ERNST THÄLMANN: LEADER OF THE WORKING CLASS
Screenplay by WILLI BREDEL and MICHAEL TSCHESNO-HELL
Directors of photography: KARL PLINTZNER, HORST BRANDT
Set design: WILLY SCHILLER, OTTO ERDMANN
Composer: WILHELM NEEF
Performed by the DEFA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Dubbing director: JOHANNES ARPE
Assistant director: GÜNTER REISCH
Editing: LENA NEUMANN
Sound editing: ERICH SCHMIDT
Unit management: HANS MAHLICH
Consultant for military scenes: GÜNTHER HOPFER
Wardrobe: GERHARD KADDATZ
Make-up: MARK ROSHKOW, MARIAN BABIUCH
Ernst Thälmann: GÜNTHER SIMON
Fiete Jansen: HANS-PETER MINETTI
Änne Jansen: KARLA RUNKEHL
Robert Dirhagen: PAUL-R. HENKER
Wilhelm Pieck: HANS WEHRL
Walter Ulbricht: KARL BRENK
Rosa Thälmann: CARLA HOFFMANN
Wilhelm Florin: GERD WEHR
Soviet Tank Colonel: NIKOLAI KRJUTSCHKOW
Rouger: MICHEL PICCOLI
Arthur Vierbreiter: ERICH FRANZ
Martha Vierbreiter: ERIKA DUNKELMANN
Krischan Daik: RAIMUND SCHELCHER
Kruczinski: HERBERT RICHTER
Captain Schröder: WILHELM KOCH-HOOGE
1st Warden: KURT DUNKELMANN
2nd Warden: OTTO KRONE
Adolf Hitler: FRITZ DIEZ
Hermann Göring: KURT WETZEL
Josef Goebbels: HANS STUHRMANN
Tarnow: EBERHARD KRATZ
Severing: ERICH BRAUER
Krüger: HANS SCHÄFFER
Diebold: WALTER JUPÉ
Quadde: WERNER PETERS
Hartrein: HANS-PETER THIELEN
Hauck Sr.: WERNER PLEDATH
Hauck Jr.: HANNES FISCHER
McFuller: PAUL PAULSEN
Papen: FRED KÖTTERITZSCH
General: FRITHJOF RUEDE
Lieutenant Meyer: HARRY RIEBAUER
Executive producer: ADOLF FISCHER
Director: KURT MAETZIG
The Rote Fahne, please.
Mining Disaster in Ruhr Area: 112 Victims of Ruthless Exploitation
Lovely roses, asters, carnations, all very fresh.
How about a bouquet for you, madam?
Young man, a bouquet for your mother?
Here you are. One mark.
One mark, please.
- Here you are. - Thank you.
- Sorry, where's Berzius Street? - Over the church square, then left.
Morning, Änne. From the Youth-C.C.
Tickets to the anti-war congress in Amsterdam.
Oh, come on in.
Your delegation departs tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
But Fiete will be released from prison tomorrow.
Say, is it true? Did you marry him in prison back then?
7 years ago.
Comrade Jansen!
- Red Front! - Red Front!
Fiete.
- My Fiete! - My dear wife.
My Fiete.
Today already!
Nothing's ready. Everything is a mess.
Not even flowers!
I was going to greet you with red carnations. Your favorite flowers.
What do I need flowers for when I have you?
Ah, Fiete!
Why did you have to come today? The 13th is tomorrow, you know.
Fine, Änne baby. I'm going back to prison, see you tomorrow.
To the C.C. member of the Communist Youth League,
Änne Jansen.
Oh my God, Fiete. I completely forgot.
I'm supposed to travel to Amsterdam tomorrow.
Unless...
Maybe I should wait a day?
It's just for a few days. And I'll always be here now.
So what is our... tenant up to?
- Want to see how he lives? - I have to.
When you're in Amsterdam, he'll be my tenant.
Ernst lives here.
Dear Fiete! 7 years behind bars, and you're back in our big family.
How I wanted to be the first to shake your hand, my lad...
But duty calls. I'm off to the Ruhr area today.
With revolutionary regards, Ernst.
The Mansfeld area. For seven weeks, these mines have been idle.
It's a lot! Seven weeks of strike.
A sturdy bunch, the Mansfelders.
Kulle, perhaps a detour?
Well...
When would we be in the Ruhr area?
That's just it. We can't be everywhere.
- Hyah! - Listen up, people!
Pack up your junk and go back home! You won't get through here!
Aha, Mr. von Lanzau! When did you start playing traffic police?
Be reasonable, Rambert. We're just doing our duty.
Tell that to your father, my boy. He's in the back.
Hyah!
Outrageous!
- What did you bring the rifles for? - Step aside! Safeties off!
Some victory for you! Taking bread from children.
It's for the strike kitchen, you heroes!
Instead of urging your men to work so they can support the family,
you stand by them?
Of course I do.
I made a vow to be true to my husband, I'll keep it on strike too.
Enough blabbering!
- Don't strain yourself! - But who are you?
Well?
Member of parliament Thälmann.
Who gave you the order?
Hop in! Get some miners from strike management to join you!
Let's go, Kulle!
Hard on the cattle. Not enough feed?
That, and he's hardly even mine. The ox has been seized.
- And yet you're helping the miners. - You do what you can.
If we don't help our own...
The same people who cut the miners' wages also seize our cattle.
Struck by the same heavy blow of fate,
with our heads bowed, so will we,
representatives of industry and government,
and you, relatives of the dearly departed,
who served us faithfully for so many years,
- united in pain and grief, - Hey, Ernst.
carry them to their graves.
I stepped in for you, spoke on behalf of the C.C.
Actually, it's better that it was you.
Your words were moving. All our hearts were touched by your speech.
I thank you on behalf of the board of the Federation of Trade Unions.
We're socially-minded too, Paterno. Us too.
A man went down from Jericho to Jerusalem who fell among thieves.
They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and left him for dead.
This same fate befell our Wilhelm Mayer and all the others.
For 15 years, he went down to the Good Hope mine.
There he fell among capitalist thieves.
And now...
he lies before us.
Distasteful.
- Glückauf! - Glückauf.
What's with this note here?
"I hereby agree to the salary reduction of 12%."
Twelve percent?
Yeah right, you assholes. Ha! But I don't agree. What now?
- Me neither! - Me neither!
If we don't sign, they'll shut down the mine shaft.
- Like Luise and Ruprecht! - You don't know jack!
Guys! Listen up!
They laid off half the mine!
Here are the lists!
We're not gonna put up with this!
- What's going on? - Guys, Thälmann is here!
What, Teddy?
Glückauf, Brother Thälmann! What do you think?
- Lockout! - They want to shut down our mine!
And we carry the burden! Let those up there pay!
Empty shaft, empty stomach, only this note left.
What cruelty.
She had to bury her husband and they're sacking her boy.
One misfortune follows another.
Capitalism is our misfortune.
Why are mining disasters on the rise?
Coal is expensive, but proletarian life is cheap.
- So we have to resist. - That's right!
- Strike! - Of course!
- That would be best! - Well, that's easier said.
We'll lose our last pennies too. What should I live off?
Can you live off this? Wise guy.
Look at this.
Brother Thälmann.
Tanne says you can't strike in a crisis. Is that true?
Tarnow fears we'll worsen the crisis by striking. Weakening capitalism.
So what? That's just what we want.
Capitalism must be under constant fire!
We don't care about the interests of capitalists, only of workers!
Millions are waiting for work! And we will strike?
It's uncertain if unorganized workers will participate.
And the families?
The women are scared. They'll surely keep us from fighting.
In the Mansfeld area where miners have been on strike for weeks,
a woman said:
"I made a vow to be true to my husband, I'll keep it on strike too."
Aren't we underestimating our strength?
Aren't we underestimating solidarity?
One finger may be broken but five fingers are a fist!
♪ Forward, without forgetting ♪
♪ Wherein our strength must be ♪
♪ When starving or when eating ♪
♪ Forward, without forgetting ♪
♪ Our solidarity ♪
♪ Freedom fighters, all together ♪
♪ Praise the might of solidarity ♪
- 2nd platoon, form ranks! - ♪ For it gives us strength to weather ♪
- Lock arms! - ♪ Every brutal enemy ♪
♪ Forward, without forgetting ♪
♪ Wherein our strength must be ♪
♪ When starving or when eating ♪
♪ Forward, without forgetting ♪
♪ Our solidarity ♪
♪ But our work is not completed ♪
♪ Many are not in the fight ♪
♪ Our victory is certain ♪
♪ If we rise and all unite ♪
♪ Forward, without forgetting ♪
♪ Wherein our strength must be ♪
♪ When starving or when eating ♪
♪ Forward, without forgetting ♪
♪ Our solidarity ♪
Mr. Mayor. Sir.
2.200 troops in the Essen district at your disposal.
Thanks.
You've received my reports, Comrade Severing.
Thälmann made an impact. An unfortunate development.
I have special authority from the government.
The Ruhr area is not Mansfeld. Thälmann will be wrong.
We now have assurances of international solidarity
from miners of the Soviet Union, France, England, Czechoslovakia,
- Belgium and Poland. - Your compatriots joined too.
It's up to us now, our determined and united efforts.
Glückauf, everyone!
I'm no great speaker. And I won't say much, but I will say this.
It can't go on like this. And so, strike!
We're with you.
These are our demands: Wages must not be reduced,
the layoffs must be rescinded.
If the industrialists refuse, every mine goes on strike.
You haven't said a word yet.
What do you think, brother?
Yes, well... The demands are right.
But passing a strike resolution in the whole Ruhr area is not so easy.
Brother Florin knows this too.
Time is running short. The enemy never sleeps.
Neither do we. We burn the midnight oil, so the night will have to do.
Let me say this, brother. First the leather, then the boot.
What do you mean?
We must first know where we stand. Carefully prepare, then it will work.
As we say in Poland, first the leather, then the boot.
To the German people
The Ruhr area labor dispute threatens warship construction.
We can't rule on it without the privy councillor.
Granted, Councillor, the precision of the German worker is well-known.
- Above all, our worker is cheap. - Not expensive.
And yet, United Steels worries about the future of your loans.
The new defense bill promises a great boost to our production.
Armored cruisers. New tank models.
Significant state subsidies are on the horizon.
These state subsidies will hardly cover the interest on our loans.
I'll say it plainly.
We don't like to see our dollars in a trembling hand.
Only when Germany is ruled by a strong hand--
- Mr. McFuller, the U.S. embassy. - Yes, yes.
- Mr. Councillor, my I remind you? - Yes.
The parliamentary session.
It's clear, Mr. von Papen. Soldiers belong at the helm.
Our time is coming, general. Let's await the presidential election.
General, permission to report: Thälmann is speaking.
Our response to the government:
We Communists utterly reject the proposed defense budget.
As declared in our program of national and social liberation,
rearming the militarists threatens our people with a new war disaster.
That's treason! Germany, awake.
Germany, awake!
National liberation can never be achieved through war and armament.
It's deeply tied to social liberation, to the overthrow of capitalism.
We don't want Bolshevist chaos!
On a sixth of the earth,
workers proved they can live without capitalists.
But capitalists have never proven they can live without workers.
That struck home! Well done, Teddy!
So Thälmann wants to disarm Germany.
You're wrong. We want a defense-capable people
when the fate of our people is in the hands of the people.
Like in the Soviet Union.
We're fighting relentlessly against capitalism at home and abroad.
Especially the Treaty of Versailles and the American Young Plan.
So then down with Versailles! Down with the Young Plan!
Down with Versailles! Germany, awake!
Those who support capitalism, and you do it most furiously,
also support the slavery of Versailles and the Young Plan.
These gentlemen wish to speak to a communist legislator.
- Glückauf, comrades. - Glückauf, Brother Florin.
Glückauf. I heard already, it worked.
Are we in time? Is Thälmann speaking?
Teddy's speaking. We're waiting for you. Shall we, comrades?
But the American, English, and French capitalists
who want to use the resurgence of German imperialism
as a battering ram against the Soviet Union are wrong!
This German imperialism will turn its weapons at these countries too.
But the working class has long been aware of its tremendous power again.
Here is proof of the workers' will to fight.
300,000 miners of the Ruhr area laid down their work
and 160,000 striking English workers stand by them.
Outrageous! This is a violation of government resolutions.
The arbitration committee hasn't convened yet!
The union has not taken a position yet!
This is a violation of law and order!
Only one law matters to us.
The interests of the German working people!
Mr. Thälmann, I call you to order.
The emergency decrees were even signed by the President.
We also oppose the Republic being headed
by Field Marshal von Hindenburg, a tool of capital and nobility.
Mr. Thälmann. You're forcing me to take more drastic measures.
A Hindenburg who boasts that,
other than the Bible and the drill regulations, he's never read a book.
Mr. Thälmann, for the last time...
A Hindenburg who coined the phrase: "War does me good like a spa day!"
Gravely concerned about the peaceful development of Germany
we call out to workers, farmers and pensioners:
We Communists are the only party
that can solve all key issues of German and international politics
without enslaving foreign nations, without wars of conquest.
Vote Thälmann for President
A vote for Hindenburg is a vote for Hitler!
A vote for Hitler is a vote for war!
Steel Helmet Association Berlin, at attention!
Comrades, Front heil!
Front heil!
Flags, march!
SPD Berlin and Brandenburg
You should be ashamed. All the officials are gathered, but you,
you're sulking and skulking at home.
I won't be a standard-bearer for Field Marshal von Hindenburg.
Not me.
For him, the war was like a spa day.
For my son... it took his life.
Don't be so sentimental, it's a matter of politics.
That's just why. I won't be a standard-bearer for Hindenburg.
A vote for Hindenburg is a vote for Hitler!
A vote for Hitler is a vote for war!
A vote for Hindenburg is a vote for Hitler!
A vote for Hitler is a vote for war!
Suppose you'll vote for Thälmann.
I'd rather follow 10 Hindenburgs than one Communist.
I'm not voting for Thälmann.
But not for Hindenburg either!
I've had it.
If you don't keep discipline now and bring the flag right away...
I'd expect more from old Social Democrats.
- Vote Hindenburg - SPD Berlin and Brandenburg
Don't be so stiff-necked, Robert. Hindenburg doesn't excite me either.
But as important works councillors, as old Social Democrats,
we shouldn't betray the party. You can have your opinions.
But publicly, we have to stand together as one.
Vote for Thälmann, candidate of the poor.
For bread and work. Election rally, Teddy speech.
Vote for Thälmann, for bread and work.
KPD election rally. Thälmann speech.
♪ Socialists, come close the ranks ♪
♪ To sounding drum and waving flag ♪
♪ Our labor shall be liberated ♪
♪ Our freedom shall be taken back ♪
WITH HIM
♪ ... the sun's glory ... ♪
♪ The freedom of workers ♪ ♪ can only come ♪
♪ At the hands of ♪ ♪ workers themselves ♪
♪ Now left, two, three ♪ ♪ Now left, two, three ♪
♪ Comrade, find your station soon ♪
♪ Take your place in the ♪ ♪ workers' united front ♪
♪ Because you are a worker too ♪
♪ Now left, two, three ♪ ♪ Now left, two, three ♪
♪ Comrade, find your station soon ♪
♪ Take your place in the ♪ ♪ workers' united front ♪
♪ Because you are a worker too ♪
These Social Democrats. I've had it up to here. They finally did it.
Hindenburg and Papen are ahead and gave free rein to the SA.
And the Social Democrat workers, who made their bed, are at a loss.
They want to act but of course they do nothing,
since there's no blessing from above.
They can't be worked with. Inept, insufferable, incorrigible!
Did you go to the transport office? What are the workers saying?
Did you talk to works council chair Dirhagen, like we agreed?
He can kick rocks. Parading that flag around for Hindenburg.
They suit each other.
I don't have the nerve anymore!
You can't chase after everyone. Where would that get us?
Just what I needed.
Now I'm the bad guy.
Artje.
We founded the party together in Hamburg.
Had setbacks. Had victories.
How is that, Artje?
When we win, whom do we owe it to?
The party.
And when we make mistakes, where do we find them?
With ourselves.
- Comrades, we cannot give in. - The decision can't be hard for him.
- The membership is behind Severing. - And the police too.
- Aren't they pinkos? - Sure thing!
What have you got here?
- What's going on? - Hold it!
- Take the thing off! Now! - It's missing from my collection!
- Outrageous! - Unbelievable!
- Why didn't you step in? - What can I do?
I'm a Social Democrat too.
We have orders not to intervene in such incidents.
This is an untenable, undignified situation.
People are no longer safe on the street.
Our workforce expects the party executive and the government to act.
Don't stand idly by as the reaction gets brazen and winds up to attack.
Comrades, don't fall for the communist agitation slogans.
What, slogans? The SA is marching in the streets again.
If nobody puts a stop to Papen...
He'll stop at nothing. He'll rip up the constitution.
He'll do no such thing. Hindenburg would never allow it.
And if he did, I still have my police, who are united behind me.
- Right, Chief? - Yes, Sir Minister.
Even better, Comrade Severing.
All the easier for labor militancy to succeed.
Labor militancy? We're beyond that stage.
Only real power matters. And I'm in power in Prussia.
Excuse me, state business.
What do I tell the workforce?
Sir Minister.
His Excellency President Hindenburg declared a state of emergency...
and appointed Chancellor von Papen as Commissioner of Prussia.
- What? - Secondly...
Executive authority is transferred to Lieutenant-General von Rundstedt.
Thirdly,
Sir Minister, you are removed from office.
Comrade Severing!
I'll file a complaint with the State Court.
By all means, if it pleases you.
I'll yield only to force.
What kind of force would you like?
What can you say? Goddamn.
STATE OF EMERGENCY
What? The military wants to rule again? Smells foul.
No assembly! Keep moving! You too.
Do not form crowds! Assembly has been banned!
Can't you read?
Go on!
We witnessed all that with Severing. Snubbing us like that.
Boasting of his power, and then not using it. Surrendering feebly.
It's beyond anything I thought possible.
Without a peep, in front of an officer and three men.
Damn vile.
And now?
What's to be done, brothers?
I've just come from the Siemens factories. I was at Borsig too.
The workers are ready to stand up to Papen, Hitler's lackey.
Everyone wants to. And yet, nothing happens. Why?
The SPD party executive just rejected our offer of
a joint struggle against Papen and the reaction.
Class comrades. I'm repeating our offer again.
We place no conditions on our cooperation except one.
To fight decisively against the reaction. Against fascism and war.
No party line divides us.
Class brothers. Let us shake hands.
Bravo!
But are you being genuine, Brother Thälmann?
That's too far. That's strong stuff.
How so?
Let everyone ask what's bothering them.
That's good, Brother Dirhagen.
In light of the looming threat
that fascism could make Germany a country of gallows and burning stakes,
shouldn't we be genuine?
In light of the looming threat
that Europe could be riddled with trenches and mass graves again,
shouldn't we be genuine?
In light of all these threats,
as we Communists talk of united labor class militancy,
shouldn't we be genuine?
PARIS OCTOBER 1932
The paper spreading l'Humanite! The worker's paper!
Comrades!
Since this evening's meeting will have an exceptional speaker,
the organizing committee decided to hold it behind closed doors.
Close the doors!
My dear comrades!
A lifelong friend, faithful and loyal comrade in arms
the best son of the German people, our comrade Ernst Thälmann,
will take the stage to make an urgent appeal
to all honest people of this country.
Comrades, here in Paris, the city of the 1871 Commune,
shining beacon of the revolutionary labor movement,
today, on the 15th anniversary of the victorious October revolution,
I bring charges against the capitalist governments of both our countries!
Comrades, here in Paris...
- A Mister... - Good evening, Commissioner.
Monsieur.
- To what do we owe the pleasure? - Good evening, good evening.
A Mister Thälmann, unwanted foreigner, is in this hall.
An unwanted foreigner? Yet so eagerly received.
I have a deportation order for this man!
But I don't know if Mr. Thälmann is inside.
The law doesn't require us to verify everyone's identity.
Bah, the law!
If you don't want the law, you can have us instead.
Gentlemen...
Bear in mind that I'm a sworn officer exercising my duties.
Comrades, your fellow sufferer, the German worker and farmer,
is not your enemy, but your natural ally.
Just as the French worker is not the enemy of German workers,
but their class brother, their comrade.
And since there's a mounting danger of war
which the imperialists of Germany and France are preparing for,
we must be fully committed to the great words of Karl Liebknecht:
The main enemy is at home!
When the bourgeoisie campaigns for armament,
we Communists call to the masses:
Weapons in the hand of the ruling class
are weapons against the working people.
Down with the warmongers in Germany and France!
Down with war! À bas la guerre!
Down with war!
Long live peace!
Down with war!
Long live peace!
Down with war!
Long live peace!
♪ ... come rally ♪
♪ And the last fight let us face ♪
♪ The Internationale ♪
♪ Unites the human race ♪
L'Humanité! Thälmann in Paris!
BZ! BZ noon edition! French Police seek Thälmann!
- Bonjour. - Comrade Thälmann.
14 years ago, almost to the day.
In the last hours of the war.
We were past this hill.
And we were on the other side.
I want to salute all the dead of the World War
and tell them that we'll fight relentlessly
to prevent another war.
We could live well as brothers.
To me and the old front-line soldiers,
the war has not ended since 1914.
And when the communist boss Thälman claims
to be able to abolish the Treaty of Versailles peacefully,
he is deceiving our nation!
We are too German to compare us to another nation!
But least of all to negroid Frenchlings!
To the racial mishmash that calls itself France.
And to Jewish Bolshevist Russia,
with whom we will one day speak German.
The bottling industry has promised 2% of their export profits
for our election fund.
- How much is that? - Several million.
Give our beloved Führer three cheers of
Sieg Heil!
I will once again be talking to you as a prophet.
This election will go down in history as a gigantic victory for my idea.
Workers of Hamburg!
We don't say: "Vote for Thälmann and you'll have work and bread."
We say: It depends on you.
The fateful question of the German people is:
Regress or progress?
War or peace?
Hitler or Thälmann?
Against fascism and war!
The Rote Fahne! Election campaign climax!
Only unity can make the working class strong.
Only by fighting can it be the leading force of the nation!
Thälmann in Westfalen Hall
Thälmann in Sportpalast
- Thälmann draws 200,000 in Leipzig - Last week's 800 strikes
are both a fight against the growing fascist threat,
and proof that the working class and the nation share the same goals!
Walter Ulbricht urges: "Workers of Berlin,
support the striking traffic workers!"
Just now, Brother Dirhagen told me he's been expelled from the union
just for being the chairman of your strike committee!
Many of you went through the same thing.
I was kicked out too, after decades in the traffic workers' union.
And why?
Because I'm chairman of the KPD!
Yes! I plead guilty
to be chairman of the party of Karl Liebknecht & Rosa Luxemburg!
I plead guilty to fighting hunger and exploitation!
Guilty to fighting against war!
♪ ... all together ♪ ♪ Praise the might of solidarity ♪
♪ For it gives us strength to weather♪
♪ Every brutal enemy ♪
♪ Forward, without forgetting ♪
♪ Wherein our strength must be ♪
♪ When starving or when eating ♪
- That is what matters now. - ♪ Forward, without forgetting ♪
- Class solidarity. - ♪ Our solidarity ♪
Conflict solidarity.
Workers of Berlin.
The Nazis have suffered a huge electoral defeat.
They have lost two million votes.
But our Communist Party
has become the largest labor party in many cities.
And in Berlin we're the largest of all parties!
3 cheers for the Communist Party!
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
Red Front! Red Front! Red Front!
A great victory after a tough few months.
A heavy blow against fascism.
It won't be the last if the united workers' front finally manifests.
Unity and yet more unity! That is our call.
If 2 million donkey voters leave me, I won't be swayed from my path!
- My Führer, I beg you. - I will not!
- Don't take it to heart. - To do this to me!
Munich, yes, listening. NSDAP, 150,000.
Meet von Papen at once. Make him see, our grave is his grave too!
- My Führer, please listen. - I will not permit
these Jewish Bolshevist globalists to knock us off our path!
I will make these criminals--
Workers won't accept a coup by Hitler without a fight.
And yet, there'll be attempts to push Hitler into power.
Once he's on top... It's obvious. Goebbels blatantly said it:
"Legally, all the way to the gallows, but there will be hangings."
The Nazis will crack down ruthlessly on any worker who resists.
SPD, KPD, or unaffiliated, they'll be ruthless.
Walter. You must go back to the SPD board yourself. We'll meet later.
I'll be home, writing the party's New Year's statement.
This time, I'll address all workers. The unaffiliated, the Christians.
In this fateful hour, everyone must be galvanized.
There's Herrmann Martin.
Comrades, some intel.
The Ruhr industrialists are hosting Hitler again this evening.
Thälmann spoke in the Ruhr again yesterday. I got a detailed report.
Unbelievable how popular he is. And not just among Communists.
Let's not fool ourselves, gentlemen.
If we don't clamp down, the year '33 will give us nasty surprises.
Force is not an option.
Once Hitler is made socially acceptable, it all goes to plan.
First we'll cash the KPD, then the SPD, and then the unions.
Hitler would be good at poker. Decent bluff. But we know his hand.
I don't know. Don't be hasty. We might easily upset France.
If you tarry much longer, you can easily upset America.
... don't stumble over the word "socialism". Judge me by my actions.
The war against global Bolshevism will begin here in Germany.
This is where I see my...
I don't know. Bet on Hitler? What about next election?
The time for elections is over, good sir.
Or do you want the Communists to make further gains?
- Evening, Änne! - Hey, Ernst. Need something?
Don't get up.
So, how are you feeling, Änne?
It's almost time, Teddy. I can feel it.
See, the date will be 1933 after all.
Where on earth is Fiete?
Don't worry, Änne.
He'll come today to stay with you until it's time, I'm sure.
Here's something for you, to pass the time.
Thanks.
But you'll have to excuse me, the comrades are waiting.
"How the steel was tempered".
Enough already!
Not another word about a united front with the Communists.
Even if they make another 10 offers. We'll send them home 10 more times.
This isn't just my opinion!
If the party leaders keep this up, we'll all fall into ruin.
There's one thing nobody wants. Hitler in government.
Well duh, you don't say!
- Nowadays that might be best. - God forbid!
- You think? - Yes sir, Tarnow is right.
Let Hitler show what he can do. He'll wear himself out soon enough.
And hang the best of us. And wade knee-deep in blood!
That can't be the opinion of party leadership.
What do you know of realpolitik?
I've had it up to here. I'm going home, comrades. Night!
Robert... Don't be a wet blanket! It's only New Year's once!
Look at that! The red Dirhagen!
Tarnow, does the party executive really want to let Hitler take power?
- Don't pester me! - So it's true!
Deny Thälmann's offer to fight Hitler, but let Hitler take power.
That's the position of party leadership. True or false?
I don't answer to you.
For 36 years I've been in the party. I always answered to it. But now!
- I can't do it anymore! - Robert!
He's right!
Hitler will have to play by the rules of democracy.
Otherwise he won't last a single day.
It's over! It's all over.
What's going on, Brother Dirhagen? Have a seat.
They're following Tarnow like blind chickens!
Like chickens. It's over!
- What about Tarnow? - I'm through with him.
He wants to let Hitler take power. Hitler!
And the comrades...
Like trying to get blood out of a stone.
- It's over. - Get it all off your chest.
The SPD executive may have refused the united front against Hitler.
But the Social Democrat workers disagree.
Now everything depends on getting an antifascist united front
with Social Democrat workers. No question.
Is the SPD executive still clueless? The Nazis will act against them too.
They'll plunge our nation into ruin. Even I can see that.
And I'm just a simple prole.
Precisely. That's why.
Excuse me, comrade.
What will we do now, Comrade Pieck?
Everywhere, each from his station,
we'll wrestle for the united worker's front against fascism.
After all, we're Communists, Kulle.
Whatever form the struggle may take,
we are always with the masses. The people.
Our righteous cause will win.
None can replace the working class in their fight.
And if the labor parties can't find themselves even now,
fascism will establish a reign of blood like we can't even imagine.
A hard struggle, for years.
Ah, Fiete. Evening, Kulle.
From Johnny Scheer.
And this is from Walter.
Proposals for illegal directives.
I'll drive you to the C.C., Comrade Thälmann.
- Sure, Kulle. - I'm about to drive to Kassel.
Not today, Fiete. Vierbreiter will go in your place.
Änne's waiting. Not easy for her to be alone right now.
Bet you didn't eat yet, Kulle.
- Ah, could be worse. - Here, have some.
I'm off too. Don't want to impose.
- Thank you, Brother Thälmann. - See you, Brother Dirhagen.
- Feel free to come over. - Nah. Änne's waiting for you.
I'm going to party HQ with Dirhagen.
- Red Front! - Red Front.
Fiete! Finally!
Hold on, Änne. Don't get up.
- You! - Evening.
Come, sit. What are the comrades in Hamburg up to?
I'll tell you later.
- Is that a new book? - Teddy gave it to me.
A wonderful book. I always wanted it. Here, read this part.
No, I'll read it for you.
"Man's dearest possession is life. It is given to him but once.
And he must so live it that, dying, he might say:
I gave all my life, all my strength to the finest cause in the world,
the fight for the liberation of mankind."
I want to be able to write like that too.
- And live like that. - Yeah.
- Hey... - One moment.
You know, Änne, maybe our child will become a writer one day.
Or achieve something outstanding.
It's not unheard of.
The dormant abilities of the parents suddenly manifest in their offspring.
Lo and behold.
At least she'll be a good, diligent pioneer.
- Pioneer? - Sure, a pioneer.
You're not fair to yourself. What's so bad about girls?
What's so bad about boys? Why do you want to have a girl so bad?
Because I want to call her Änne, silly.
A boy could never be called Änne.
Oh well.
You know, Änne, having a child, it's kind of like living twice.
The responsibility grows.
For the little human and for humanity.
Fire!
Police! The Nazis are here!
- Careful, Dirhagen! - The red Dirhagen!
- Assault! Assault! - Kulle!
What a start to the year.
Cheers, gentlemen! To a Europe without Communists!
We National Socialists know that God destined Germans to be his helpers
in the world's consummation. Let's drink to that.
To your health, General.
- Thank you, Sir von Papen. - To the new chancellor.
The national uprising, the will of the simple man and of the nation
has placed me at the head of the nation.
- As the leader! - Sieg Heil!
Sieg Heil!
I'm thankful to gracious Providence, who held a hand over me.
I'm glad to have found you, and you can be glad to have found me.
- There cannot be a general strike! - Unlikely.
Tarnow just publically warned workers against such a venture.
I prefer to rely on myself.
My plan. From here, then here and here.
The passage leads below the road, right into the Reichstag.
And if Hindenburg were to be killed?
Could that turn the people against Communists even more?
The old man may be useful yet. But this, now this is new.
Not seen since Nero.
This is the work of those Bolshevist subhumans.
I will destroy communism, root and branch!
Those Communists. "United front!"
I won't stand in a united front with arsonists!
There, a close friend of Thälmann. Known Communist leader Jansen.
- Where? - There.
- Thälmann. - What about Teddy?
Arrested.
Come, Änne.
That's the man he was talking to.
Who was that person you were just talking to?
Don't know him.
- Where did he go? - Kept going.
Arrest him.
That's him.
Dirhagen!
Turn around!
So, wanna talk?
Think about it. But don't think too long.
Unless you wanna go back in the music room?
I asked you if if you'll finally talk!
Where is Fiete Jansen?
The Bulgarian, Dimitroff.
Ah! So that's the Reichstag arsonist.
You look much more qualified to know who set fire to the Reichstag.
- Courage, comrade. - Thug, bastard! Put him in irons!
Turn around! Put your face to the wall!
Closer! Closer!
An eventful day in the history of the National Socialist movement.
The Reichstag building was destroyed by Bolshevist subhumans.
But now, parliament will meet in the Krolloper.
Outside, I see the swastika.
I'll raise a complaint with Göring.
As president of parliament, it's his duty to follow procedure.
They'll get a supermajority anyway.
- Why? - The Communists are neutralized.
That already means 81 missing seats.
You can't expect me to vote for the Nazis.
- Right. - Right.
It's scandalous. By attending here, we play into the Nazis' hands.
I beg your pardon! The Nazis adopted much of our foreign policy.
- So what? - True!
Should we oppose our own demands just because the Nazis put them forward?
- The whole point is-- - The point is that we're leaving!
That's right.
Think twice about this!
You can't just splinter the party!
Let's move on to the vote.
Well, like I said. Let's move on to the vote.
Those in favor of the foreign policy of the Hitler-Papen administration?
Sector 5. Go ahead.
- What do you think of the place? - Dreadful.
- What's their deal? - Delegation from the Saarland.
Workers and some journalists.
Enough already, Mrs. Thälmann!
I insist on meeting my husband,
- which I'm... - Sure, insist away!
which I'm entitled to by law.
We call the tune here.
But you're not alone in the world.
What are you trying to say?
I said what I said.
Heil Hitler!
Sturmbannführer, the state council arrived, and the Saarland delegation.
I'm deeply saddened that people abroad and even in the Saar area
believe the most foolish claims about the conditions here.
Please see for yourself how the Communist leader Thälmann is doing.
Mr. Thälmann. These guests from the Saar area requested to speak to you.
Gentlemen, I'd ask you not to touch on political issues.
Are you able to receive visitors, Mr. Thälmann?
Not even my wife is allowed to see me.
And letters? Did you receive the letter announcing our arrival?
No.
But gentlemen, we knew that you were coming. And now you're here.
- Were you served the indictment? - No, nothing.
How are they treating you, Mr. Thälmann?
- I'm mistreated! - Enough!
- And others too! - Not another word!
Gentlemen, shall we?
Thousands are being mistreated, brutally murdered! Tell the workers!
Everywhere in the world! Everyone needs to hear this!
Pronto! Pronto! Pronto!
Pronto! Pronto!
Now that the warden is won over, don't hesitate.
- Who can we entrust with the task? - Who? Me, of course.
No.
Someone fully unknown in Berlin. Ideally from Hamburg.
- But I'm taking Ernst to the border. - That's different.
Who do you suggest?
I know a guy. He was there back in October.
Here's the wax cast.
- The workers won't forget this. - It wasn't easy to get to the key.
I only get it for minutes at a time from Sturmbannführer Quadde.
- Quadde? Gottlieb Quadde? - Yes. Göring's special commissioner.
Huh.
- So you'll keep helping us. - It's not that easy.
But possible.
Fits. Perfectly.
- Morning. - Morning.
Heil Hitler.
Heil.
Cigarette?
- At 1 a.m. - I'm not sure we can risk it today.
Quadde is still here. Game night.
That's good. Once he sits down, he's down.
Exit 3 then. The guard dogs will be in the side yard.
If something goes wrong, I'll shoot twice.
In 10 minutes.
- There. - We got him!
- Thälmann's key? - Yeah sure. Put it on the wall.
But the warden just locked Thälmann's cell.
Alarm!
Release the dogs!
Electrify the barbwire!
- Stop! Don't move! - Block off all exits!
Go, Krischan. Go!
Defendant Kristian Daik.
You don't want to name your accomplices in the breakout attempt.
You also don't want to testify who made this key.
So you made it yourself.
Arthur Vierbreiter from protective custody.
Stand up straight!
I've been through six interrogations.
You're a sewage worker.
Former member of German parliament
and former chairman of the Communist Party in Hamburg.
- Is this true? - Yes.
Are you related to the defendant through blood or marriage?
I am related to him.
Through a great idea.
Is that all you have to say to us?
Is it trivial?
Änny! Änny!
I'm so glad, Martha, that you received the letter so soon.
We'll get along fine. Right, Änny?
It breaks my heart that I have to give the little one away.
But you understand, Martha, in my situation.
We're all one family after all.
Related through a great idea.
Änny, go along with Aunt Martha now, okay?
And your mommy will come pick you up later.
Thank you, Martha.
My dear little Änny.
- Hey. - To the exact minute.
It's only proper.
I'm bringing something from Paris.
For Comrade Thälmann, for his birthday.
Letter. From Romain Rolland, Gorky, and Dimitroff.
Not here. Up there we won't be watched.
Yes.
Take it, Maurice. Our flag.
There's no place for it in Germany now.
We will carry it forward. In Spain, against the fascists.
We could live well as brothers.
Our two peoples.
Ceux qui vivent, ce sont ceux qui luttent.
Only those who fight are among the living.
Thälmann. Thälmann.
Thälmann. Thälmann. Thälmann.
Those stupid mail asses. Always causing trouble for us.
Thälmann. Thälmann. Thälmann.
They seem to think the prison is a dance bar.
- Thälmann. - Go and bring the turntable.
My lass, how tall you are.
- Just one question, Mr. Quadde. - What is it, Ms. Thälmann?
Did any mail come in?
Ernst, all the best and happy birthday.
- And good health. - Thanks, Rosa.
Everyone sends their regards. The whole family.
Wilhelm, Walter. The whole C.C.
Oh God, you're really quite pitiful.
- Why? - You're playing watchdog
and yet you're half a prisoner yourself.
You're clearly not seeing things right.
Mr. Thälmann.
- Why did you come so late today? - I was kept waiting for hours again.
I object to this chicanery.
Even on my birthday, my visiting hours aren't kept on time.
What do you want, Thälmann? Not like anyone would visit.
On your 50th birthday, things still looked different. But today?
Apart from your wife and daughter, there's only me to congratulate you.
The world has forgotten you.
Well? Let's take it for a spin.
The Thälmann Column.
Bags, quick.
Goodbye.
♪ Now the Spanish sky ♪ ♪ is full of stars ♪
What is this trash?
"My 70 years salute you with respect.
To us, you're a symbol of peace among the peoples of the world.
Romain Rolland."
"The moment will come when all hearts will flare up like a flame
and burn out fascism."
♪ As our troops are ♪ ♪ ready in the trench ♪
- Maxim Gorky. - ♪ And the morning's dawning from afar ♪
♪ Soon we'll go ♪ ♪ to battle yet again ♪
♪ Our home's far away ♪
♪ But this is our day ♪
♪ We're fighting for you ♪ ♪ til it's won ♪
♪ Freedom ♪
♪ To the fascists ♪ ♪ we will never yield ♪
♪ Let them send ♪ ♪ their bullet hail our way ♪
It's over, Boris, over!
♪ Side by side ♪ ♪ are comrades without peer ♪
Watch for that cannon!
Comrades, the Thälmann Battalion is coming!
The battalion Ernst Thälmann salutes the battalion Paris Commune!
- Boris! - Fiete!
You're just in time. Let's push on!
- ¡Adelante! - Forward!
In the spirit of Ernst Thälmann!
♪ Beat the drum ♪ ♪ in sunshine or in rain ♪
♪ Forward march ♪ ♪ towards our victory ♪
♪ Let the flag of freedom ♪ ♪ break the chain ♪
♪ Off to battle, ♪ ♪ Thälmann Company ♪
♪ Our home's far away ♪
♪ But this is our day ♪
The moment will come when all hearts will flare up like a flame
and burn out fascism.
♪ Freedom ♪
FREEDOM
Heil! Heil! Heil!
Heil! Heil!
The result of our experience in the Spanish crucible is here.
Of great value. Covers a wide operating radius in flat land.
FREEDOM
FREEDOM FOR
FREEDOM FOR ERNST
FREEDOM FOR ERNST THÄLMANN
Scandalous. Here with us, of all places!
Wipe it out! Wipe out the scribblings!
- Wipe out the whole vermin! - Disintegrate them!
My Führer, that's a task for me.
Call me Billy if I can't mange that.
Important visitor, Mr. Thälmann. Behave yourself.
Guard! Ten-shun! Ready, present arms!
Special commissioner Quadde, at your disposal--
Thanks, thanks. Where's Thälmann?
Isolated in the hallway, Excellency. Cells above and below are empty too.
Good afternoon, Mr. Thälmann.
I have, as you can see, come to you, Mr. Thälmann.
Of course, I could have also summoned you.
To the interior ministry, the aviation ministry.
To the Gestapo.
But I want you to come to me voluntarily.
I've always appreciated you, Thälmann.
My convictions contradict yours, but your poise,
your incorruptibility has earned my respect.
- Tough nut, that Thälmann, eh? - You think?
The boss always gets his way.
We're about to prepare the reorganization of Europe.
And you can be part of it.
I offer you freedom, Mr. Thälmann. Without asking the impossible.
You do not have to join our party. You only have...
So this is how you return our honest goodwill?
Let me just say this. I won't have you shot.
Or have you hanged. Or have you torn apart by dogs.
It would be too nice, too quick of a death for you!
You'll rot! Alive! For years, decades.
Rot and decay like a carcass!
But we, we'll rule Europe.
Poland: Cheapest human material.
Norway: Northern flank guard.
Denmark, Holland: Our meat and fat supplier.
Belgium: Coal, iron ores.
France: Ores, coal, wine.
North Africa: Our destination, the Suez Canal.
Balkans: Southern flank guard.
Black Sea: Oil.
Donbas: Coal, steel.
Ukraine: Grain.
In a few days, our troops will reach Moscow. None can stop us anymore.
When Russia falls, this continent is German.
- Unimagined, tremendous prospects. - It may go wrong too.
- The war may drag on. - That'd serve some people well.
Dear Mr. McFuller.
You don't seem to like seeing us Germans finally doing well.
I like seeing myself do well.
My son is taking over our east plants in Poland and Galicia.
We have the best possible production facilities there.
Concentration camp workforce.
Mr. Councillor, the shipment to Lemberg.
Every ball bearing for the equipment in east plant 3, about to be loaded,
- is totally useless. - What, useless?
5% of a millimeter too small. The blueprints were forged.
A saboteur was caught, a Frenchman.
- Konrad. - Let's go.
Awful.
But then, hardly surprising with 60% foreign workers.
"Unimagined prospects."
Commander arrested!
But I know you.
Saarland delegation.
With Thälmann.
You know nothing about us.
You know the punishment for sabotage! Go!
Long live the anti-fascist struggle!
Long live Ernst Thälmann!
As a nation without territory, we were always sidelined.
Now we shall be have-nots no longer. We do not fight for faint ideals.
We finally want to eat heartily at the bread bowl of the world.
- He put that excellently! - To the bread bowl!
- Hey, first you gotta put that... - Man, shut up. Breaking news.
Attention please. This is a message from the Führer.
The war in the East is ending. The Red Army is wiped out.
The capture of Moscow is only a matter of days away.
(drunken babble)
Men! We're moving the celebration. Into the yard!
I volunteered to go to the front.
Next week, I'll be in the Kremlin, Thälmann. Yes sir!
- Moscow's under our control! - Too stunned to speak, huh?
Be quiet already. He wants to say something.
Well, go on already.
The Soviet Union has existed for more than 20 years.
Hitler's Reich won't last that long.
MOSCOW 50 km
Wheels rolling for victory
Martha. Part of the Uhrig group was nabbed. Over 1,000 comrades.
District leadership too, that's the 5th time now.
Martha, you need to step in. We need connections to large companies.
Another thing. Do you have the address of Comrade Tomaschek?
- I need him, urgently. - Herzberg Street 17, by the Pole.
Say hi to the little one for me. I miss her so much.
Well then I'll take the 8th set.
There, now you can heat again, huh?
Those bits of coal won't even keep my room warm.
- Where are the coal deliveries? - I'd like to know too, eh?
Conquered half the world.
- But our sort get less and less. - None shall go hungry, nor go cold
Can't you read? None shall go hungry without going cold.
- Excuse me. - Yeah?
- Can I speak to Tomaschek here? - Quiet! Doesn't work here anymore.
Look at that. Mrs. Jansen. Ah, come along!
For the courage and bravery shown in battle in battle,
the 143rd Armored Division will henceforth be named
after the glorious socialist party...
He says: For its bravery in battle, the division is given the name
"Armored Division Ernst Thälmann."
Comrades of the squadron.
A combat unit of the SS awaits you, they're enemies of the workers.
Our cause is just. We will win.
Long live our beloved Comrade Ernst Thälmann!
Long live our glorious country!
Goodbye, comrade.
Our cause is just. We will win!
The paper.
Doesn't seem to be going too well.
You were a C.C. member of the Communist Youth League
and you claim not to know the names of your closest associates?
No.
I'd believe them all. Not you.
Let me help you out.
Let's talk about the time just before the takeover.
Back then you were at the so-called Anti-War Congress in Amsterdam.
You don't recall?
Say, who was traveling with you from Berlin at the time?
- I don't know any names. - Mommy! Mommy!
You still have human emotions, Mrs. Jansen. Very good.
Then we are sure to find a common language.
Let the dear child come in.
- Änny! - Mommy!
Änny! My dear little Änny!
- You look like a mess. - Oh Änny.
Life is good when you have your child. Your home, your books.
You have some nice books at home. I took the time to look at them.
You've highlighted something quite apt here, Mrs. Jansen.
"Man's dearest possession... is life.
It is given to him but once."
The Hamburg party leader with whom you were in Amsterdam
was called Lotte Waldmann before the war. And now...
Now she's Erika. Right?
I'll make short work of you!
Either you'll answer me properly, or it's the last time you see the child!
And vice versa! Got it?
Don't cry, little Änny.
This too shall pass.
Get the child out!
Mommy!
Sturmbannführer, important message.
Confidential message. The 6th Army near Stalingrad was wiped out.
The Führer ordered three days of national mourning.
Get out of here!
- What's all the ruckus? - Increased security.
Defeat at Stalingrad.
Comrades! Victory of the Red Army at Stalingrad!
Get into your cells!
Give her hell! Yeah!
You're happy too, Thälmann? Hundreds of thousands have died.
Including my son. What are you happy for, Thälmann?
Stalingrad is the beginning of the end.
The end of Hitler. The end of the war.
So that not another 100,000 sons die.
Our program.
The total war proclaimed by Hitler will lead to Germany's total defeat
unless the German people put an end to this crime at the 11th hour!
To this community, which represented the entire nation at that moment,
the Reich Minister posed 10 questions.
The English maintain that the German people is resisting
the government's total war measures.
It does not want total war, say the English, but capitulation.
Never!
Do you want total war?
- Bravo! Bravo! - Get out of the light, man!
Sit down.
TOTAL WAR - SHORTEST WAR!
If necessary, do you want a war more total and radical
than anything we can even imagine today?
Air raid alert
Fliers!
- Hurry, get out of here! - Keep calm, everyone!
Nobody leave the hall! Stay here!
Aren't you ashamed? Put it away!
Air raid alert
Stay calm!
Follow the instructions! Use the emergency exit!
- Help! - Help!
You cowards! Save the women!
The women, you cowards!
Ernst.
Thälmann! Thälmann!
Änne.
Änne!
Open up! You bastards! Open up!
Änne! Änne!
Teddy!
The army troop recorded these enemy movements before 0600 hours.
The Ukrainian front south of Lemberg broke through with strong forces,
including armored units, in two places at the 52nd army corps.
Our units in this area now risk being encircled.
My Führer. Reporting the successful execution of the July 20th assassins.
My fellow countrymen, victory is closer than ever.
We may have lost a lot, but we have also gained much.
Empty backpacks ease the march.
- Old bullshitter! - I'm speaking from the Führer's HQ.
The Führer is calm and collected as ever, and convinced of final victory.
We thank Providence for protecting him. It makes us certain that we...
Nobody could have expected the attempt on Hitler's life to fail.
We can't predict the consequences.
If we don't reach an agreement with the Western powers soon...
That's right. It's the only way to avert disaster.
Our best factories. Our pride.
- Poor Germany. - If only we can save the Ruhr area.
Gentlemen, I got a letter from McFuller via Sweden.
- Go on? - A promising message.
Can he stop the Russians? The Russians. The Russians!
- Who are the POWs? - Captured by the 3rd regiment.
- SS members? - Yes, sir.
- Do you have their names? - Yes, sir.
Comrade Colonel, I'd like to ask the prisoners a question.
Ask away.
What have you done to Thälmann?
I don't understand.
You don't know Thälmann? Ernst Thälmann?
- No. - Quadde is your name?
Sturmbannführer? Göring's special commissioner?
And you have never heard of Thälmann?
Or of Buchenwald, Dachau, Auschwitz?
That will be revealed. Take him away.
My Führer, Army Group South reports
the enemy has nearly closed the ring in the south.
I fear, my Führer, large parts of this army group are lost as well.
What does that mean? Is that an innuendo?
Is that supposed to be a threat?
I removed the word "capitulation" from the German lexicon in 1933.
We will fight to the last man!
After us, there can't and won't be anyone left in Germany.
Before we yield, we'll slam the door so hard
that all of Europe will tremble.
If Germany proves unworthy of me...
I will shed no tears for the German people.
What's the matter?
The Russians can no longer be stopped.
They're encircling one army after another.
And Hitler's wonder weapons...
But it's all over anyway.
Warden.
Something else is bothering you.
The last one. I already lost two.
Now he's off to the front too. To Lemberg, anti-air support.
Not yet 16 years old.
What should I do, Mr. Thälmann? He's my only one.
- What's the boy supposed to do? - What should the boy do?
Defect. He should live.
Live, for a new, for a better Germany.
We must get the pocket to capitulate. 60,000 Germans, Fiete.
Every extra hour saves thousands of our compatriots.
At noon, the Soviet High Command will send peace envoys.
You must be in operation by then.
60,000 lives, Fiete.
- Good luck. - We'll make it good.
General, reporting as ordered. 640 wounded are ready for transport.
Get going, quick. Who knows how long we can hold the train tracks.
Hold it! The Russians are about to breach the rails.
General.
I demand that all the wounded be cast to the front.
Why don't you step in?
You know the order. The pocket must be kept to the last man.
Captain of War Industry!
These are wounded. That's inhumane.
Captain Schröder.
This rash remark can be atoned only through direct deployment.
General, I request a transfer to the combat unit.
The Führer's orders, General, give you the support you need.
And the liquidation of camp inmates and Polish east plants workers
is entirely consistent with this order.
Aurora here, respond.
Aurora here. Respond.
- Did you connect? - Yes. Aurora.
Attention, the slogan is:
All weapons against Hitler. All forces for a free Germany.
Instructions will follow.
Tell Stanislaus a truck with his compatriots is coming. Partisans.
They're bringing weapons. He's to assign them as workers.
- Where did you come from? - Labor brigade helpers, commander.
You're pretty late.
- Tools for the construction site. - Hop on to the car.
You'll continue to the work yard.
Aurora?
Those must be our last reserves. Seeing them, I know what's up.
What's your deal, gonna relieve us?
- Must be the breakthrough forces. - Shut your mouth.
Soldiers. Encircled German soldiers.
- Quiet! Nobody talk! - We're sending peace envoys.
Save your life from certain death.
What does that mean? Those were peace envoys!
You could see that clearly.
The Russians will make us pay. Jesus, we're trapped here. Not them.
- I clearly saw the white flag. - Sure, they wanted to negotiate.
Shut up! You still don't understa--
Where's the boss?
- Went to get dressed in civvies. - Go, go!
Hold on! Wait! Wait!
Now they'll send the tanks.
Compatriots. As chairman of the Communist Party of Germany,
Deputy of Ernst Thälmann, I urge you: Lay down your arms.
- Isn't that Wilhelm Pieck? - Don't run to a senseless death.
Hitler's regime is finished.
But the German people need you to build a better Germany.
Compatriots.
Our people will create a free, peaceable, independent Germany.
We call on all German patriots to do this.
Germany should achieve true greatness and real prosperity.
Just as Thälmann said in the program of social and national liberation.
- Think they mean it? - Baloney.
They'll finish us all off. Make us pay for that peace envoy mess.
Compatriots!
The Russians have us by the throat. All they have to do is squeeze.
But they don't want to. Otherwise, would they call off the barrage?
That man's a Red!
Jeez!
What happens if we capitulate?
That'll be up to us.
Captain.
Got the courage to go over with me?
Good, let's go. You'll prepare the capitulation here in this section.
Please.
- Take me with you. - But, kid. It's not that easy.
My father told me about Thälmann. He said we should defect.
Where? In prison?
He's... guarding Thälmann.
Please. Take me with you.
Agreed. Let's go.
Tell me, what kind of German are you anyway?
Fighting against your own country?
No, it's not like that at all.
I'm fighting against Hitler for Germany.
In the spirit of Thälmann, all weapons against Hitler.
For Germany. Germany must be saved.
What am I doing? Where am I going?
We're going forward, Captain.
Forward.
The Russians broke through the train tracks!
Hermann Göring Division stop, hold position.
60 tanks coming straight at us!
Comrade Colonel, the enemy command has been captured.
Colonel, on behalf of my officers, I'd like to ask some questions.
Firstly.
May we take provisions and personal belongings with us into captivity?
Secondly.
Even in captivity, will these resources be available to us?
Thirdly.
Will the privileges granted to us officers by international provisions
be guaranteed?
No thoughts given to your soldiers?
All provisions of international law will be complied with.
Declare the surrender of your entire army corps. You understand?
And the director of the east plants? Do you know where he is?
The director is merely a private citizen here.
In private or in uniform. We don't care how you'll sit in the dock.
Who are you anyway?
A shipyard worker from Hamburg.
A German patriot.
A student of Thälmann.
Our Thälmann.
That's our banner! We flew it at Stalingrad.
And all the way here.
Fiete. Fiete Jansen!
The resistance against the barbarism of fascism is growing.
It will come to be, because it must.
The liberated working class will seize the flag of the nation
and carry it forward, towards the spring of nations.
Get yourself ready, Thälmann.
Well? I'm sure you know what's coming now.
Yes.
A better Germany.
A Germany without you.
Man's dearest possession is life. It is given to him but once.
And he must so live it that, dying, he might say:
I gave all my life, all my strength to the finest cause in the world,
the fight for the liberation of mankind.
♪ Boundlessly tortured and hounded ♪ ♪ Kept his devotion throughout ♪
♪ Under his name now united ♪ ♪ Fight and proclaim it aloud ♪
♪ Thälmann and Thälmann exalted ♪ ♪ Germany's undying son ♪
♪ Thälmann was never defeated ♪ ♪ He is our fist and tongue ♪