Original subtitles

BASED ON REAL EVENTS

Hey!

What are you doing up there?

Leave my traps alone!

There he is! There's Ernst!

Don't do it!

You won't survive.

What do I get if I jump?

THE TRAITOR

Cigarette?

Spare some change for a brave soldier?

Schrämli! Stop! Halt!

Stop!

What to do with you, Schrämli?

Let me go. I've done nothing wrong.

I'll rip your hair out if you touch him!

Animal lover!

A man of hidden talents.

What's going on?

Well, well! Mr Guardian.

Captain Keller! What are you doing in my office?

What you failed to do with your ward, Sergeant Graf.

May I ask what Ernst is accused of?

What's it called when you don't come back after being off duty?

- Leave! - Be quiet!

This is why the Germans are so good.

They lock someone like him up, for a long time.

Herr Graf, not the jail, please.

I'll make sure that he works his next leave

at Zanelli's textile factory.

And I don't care how the Germans deal with their soldiers.

We're in a neutral country here.

Holland was neutral too.

Yes. Germany invaded Holland today.

After Denmark and Norway, neutral country number 3.

I don't want to be in the army any more.

Shovelling horse shit all day.

I'm allergic to the beasts!

So, what would you rather do, Schrämli?

Join the army band.

I can sing.

Let's hear!

Sing for us, Schrämli!

Call'st thou, my Fatherland?

See how with heart and hand

Loyalty we swore!

Helvetia, hail to thee!

Steadfast thy sons shall be

As once Saint James did see

Marching to war!

- Sing! - Keller!

Where Alpine ramparts high

Lend you no sanctuary...

The soldiers swear

to be loyal to the Confederation,

and to sacrifice life and limb for the defence of the Fatherland,

and its constitution.

Promptly and exactly

to obey the orders of their superiors.

Never to abandon the flag.

Raise your right hands and swear the oath.

I swear it!

I swear it.

Is it you?

I never thought I'd see you again!

Max, they'll always bring me back.

Well, that's true.

Keller didn't put you in jail?

Graf used his powers of persuasion.

See! Graf isn't that bad.

Graf is an idiot.

Wants to send me to you in the textile factory.

Graf just wants to help you!

You even get food at the factory.

Crumbs from the fine gentlemen's table?

With the bit of money you earn there,

you'll never get your own photo studio.

And if you believe all Graf says, you're as much an idiot as he is.

What'll you do on your next leave in a few weeks?

Some day even you'll have to do something real, Ernst.

Let me go! You wretch!

Let go, damn you!

Let me go!

That's staying here.

And you are?

The son.

I've never seen you here before.

Because he doesn't belong here!

Take your plunder with you!

Take it all!

Damned racketeers!

Morons!

Father!

Don't look at me like that.

What have you done this time?

Nothing!

I just need somewhere to stay.

To stay! To stay!

I can't feed you, get that in your head.

I can help you, Father.

The army's trained me in mucking out.

I've got nothing to muck out.

They took my cattle a long time ago.

Grandfather!

Have the bad men gone? Can we come out?

Yes, get down to the field!

Chop, chop!

Hello, Ernst.

And them?

So you can feed them, then?

France surrenders! Axis forces encircle Switzerland!

Read all about it! Read all about it!

France surrenders!

Axis forces surround Switzerland!

Read all about it!

France surrenders! Read all about it!

Men of Switzerland! Comrades!

It's my particular pleasure today,

to declare open the monthly meeting

of the St. Gallen members!

France has laid down her weapons!

The edifice of the Greater German Reich

stands on solid foundations!

When will we get solid food to eat?

- Only here... - Is there free food here?

in our dear neighbour Switzerland, is some work still left to do.

Join me in welcoming

St. Gallen city councillor,

Matthias Gerber!

Heil Hitler!

Heil Hitler!

Fellow citizens,

As the largest Swiss border city,

we've always valued good relations with our neighbour Germany.

As a sign of our fraternal solidarity,

I'm delighted to present to you Swiss boys and girls

who nurture this deep connection not just in their hearts,

but also on their tongues!

A round of applause for the Imperial German Youth of St. Gallen!

When the spring comes in the mountain rills

When the snow melts in the vales and hills

When the finches sing and to nests take wing

Then the beautiful, golden time begins.

Stop up the songbirds' mouths and fill ours!

When the spring comes in the mountain rills

When the snow melts in the vales and hills...

Why don't you put on a skirt?

That's when the beautiful new time begins

That's when the beautiful new time begins

That's when the beautiful new time begins

That's when the beautiful new time begins.

Well, do what you want, then.

Nice voice.

Get it from your mother?

No idea. She's dead.

Has been, almost as long as I've been alive.

What a waste.

Didn't ask for it.

I meant your voice.

You could go far with that.

Big theatres.

People would be at your feet.

Like just now?

Switzerland is a land of peasants.

No sense of taste.

And you? You Germans are different, or what?

Get in.

If you want.

Cognac? Sekt?

Whichever.

Whichever won't get you very far.

Never drink with strangers.

August. August Schmid.

Ernst.

Take a seat, Ernst.

Close your eyes.

Close them.

Thus journeying ever onwards

I cannot choose my time

It's now I must fare forward...

Through darkness, frost and rime

A mooncast shade walks by me

Companion on my way

What is this?

Erwin Lorenz.

In Berlin, singers like him are applauded for hours on end.

Standing ovations.

Do you know how it sounds when a thousand people clap, Ernst?

Like a thundering waterfall in the night.

As if a million birds took flight.

What will you do if you don't sing, Ernst?

Military service?

Stupid pigsty life, that is.

Luckily I'm on leave.

It's not often that someone reminds me of a young Erwin Lorenz.

What do you mean?

That you can go far, Ernst.

Director Zanelli.

Get a move on!

There's nothing to see!

Forward!

- Chop chop! - Yes, Herr Riebli.

What are you doing here?

You're really not hungry?

Really.

Tell me what's wrong.

I met a strange guy.

A rich toff.

Told me I sing well.

You always could at the orphanage.

Yes, but Max, you don't get it.

He's talking about theatres.

Operas.

Big stages.

About me becoming a singer for real.

...the war no longer rages along our border s,

we may think about an immediate demobilisation.

Each of us must put aside our former selves.

- What does that mean? - What's he saying?

He says we should surrender.

Lower our flags to Hitler's Germany. Our own Parliament!

Boss's daughter. She wanted to found a union!

The moment of inner rebirth has come!

He's right! We're too small to defend ourselves!

- And the Germans might protect us! - Cowards!

Know why the Germans can dominate?

Because we crawl to them!

Let Hitler come!

Better dead than a slave!

Better dead than a slave!

- Better dead! - Better dead!

My dear Fräulein Zanelli! Things get loud where you are.

Did you hear the speech?

Our Parliament wants us to rush to the Germans like whores.

Leave politics to men who understand it.

Big men like you?

And where did you dig up that troublemaker?

Never met the gentleman, sorry.

Hey, hey, hey!

Name?

Name!

Are you a communist?

A filthy communist swine stirring up my workers?

I'm nobody. But at least I'm not a Flash Harry like you!

Stop that right now!

Get off me!

What are you doing here?

The question is the other way around.

I have an invitation. From the boss in person.

Is that so?

Whom shall I announce?

Schrämli, Ernst. I want to go to Berlin.

The days of any old runaway getting a visa are gone.

But Herr Schmid said I could make it big in Berlin.

A vagrant is bothering me.

Vagrant?

Take that back.

Heil Hitler!

Give me the statuette.

It's worth nothing.

Or do you want me to lose my job?

- Job? But I thought... - What?

That I was the boss here?

I'm just the maid-of-all-work.

I keep the house in order,

do the garden.

That sort of thing.

But the car, and all that?

Belongs to the consul.

That's the man you were trying to steal from.

He's the representative of the German Reich in Switzerland.

I understand that you're disappointed.

Getting so lucky, Herr Schmid,

too good to be true.

I always had bad luck.

I was a kid when the police put me in the orphanage.

The only one of us eight.

I'm the youngest.

And your father?

- Is he also... - Dead?

No, no.

When you said all those nice things,

I imagined becoming a singer.

And how I'd turn up at my dad's place,

in a smart hat and coat,

a lady on my arm.

Then he'd maybe want me back.

That's Erwin Lorenz.

With my humble self.

I can fix you an audition in Berlin, Ernst.

But without a visa...

you won't get into Germany.

And the visa?

Only the consul can issue that.

And you can't persuade the consul?

But perhaps you can?

Where did you go on army service?

It's crazy.

Crazy!

Where did you get all that?

I'd also like to know.

Where's your outfit from?

Ernst has become a singer.

Problem?

No, no, Captain Seiler.

Known them since knee-high.

This is Max and this is Ernst, my ward.

They're your wards?

Careful! Your wards are putting you in the shade!

Yes, be careful, Herr Graf!

Know what your biggest regret would be?

Not dancing with us.

Don't do it, Fräulein Zanelli!

Do what?

Go bathing without me.

Guess what? Flash Harry has proposed to me.

Opportunistic, devious,

with a big old nose for business.

Perfect husband, as far as my father's concerned.

I hope you said no thanks.

I'd sooner chop off my finger than wear his ring.

You look different, man with no name.

Ernst is my name. Fräulein Zanelli.

And I've become a singer.

This suits a singer.

What are you doing?

Counting to make sure none are missing.

Flash Harry isn't worth that.

My father makes all the decisions.

What I wear. Whether I'm allowed to go to the river.

Yes, no, if yes, how long for...

If I'm allowed to study.

Wish I was a man!

That wouldn't help, Fräulein Zanelli.

Fathers are still trouble.

Believe me, I know.

Goddamn it!

You dislike women swearing?

On the contrary. I have a weakness for women who swear.

Slimeball!

Scallywag!

Fannyfart!

- Bastard! - Gimp! Fuck knuckle!

Bastard! Misbegot!

Watch out, Fräulein Zanelli!

I'm Gerti.

If you hurt me, I'll kill you.

Good evening, Herr Schmid.

Well, well.

Erwin.

I'm Ernst.

Why have you come here?

So late at night?

Do you need more money?

Are you ill?

With this our army wins every battle.

Money.

Money.

Money, money.

Always money.

Here. Take it. Take it.

Take it! Help yourself to this revolting pile.

It's what you want.

It's what you all want.

But if this isn't right...

then it's all worth nothing.

Look at me.

Look at me.

You must stay away from me, my boy.

I'm not afraid of you.

Please stay! Stay!

Grandfather! Grandfather!

The King and Queen are here!

Father.

Otto.

We brought something for you.

- Thank you! - Thank you!

Oh, what a cake!

To get your things back.

What do you look like?

One minute you're begging to help me muck out.

The next, here you are puffed up like a peacock!

Ernst got discovered as a singer.

Is this girl talking for you?

Ernst and I are a couple.

A couple?

You two?

A stranger I arrived here

A stranger I depart

And Maytime on me smiled here

With flowers for my heart

The maiden said she loved me

Her mother that we might wed.

Get out!

Get out! Take your filthy money and go to the Devil!

If I steal, you thrash me.

If I work, I do it wrong.

If I get money, you chase me away.

- What do you want of me, Father? - Don't call me father!

You're no son of mine.

You're a feckless dreamer. But no Schrämli.

And a singer? No bloody way!

Shut your mouth!

Shut your damnable mouth!

Stop!

Leave one penny lying here, and I'll kill you!

Ernst!

Wait!

Ernst, none of it matters to me!

What?

Where you come from.

If you'll really become a singer.

I am a singer!

Dear God, why does every male have to take out his moods on me?

You were using me! As a trophy to show your dad!

I should have known.

The consul shoots them.

But he misses them as much as he hates them.

Careful.

There are two kinds of people, Ernst.

The worthy and the unworthy.

Worthy...

are the warriors, who take their due.

After the war, the new world shall be theirs.

The brave ones.

Unworthy,

are the subhumans.

The asocial.

The cripples.

- Herr Schmid? - Yes?

What if...

I'm unworthy too?

You are perfect, Ernst.

Perfect.

You know, Herr Schmid...

Please, Ernst. Call me August.

August.

It's so strict here, it gets in my head.

It gets everywhere.

It makes me ill.

Unfortunately, the consul hasn't said anything yet.

About your visa.

But perhaps we can jog his memory.

I've heard they're building army bunkers in the mountains.

Max!

You were on duty at Fort Heldsberg.

Show me exactly where the bunker entrances are.

Why do you need to know that?

No visa, no Germany.

Germany?

Why do you want to go to Germany?

To be a singer, Max.

But the Germans are our enemies!

Friends, enemies...

I don't care who wins the war.

Just let's get out of here.

If I help you,

can I have a visa too?

For Germany?

Sure! Why not?

You'll see the bunker entrances in these photos.

Let me go, I said!

I've done nothing.

Neither has Max.

Max?

Herr Johann Riebli has made serious accusations against you.

Flash Harry.

Herr Riebli is Zanelli's lawyer.

Do you know what that means?

That you'll believe him, because he's rich.

Ernst!

The vaginal corona is torn through.

An immissio penis is therefore proven.

You can't do this to Gerti!

So you admit knowing her?

The most I'll admit is you're an idiot.

You may go.

Gerti Zanelli is underage.

You've assaulted a child.

I'm of age next birthday.

Don't defend him!

- You went at her in the woods, beast! - I wanted it!

Be happy if Herr Riebli doesn't go public with this!

- I wanted it! - Enough!

You're jealous because you never get a woman.

So.

Take the girl out.

Don't touch me.

You know what angers me the most?

That you refuse every opportunity.

Have you ever taken one single chance I gave you?

Have you ever even tried to change anything about yourself?

Here. You can go.

This is the last time I take a stand for you.

- What do you mean? - I'm no longer your guardian.

Now get out!

Get it into your head, Ernst.

I can't stand you any more.

Just as your father couldn't.

He applied.

To put you in the orphanage.

If I hadn't stepped in, you'd have gone down the drain.

And now... Get out, damn you!

August!

August!

I'm here, Ernst. I'm here.

You promised, about Berlin.

Please. Please, August!

We'll fix this.

You hear me?

We'll get it fixed, Ernst.

But not like this.

Why are you deceiving me?

The consul had your map checked out.

Nothing on it fits. Nothing!

- Maybe my drawing wasn't precise. - Nonsense!

- You were tricking me. - And what if?

Weren't you doing the same to me?

You're the one who misses your chances!

All your life, telling yourself you're worthless, not good enough!

Ernst!

Ernst, do you trust me?

Do you trust me?

Heldsberg.

Hollow-charge grenades.

You know what they look like?

And then?

I get them over the border.

To Germany?

Trust means not questioning everything.

Ernst.

Schrämli!

Two minutes. Not a second more.

Thank you, Captain.

Can you feel it?

It's no bigger than a cat's heart yet.

I'm pregnant!

I'll get money from my father, and we go to Zürich.

We'll build a house,

with a peach tree in the garden, gorge ourselves.

You build a tree house.

And we make more children.

Ernst!

I can't.

I can't be a father.

Did you ask me if I wanted to be a mother?

But I am. I'm going to be.

I don't want to do anything just because I'm expected to.

And you shouldn't either.

What do you want of me?

Do you know what being a single mother means in this country?

Carry on!

Max, put that thing down.

Is that your payment for the visa?

What about me, then?

I tried, but...

You used me.

- What? No! - Used me!

Shh! Max!

Take it.

Take it.

I'll yell.

What do you think'll happen if I get caught?

Should I go to Graf and tell him you gave me photos of Heldsberg?

August. It's me.

August!

Open the door!

I want to see you!

August!

Are you out of your mind?

Coming here like that?

We're under observation!

- Where's August? I must see him. - August is not here.

Meaning?

You will go away at once and never come back.

Shoo!

Where is he?

He is... at home.

Don't lie to me!

His door's locked.

Where!

Schmid doesn't live here.

Hands up! Or I'll shoot!

Ingrid! Come...

August.

Where did you get to?

Why didn't you say you were expecting someone, Gustav?

It was all spontaneous, I'm sorry.

Gustav.

May I present Ernst?

Sorry. How rude of me.

- Elsa. - Can Daddy's friend eat with us?

- No. I think Ernst... - Nonsense, Gustav.

I'm sure Ernst is hungry.

How do you know my husband?

It's business.

And what exactly is your business connection?

Elsa, that's really not important.

Gustav tells me so little.

Sometimes he vanishes for days.

May I tell you a secret, dear lady?

Please do. I love secrets.

Ernst, why...

We have no business connection at all.

Ernst was just picking up a concert ticket. He's a singer.

A singer?

Well, not really...

- It's just... - Sing for us! Please!

Yes, please. How nice.

Stop this!

Ernst sometimes doesn't like to sing.

Sometimes he likes breaking things instead.

What do you break, Ernst?

My God, why are you here?

Who are you? August? Gustav?

What does it matter?

You're no different.

- I thought... - Ernst, Ernst.

Everything I told you was true. Is true.

You stinking liar! You damn coward!

You took the wrong grenades! The wrong ones!

I've risked everything for you, August.

Everything all right?

Just a moment.

- If I can be of any help... - Elsa, please! A moment!

Of course.

August.

Just tell me one thing.

Do you really believe I can be a singer?

August?

August?

August?

Time to go, Ernst.

Gentlemen, I don't need to explain

what the consequences of a US entry into the war would be.

And so, councillor?

So the government

wishes us to be more rigorous about our neutrality.

The government?

I'm telling you what Minister Favre told me.

The cantons are to remember their obligations of neutrality.

In every sphere.

Our economy relies on German business.

Good business, mark you.

I must speak with you, Herr Graf.

You have to help me.

I've done something stupid.

And the grenades?

I took them to him.

And for what? For this outfit?

He promised to help me with my singing.

Get me out of here.

I want to make things right.

Make things right?

The penalty for treason is death.

Schmid wants me to steal more grenades for him.

He takes them over the border himself.

You can catch him there.

Me? What's it got to do with me?

Don't you want to show your boss what you're made of?

I only have one condition.

You let me go afterwards.

Ernst!

Your visa.

Get in. I'll take you over the border.

We'll be in Berlin by tonight, Ernst. Together.

The world belongs to the brave.

You aren't saying anything.

It's too late.

You did the right thing, Ernst.

We can't convict Schmid,

without you as a witness.

I met August... Gustav Schmid by chance.

He said I could become a singer in Berlin.

He said he'd help me get a visa.

Help?

Talk the consul into it.

What did Herr Schmid ask of you in return?

I already told you that.

I marked the places where I'd served, on maps.

And he wanted to know something about Fort Heldsberg.

But I only told him lies.

That made August angry.

So I gave him Max's photos.

You got Max involved in this?

Is everything all right, Herr Graf?

Yes, yes.

So...

And the grenades...

you took to Herr Schmid?

- The wrong ones, the first time. - First time?

How many times was it?

- Two. - So on two occasions,

you stole grenades from your own company's depot?

Yes, Herr Graf.

Can I go at last?

Let me go! Let me go!

This is a misunderstanding.

Herr Graf!

Herr Graf!

No! Please, no! No! No!

Let me out!

I have to talk to Graf!

Herr Graf!

Any news?

Schmid didn't drive to the border.

- There's no trace of the grenades. - And...?

What happens now with Ernst?

He confessed everything?

Well, yes, but...

Investigating those close to you is hard, Graf.

But in these times, we need results.

Which you have delivered.

I'll be recommending you personally to the Chief of Police

as my successor.

I call to order proceedings against Schrämli, Ernst.

Born on 8 September, 1919 at Abtwil, St. Gallen.

Stop the singing, Schrämli.

Or I'll have you removed from the courtroom.

Breach of the obligation to military secrecy

in the service of an enemy power,

incurs a charge of treason.

- Listen, Your Honour... - Silence!

To classify this matter in more detail,

I now call the first witness.

Name?

Gertrud Riebli, born Zanelli.

Frau Riebli, some time ago, your husband

filed a complaint against the accused Ernst Schrämli.

The charge was gross seduction and indecency with a minor.

Your Honour!

What has this to do with a suspicion of treason?

Our aim is to establish the moral constitution

of the accused, Herr Zanelli.

His capacity to integrate within society.

Read that.

"St. Gallen, July 15."

Start at the highlight, please.

"The minor, Fräulein Z.,

tries to escape the grasp of E.S.

He pushes her roughly to the ground, turns her face,

and pulls her dress up.

E.S. penetrates Fräulein Z. with violent thrusts, she screams..."

I know what I ask of you, dear lady.

Dear God, why can't a woman scream in pleasure?

What did you say?

The encounter took place with my consent.

This is your husband's witness statement.

Are you saying he is a liar?

All I'm saying is...

Frau Riebli?

No.

Answer in complete sentences, Frau Riebli.

No, my husband isn't a liar.

Thank you. You may go.

I'd also like to say something.

The grenades, the first time I did steal them for August...

I mean for Herr Schmid.

But the second time only because I planned it with Herr Graf.

Why would Herr Graf instruct you to steal grenades?

So he could arrest Schmid.

Oh please, Schrämli!

- But it's true! - Take him away.

But Herr Graf made me do it!

- Take him away. - Let me go!

Your Honour!

Your Honour!

Let me go!

Let me go!

Gentlemen.

What I'm about to tell you

is a government instruction.

On the Eastern Front,

the Germans may be defeated.

In these new circumstances,

Switzerland finds itself badly placed.

How do we want to be seen after the war?

Minister Favre!

As collaborators with the National Socialists

or as a neutral country?

Which fought against National Socialist tendencies?

We need facts

that can prove this when the need arises.

Of course, the minister is quite right.

In all particulars. But...

I mean, the...

the plans drawn by the soldier Schrämli,

they're... completely unusable.

He's a child. A naïve boy.

Naïve? Herr Graf, please.

He didn't just pass the Germans information, but also weapons.

Our esteemed General Guisan

has given us all we need by declaring martial law.

Let's make use of this.

How?

I mean...

assuming the accused really...

You're asking how it should go?

Nobody wants a spectacle.

Nothing in the market square.

We aren't... barbarians.

We both know that the Swiss arms industry

earns good money supplying weapons to the Germans.

I mean...

ninety percent of our arms exports

go to the Axis powers.

What are you trying to say?

That Ernst's stolen grenades

are not a secret.

We've been selling those to the Germans forever.

- To Switzerland! - Santé.

Listen! Your successful investigation has put you in a very good position.

Would you throw it all away for Schrämli?

Do you want to be a collaborator

with a traitor?

Your decision.

All rise for the verdict.

In the case of Schrämli, Ernst,

Divisional Court 7A finds as follows.

On charges of high treason, espionage

and wilful degradation of Swiss defences,

the accused is found guilty.

Since youth, the accused has shown himself to be

of antisocial and incorrigible character.

From theft and brawling,

to the sexual abuse of a minor.

The court accordingly finds it proven that Ernst Schrämli

betrayed his country out of greed and base motives.

As per the military penal code,

he will be punished with death by firing squad.

If anyone objects to this verdict, let them speak now.

The convict has to pay court costs of 50 francs.

By law.

Chief of Police, Sir.

Please.

Is it spring out there?

It's autumn.

I'll get straight to the point.

There's a chance you can make a plea for clemency to the Parliament.

As Chief of Police, I now have some influence.

I can argue strongly for...

for your conviction to be changed to a prison sentence.

Prison.

How long?

For life.

Like Schmid. Thanks to your statement.

You once said I'd never taken one single chance

you'd given me.

It's true.

But have you ever understood why?

Ever tried to understand?

You were a dreamer. Proud.

A stray dog isn't proud.

Is it a chance to slave away in a textile factory?

A chance to serve your country

by shovelling horse shit?

Your chances are just cover-ups,

so you're not leaving people like me for dead.

And a dreamer? Because I wanted to live like a real person?

Is that not my right?

Of course.

But with healthy self-criticism.

Which you don't have yourself, Herr Graf!

You wander in here like you're some kind of benefactor.

But you're just plagued by your bad conscience.

You let me down, Herr Graf.

All because you wanted to be part of the fine folks.

If we Swiss want to continue living in freedom,

we have to adapt to the balance of power.

We all have to make sacrifices, me too.

But I wouldn't expect a traitor

to understand that.

I've written your plea for clemency.

Sign it.

You will sign that now!

Please!

Ernst!

Listen to me.

They'll shoot you, like a dog.

I want to see my father again.

That's my final wish.

Father!

Why no buttons?

So that no bullet ricochets back.

Father!

Father! Are you there?

Father!

Father!

Father!

If it's any consolation,

your comrades didn't want to carry out the sentence.

But in these times, we have to obey all orders.

Front rank, kneel down!

Cock your weapons!

Take aim!

Fire!

Death has not occurred.

On Nov. 11, 1942, Ernst Schrämli became the first Swiss to be shot for treason.

There would be 16 more.

These were the only fatal shots fired by Swiss soldiers during World War II.

Switzerland continued to supply Germany with weapons.

Until the end of the war.