You and Greim must go as quickly
as possible. Fly to Dnitz.
Tell him to do anything
it takes to punish Himmler.
We've decided to
die with you.
Thank you for this proof of loyalty.
But Himmler must die.
He committed treason.
He's no longer privvy
to my plans.
Mein Fhrer?
Do you think I'll sit and wait until
those Jewish swine slaughter me?
This is part of a huge decoy manoeuvre.
I've allowed the enemy...
...to invade the Reich and they
think they've won.
But mark my words: they have
another thing coming.
Dnitz is mobilising in the north.
Kesselring in the south.
We'll surround the enemy
and crush them.
From Prague, three armies will attack
the Russians, simultaneously, from the back.
I didn't know we still had
so many reserve troops.
I made sure you'll soon have
a 1000 of the most modern...
...jets at your disposal.
With those, you can make the
Luftwaffe ready for battle again.
I kneel to your genius, at the
altar of the motherland.
Heil, mein Fhrer.
You also request to leave Berlin?
Mein Fhrer, as you know,
all medical departments...
...that fall under the SS and Himmler,
have left Berlin.
Himmler is a traitor.
He won't escape punishment.
Mein Fhrer, as Reichsarzt SS,
I have no more work here.
Your request to leave Berlin
is unacceptable.
My family...
If the Russians...
I must leave.
You did nothing wrong.
Future generations will thank you
for you medical research.
I take all the responsibility.
We'll talk about it later.
Gruppenfhrer Fegelein cannot
be found. He's not in the bunker.
What, you can't find Fegelein?
Keep searching.
I need to talk to him. Immediately.
If he left just like that,
that's desertion. Treason.
Bring me Fegelein.
Fegelein. Fegelein.
Daddy, why are you wearing
your Sunday uniform?
Ernst, is something wrong?
-No.
Thank you.
Brigitte is hungry too.
Ilse, you should
eat something as well.
Thank you.
-There you go.
Thank you.
What is it?
-Gruppenfhrer, you're under arrest.
What?
-You're suspected of desertion.
Get dressed.
You'll come with us.
Search the room.
Let go of me.
You can't give me orders.
You can't have Hermann
executed, can you?
There's no doubt.
He wanted to flee.
What does it matter?
Everything's over.
Think of my poor sister.
She's pregnant by Hermann.
He collaborated with Himmler.
He's a traitor.
There's no mercy for traitors.
No compassion for them.
He'll be court-martialled
and executed.
What's the point of that?
It is my wish.
You're the Fhrer.
Speak.
The Russians are advancing
more and more.
There are no more reserves.
Supplies from the air are impossible.
There is no ammunition coming
in anymore.
In the north, the Russians are standing
in front of the Weidendammer bridge.
In the east: Lustgarten.
South: Potsdammer Platz.
West: Tiergarten, about 400 metres
away from the chancellery.
How long can you hold out?
-At most, two days.
Including the government area?
-Yes.
As a soldier, I suggest we
flee Berlin. It's surrounded.
The battle of Berlin killed about
That's what young people are for.
What you suggest is insane.
Ridiculous.
Think of the thousands of wounded.
We can't help them.
Mein Fhrer, the orders have been written.
I give you my word...
The Fhrer cannot make a honourless
disappearance from world history.
Even if an advance is successful...
...I'll end up in another
troublesome situation.
I'd have to stay in the open air
or on a farm...
...and wait for the end.
Wenck is advancing with the 12th army.
He can join the 9th...
...and give the Russians
the final blow.
Wenck's an excellent fellow.
Send a telegram to Keitel:
Immediately report to me the following:
You'll see, gentlemen.
I'll be right.
Wenck will come.
Wenck will come.
I want to know if Wenck
can do anything at all.
It's unlikely that Wenck's
small amount of troops...
What's unlikely about the offensive?
-Wenck can't do anything anymore.
Then why don't you tell the Fhrer that?
Has everybody gone mad?
Do you think the Fhrer doesn't know?
He'll never surrender.
And neither will we. I've been
through that once. Never again.
Come along. I have to go.
Stop right there.
Heil Hitler.
Excuse me. I fell asleep.
Did you get some rest, my child?
In shorthand.
My political will.
More than 30 years have passed...
...since I made my contribution
as a volunteer...
...during the first World War.
During those 30 years,
I learnt to think, act and live...
...out of love and loyalty
for my people.
Excuse me. The shooting.
-Please sit down.
Centuries will pass...
...but from the ruins
of our cities and monuments...
...the hatred
of the people...
...who did this to us,
will continue to flare up.
International Judaism and
its allies.
What is it, Herr Minister?
Imagine this.
The Fhrer wants me to leave Berlin.
He ordered it.
I've never ignored an order
from the Fhrer.
But I will ignore this order.
I'll stay with the Fhrer.
Please, Frau Junge...
...I want to dictate my will to you.
I'm typing
the Fhrer's will.
Good.
I understand.
Some other time.
Mein Fhrer, according to the racial law
I'm obliged to ask you:
Mein Fhrer, are you
of Aryan descent?
Can I see your identity card?
You're talking to the Fhrer here.
-Alright then.
And you, Frulein Braun,
are you of Aryan descent?
Then there's nothing
to stop us.
I'm asking you now:
Do you, mein Fhrer, Adolf Hitler...
...take Eva Braun, present here,
as your wife? Answer 'yes'.
Do you, Eva Braun, take Fhrer
Adolf Hitler, present here...
...as your husband?
Answer 'yes'.
Then I declare you
man and wife.
Two men here.
Everything will be alright.
You must go to the Fhrer right away.
-Now?
How long can we hold out?
-Twenty hours, no more.
The Russians are close. At the moment,
we forced them to stop.
You know, Mohnke. The western
democracies are decadent.
They'll succumb to
the people from the east.
All the best. Thank you.
It wasn't just for Germany.
A message from Keitel.
stuck south of Schwielowsee.
the attack on Berlin.
completely surrounded.
What do we do when the last
ammunition reserves have been exhausted?
I'll never surrender. Never.
I forbid you, and the other
commanders, to surrender.
Listen, Gnsche. My wife and I
are going to commit suicide.
I don't want my corpse
exposed by the Russians.
I don't want them to get me,
dead or alive.
I want to be burnt
and never to be found.
Gnsche, I want you to promise me...
...that you will do
all that it takes.
Mein Fhrer...
...this is a terrible order,
but I will execute it.
Kempka.
-Erich, I need 200 litres of petrol.
Are you mad?
Where should I find them?
From the parked vehicles.
What's all that petrol for?
-I can't say.
Come, please.
The Fhrer wants to see us.
Should I tell the Fhrer
you're indisposed?
It's only my collapsed lung.
I'll die soon anyway.
Excuse me.
Over here, Herr Professor.
One moment, please.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry to interrupt
your important work.
Mein Fhrer, keep faith
in the final victory.
Lead us
and we shall follow.
Come along.
Join the gang.
Come. Have a drink.
Besides drinking, there's little we can do.
-Do sit down.
That's better.
Yes, the situation is pretty shitty.
Can we sit down?
-Please do, Frulein...
Frau...
-That's Frau Hitler.
It's alright.
A pity we can't go
outside anymore.
Only if you want
to die a heroic death.
Fritz, control yourself a bit.
-Yes. Control.
Take cover.
What are you doing here?
-I have to report to the Fhrer.
You can't right now.
Sit down.
Sit. Drink.
Let me introduce Frau Hitler.
So young and so many decorations.
You must be proud.
Excuse me.
I'm not used to drinking anymore.
You can use our toilet.
If your hand shakes, the bullet
might only hit an optic nerve.
That's why it's good
to also take the poison.
When you bite through the capsule,
pull the trigger.
Will I have enough time?
The poison starts working
after one or two seconds.
Tornow, you too.
Come Blondi.
You know, Frau Junge,
I've known...
my husband for
more than 15 years.
But when I think about it,
I know nothing about him.
Even though he likes to talk.
I longed for Berlin,
but he's so different now.
He only talks about dogs
and vegetarian food now.
I hate Blondi.
I sometimes kick her and Adolf
then wonders why she acts strange.
I think he doesn't want anybody
to really know him.
...he can be so caring
in his private life.
And then he uses
that rude language again.
When he's the Fhrer, you mean?
Come, let's smoke another one.
I'm sorry.
You have so many worries
and here I am, whining.
Frau Junge, I'm giving you this coat
as a goodbye present.
I like fashionable ladies.
I want you to enjoy it.
What a surprise. Thank you.
I just don't know where and when
I can wear it.
Please, try to get out of here.
Promise me.
Thank you. That was very good,
Frulein Manziarly.
The time has come. It's finished.
The Fhrer wants to say goodbye.
Come with me.
You're the bravest mother
of the Reich.
Fhrer, you made me the happiest
woman in Germany.
Salute my beautiful Bavaria.
Children, what are you doing here?
We want to see aunt Eva
and uncle Hitler.
Have you eaten anything yet?
-Only breakfast.
Stay here, I'll get something to eat.
I'll be right back.
Comrades, this is the
latest news from the outside.
Berlin is full of warehouses: There were
houses here, there were houses there.
Herr Gnsche,
I want to speak to the Fhrer.
Please, I have to.
Frau Goebbels, the Fhrer
doesn't want to be disturbed.
Please, Gnsche,
just for a moment.
Please.
Mein Fhrer, Frau Goebbels is here.
What is it?
Mein Fhrer, I beg you:
Leave Berlin.
Don't leave us Fhrer.
What will become of us?
Tomorrow, I'll be cursed by millions,
but that's how it is.
Get up. Come.
Come.
Aunt Traudl, I like it
when it thunders.
Why?
-Nothing can happen to us here.
Can it?
-No.
Gotcha.
Reichsleiter, it's over.
The Fhrer is dead.
There's daddy.
Are you crazy?
For that damned petrol of yours...
Erich, shut up.
Stand back.
Come on, continue.
Continue.
No, don't.
Let grandpa go.
Order. Order.
We must have order.
Order has to return.
This way. We know the way.
You can trust us.
Hurry.
I was on the side of
the Red Beasts.
I supported the Bolsheviks.
Let's hope the Russians
got our message.
We'll soon find out.
-Or not.
What news do you have, General?
Adolf Hitler and his wife
committed suicide in the bunker.
The new government
authorised me...
...to start peace talks...
...between our countries, that both
suffered severe losses.
General, if you were me,
would you make peace with you?
My government will never accept
unconditional surrender.
Given the situation,
you have no other choice.
Surrender? Never.
That's shameful.
Years ago, I conquered
Berlin on the Reds...
...and I'll defend the city
to my dying day.
In the short time I have
as Chancellor...
...I'll never sign
a surrender treaty.
It's for the sake of the people.
-The Fhrer's orders are final.
This is crazy.
We have to start negotiations.
I repeat, gentlemen:
I do not surrender.
Send a message to Marshal Zhukov.
-Zhukov?
What's happening?
-We're surrendering.
Then I must kill you.
The Fhrer forbids any surrender.
How long does it work?
-Around four hours.
Children, the doctor has the medication
I told you about.
It's a bit bitter,
but it will work.
A sip for everybody.
Who wants to go first?
Heide, you're always so brave?
Have another sip.
See? That wasn't so bad.
Well done.
Helmut.
This medication makes sure you don't
get ill in this humid bunker.
But it's not humid
in the bunker.
Well done.
Helga.
I don't want to.
What's that? Do you want to get sick?
-Please, mama. I don't want to drink it.
Don't cry, baby.
That doesn't help.
You have to drink the medicine.
Helga.
Come on, open your mouth.
Goodnight, children.
One day the lie will fall apart...
...and there will be light
in the darkness.
Please read that.
One day the lie will fall apart
and there will be light in the darkness.
Let's do it differently.
One day the lie will collapse...
...and truth will triumph
once again.
At that moment, we will
stand above everybody...
...pure and...
immaculate.
We don't stand a chance.
-So what? I want to get away.
How do we get
through the lines?
Doesn't matter.
I'm not staying another minute.
We'll die.
-It won't be that bad, surely.
If we stay, the Russians
will get us for sure.
All the best.
Come, let's go.
On 30 April 1945, the Fhrer
committed suicide...
...and in doing so, he deserted
everybody who was loyal to him.
You, German soldiers, were loyal to
the Fhrer and were prepared...
...to continue the battle for Berlin,
although ammunition was in short supply...
...and further resistance
was pointless.
I hereby declare an
immediate cease-fire.
Each hour you continue fighting...
...prolongs the suffering of the people
of Berlin and of our wounded.
In agreement with the supreme
command of the Soviet troops...
...I order you to stop
fighting immediately.
Weidling, former commander
of the Berlin defence area.
A glass of water, please.
I don't need you anymore.
The game's over.
It's time.
-Don't you see what's going on here?
I insist that you help us,
as a doctor.
Alright, then.
Go. You did a lot.
Thank you.
Schdle, hurry. Come on.
-I'm not going anywhere anymore.
Come along.
Are you alright?
-Keep going.
Sturmmann Krger and his group
defended the Wolf Bridge...
...and he receives the Iron Cross.
Sturmmann Wagner took out two
machine-gun nests...
...and therefore, receives
the Iron Cross.
Sturmmann Rauch has gotten
messages through the lines...
...and receives the Iron Cross.
The others are coming.
Take cover, Mller.
Who's that?
A German.
Herr Hewel?
Thank God, you're alive.
Where are the others?
I don't know, Frau Junge.
Somewhere. Maybe.
Most people from my group
must be dead.
I should never
have left that bunker.
I should have shot myself,
but I couldn't.
Eat something first.
There's always enough time to die.
You stay with the women.
Come along.
The Russians have surrounded us.
-What's going to happen to us?
Maybe you can get through.
You could try.
I'm not taking another step.
Think about it. The Russians
are after us.
As a woman, you might have a chance.
Try it.
Good luck.
When you walk past the Russians,
don't look them in the eyes.
Remember that well. All the best.
The Russians.
Gerda, let's go.
-You go.
I'm exhausted.
-Please.
I have to give it a try.
Don't be angry with me.
I'll be alright.
Herr Doktor.
My comrades want to surrender.
Can I join you?
The Fhrer's dead. Do you want
to continue the war on your own?
I'm obliged by my oath.
Then you'd better go
to the Brigadefhrer.
The Russians are evacuating the square.
-So?
No opposition.
No shooting.
Then they'll be
here within the hour.
What shall we do?
We can't surrender.
-What exactly do you mean?
When the Russians come,
we'll empty our weapons on them.
The last bullets are for ourselves.
-That's radical.
Is this prestigious murder and suicide
our only option?
We're SS officers.
We can't survive the Fhrer.
Who agrees with me?
Come and sit down with me?
-Please.
Why do you want to continue living?
-And you? Why do you want to die?
See this?
The Fhrer gave it
to me personally.
As a last decoration?
-Maybe.
A goodbye present from Hitler.
I had to promise him something.
If the Russians get me,
I have to kill myself.
Did he make you promise that?
But why?
Maybe he didn't want
me to be forced...
...to say anything bad
about him.
But, as a diplomat,
you're under international protection.
Who will benefit
if you stick to your deal?
There they are.
Don't shoot, comrades.
We surrendered.
The war is over.
It's over.
Complete surrender took place
on 7 May 1945.
Hostilities were suspended
on 8 May.
The war took the lives of more
than 50 million people.
in German concentration camps.
Gerda Christian managed to escape
and avoid imprisonment.
She died in Dsseldorf
on 14 April 1997.
Dr. Schenck was released in 1953
by the Soviets.
He died in Aachen
on 21 December 1998.
Wilhelm Mohnke was released
by the Soviets in 1955.
He died in Damp, near Eckernfrde,
on 6 August 2001.
Helmut Weidling died in
captivity, in 1955.
Werner Haase was arrested
in the bunker, by the Red Army.
He died in captivity,
in 1945.
Otto Gnsche was arrested
by the Soviets.
He was released in 1956 and
died in Lohmar, in 2003.
Hanna Reitsch survived the war
and would break many flying records.
She died on 28 August 1979.
Robert Ritter von Greim committed
suicide on 24 May 1945.
Linge and Hentschel were
arrested by the Soviets.
Linge was released in 1955 and
died in 1980.
Hentschel was released in 1949 and
died in 1982.
Constanze Manziarly disappeared
without a trace, during her flight.
Albert Speer was arrested
in Flensburg, in 1945.
He was sentenced to
He was released in 1966 and
died in London, in 1981.
Keitel and Jodl were sentenced to
death in Nuremberg and executed.
Hermann Gring was
sentenced to death.
He committed suicide in his cell,
shortly before his execution.
Heinrich Himmler tried to escape
using a false name.
After he was found out,
he committed suicide.
Martin Bormann and Ludwig
Stumpfegger committed suicide...
...on 2 May 1945,
near the Lehrter Bahnhof.
Rochus Misch was released
by the Soviets in 1955.
He still lives in Berlin.
Traudl Junge was classified
as a 'young follower'.
She worked as a secretary and lived
in Munich, until her death in 2002.
All the horror I heard about during
the Nuremberg trial...
...the 6 million Jews, dissidents
or people of another race...
...who died, shocked me deeply.
But I hadn't made the connection
with my own past yet.
I reassured myself by thinking
I wasn't personally guilty of it.
And that I hadn't known
about the sheer size of it.
But one day, I walked
past a commemorative plaque...
...for Sophie Scholl,
here in the Franz-Joseph-Strasse.
I saw that she was my age...
...and that she was executed in
the year I joined Hitler.
And only then did I realise...
that youth is no excuse.
And that it might have been
possible to find out the truth.
DOWNFALL