubs or girls, that sort of thing.

A few, sir.

But I don't really know what the general's taste is, sir.

Let us hope that, whatever it is, it is not you, corporal.

However, if it should be, remember that you're serving the fatherland.

-I'll try to remember, sir.

-Should he ask you

to take him to his headquarters, you're to telephone me.

-Either here or at my hotel.

-Yes, sir.

You'll report to Colonel Sandauer for specific instructions.

Sir?

What is it, corporal?

I'm sorry, sir, but I was supposed to have

-a 24-hour leave starting tomorrow.

-That's impossible.

-Could I have one hour free in the morning, sir?

-No.

Sir.

-Hartmann?

-Sir?

This is important.

All right. Now, where were we?

Oh, yes. Childhood diseases?

Measles.

I can't remember. Nothing serious, I think.

Chickenpox.

Bed-wetting?

-No, sir.

-Fear of the dark?

No, not particularly.

Venereal disease?

-No, sir.

-Good.

-Now, what about books?

-Books?

-Do you read books?

-Yes, sir, I read books.

What?

War and Peace.

Nietzsche, The Decline of the West.

Books on psychology, pathology?

No, not much.

Show me your hands.

All right.

Now, you'll have a room assigned to you in the general's hotel.

He'll want to see the principal sights of Paris.

You will prepare an itinerary and submit it to me.

When not in the field, the general goes to bed at 11:45.

He seldom drinks or smokes,

so you will probably have an early evening.

Now, this is my private number, in case you should need me.

Need you, sir?

If anything out of the ordinary should happen, ring me immediately.

-Is that understood?

-Yes, sir.

Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

Incidentally, avoid all cemeteries, tombs, any mention of death.

Yes, sir.

Sir?

-Inspector Morand, please.

-Third floor, room 158.

-Who shall I say is here?

-Thank you. I can find my own way.

SPEAKS FRENCH

Welcome, Colonel Grau, to the spider's web.

How did you know it was me?

What other German colonel would enter unannounced?

Almost any SS colonel would.

Actually, I saw you reflected in the window.

Impossible, it's too dirty.

-I hope you're not allergic to dust.

-Old crimes, colonel.

They generate a good deal of dust.

Unsolved crimes.

The dust has settled.

We can always unsettle it.

Is that why you came? Do sit down, colonel.

I must apologise for the heat, but it's nearly August,

when most Parisians leave Paris.

Let's hope Germans have the good sense to do the same.

Saint-Lo fell to the Allies this morning.

BBC?

-Coffee?

-No, thank you.

You have dossiers on everyone, don't you?

-On everyone interesting.

-German as well as French?

At the specific request of German Intelligence,

we keep an occasional eye on interesting Germans.

Like me?

-I have always found you interesting.

-Thank you.

What about German generals?

Well, what about them?

Generals are interesting?

Then, to the degree that they are interesting,

-we keep an eye on them too.

-Good.

Here are the names of three generals. I want to know everything about them.

Everything may be too much.

What specifically are you looking for?

One of them is a murderer.

Only one?

But murder is the occupation of generals.

Let's say what is admirable on the large scale

is monstrous on the small.

Since we must give medals to mass murderers,

let us try to give justice to the small entrepreneur.

Nicely put. I shall be glad to help you if I can.

I realise that nothing is free in this world, even between colleagues.

Especially between colleagues.

In exchange for your information,

I shall arrange for the release from prison of three French resistance.

Thank you.

-Have you a favourite suspect?

-Not really, no.

You see, on the night of the murder,

each general had something to conceal.

The night of the murder was...?

December the 12th, 1942, Warsaw. And just as I started my investigation,

I was transferred to Paris.

-By the murderer?

-Possibly.

For two years, I've wanted to reopen the case.

Now I can. As of today, all three are in Paris.

General Gabler.

He's partial to the sort of girl who was killed.

-Oh, a girl. A crime of passion, as we say.

-Passion, yes,

but only in the sense of your distinguished Marquis de Sade.

Oh, a sex crime, I see. Is that why this case excites you?

The girl was also a German agent.

She may have been killed because of something she knew.

That's why Kahlenberge intrigues me the most.

He seems to have no private life

and yet he disappears from time to time.

No one knows where or why.

And General Tanz?

A perfect maniac.

'I saw him destroy an entire quarter of Warsaw

'for the sheer pleasure of it.

'On the Eastern front, he was known as The Butcher.

'He lost most of his division in Russia.

'He revels in death. Which is why, in a curious way,

'I don't think he's the man I'm looking for.

'Anyone who has the power to destroy a city whenever he chooses

'does not need such minor sport as killing a girl.

'I could be wrong, of course.'

-Hartmann?

-Yes.

I'm Sergeant Kopatski, the general's orderly.

For the time being, that is.

I forgot to take his laces out before cleaning his shoes this morning.

For God's sake, where are your gloves?

-You'll get finger marks on it.

-I haven't got gloves.

-They never told me.

-Take mine.

These are the general's holiday rations.

One bottle of cognac, one Thermos of coffee at 40 degrees centigrade,

-200 cigarettes.

-Does the general drink?

Like a sponge, only he never shows it.

Put the briefcase on the back seat.

On the right side.

Whenever he leaves the car, clean out the ashtrays.

He smokes like a chimney. Clean everything in sight.

Clean everything out of sight, including the engine.

If you don't, he'll tear your head off.

It's now one second to 9:00.

Here he comes.

I've given him full instructions, sir.

-Name?

-Hartmann, Kurt, lance corporal, sir.

Show the general your hands.

Well, don't stand there like a fool. Put your gloves on.

He seems to know Paris. He's prepared an itinerary

of the sights of the city. I have endorsed it.

-I shall see you tomorrow morning at headquarters.

-Yes, general.

Sergeant Kopatski is relieved as my orderly.

This morning, he smeared polish on my shoelaces.

-14 days confined to barracks.

-Yes, general.

We've just passed the Place Vendome, sir.

The column is 142 feet high and was erected in 1810.

It's made of bronze from 1200 cannon captured at Austerlitz.

There's a statue of Napoleon on the top.

In front of us, sir, the Tuileries Gardens.

The Tuileries Palace used to be in the middle of the gardens.

In 1792, at the time of the French Revolution,

the Paris mob attacked the palace,

forcing the king and queen to escape.

It was burnt down in...

in 1871.

We are now coming into Place de la Concorde.

One of the most beautiful squares in Paris.

It was here, in the middle of the square

that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette...

..were beheaded during the revolution.

The guillotine was there, in the centre, where the obelisk is now.

-Keep your eye on the road, corporal.

-Yes, sir.

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

-Fraulein Gabler?

-Yes.

I'm Sergeant Kopke from your father's headquarters.

How did they know which train I was on?

They didn't.

May I?

You see, I'm Hartmann's cousin.

We got no secrets, Hartmann and me. More like brothers, really.

-He's all right, isn't he?

-All right? Never better.

No, it's just at the last moment he was assigned to drive General Tanz.

Only for today. That's why he couldn't meet you.

Well, how are things in the fatherland?

Any cities left after all the bombing?

A few, yes, here and there.

There's one good thing about Paris. It's an open city, no bombs.

I hate bombs.

This way, Fraulein Gabler. I have a car for you just outside.

I'll take you to your father's hotel.

Hartmann's staying there too.

With General Tanz, just for tonight.

So I suppose you'll run into him sooner or later,

in the lobby or something.

The gallery is shut to the public, sir. But special permission

has been granted for you to see the paintings.

Most of them have been confiscated and assembled here

before being sent to Germany.

General Tanz. You've been notified.

Yes, corporal. Here's all the information.

On your right, sir, paintings by Boucher,

the 18th-century French master.

All these paintings have been selected

for Reichsmarschall Goering.

What's in there?

Paintings requisitioned from private collections

-by the Reichsmarschall.

-What kind of paintings?

Modern, sir, and some impressionists.

Decadent?

I suppose so, sir.

Light.

Toulouse-Lautrec, Le Divan.

Renoir, Nude, painted in 1910.

Gauguin, On the Beach, from his Tahitian period.

Another Nude by Renoir.

Soutine, Le Garcon d'etage.

Degas, The Tub, painted in 1886.

Van Gogh, Vincent, Self-Portrait.

Sometimes called Vincent in Flames,

painted while in an insane asylum during the last years of his life.

Here, sir, a painting by Cezanne.

How dare you touch me?

Excuse me, sir, but...

Never do that again!

I thought that General Gabler was going to join us for lunch.

Nowadays, General Gabler does not eat lunch.

Really? That could prove injurious to his health.

Yes. Yes, I've told him.

However, once...

Once the exercise is completed, he will join us at every meal.

He may not be invited then.

Shall we go to the garden?

We've had particularly good luck with the roses this season.

It's a very beautiful place you have here.

Thank you, general. We have spent two delightful summers here.

I shall regret leaving it.

Hitler is now at his headquarters in Rastenburg.

If all goes well, the day after tomorrow

at approximately 1:30 in the afternoon,

he will be dead.

If I may say so, we HOPE he will be dead.

Look at that! These damn beetles. They're everywhere.

Sir, how do we know Hitler won't change his plans at the last minute?

Twice this month we were ready for him, but he was not ready for us.

-What if something goes wrong, sir?

-You'll all be executed, colonel.

I imagine the Gestapo have most of our names already.

-This is our last chance.

-This is also our last chance militarily.

The Allies will be across the Rhine before winter. It is now or never.

Fortunately, we are not as alone as we once were.

We have the support of the greatest soldier in Germany.

-Field Marshal Rommel.

-Rommel?

This will make all the difference to the army.

-Rommel is getting even more popular than Hitler.

-Rommel is even...

almost a better general.

It is our plan to make him president of the German Republic.

'At the moment, Field Marshal Rommel is touring the Western front,

-'but when we need him, he will join us here.

-'

Try to hold this position one more day.

-That is, assuming the reinforcements arrive in time.

-Excuse me, sir.

An urgent dispatch for you.

The enemy has broken the line in the vicinity of Coutance.

Do what you can.

Be careful on the roads, field marshal.

The enemy has complete command of the air.

General von Eisenbeck is on his way to Rastenburg

to report to the Fuehrer.

Tell the Fuehrer the SS would rather die than fail him.

I shall tell him, general.

I'll stop overnight in Livarot. Tomorrow I'll be at headquarters.

And after that, sir? Where can you be reached?

Who knows?

On the 20th, I may be in Paris.

You shouldn't have mentioned the date.

The date means nothing. Yet.

I still think you should wait before you commit yourself.

I am committed.

You realise that, if they fail, you'll be shot as a traitor.

But I am a traitor,

a traitor to a madman.

Who is still the supreme commander you once obeyed and admired.

When a commander goes mad, he forfeits his right to supremacy.

We have little choice. If we don't remove him now,

we shall be thought of as traitors to the fatherland.

If we do remove him now, history may one day call us patriots, heroes.

No matter what happens, I'm afraid we shall be misjudged.

You're probably right. But at least I hope you'll be cautious.

It's too late for caution. The war's lost. We must surrender.

-But if he survives?

-He'll never surrender.

His kind of madman never does.

He wants the bodies of every German man, woman and child

to feed on the funeral pyre on which he himself will eventually die

in Wagnerian glory.

I intend to deny him that glory.

I intend... PLANES APPROACHING

Enemy planes on our left, field marshal. They've seen us.

GUNSHOTS

Take cover! Drive off the road, quick!

-I'm sorry, madam, I was delayed.

-What's happened?

Field Marshal Rommel has been wounded.

-Oh, no!

-How serious is it?

He's in coma. They don't think he'll live through the night.

-This is terrible.

-How did it happen?

Normally. That is to say, his car was strafed by Allied aircraft.

-In that case, this is the end.

-I don't agree.

-Are you mad?

There are other generals.

Yes, of course. It isn't the end, not by any means.

But a definite setback, you must admit that.

Madam, I can't stay. Forgive me. Ulrike, welcome to Paris.

-It's always good to see the good general.

-Good night, general.

This thing can't work. You don't have Rommel.

You do have Tanz returning to duty tomorrow.

-Only a miracle can help you now.

-Then help with the miracle.

Keep Tanz away from headquarters tomorrow.

I shall do my best, of course.

But remember, if things do go wrong, you will all need a friend.

Someone who is uncontaminated.

That's why I think it best for everybody

if I appear neutral and bide my time.

Don't force me to break my neck by jumping the fence,

when I can stay usefully alive by sitting on it.

You see what I mean?

Yes, I see what you mean.

An adequate restaurant.

Very clean.

Shall I drive you back to your hotel, sir?

Why?

I thought you might be tired.

Yes.

Tell me, corporal, are the sights of Paris confined

to those which stimulate the intellect and stomach?

-By no means, sir.

-Then we must be thorough.

You will report to me here in precisely 30 minutes.

-Oh, and, corporal?

-Yes, sir?

You will wear civilian clothes.

You will get them from the hall porter.

MUSIC PLAYING

Quoi?

SPEAKS FRENCH

I am thirsty.

When a man is silent,

it's because he's shy or because he has suffered.

You are too good-looking to need to be shy.

If you have suffered...

SPEAKS FRENCH

I can help you forget your suffering.

Evidently, you have not suffered enough.

At 7:30, you are to wake me.

Bath water, 31 degrees.

Breakfast to consist of four raw eggs, two slices of toast,

coffee, one ounce of brandy.

-Yes, sir.

-Good night, corporal.

Voila.

-Hello, could I speak to Fraulein...?

-Kurt.

-Remember me?

-Yes, the queen of Poland.

Mm-hm. Back from exile.

I thought of this so often.

Is it how you thought it would be?

PHONE BUZZES

Hello?

But, sir, I...

Yes, sir. Right away, sir.

-Damn!

-General Tanz?