时间是1941年
袭珍珠港前一个月
十一月某晚11点
一艘英国潜艇
在北非利比亚的地中海岸浮起
在德国占领区之外
你确定灯光可以传那么远？
应该可以
他们在那
说些什么？ 都准备好了长官
告诉他们我们要登陆了
这些是英国突击队
这个谨慎计划行动的目的
是要致一个人于死地
掩护我
你先走！
扶着我！你快走！
太糟了！我们干掉他没有？
你是认真的吗，英国人？
各位，以下是中东部队总司令
奥金莱克将军的命令
隆美尔我们的部队中
已成为有法术的人或是妖怪
我们把他想得太有能力了
他绝不是超人
虽然他的确非常活跃有能力
即使他是超人
我们的军队把他说成有能力
仍非我所愿见
我希望你们用各种方法打破
隆美尔不只是普通德国将军偏见
请立即执行命令
请所有的指挥官
注意事关士气关系异常重要
C，J，奥金莱克将军
中东部队总司令
这是北非沙漠 1942年6月
这些是德军非洲军团 前一夜俘虏的英军
笨蛋！快跑
你！出来
和其他战俘一起！
这里的资历最深的军官？
大概是我吧！ 跟我
你的阶级是什么？ 中校
好！中校！我要你和这两个空军
过去告诉他们别再轰炸了
告诉他们是在杀自已人 对不起做不到
别告诉我做不到！我命令你做
把这绑在那来福枪上
听着少校我是战俘
你不能命令我做这事
你我都很清楚
我不和你辩这个
你照我说的做 不然看我们如何使你就范
你去还是不去？
少校！
什么事？
战地元帅说你是对的
战地元帅？
这就是隆美尔啰！
艾文，约翰尼斯隆美尔
敌军的总司令
自第一次大战以来 最出名的德国军人
沙漠里已经有一个传说 他是只狐狸
在非扫尽敌军
今天下午敌人追逐他
他奸诈 我甚至觉得他在觑着嘴笑
这对战时敌军来说很不合适
尽管他仍是我的敌人
不仅是我的国家军队的敌人
而且是我认识所有人的敌人
不只是民主自由世界的人
而且是文明的敌人
我的名字是戴斯蒙.杨
我被俘时是印度军队的中校
这是我第一次也是唯一一次
看到这残忍严历的职业军人
他对战场命令的执行非常严格
如此说来我可真是幸运
两年四个月以后
美英军队还在欧洲各处奋战
隆美尔死了
纳粹报导他死了
因在阿兰战场受伤而死
纳粹是大说谎家 当然
很多人心存疑惑
因为神秘的谣言已经传遍战线
战争结束了！我的军旅也结束了
我给了自已一个任务
我要查出他到底发生了什么事
他死亡的真像
他死于哪个光荣战场上？
在德国华森堡哈林根镇的一小屋
我和隆美尔的寡妻和儿子长谈
检阅他信报告及其他文件
在德国我与和他共事的同僚
他的部下及他的长官谈过
在英国与和他对阵的人谈过
由陆军元帅到沙漠部队
我还去看了两国的官方资料
由这些事实写出了
以下的艾大文隆美尔的真实故事
这位忠诚的军人故事的开始
在1942年10月23日 晚上九点半
隆美尔当时只离英军六哩
我发现战争初期隆美尔不在非洲
当战争风暴爆发
由于鼻子过敏
他在一个月前被解除指挥任务
飞回德某个医院
但是他床头的电话铃响了
柏林那个熟悉的声音再度召唤他
他起床搭上飞机 几小时之内就飞回沙漠
谢谢你佛拉格来！还这么花俏 还是一样长官
欢迎回来 长官好
我们来看地图吧！ 在这儿
你好一点吗？很好
有没有见到元首？ 在潜艇上见面！
希望还好！ 今天情形如何？
我们快受不了！这一切
如果再继续下去 我不知道我们该怎么办
我们石油不够！
有啊，只有一些不够的！ 在途中
没有！一点希望都没有 谁告诉你的
过去两天我查过三次了 根来没有运石油或任何物品来
休斯.奥帝加
坦克车来了吗？ 没有
从我走以后？ 不，8月以后就没有
枪呢？ 我说过什么都没有
完全没有石油！ 一点也没有
这是正确时间
给我一张椅子好吗？
这里最糟15军在贝德威 贝利汉会尽一切逮住他们
这是什么？ 他们要在这分散军力
我知道了！这个装甲攻进多少？ 没有进展！
他们做得很好 我的地图呢？
把21军由这移到北方
90前进到这！ 他们会切断！
没错 告诉我
蒙哥马利把部队开到法西嘉？ 是的
我们让他们惊喜一下！ 把装甲先开到消灭整个步兵
在他们发现之前就在坦克车上了 我们的步兵可以攻进！
好的长官 如果不成功就没下一次机会了！
走 你现在要去那？
你现在应该休息吧？
我休息了三个星期了 去那里！长官
我们的北方和21军一起走
现在是另一只沙漠之狐了
一只更滑头的
如果接下来几天的战场充满迷惑
这也是装甲部队愈来愈喜欢的
你找到战地元帅没有？
没有长官 他又到前线了
我不知道该说什么
但以一个幕僚的身份
真希望总司令不要那么身先士卒
有时偶尔回到指挥总部
继续找他好吗？
开战第十天！
连隆美尔都对注定结果不再置疑
这种事总有个限制吧！
不能一直这样下去 到最后一人牺牲
虽然这是宣誓过的不过太笨了
我们该撤回塔巴
你那里来的？ 高斯堡，长官
真的我在野战部队时在那教书
有很多计谋还知道怎么用吗？ 很清楚长官！
有用处吗？ 两年前
你确定在发出我的回复 是的！长官一直重复！
继续保持！ 是的长官
你可以飞到柏林！
当然！这没什么！ 没有人知道情况 我昨晚寄出所有状况了！
我们就可以得到需要的 不论你说什么
柏林只会搁置你知道的
怎样 拜勒不太妙！
有多糟 很糟
如果再不快撤兵就快全牺牲了
他呢？为什么得不到他的回答 他的指挥车报销了 他坐运输车
他的坦克剩下不到40辆 不出我的意外
意大利人呢？ 他们只能尽力奋战
给你的长官
致元师：石油遗憾
这样我们就不用再幻想了
很简单的数学
我们剩下的石油可以有两种选则
可以留在这被消灭
或是今晚撤出 在某控战壕再打一仗
我们能吗？ 撤兵为什么不行？
蒙哥马利有石油别忘了
但是蒙哥马利是个很慎重的人
他不会想到我如此撤兵
我看不出还有别条路！没有！
下令要所有指挥官遵行重要命令
如果我们行够快 柏林电报长官
柏林谁打的？ 元首
阿道夫.希特勒
情势所需直到最后一人
不准撤退半公分 不成功便成仁
我不敢相信！ 这是柏林发的？
是的！要他重复消息
我知道但这不是他！
是那些又是那些该死做的 那些小偷软弱凶手 那些玩具兵！笨蛋将军
带着那些书牌子地图指示棒
他怎么可以听信这种话
他怎么可以忍受他们的味道！
只用他的智慧 回复来了长官！
快念吧！
情势所需坚守亚拉梅恩 直到最后一人
只要尚存一人不准撤军
不成功便成仁 阿道夫希特勒
真不敢相信 你不会为这愚笨的信就不撤兵吧
这是三军总司令部发出的命令
命令清楚明白又愚笨罪恶！
我告诉你该怎么做！ 理智一点不要遵守
你手上的是德国最优秀的军队
也许现在被困住了！但还是军队 还在战斗！
如果现在撤军明天还可以作战
这个...是疯狂的命令 还在中古时期
没有人会说不成功便成仁
这会牺牲整个部队！
我提醒你长官 在战场这些兵是你管不是他
我真的不明白 他疯了！
我可没疯！
把拜勒撤出来我等下再和你辩
战事在突尼斯结束
轴心国武力被艾森豪领导的英军
自由法国军队美军击败
无条件投降
但非洲军团领袖没有被俘
因为战事结束前一个月
隆美尔生病被送回德国住院
早安中士
早安 史都伦医生
史都伦考夫麦迪森 史都伦医生是元帅的好朋友
你会发现他今天早上好多了！
他只需要多休息一下
隆美尔
曼非隆美尔
史都伦医生
从司图加来的？是的
别告诉我他在黑名单上
考夫史都伦医生司图加人
她说是元帅的老朋友
他的确是！
在司图加以外出现
若发现此人仔细观察
不知该如何描述那场争执
和他争吵不和你和我平常争执
他尖叫怒吼变得神经兮兮
好像和泼妇讲理一样
他叫他没用的人
他真那样叫你？
不止一次好几次
他说在苏俄 不从军令会被判枪决
现在想这事可能发生在我身上
他就这么谢他！ 他为他卖命只得到这个
他情绪不好不要把他的话当真
战况不太好！他当然很担心
我要很久以后才会忘了
他对非洲军团做出那种事
他做了什么
我回来这里后 要求他把他们接出来
他说对非洲军团他不再关心了
他这样谢他们！
隆美尔 我要问你一个问题！
如果你不回答我能了解
我还是大胆问你！
什么事？
你真的相信我们能打赢？
我告诉你他所想的
似乎不是如此
他如此告诉你？
对！
他明白在此时这代表什么？
很明显是
那我们为何要继续？
因为我们别无选择
因为英美俄就不会打仗 我们会和他讲和
他承认了吗？
这才是实话
换句话说，只要他当德国元首
我们就必须战至毁灭！
不成功便成仁
他没有提出清楚的解决办法
什么意思？ 推翻他
我的天！史都伦
我们得走了！亲爱的 现在就要走了？
我要赶火车！ 我们晚饭后再来
我们再一起喝咖啡 再见史都伦，回见
下次见面不会那么久
他们真会做吗？爸爸 做什么？儿子？
枪决你？ 当然不会这是胡说不用管
怎么会？他是最伟大的将军！
你不该在他面前说那种事！
走吧！别再胡说八道了！
今晚再见亲爱的！ 早点来好吗？
他长得真好看对吧？
个性也很好！ 你何时告诉他实话？
什么事？
要他发誓永不反对你？ 当然不会
你有没想过他可能和你敌对？
他为什么要？ 他和别人敌对！
他永远不会和我敌对！
他身边的人都不喜欢你 欣勒包曼那些人
他们不会影响他吗？ 常常！
你想有天他们会影响反对你吗
有可能但是.. 我想他不会很乐意的
如果很不幸地发生这种事
你有没有想过露西和曼非怎么办？
我没想过！ 你到底想说什么？
你该想想就这样而已
你一点都没变医生
你老是过份的担心
现在我们两人都没有危险
我以老朋友身份劝告你
你最好不要对其他人说这种话
我不会！
我只对我喜欢的好朋友说
再见！隆！ 再见史都伦
有时间再来！ 我尽量！
进攻希特勒的欧洲重地
现在很清楚地只是早晚的问题
1943年11月
隆美尔视察大西洋防线
计划指挥纳粹军力抵抗攻击
一个月以后 隆美尔向陆军元帅伦德斯特报到
他是西欧最高统帅
总部设在巴黎外枫丹白露宫
陆军元帅伦德斯特 各位将军
鲁格 元帅
各位
很高兴见到你！隆美尔！ 元帅
你仔细地看过了！
大西洋战场你有什么看法？
我的报告还没有完成
我们等你完成再讨论好了！
我想艾森豪不会如此大胆
希望不会太伤你的身
一点也不我完全康复了谢谢
我很高兴 你们将一起工作？各位！
是的！
你们可以暂退
让我和隆美尔私下谈一下！
是的长官
一个保龄球对不对！
真不知道这是在打仗
这大片土地有港口城堡保护
但敌人又不是大张旗鼓而来
海滩上一点防卫都没有
有五十处海滩只要娃娃兵就攻下
问题在人力 有增防计划尽可能做了
从丹麦到西班牙的牢固城堡
法国人可不像他们一样合作
叫他们工作动作慢得像蜗牛一样
要在他们抢滩时就消灭他们才行 否则我们会有大麻烦
你认为呢？ 在海滩上截攻他们
用地雷陷阱截住打击他们
让他们忙着淹死都来不及
这里！ 下面这里和这里
我不同意你的看法
不过意见不同也只是说说而已
其实我和你都无法决定战略
反正没有合法权力
你是说..柏林？
虽然柏林授你全权指挥这次行动
你和我只是工具 只是破坏性的逻辑灵感的工具
为了怕你不明白这种诡计 才正式说明
这是不可能的事
那你该去向他解释
你自已没有反对过
一个被牵连许多次以后
就对如何割自已的脖子较兴趣
你有时站出来看一看比较清楚
你不反对我的看法吧？ 相反地
我一直祝福你的乐观勇气
听说你说我是希特勒马戏团的小丑
是吗？
我听过很你的私事
没关系元帅
我发现我对批评不太在意！
你说过吗？
那人随意说的一定后悔说这笨话
谢谢你元帅！ 不客气
有什么事吗？
我想现在没有
也许有一个建议
如果我是你不会把我刚说的话 当作耳边风
你该知道从现在起..
你处于长期观察下
柏林吗？ 管理阶层的朋友
你知道为何我受到特别待遇？
其实不然 我们全在名单上
也许你在非洲没有
但在欧洲大陆！ 这可是高阶的荣誉
你也是？
亲爱的朋友！我是总司令啊！
两个月以后..
1944年2月隆美尔由大西洋前线放归来
他的老友又来拜访他
午安先生！ 午安
史都伦医生要见元帅
请进先生
艾森豪要到春天才会进攻
我想在之前都不会回家了！
我们都准备好了吗？
希望到时能够
祝你健康 医生
也祝福你亲爱的隆
你怎么知道这房间没有窃听器？
窃听？为什么？
他窃听你需要有理由吗？
我认为不用！
我想不用担心这个
为什么？
因为我想和你谈而不想被人窃听
谈什么？ 希特勒的情形
如果是政治我不想听！
你宁愿看德国灭亡？
我告诉你我不想谈这个！
我对你很吃惊...像个共产党！
哦？是吗？
失败 反对他那些事你知道的
你会说贝克将军是共产党吗？
当然不会 福来普西？
没听过 福肯克斯？
没有 富克斯那波？
他们都是共产党吗？
你是说真的？ 这些人对他领导质疑？
不只是质疑他们要使它中止
你是说你亲自和这些人谈？
他们还有很多其他人！
不只是军教士，劳工领袖，律帅，医生
许多政府官员 不是很多但都是有力量的人
这进行多久了？
由38年开始
你到底想要干吗？
第一把希特勒和他的人赶下台
即使战败也要败得像个人
而不是野蛮人
第二点不管输或赢
我们要再做正正当当的人
史都伦 我不想牵连上这件事！
他们在柏林做什么是他们的事
跟我无关我是个军人 不是政客！
你还认为你很安全？
只要不牵连上这件事就安全
你知道他那个人！
胡说！ 你清楚得很
希望你说对了 也许你真的对了！
毕竟你是他的爱将
他对忠于他的人总是宽宏大量
如果忠于职守就不会有危险！ 你当然没什么好怕的！
如果真有什么意外！
你还认为那些他身边的爱国分子 会好好待露西和曼非？
你这些话令我不高兴！
这也不是要让你高兴！ 我想提醒你你有多幸运
希望你有时想想这个
而不是他嘴上的血！ 或他个人对你有多好！
不只在你家里或战场上
有多少将军能在战术中 有如此高的天分
够了史都伦！
你当然还记得拒绝在敦克尔克
大撤退后进攻未设防的英国？
你在史达格勒有多勇敢？
由陷阱中撤退？
有多少人有胆量反抗那简洁军令
不准撤退不成功便成仁
拿破伦自已都.. 我说够了
连想都不敢想！
别再当老师教我了！
你以为我不知道你的意思！ 那又怎样？
谁问过我的意见？ 即使我告诉他们！
这一切既愚笨又野蛮
谁会听我的？ 你试过吗？
当然 叫我管自已的事
谁说这不对了！
你以为军人在为国打仗前
要先完全同意政府的每一措施
如果让军人决定他要做什么 那还有军队成立吗？
军人一生只有一个功能！
唯一的生存理由是执行长官命令
其他的全是政治包括政府
我再提醒你一次我是军人 不是政客！
政府做..想隐藏你的冷血的制服
我管你什么军人职责
我只看到你被吓到了！
想隐藏你机器人的混蛋功能
你忘了我忍识你20年了
你对柏林那些人的感觉我清楚
我不明白你为何这么没用
和那些卖国贼混在一起？
你在战场上的理性和勇气跑哪去 你这里什么东西都没有吗？
你最好离开这里！现在
隆美尔！你对老友很诚恳
很有理性的举动 很好我准备再说下去！
如果不把事实说清楚我就不走
你要我叫警卫捉你！ 你永远不会如此做的！
请问你怎么这么清楚我会不会做
因为露西叫我来的！
你..你和露西谈过这个了？
当然！ 她叫你来的？
不全然！
她只是告诉我你对伟大领袖看法
他对德国的光荣计划
妈妈！车来了！
我们看到了别大吼大叫的
我说过几十次了！
他只是太兴奋了 我知道只是不想再告诉他！
他不错虽然穿军服了还是孩子
当然 自已保重亲爱的
你没有生我的气吧？
生什么气 和史都伦医生谈话
当然没有
他说得对不对？
我不知道
我不能决定！
那是个可怕的建议！
一件非常可怕的事！
我不知道能不能和他忍那么久
那就不要如果你认为他错了！
我没说他错了！但..
即使如、此..这是唯一的方法吗 背叛！
不管你自认有多对结局必然如此
你想还是这样下去比较好？
不是的！一定有更好方法解决
如果我能再单独见他！ 向他解释情形！
这种情形下我如何打仗
面对入侵就...
算了你不必现在做决定！
时间到了你自然会决定！
你真正的想法是什么？
我不能告诉你亲爱的！ 我不知道！
现在不用担心！ 时间到了你自然就知道
你快走吧！已经迟了！
每天写信给我好吗？ 我会的
这在路上用！ 谢谢亲爱的！
再见甜心！别担心我
我试试看
请别拍了！
再见儿子！ 照顾你妈妈当个好军人！
让我以你为荣！
我会尽力！爸 你会把艾森豪捉回来？
他一上岸就逮住
再见亲爱的！
再见亲爱的
最后终于在四年长期准备之后
反攻日来临了！
动员史上最多军力的行动！
由英国起航
航向诺曼第海滩开始攻击
德国的欧洲重地
柏林开始直接掌管我们的军队起
德军就注定为这次情形牺牲
敌军牺牲少数我军却死亡许多
他们不会派15军来？
这种情形下我看也不行
战策上来看这只是伪装！
真正的攻击还没开始在北加莱
十五军驻守海滩上等待敌军
是哈伦斯堡的好战略！
我们必须得到那些军队！
如果要扩大防线就必须支援据点
你必须为这去见他！
我很确定地告诉你隆美尔
我们一点办法都没有！
已经注定战败了
坚守别失去一方公尺土地！
不成功便成仁 战争不能由一个
只会纸上谈兵的人来指挥
他把我们当小孩！ 但他们也无法对抗敌军
如果让我放手做几个月 我会要敌军付出代价！
让敌军血流成河希望没听过德国
也许无法挡住全部 至少是一支军队而不是当靶子
他当然不会让我们这样？
我知道他们有多顽固
你认不认识考夫，史都伦？
史都伦 司图加的爵士
我好像在那听过？
或是吉德勒福来普西医生？
你也认识？
过去的每一天每一分钟
让我愈来愈相信 只有一个解决的方法！
我不知道你在说什么！
他们准备逮捕了他 接管政府..
和艾森豪和谈
我不承认我们谈过这个
这实在是太幼稚了
艾森豪不会接受和谈的！
他为什么要呢？战况对他们有利？
你的计划一开始就注定失败
你不同意基本的主张？
对不起我连问题都没听到！
如果他们向你提议你会接受吗
哦不..不！我想不会的，隆美尔
太晚了！真的太晚了！
你是说行动太晚了？
你误解了！
不是那个太晚
对我太晚了
我已经70岁了！
老得不能反抗了！
老得不能向当权者挑战
但是...
柏林电话长官泰托元帅
泰托！ 伦德斯特？
是 夏堡的事是真的？
是的！ 真要命
我怎么告诉元首这件事
你已经报告过不少坏消息了！
这该没什么困难吧！
够了！ 我们几个星期来只有坏消息！
有没有好消息让我同时报告？
看看苏俄前线今早表现吧！
我们不是在讨论苏俄前线
是在讨论你那边
每次报告情形都更糟
我带给他这种失望令我不安
你不能想想办法！
当然可以！ 把在加莱玩牌的十五军给我！
你知道那是不可能的！
元首解释过必须把他们留在那
很好！准许我们撤退诺曼底
重新建立坚固的防线
你的命令是留在原地作战 这是他希望的！
你没有更好的建议？
一个更好的--讲和！白痴！
再见隆美尔 他不会报告这个的！
现在他正在敲元首的门！很高兴
永远不要忘记这个朋友！
胜利有成百个父亲失败是孤儿
我走了你会接我的位置！
我向你致最深的同情！
胡说，他不会让你走的！
我还不至于老得不能祝福
你的朋友们！祝他们好运！
执行那可爱的计划成功
同时！在攻下的海滩上
盟军的坦克穿越法国！
朝莱茵河而去！
叫他们快点！
那些资料锁起来！
你保管钥匙其他的自已判断
元帅
亲爱的隆美尔
带信的人相当可靠
是我的幕僚贺夫勒上校
事件紧急请尽一切提供消息
史都阿格尔上
他在那？ 小房间
奥帝冈！ 是的长官
上校！我尽量简单说明元帅
到走廊看一下！是的
我们必须马上做决定长官
昨天在柏林我们有三人被捉了
他们被逼供了
幸好他们对参与的人知道不多
但是 参与的所有人都认为不能再等了
必须马上行动
那就这么办！必须如此
据我所知长官
将军极度关心 你现在是否能代表你提过的部属
我保证！他们将追随我的领导！
那我代表史都阿格尔将军建议
立即行动不用再商议了
在这等上校 跟我来！
把这个房间清出来。是的
停下来！不用管那个。出去！
我是陆军元帅隆美尔
帮我接陆军元帅泰托
我一定要坚定！非常坚定
即使最小的警觉都会坏事！
泰托！ 隆美尔！
仔细听着泰托！
我必须马上见元首！
在法国某处 我不能在电话里解释
但你要让他知道这是非常紧急！
我建议明天早上！
在6月17日
他们在希特勒的地下堡垒 沙森的马吉堡
这是很困难的任务元首
但战况令我别无选择
因最高阶层的决定使前线面临危机
你以前就说过了
每次和你谈都说面临危机！
敌军在陆海空都比我们优越许多
他们愈来愈强我们愈来愈弱
我从任何角度看这都是危机
必须立即以实际观点正视
你就是这样一向都这样！
事情顺利时你就持失败论
你也许想知道为什么你会失败
这就是原因
如果把你们全换掉也许好一点
你对我一点信心都没有吗？
比元首对我的信心多！ 我能继续吗？
没人告诉你伦敦正受到轰炸吗？
我知道！但为什么不炸海滩？
因为那不是他们目标
他们准确度不够必须找大城市 这样才会命中！
为什么不炸普里茅斯港？ 南安普顿！朴次茅斯
不！
这就是我说的 你在战场上无法好好思考！
英国人不在乎那些小镇！
他们只爱伦敦！
他们不愿见到伦敦被我炸毁！
再两个星期！记住我的话！
他们会大叫投降！ 你等着看吧！
继续你的话题长官
到时这前线就不用再挣扎了
在两周之内 敌军会冲破防线深入法国内陆！
就军事而言敌军已经在望了
我们没有军队对抗
你有什么建议？
我们投降？ 我提供实际情况长官
请你做过当决定
对谁过当？ 对你！
隆美尔建议你发挥征战的天才
征服世界交给那些过当人选
我道歉长官
元首请赐教
让你知道
将有一连串武器会使战争完全改观
比第一次大战威力强一百倍！
比一次大战杀伤力高一千倍
但要讨论的是现在长官
我们会完全掌握世界！
那现在我们该怎么办？ 明天早上怎么办！
你在说 我们一直要达成的奇迹的损失
这奇迹是空前绝后的！
我们在实验室的工作
是敌人做梦都想不到的
我心里有那个武器！ 在我心里！
现在必须暗杀元首的时刻！
隆美尔仍在前线无力的奋斗
在6月17日 在蒙哥马利村附近的乡村道路上
飞机
三天以后6月20日
隆美尔仍昏迷躺在法国医院中
阿道夫希特勒和幕僚开决定性会议
地点在东波希的重地
元首。各位
这像个军官..
谢谢各位
元首！
史多芬柏格长官 对了！
佛朗将军派来的！ 是的！
很高兴再见到你 谢谢元首！
各位请注意
对不起我要替佛朗将军做报告
史坎林克呢？ 他出去了。元首
如果走运不要跑这么快！
史多芬柏格上校？ 是的！
电话！ 谢谢！
对不起
好了！由苏俄前线开始！
元首！ 元首
元首你还好吧！
还好
这个失败五千个嫌疑犯
在希特勒住院几天内丧生！
至于隆美尔 受伤消息可使任何强人倒下
公共场合突然听不到他的名字
官方的沉默
也将全国最出名军人打入冷宫
三个月以来他被孤立暗示恶兆
直到1944年10月13日下午
泰托？ 还好吗？隆美尔
慢慢恢复谢谢 可以回到柏林了吗？
恐怕还不行 也许再过一两个星期吧！为什么
我可以派专车接你！
你真好！但我还不想去！
有什么紧急的事吗？
多快你可以再指挥军队了
再过两个星期吧！ 最多三个星期！
如果派人过去你会和他谈战况
当然！
很好，我派柏格多夫去 你认识他吧？
我见过！ 我明天派他过去你方便吗？
请问这是否方便呢？ 完全没问题
你会得到全部资料和指示
替我向夫人致意 我会的！
谢谢 再见
泰托要派我再指挥
什么时候？ 我想指挥的时候吧！
他问候你
我们来见隆美尔元帅 我去告诉他长官
你告诉他 柏格多夫进来
元帅 很高兴再见到你你也是将军
你们大概没其过我太太吧！ 还没这个荣幸！
亲爱的这是柏格多夫将军
这是..麦索将军
这是我儿子曼非诺帝亚上尉
希望旅行不会太劳累 一点也不
谢谢夫人 你们要先用午餐还是用酒
谢谢但我们要尽快赶回柏林
好吧！我们先谈亲爱的 各位这里！
很抱歉夫人！ 我很遗憾！
也许下次吧！ 希望如此
希望是苏俄战线你呢？
不必拘束！
如果要抽烟也可以！
我不是蒙哥马利不会使我生气
开始吧！各位
我们由元首那来的元帅
是 我们要说的是他亲口说的
是的！ 我们指示是先告诉你
他感谢你为国英勇作战
继续！
还有他对你遭到意外很遗憾
他从那时保持沉默必另有要事
别可惜在如此
对不起将军 可以不讲这些直接把指示给我吗？
当然可以
德国人民授权一令状
控告者：国家
被控者：艾文隆美尔陆军元帅
罪状：叛国
你看到这个罪状有许多证词
我会读.谢谢
你执行我的死刑可是非常幸运
这是完全合法！ 我向你保证长官
你告诉元首我期待在法庭上回答 这些控诉
你不会想否认吧？
我说 告诉元首我期待在法庭上回答
这些控诉
元首非常希望
这件事能不在法庭上曝光
很好.那他可以撤销告诉
他认为如果审判大家都会受伤害
我接到的命令是提醒你
这些证词
对你的名声会有很大伤害
他希望我怎么做？向你认罪？
当然不是那样
我知道他要什么要我闭嘴
他还怕我受到伤害！
你可以替我告诉他 他想得真周到！
我自已能用方法保护名声
按照法律来？
但到那时候罪名已经证实了！
他要你告诉我这个？
证据都在那？
还能辩护吗？
那他有什么建议！
在继续谈以前提醒元帅
这房子已经被包围了
我的命令你当然了解！
我们两个也被包围！ 他到底要什么？
他相信如果你自已解决困境
对大家最好！
安静！不拖延
继续说！ 他认为这样就不用撕破脸上法庭
他最重视的还是保住你的名声
这样他你做的事就不会起疑心
全国人民会认为你因战伤亡
官方会如此公布
国家将以你为荣你的家庭也是
你将永垂青史
这是他用的字-永垂青史
你将万古流芳！
你的太太儿子活着一天
将永远安全舒适！
我有选择吗？ 就某方面而言。是的！
现在死还是等下死？
恐怕不得不如此！
我有多少时间做这个选择？
我们必须在今晚尽快回柏林！
我接到指示是勒死
我带的药可以在三秒钟内解决
没有痛苦
替我告诉他！
不顾他好意提醒的缺点
我接受审判
也许没有什么希望
但我想还是应该大家知道
这对听到的人来说也许有点价值
也许可以改变一些顽固的想法
就像我终于改变一样
可惜太晚了！
反正这是我的命我做这种选择
我对你选择很失望长官
我的心为你滴血！
不幸的是如果你坚持审判
我无法保证
你的寡妇和孤儿的安全
他们上来了
谈完了？ 我想是的
我们在外面等长官 我不会太久的！
我们正希望！
谈完了！ 在这等我马上下来！
亲爱的！什么事
你要坚强点，亲爱的！
我要你非常坚强非常勇敢
你明白吗？
我现在必须走了！
不会回来了！
还用我再说吗？
没有办法逃？
没有 这不会太可怕有药不会有痛苦
立即有效
我们要走了我会尽量小声点
我们有枪长官不能突围吗？
不！没有办法了！
我一切都考虑过了
至少可以逮住他们！
没有别的办法了！
我必须照他们说的做！
是的长官
你现在要勇敢点吗？ 我不知道
你和曼非会没事他们向我保证
这事只有我们两个知道
你确定没有其他的办法了？ 没有了亲爱的
你告诉曼非了吗？ 我下去就告诉他！
不！让我告诉他
我来讲比较好！
照你说的吧！
把外套给我！
好冷！我不想发抖
元帅出来了！
要走了？ 为什么不行？
你身体可以吗？
当然！ 你和妈妈不用担心
是俄国吗？
再见奥帝加！ 我的老友！
再见长官！
照顾她！ 是的长官
你不能告诉我吗？
别问这么多！
小陆军元帅不能这样子的！
我们什么时候可以知道！
不会太久的！
再见儿子要乖一点 再见爸爸
你会使他们停止对不对？
再说吧！
（再见！亲爱的）
在最后的短途旅程上
隆美尔在想什么？
他知道反击的太晚而痛苦吗？
或回到非洲 在那他的军事天才举世震惊！
先在麦肯宁
然后是土布鲁克
及亚拉梅恩
不论如何他的生命却终结在
很讽刺的是德国严格的军队下
可敬的丘吉尔说：
他热情及勇敢
虽然带来许多灾害 但他值得我在众议院向他致敬
在1942年1月
你值得我们尊敬
因为虽是个忠诚的德国军人
他放下一切工作参与叛变拯救德国
面对那个疯狂的暴君
他为此而牺牲生命
在现代民主的风潮下！
他的英勇永垂青史
The time is 1941...
a month before Pearl Harbor.
At 11:00 on a November night...
a British submarine surfaced in the Mediterranean...
off the coast of Libya in North Africa...
behind the German lines.
Are you sure the light carries that far?
It should.
There they are.
- What's he saying? - He says they're all set, sir.
Tell him we're coming in.
These were British commandos...
and the purpose of this carefully plotted raid...
was the death of one man.
Aaaah!
Cover me.
It's no use. Go on without me.
- Get hold of my arm! - It's no use, I tell you. Get out of here!
Did we... Did we get him?
Are you serious, Englishman?
Gentlemen, the following order from General Auchinleck...
is to all commanders and chiefs of staff of the Middle East forces.
"There exists a real danger that our friend Rommel...
"is becoming a kind of magician or bogeyman to our troops...
"who are talking far too much about him.
"He is by no means a superman...
"although he is undoubtedly very energetic and able.
"Even if he were a superman, it would still be highly undesirable...
"that our men should credit him with supernatural powers.
"I wish you to dispel by all possible means...
"the idea that Rommel represents something more...
"than an ordinary German general.
"Please ensure that this order is put into immediate effect...
"and impress upon all commanders...
"that from a psychological point of view...
it is a matter of the highest importance. "
Signed C.J. Auchinleck, General...
Commander-in-Chief, M.E.F.
This is the North African desert in June of 1942...
and these are British soldiers taken prisoner the night before...
by units of the German Afrika Korps.
Run, you fool, run!
You! Come on, get out of there!
Get over with the other prisoners!
Who is the senior officer here?
- I am, I suppose. - Come with me.
- What's your rank? - Lieutenant colonel.
Colonel, I want you to go along with these two officers on a flag of truce.
And tell that battery to stop firing.
- Tell them they're... killing their own men. - I can't do that.
Don't tell me what you can or can't do. I'm giving you an order.
Here, tie this on that rifle.
Listen, Major, I'm a prisoner of war.
You can't give me any such order.
You know that as well as I do.
I'm not going to argue the point with you.
Either you do as I tell you, or we'll soon find a way to make you.
Are you going or not?
Major! Major!
What's the row?
The field marshal said you're right.
Field marshal?
So this, then, was Rommel...
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel...
commander-in-chief of the enemy army...
and the most celebrated German soldier since World War I.
Already a legend in the desert, he was a fox...
who had chased his hunters back and forth across North Africa...
about as often as they had chased him...
and his tricks and turns had made even the Tommies chuckle...
which is scarcely the proper reflex to the enemy in time of war.
In spite of which he was still, of course, my enemy...
the enemy not only of my country and the army in which I served...
but of all life as I knew it...
not only of democracy as free men had fashioned it...
but of civilization itself.
My name is Desmond Young.
At the time of my capture, I was a lieutenant colonel in the Indian army.
This was my first and only sight...
of the cool, hard, professional soldier...
whose scrupulous regard for the rules of warfare had been exercised...
in this instance, so fortunately for myself.
Two years and four months later...
while the British and Americans were fighting their way across Europe...
Erwin Rommel was dead.
He was dead, the Nazis reported...
of wounds gallantly received on the field of honor.
But the Nazis were great liars, of course.
Many people wondered.
For already there were mysterious rumors floating across the battle lines.
So, when the war was over and my military life behind me...
I gave myself a mission.
I set out to discover what actually had happened to him.
What was the truth about his death...
and on what field of honor had he died?
In a modest home in the tiny village of Herrlingen by Ulm in Wurttemberg, Germany...
I talked long and often with Rommel's son and widow...
and examined his letters, reports and other papers.
In Germany, I talked to soldiers...
who had served with him, over him and under him;
In England, with men who had fought against him...
from field marshals to desert rats.
And in both countries, of course...
I went to the official records.
Based on these facts...
what now follows is the true story of Erwin Rommel.
The beginning of the end for this single-minded soldier...
came at 9:30 on the evening of October 23, 1942...
when at El Alamein six miles of British guns...
Fire!
I discovered that actually Rommel was not in Africa...
when the storm of battle broke.
Suffering from a chronic diphtheria of the nose...
he had been relieved of his command a month before...
and flown back to a hospital in Germany.
But when the telephone rang at his bedside...
and a familiar voice from Berlin called on him once more...
he rose and was in a plane on the way back to the desert within hours.
- Thank you, Bayerlein. Still a dandy, I see. - Just luck, sir.
- Welcome back. - Good to see you, sir.
- Shall we take a look at those maps? - Over here.
- How've you been, Bayerlein? - Oh, very well, I suppose.
- Did you see Frau Rommel? - Yes, she came to stay a week, she and Manfred.
- Well, I hope... - How does it look today?
Oh, looks like they've got too much for us.
If they keep this up, I've no idea how we're going to get out of it.
- Not with the amount of petrol we've got. - But we've got petrol?
- Some, but not enough. - You mean it's still on the way.
- Neither on the way nor any prospect of it. - Who told you that?
I've talked to Rome three times. There's no petrol on the way nor any committed to us.
Schultz. Aldinger.
- What about the tanks? Did they come? - None.
- None since I left? - No. None since August.
- What about the guns? - Nothing, I tell you.
- And no petrol at all? - Not a pint.
This is correct from the hour.
Get me a stool, will you?
Here's where it's worst. 15th's in a bad way, barely hanging together.
- What's this? - A trailer division. They came in here.
- Yes, I see. How far's this armor? - No further.
- They're doing pretty well there. - Where are my maps?
Bring the 21st north through here.
- Move the 90th forward here. - They'll hook up.
That's right. Now tell me this.
- Is Montgomery sending his infantry in first? - Naturally.
Then let's give him a surprise. Let's send our tanks and blow a hole through that infantry.
If it works, we'll be on top of his tanks before he knows what hit him.
- Very good, sir. - If it doesn't work, we'll know better than to try it next time.
- Come on, Aldinger. - You're not going up now, are you?
Don't you think you oughta turn in for an hour or so?
- After three weeks of being turned in? - We're away, sir?
Let's head north and go in with the 21st.
But there was now another fox in the desert...
an even craftier one, perhaps.
And if the battle boiled into confusion during the next few days...
it was a confusion that was clearly more and more in Montgomery's favor.
Have you found the field marshal yet?
No, sir. He's out at the front again.
I don't know how the men on line feel about it...
but so far as the staff is concerned, I'd just as soon have a commander-in-chief...
with a little bit of cowardice about him.
Just enough to come back at headquarters every now and then.
Keep after him, will you?
By the tenth day of the battle...
not even Rommel could have any doubt as to its outcome.
There's a limit to this sort of thing.
You can't just go on indefinitely until the last man's dead.
It's all very gallant and all that, but it's also pretty idiotic.
Von Thoma wants to pull back to Djerba.
- What about Müller? - No answer as yet, sir.
- Where're you from, son? - Goslar, sir.
Really? I was stationed in Goslar once with a mountain battalion.
- We did a lot of skiing there. Do you know that run? - Very well, sir.
- Are you any good? - Well, sir, two years ago...
- Are you sure you understood? - Yes. I had him repeat it back to me.
- Are you keeping after Müller? - Yes, sir.
- Have you tried Berlin? - Call if you can.
- Nothing yet, though. - Nobody knows the situation. I sent him the whole story.
- If there's anything he can do, he will. - No matter what you say...
to Berlin we're only a side show and you know it.
- Well, what? - Müller's in a bad way.
- How bad? - Very, I'm afraid.
If he doesn't pull back soon, he won't have anything to pull back.
- Well, where is he? - His command car is gone. He's working in a carrier.
And if he's got more than 40 tanks left, I'd be greatly surprised.
- How about the Italians? - Müller thinks they've had as much as they can take.
Rome calling, sir.
- Well? - Field Marshal Kesselring regrets.
Well, that eliminates any further speculation anyway.
It's now a simple matter of mathematics.
With the petrol we've got left, we have two choices:
We can remain here and be destroyed...
or we can pull out tonight and dig in somewhere for the next round.
- You think we still can? - Pull out? Of course. Why not?
Montgomery's got no petrol shortage.
But Montgomery's a very deliberate fellow.
He wouldn't dream of leaping after me the way I'd leap after him.
- He'd have to think about it. - I don't see what else there is to be done.
There's nothing else. Let's have plan "C."
Notify all commanding officers to stand by for important orders.
- If we can move quickly enough... - Berlin calling, sir.
- Who in Berlin? - The führer.
Signed Adolf Hitler.
"The situation requires that the El Alamein position be held to the last man.
There is to be no retreat, not so much as one millimeter. It must be victory or death. "
- I can't believe it. - Have you still got Berlin?
- Yes, sir. - Ask him to repeat that message.
- Yes, sir. - I know, but it's not him. It's those hoodlums again...
those thieves and crooks and murderers, those toy soldiers...
those dummy generals with their books and charts and maps and pointers!
How can he listen to such nonentities?
How can he even stand the smell of such filth?
- Why doesn't he use his own intelligence? - I have your repeat, sir.
Well, go ahead, read it.
"The situation requires that the El Alamein position be held to the last man.
"There is to be no retreat, not so much as one millimeter.
It must be victory or death. " Signed, Adolf Hitler.
- It's incredible. - You're not going to pay attention to such nonsense?
It's an order, Bayerlein, a military order from general headquarters...
a clear, straight, stupid, criminal military order from general headquarters.
And what are you going to do, double the insanity by obeying it?
We've got the best soldiers in the German army here.
They may be just hanging on now, but they're still a force, they're still fighting.
If we take them out now, they can fight again tomorrow.
But this... this is shear madness. It's out of the Middle Ages.
Nobody has said "victory or death" since people fought with bows and arrows.
Why, this is an order to throw away an entire army.
If I may remind you, sir, here in the field these men are yours, not his.
- I just can't understand it. - I can. He's insane.
He's not insane. He's... But neither am I.
Pull them out, Bayerlein. I'll argue with him about it later.
The end came in Tunis when the Axis forces were caught...
between the British, the Free French...
and the Americans under Eisenhower...
and surrendered unconditionally.
But the Afrika Korps went into captivity without its leader.
For, a month before the end, Rommel had again fallen ill...
and been invalided back to the hospital in Germany.
- Good morning, Sergeant. - Good morning, Frau Rommel, Manfred.
- Morning. - Dr. Strolin.
- Karl Strolin, Stuttgart. - Dr. Strolin is an old friend of the field marshal's.
I understand you'll find him much better this morning.
All he needed was a little rest.
Frau Rommel...
Manfred Rommel...
and Dr. Karl Strolin.
From Stuttgart?
Not only from, but lord mayor of.
Don't tell me he's on the list.
"Dr. Karl Strolin, lord mayor of Stuttgart. "
She says he's an old friend of the field marshal.
Nevertheless, here he is.
"To be kept under the closest observation...
whenever discovered beyond the precincts of Stuttgart. "
Not that it could really be described as an argument.
It's impossible to have an argument with him...
in the sense that you and I could have an argument.
He raves, he screams, he goes into such hysterics...
that it's like trying to make sense with a panic-stricken woman.
He called him a coward.
Did he really use that word to you?
Not once, but several times.
In Russia, he said, officers like me have been put against the wall and shot.
Now must I think it couldn't happen to me too.
That was his thanks, that was his gratitude for all that Erwin has done for him.
On the other hand, you mustn't hold people too accountable...
for everything they say when they're emotionally upset.
The war is not going well, and he's naturally worried.
But I'm afraid it will be a long time...
before I forget what he did to the Afrika Korps.
What was that?
When the end was near and I asked him to get them out...
he said he had no further interest or concern...
in the Afrika Korps.
And that was their thanks.
Rommel... I should like to ask you a question.
Of course, if you don't care to answer, I quite understand.
But with your permission, I should like to ask it nevertheless.
What is it?
Do you really believe that we can win?
- I'll tell you what he believes. - Yes?
He doesn't think so.
He told you that himself?
He did.
And he understands what that'll mean this time?
Apparently.
Then why do we go on?
We have no choice, because no country we're fighting...
England, America or Russia... will make peace with him.
He admitted that?
And it's the truth, of course.
In other words, while he remains as leader of Germany...
we must fight on until we're destroyed.
Victory or death, as ever.
I take it he didn't mention the obvious solution to the situation.
- What do you mean? - Abdication.
Now, my dear Strolin...
- I'm afraid we must go, dear. - Must you already?
- I have a train to catch. - We'll come back after supper.
Let's have coffee together. Good-bye, Strolin. 'T was good to see you again.
We won't let it be so long next time.
- Do you think they really would, Father? - Would what, son?
- Shoot you? - No, no, of course not.
That's just his wild way of talking. You mustn't pay any attention to that.
- Shoot his greatest general? - You shouldn't have said that in front of him.
Come along and stop talking nonsense.
- Until this evening, dear? - Come early, will you?
He's a good-looking boy, isn't he?
A very nice boy too. But were you entirely truthful with him?
About what?
- When you told him he would never put you up against a wall. - But of course.
Has the possibility ever occurred to you that he might turn on you?
- But why should he? - He's turned on others.
He'll never turn on me.
What about some of those fellows around him that don't like you? Himmler, Bormann and that crowd.
- Don't they ever influence him? - Very often, indeed.
You don't think it's possible they might influence him against you someday?
It's possible, yes, but I don't see that it's very likely.
But in the remote possibility that they did...
have you ever considered what might become of Lucie and Manfred?
I've never thought about it. But what on Earth are you getting at, anyway?
I think you should, that's all.
You haven't changed a bit, Doctor.
You always were something of an odd fish.
But there's no need for you to worry this time.
We're in no danger, none of us.
If you'll take a word of advice from an old friend...
you'd better not talk like that to everybody.
I don't.
Only to those I know very well and am very fond of.
- Good-bye, Rommel. - Good-bye, Strolin.
- Come again if you can. - I'll try.
An invasion of Hitler's European fortress...
was now clearly but a matter of time.
And in November of 1943...
Rommel made a tour of inspection of the Atlantic defenses...
preparatory of taking command of the Nazi forces...
that were gathering to resist the assault.
A month later, Rommel reported to Field Marshal von Rundstedt...
supreme commander in the West, at the latter's headquarters...
in the Pompadour's Palace at Fontainebleau outside Paris.
Field Marshal von Rundstedt, gentlemen.
- Ruge. - Field Marshal.
Gentlemen.
- Good to see you, Rommel. - Field Marshal.
Well, now that you have had an opportunity to examine it closely...
what do you think of our Atlantic wall?
I'm afraid I haven't quite completed my report yet, but...
We'll discuss it later, whenever you're ready.
I don't imagine the mighty Eisenhower will be on us for another day or so.
It wasn't too much a tax on your strength, I hope.
Not in the least. I'm entirely recovered now.
I'm delighted. You're being well taken care of, gentlemen?
Yes, indeed, sir.
Would you be so good as to divert our friends...
while Field Marshal Rommel and I have a few moments of private meditation?
Yes, sir.
Appalling, wasn't it?
I can't even see why it's called a wall.
The big ports like Havre and Ostend and Cherbourg are protected well enough...
but the enemy's not coming in on the Queen Mary.
Nothing at all is being done about the beaches.
Why, I saw 50 places where an army of children could come ashore.
The trouble is labor. We have the plans for fortifications the devil himself couldn't breach...
solid steel and concrete from Denmark to Spain...
but I'm afraid our French friends aren't being as cooperative as they might be.
Even when driven to the job, they move like snails.
Either we break it up while they're still wading ashore or we're in trouble.
- Is that the way you'd meet it? - Stop them on the beaches.
Crowd the water with mines and traps and tricks...
and hit 'em while they're busy trying to keep themselves from drowning.
Here, down here... and here.
I don't agree with you...
but the difference of opinion will probably remain academic.
As it happens, neither you nor I will determine the tactics in this operation.
Not above the regimental level, anyway.
You mean... Berlin?
I mean the Bohemian corporal himself...
is assuming sole and total command of this operation.
You and I will function simply as instruments of his astrological inspirations.
And in case you're afflicted with an understandable skepticism, this is official.
But that's an utterly impossible situation.
Then you should, by all means, explain that to him.
You've made no protests yourself?
After you've interfered a dozen times or so...
with a man's rather enthusiastic determination to cut his own throat...
there comes a moment when you're inclined to stand back...
and view the whole matter with a certain detachment.
- You've no objection to my... pointing this out to him? - On the contrary.
I bestow my blessings on your courage and optimism.
I'm told you once referred to me as a clown...
the clown of Hitler's circus.
Oh, did I?
If so, I think you should know I've been a great deal more explicit about you.
That's quite all right, Field Marshal.
I find it almost impossible to keep my mind on anything harsh said about me.
Did you say it?
Whoever said it, you've given them ample reason to regret such a foolish remark.
- Thank you, Field Marshal. - Not at all.
Is there anything else?
I don't believe so at the moment.
One suggestion, perhaps...
in view of our cordiality.
If I were you, I wouldn't be altogether unguarded...
about what I had to say about this new strategic arrangement.
I think you should know that from now on...
you'll be under more or less constant observation here.
- From Berlin? - Friends of the management, I believe.
Have you any information as to why I should be singled out for such attention?
Oh, but you're not. We all are.
Apparently you didn't have it in Africa...
but here on the continent it's an honor that goes with staff rank.
You too?
My dear fellow, I'm the commander-in-chief.
Two months after that...
in February of 1944, during one of Rommel's...
rare absences from the Atlantic frontier...
his old friend Dr. Karl Strolin sought him out again.
- Good afternoon, sir. - Good afternoon.
Dr. Strolin to see the field marshal and Frau Rommel.
Come in, sir.
Eisenhower won't try it until spring, of course.
I doubt if I'll get home again before then.
Are we ready for him?
We will be, I hope.
To your very good health, Doctor.
To yours, my dear Rommel.
How do you know this room isn't wired?
Wired? Why should it be wired?
Does our friend Himmler have to have a reason for wiring a room?
No, I don't suppose he does.
But I don't think you have to worry about this one.
Why?
'Cause I want to talk to you without being overheard.
- About what? - About the Hitler situation.
If this is politics, Strolin, I don't want to hear it.
Had you rather see Germany destroyed?
It's not a matter I want to discuss, I tell you.
And I'm surprised at you. That's a communist position.
Oh? Is it?
Defeat, against him, all that sort of thing. You know it is.
Would you call General Beck a communist?
- Of course not. - Or Karl Goerdeler, the lord mayor of Leipzig?
- I've never heard that he was. - What about Falkenhausen?
- No, but... - What about Heinrich von Stulpnagel?
And von Urach and von Haslov? Are they communists?
Are you trying to tell me seriously that men like that are questioning his leadership?
Not just questioning it. They intend to end it.
You mean, you've talked to those fellows yourself?
To them and to many others. Not only soldiers, either.
Church men, labor leaders, lawyers, doctors.
Members of the government, even. Not too many of them, but sound men, every one.
How long has this been going on?
Since '38.
And what exactly are you after?
One, we want to get rid of Hitler and his gang.
If we are to be defeated, then we prefer to be defeated...
as human beings, not as barbarians.
Two, whether we win or lose...
we want to live again like decent people, without fear.
Look, Strolin, I don't want to get mixed up in this thing.
What they do in Berlin is their business, not mine.
I'm a soldier, not a politician.
You still think you're perfectly safe?
Who knows who's safe and who's not?
Under a sane man, you'd know.
That's a lot of rubbish, and you know it.
Well, I hope you're right, and perhaps you are.
After all, you are his favorite, and I can think of no one who's ever questioned...
the deep and enduring gratitude he's always shown to those who've served him well.
- No one's in any danger here who does his job properly. - You have nothing to fear.
And if something did happen unpredictably...
you'd still have the comfort of knowing that the lives of Lucie and Manfred...
would be safe and snug in the soft, gentle, tender hands...
of that brave little band of patriots he's gathered around him.
I'm afraid that kind of talk doesn't amuse me.
I'm not trying to amuse you. I'm merely reflecting on your extraordinary good fortune.
I wish you'd think about that too sometime...
not the blood on his mouth, but what a godsend he is to you personally...
not only in your home, but in the field as a soldier.
How many other generals can boast the favor and support of a leader...
so gifted in the arts of war?
That's enough, Strolin.
Surely you haven't forgotten how brilliantly he refused...
to be seduced into an invasion of undefended England right after Dunkirk.
Or how brave he was at Stalingrad...
when von Forest wanted to withdraw from the trap.
What other man on Earth would have had the courage...
to send that brief, simple, thrilling command:
"Don't retreat so much as a millimeter. Victory or death"?
- Would Napoleon himself have dared... - That's enough, I tell you!
Afraid even to think about it.
Stop talking to me as if I were a child and you a schoolmaster!
Don't you think I know what you mean? But what of it?
Who asked me for my opinion? And suppose I told them...
that what they're doing is stupid to the point of imbecility!
- Who do you think would listen? - Have you ever tried?
Of course! I've been told to mind my own business.
And who's to say they're not right?
Surely you aren't naive enough to think that a soldier...
must approve of every detail of his government before he can fight for it.
What army could exist like that, with every man free to decide what he will or won't do?
The truth is that a soldier has but one function in life, one lone excuse for existence...
and that is to carry out the order of his superiors.
The rest, including government, is politics.
And if I must remind you again, I'm a soldier, not a politician.
- What the government does... - Oh, stop hiding behind that bloody uniform of yours!
What do I care about your philosophy of the soldier?
All it means to me is that you're terrified...
hiding under a lot of rubbish about the functions of a robot.
Have you forgotten that I've known you for 20 years?
Why, I know exactly how you feel about that abomination in Berlin.
What I can't understand is this chickenhearted willingness...
to go marching right down into hell with a beast you loathe and despise.
Where is all the sense and courage you have in the field? Haven't you any of it here?
I think you'd better get out of this house, now.
Not until you've shown an old friend the decency of honesty with him.
If reason won't work, very well, I'm prepared to go further.
I have no intention of stirring from this room until the truth has passed between us.
- Had you rather I call the guard and charge you? - That you will never do.
And may I ask why you know so well what I will or won't do?
Because Lucie told me that you wouldn't.
You... You've already talked to Lucie about this?
- Of course. - And she sent you to me?
Not at all.
She merely told me how you really feel...
about our sainted leader and his glorious reign over Germany.
Father! Father, the car is here!
We saw it. Will you please not shout?
I've told you that a dozen times.
- He's just excited. - I know, but I'm tired of telling him...
He's all right. He's still only a boy, remember, in spite of that uniform.
- Of course. - You take care of yourself, dear.
You're not cross with me, are you?
- For what? - For speaking to Dr. Strolin.
No, of course not.
Is he right?
I don't know.
I can't make up my mind.
But that's a dreadful thing he proposes...
a great, tremendous, dreadful thing.
I don't know that I can go along that far with him.
Then you shouldn't if you don't think he's right.
I didn't say he wasn't right, but even so...
is that the only way to handle it: Treason?
That's what it comes down to, no matter how right you think you are.
You think it will be better to let things go along as they are?
No, no, I don't. But there must be some better way of handling it.
I mean, if I could see him alone again and explain the situation to him.
Can you tell me how a man can fight a war under such conditions?
Isn't it enough that we're facing an invasion without...
No, never mind now. You don't have to decide this minute.
It'll come to you when it's time.
What do you think, really?
I can't tell you, dear. I don't know.
But never mind now. When the time comes, something will tell you.
You better go along now. You're late already.
- Write to me every day, will you? - I will.
- A little something for the journey. - Thank you, darling.
Good-bye, sweetheart. Don't worry about me.
I'll try not to.
That's all, please.
Good-bye, son. Take care of your mother and be a good soldier.
Make me proud of you.
I'll try, Father. Are you going to bring us back Montgomery?
The minute he steps ashore.
Good-bye, darling.
And then, finally, after four long years of preparation...
it came... D day.
And the greatest armada and the vastest movement...
of men and arms in the history of the world, rose from England...
and set out for the assault on the beaches of Normandy...
and the German fortress of Europe.
From the moment the Bohemian corporal...
promoted himself to the supreme command of our forces...
the German army has been the victim of a unique situation.
Not only too many of the enemy...
but one too many Germans.
You don't think he's ready to give us the 15th Army yet?
I don't see how he can, under the circumstances.
His astrologers have informed him that this is only a feint...
that the real invasion is yet to come, north of Calais.
The 15th Army is sitting on those cold beaches up there...
waiting for an invasion that has already taken place...
is an excellent example of war by horoscope.
We've got to have those troops.
If we're not allowed to maneuver, we've got to support these positions.
We've got to see him again about it.
I tell you this in confidence, Rommel.
I don't think anything we can do would be of the slightest use.
The pattern for defeat has already been set.
"Hold fast. Don't give up a millimeter of ground.
Victory or death. " Wars simply can't be won...
by men whose knowledge of tactics is based on copybook maxims.
It may stir schoolchildren, but they don't stop troops.
Give me a free hand for a few months, and I'd make them pay for it.
I'd make them pay such a price in blood...
they'd wish they'd never heard of Germany.
I might not be able to stop them all, but they'd know they'd fought an army...
not a series of stationary targets.
And he'll never let us, of course.
You know how firm corporals are.
Do you happen to know Karl Strolin?
- Strolin? - The lord mayor of Stuttgart.
I remember that name from somewhere.
Or Doctor Goerdeler of Leipzig?
You too?
Every day that passes, every minute of the day...
convinces me more and more that theirs is the only possible solution.
Your words, you must understand, mystify me.
They propose to arrest him, take over the government...
and move immediately to make peace with Eisenhower.
I shall, of course, deny that this conversation ever took place.
But that's a particularly childish idea.
Eisenhower's not going to make a separate peace.
And why should he, with things going as well as they are?
That part of your plan is doomed from the start.
But you don't disagree with the basic proposal.
I'm sorry, but I don't believe I heard the question.
In any case, if they came to you for counsel or advice...
would you receive them?
Oh, no.
No.
No, I'm afraid not, Rommel.
It's too late... much too late.
Even if they moved immediately?
You misunderstand.
Not too late for that.
Too late for me.
I'm 70 now.
Too old to revolt.
Too old to challenge authority...
however evil.
Berlin calling, sir. Marshal Keitel.
- Keitel? - Von Rundstedt.
- Here. - Is this true about Cherbourg?
- I'm afraid so. - This is dreadful.
How can I give such news to the führer?
You've reported misfortune to him before.
Why should this one present such a problem?
But that's just it. We've had nothing but bad news for weeks.
Isn't there any good news I can give him at the same time?
Have you checked on the Russian Front this morning?
We're not discussing the Russian Front.
We're discussing yours.
This situation in the West becomes worse with every report.
L- I'm actually embarrassed to give him another disappointment like this.
Can't you think of anything we can do about it?
Certainly. Give us those 90 divisions of the 15th Army...
who are sitting around Calais playing cards.
You know that's impossible.
The führer has already explained the necessity for leaving them there.
Very well then. Give us permission to pull out of Normandy...
and set up a line that we can defend properly.
Your orders are to fight where you are, and that's what he expects you to do.
Is it possible you have no better suggestion than that?
One very much better, in fact.
Make peace, you idiot.
- Good-bye again, Rommel. - He'll never report that.
This very instant, he's knocking at the corporal's door...
whimpering with happiness.
You must never forget this, my dear fellow.
Victory has a hundred fathers. Defeat is an orphan.
Within 24 hours, you'll be named my successor.
And I extend to you my deepest sympathy.
That's nonsense. He'll never let you go.
But not too old, I might add...
to wish your friends the best of luck...
in their extremely interesting project.
Meanwhile, with their beachheads irretrievably secured...
Allied tanks and men had fanned out across France...
and begun their race for the Rhine.
Put these where you can get to them quickly.
Also those files there.
- Keep the key, and use your... own judgment about the rest. - Very good, sir.
Field Marshal.
- Where is he? - In the small room.
- Aldinger. - Yes, sir.
- Colonel. - I'll try to be as brief as possible.
- Perhaps you'd better keep an eye on the corridor. - Yes, sir.
- Well? - We are faced with an immediate decision, sir.
Three of our men were arrested in Berlin yesterday.
They'll been made to talk, of course.
But fortunately their knowledge of the people involved is... limited.
Nevertheless, in the opinion of everyone, there's no time to be lost.
We must act at once.
- And it's all set. Definitely. - So I understand, sir.
The general's extremely anxious to know...
if you're in a position to speak for the commanders you mentioned to him.
At my word from this instant, they're prepared to follow my lead.
Then I have the field marshal's permission to inform General Stulpnagel...
we may now act at will and without further consultation?
Wait here, Colonel. Come with me, Ruge.
- Clear this room, Aldinger. - Yes, sir.
Outside. Never mind about that. Outside.
Field Marshal Rommel speaking.
Put me through to Field Marshal Keitel.
I've got to be certain, absolutely certain.
We can't go through with this if there's even the remotest sign of sense there.
- Keitel. - Rommel.
Now listen very carefully, Keitel.
I've got to see the führer at once.
Somewhere in France. I can't explain on the telephone...
but you must make him understand that it's a matter of the greatest urgency.
I suggest tomorrow morning.
On June 17...
they met in Hitler's underground stronghold at Margival near Soissons.
This is an extremely difficult duty, my führer.
But circumstances leave me with no choice.
We've reached a crisis that calls for a decision on the highest level.
But you've said that! You've said that before!
Every time I talk to you we're facing another crisis.
When the enemy has overwhelming superiority on land, at sea and in the air...
and continues to grow stronger with every hour...
while we grow weaker at the same rate...
that to me is a crisis by any standards that I understand.
A crisis that should be examined promptly and realistically.
That's you! That's you! Like always!
When everything's going well, you're willing enough.
But at the first sign of a difficulty...
you become a defeatist, a complete defeatist.
Are you perhaps interested why you didn't succeed von Rundstedt?
This is why!
It maybe had been better if I'd replaced you altogether!
Have you at least a little confidence in me?
More it would seem than the führer has in me. May I continue?
And what my V-bombs are doing to London, has no one told you?
Yes, sir. But why not to the beachheads?
Because that's not their purpose. They have not that accuracy.
They need a whole city for a target. Then they cannot miss.
Then why not the embarkation ports... Plymouth, Southampton. Portsmouth?
No, no, no, no! That's...
That's exactly what I mean when I say you're no good at thinking above the battlefield.
The British don't care for those villages.
It's their London that they love.
They don't want to see it destroyed the way I'm going to destroy it.
In two more weeks, remember my words.
They'll be screaming for surrender. Just wait. You'll see.
To continue, sir.
The struggle is over on this front.
Within these two weeks, you must be prepared to see the enemy...
break through our lines and push out into the interior of France.
Militarily, the end is already in sight.
- We have nothing more to throw in. - Hmph.
What is it you're proposing?
- That we surrender? - I give you the facts, sir.
I only ask that you draw the proper conclusions.
Proper to whom? To you!
I suggest to you, Rommel, that you confine your genius to fighting...
and leave the conduct of the war to those who are responsible for it!
My apologies, sir.
Now, if the führer will honor me with his advice...
The V-weapon, for your information, happens to be only the first...
in a whole series of weapons that will completely revolutionize all warfare!
I've a second a hundred times as powerful and a third in mind...
a thousand times more destructive than the second!
But the crisis is now, sir.
I've a dozen others, all of them capable of turning the whole course of the war!
But what about now, sir? What are we to do tomorrow morning?
While you've been deciding that all is lost...
we've been working, working miracles...
determining the course of history for centuries to come!
In the workshops, in the laboratories...
we've been turning out machines of destruction such as...
the enemy has never dreamed of!
I have one in mind... I have a weapon in mind...
Now, definitely committed to the plot to assassinate his führer...
Rommel was still trying to whip fight into his crumbling front...
when on June 17 on a country road near a village...
with the ominous name of Montgomery...
Aircraft.
Three days later, on July 20...
while Rommel still lay unconscious in a hospital in France...
Adolf Hitler and his staff gathered for their fateful conference...
in a fortified barracks at his headquarters in East Prussia.
The führer, gentlemen.
He handles his panzers like a cavalry officer.
Thank you, gentlemen.
- My führer. - Yes.
- Stauffenberg, sir. - Yes! Yes, yes.
- Stauffenberg, of course, from General Fromm. - Yes, sir.
- Good to see you again. - Thank you, my führer.
Uh... Gentlemen. Your attention, please.
Excuse me, please. I have a report from General Fromm.
- Where's Goering? - On his way now, sir.
Well, when you are fat, you don't move so fast.
- Colonel-Count von Stauffenberg? - Yes.
- Telephone, sir. - Thank you.
Excuse me.
All right. Suppose we start with the Russian Front.
Führer. Führer!
Are you all right, my führer?
Yeah. I'm all right.
For that failure, 5,000 suspects paid with their lives...
during the few days that Hitler spent in hospital.
As for Rommel, recuperating at Herrlingen from injuries that would have destroyed...
any but the toughest of men...
all public mention of his name suddenly stopped...
and the complete and official silence...
settled over the subject of the nation's most-celebrated soldier.
For three months, he remained in this sinister isolation...
until the afternoon of October 13 in 1944.
- Keitel? - How are you, Rommel?
- Getting along, thank you. - Well enough yet to come up to Berlin?
I'm afraid not yet. In another week or two, perhaps. Why?
I could send a special train for you.
That's very good of you, but I really don't feel up to it yet.
Is there some particular urgency about it?
How soon do you think you'll be ready for another command?
Another two weeks, I suppose. Three at the most.
If we send someone there, would you be able to discuss the situation with him?
Of course.
Very well, I'll send Burgdorf. You know him, don't you?
- I've met him. - Suppose I have him drive down tomorrow morning?
- Would that be convenient for you? - Perfectly.
He'll have full information and instructions.
- Will you give my best regards to Frau Rommel? - I will.
- And thank you very much. - Good-bye, then.
Good-bye.
Keitel. He's talking about another command again.
- When? - When I feel like it, I suppose.
Eh, he sends his best regards to you.
- We're here to see Field Marshal Rommel. - I'll tell him, sir.
- Would you tell him that... - Come in, Burgdorf.
- Field Marshal. - It's good to see you again. And you, General.
- I don't believe you've met my wife. - I haven't had the pleasure, sir.
My dear, will you allow me to present General Burgdorf and General...
- Maisel, sir. - General Maisel.
This is my son Manfred and Captain Aldinger.
- I hope you're not too tired from your journey. - Not at all.
- Thank you, Frau Rommel. - Have you time for a luncheon and a glass of wine?
Thank you, sir. We're due back in Berlin as quickly as we can make it.
Very well, then. If you'll excuse us, dear. This way, gentlemen.
- Our apologies, Frau Rommel. - Of course, but I'm disappointed.
- Another time, perhaps. - I hope so.
I hope it's the Russian Front, don't you?
Make yourselves comfortable.
Smoke, if you wish.
I'm not like Montgomery. Smoke doesn't make me unhappy.
At your service, gentlemen.
We come directly from the führer, Field Marshal.
- Yes. - And what we have to say to you...
comes directly from his lips.
- Yes. - Our instructions are to tell you first...
of his deep appreciation...
of your many heroic services to the state.
Go on.
And his regrets over your unfortunate accident.
I was sure his silence meant only that there were more important matters on his mind.
It's a pity that after such a record...
If you'll forgive me, may we skip your reflections...
and get to the message you have for me?
Of course, sir.
You'll observe that the charges are supported...
by an overwhelming body of testimony.
I can read, thank you.
You've been uncommonly fortunate in deathbed confessions.
It's all perfectly legal, I assure you, sir.
You may inform the führer that I look forward to answering these charges in court.
You... You don't intend to deny them, do you?
I said, you may inform the führer that I look forward...
to answering the charges in court.
The führer is extremely hopeful that this matter can be settled...
without exposing it to the inevitable publicity of a court trial.
Very well, then. Let him withdraw the charges.
His view is that nothing but harm for everyone could come from a trial.
My orders are to remind you in the strongest terms...
of the damage testimony like this could do to your name and reputation.
And what does he expect me to do? Plead guilty to you?
Well, naturally, not that, of course.
I know what he wants. He wants me to keep my mouth shut.
He doesn't want me to tell what happened where it can be heard.
Well, you may tell him for me that's very thoughtful of him...
but that I'm quite capable of taking care of my own name and reputation in my own way...
which will be in a proper court of law.
But to what end, sir?
The verdict is already indicated.
He told you to tell me that too?
The evidence is there.
What defense is possible?
Then, what does he suggest?
Before we go further, the field marshal should be warned...
that this house is entirely surrounded.
My orders, sir. I'm sure you understand.
- And the both of us are armed. - What does he want done?
His belief is that it would be to the best interests of all concerned...
if you should see fit to relieve the situation yourself...
quietly and without delay.
- Go on. - The advantages of a solution like that...
over an ugly exchange of recriminations in an open court...
are, in his opinion, several and obvious.
Most important to him, of course...
would be the preservation of your name and fame.
And he would see to it himself not the slightest suspicion...
would be attached to the way of your going.
As far as the rest of the nation would know, you'd succumbed...
finally to your war wounds.
That would be the official announcement.
And the state would then honor your memory and your family as well...
with a generosity that would be historic.
That was his word, "historic. "
Your name would live on in the glory it once deserved...
while your wife and son would never want for either safety or comfort...
as long as they live.
- I have a choice? - In a sense, yes.
The choice to die now... or later.
It amounts to that, I'm afraid.
How long have I to make this choice?
We're due back in Berlin as early this evening as we can make it.
The penalty in this case, I'm told...
would be the garrote... death by strangulation.
The drug I've brought with me is effective in three seconds...
and painless.
Tell him for me...
that in spite of the disadvantages you've been kind enough to point out...
I'll take the trial.
It may be, as you say, a futile defense...
but I think it should be heard nevertheless.
There might be some value in it for those who hear it.
It might even move some to stop and think for a moment or two...
as finally I did...
though, unfortunately, too late.
In any case, it's my life, and that's my choice.
I confess my disappointment with your choice, sir.
My heart, of course, bleeds for you.
The unfortunate part of it is that if you insist on a trial...
I have no authority to offer any guarantees...
for the safety and comfort of your son...
and widow.
They're coming out now.
- All over, sir? - I believe so.
- We'll wait outside, sir. - I won't be long.
Well, we hardly expected such a...
- Over already? - Wait there, please.
I'll be down in a few moments.
What is it, Erwin?
I want you to be strong, darling.
I want you to be very strong and very brave.
- Do you understand? - Yes.
I've got to go away now...
and I won't be back.
Do you want me to tell you any more?
There's no way out?
No. But it won't be too terrible, uh...
They're giving me a drug. It's painless and effective immediately.
We're leaving now, and I'll do it as quickly as possible.
We've got guns, sir. Can't we make a break for it?
No, there's nothing that can be done.
They've thought of everything.
But at least we could get them.
There's nothing to be done, I tell you.
I've got to do exactly as they say.
Yes, sir.
- Are you going to be brave now? - I don't know.
You and Manfred will be all right. They've assured me of that.
And nobody's to know about this but us.
- Are you sure there's no other way? - No other, darling.
- Have you told Manfred yet? - I'll tell him when I go down.
No. Let me tell him.
I can tell him so much better.
If you wish.
I'll get my coat now.
It's cold, and I don't want to shiver.
The field marshal's coming out now.
- You're going now? - Why not?
But are you well enough?
Of course, I've just been taking it easy on you and your mother.
Is it Russia?
Good-bye, Aldinger, old dear friend.
Good-bye, sir.
- Take care of them. - Yes, sir.
Can't you tell me?
Don't ask so many questions.
You know better than to talk like that to a field marshal.
But when will we know?
Before very long.
- Good-bye, son. Be a good boy. - Good-bye, Father.
You'll stop them, won't you?
We'll see.
Good-bye, dear.
During that last short ride...
what may Rommel's thoughts have been?
Were they bitter that he had learned too slowly and struck too late?
Or did they go back to the desert, where his military genius...
had first electrified the world?
First, at Mikkeli.
Then Tobruk.
Yes, and even El Alamein.
In any case, his life and fate have best been summed up...
ironically enough, in the words of Nazi Germany's sternest enemy...
the honorable Winston Churchill.
His ardor and daring inflicted grievous disasters upon us...
but he deserves the salute which I made him...
in the House of Commons in January 1942.
He also deserves our respect...
because, although a loyal German soldier...
he came to hate Hitler and all his works...
and took part in the conspiracy to rescue Germany...
by displacing the maniac and tyrant.
For this, he paid the forfeit of his life.
In the somber wars of modern democracy...
there is little place for chivalry.