Original subtitles

MOSFILM STUDIOS

THE FALL OF BERLIN

Part One

Script by P. Pavlenko, M. Chiaureli

Directed by Mikhail Chiaureli

Photography by L. Kosmatov

Music by D. Shostakovich

Art Directors - V. Kaplunovsky, A. Parkhomenko

M. Gelovani as Joseph Stalin

Enacting the leaders of the Party and the Soviet Union:

M. Schtrauch, A. Gribov, N. Ryzhov, G. Belov and others

V. Lyubimov as Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasilevsky

F. Blazhevich as Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov

A. Abrikosov as General Antonov B. Tenin as Lt. General Chuikov

B. Andreev as Alexei Ivanov M. Kovaleva as Natasha Rumyantseva

Yu. Timoshenko as Kostya Zaichenko S. Giatsintova as Ivan's mother

N. Bogolyubov as Khmelnitsky D. Pavlov as Tomashevich

O. Frelikh as Roosevelt V. Stanitsyn as Churchill

V. Saveliev as Hitler M. Novakova as Eva Braun Ya. Verikh as Goering

N. Petrunkin as Goebbels N. Plotnikov as Brauchitsch

V. Pokrovsky as Jodl V. Renin as Rundstedt

A sunny day. The birds fly. The flowers grow, and so do I.

The flowers wither in autumn late.

But I ain't a flower - I'll never fade.

I'll grow and grow becoming strong,

I'll grow up and sing a song.

I'll grow up and sing a song

That everyone is my friend

In this sunny land.

Come on!

Good afternoon, Natalia Vasilievna!

- And where is Lenya Gurov? - There he is.

- Lenya! The excursion! - We are being late!

- Coming! - Hurry up!

Lenya, where have you been?

- Over there. - Found anything interesting?

- Lots of flowers! - Let's go to the steelworks.

A sunny day. The birds fly. The flowers grow, and so do I.

Alyosha, how much did you do?

Compared to yesterday's 9 tons per one square meter?

You are famed as a hero.

Oh, stop it.

- What shall I write down? - Write down.

Eleven tons per one square meter.

But this makes a world record!

Be careful, don't approach it too close.

As I already told you, children...

First steelworks were built in Russia by...

Peter the Great.

Right, the great tsar Peter. Only his steelworks were small.

What's going on? An excursion?

And our journalists were not even informed.

We'll write an article:

'A young pretty teacher visited the steelworks.'

- Please don't. - We won't write this,

but we'll bear it in mind. Do you know about Alex Ivanov?

- No. Why? - He set a world record.

Kostya, tell me more about it.

Eleven tons per one square meter!

Kostya, wait!..

Published in 'Pravda' daily?

I can't believe it. Your word of a Komsomol member?

Hi, Lidia Nikolaevna. Is Vasily Vasilievich here?

- Kostya, you know... - I already know.

Ivanov set yet another record.

- What record? - A world one.

Bring a copy of 'Pravda' daily.

- I need to see Khmelnitsky. - Forget about it.

- I need to tell him. - Go and bring the copy.

Why didn't you produce enough steel?

- An echelon with ore was late? - Vasily Vasilievich...

How many wagons lacking?

- I'll take care of this. - Vasily Vasilievich.

We were awarded with the Order,

Order of the Red Banner!

- Who said this? - It's written in 'Pravda'.

- Where is a copy? - I sent it to your home.

'As per the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviets, to bestow...'

An Order of Lenin for Alyosha Ivanov, and for you, too.

- Congratulations! - Toss him!

Toss the director!

Congratulations!

It means we should work even more better.

Ivan Palych, my congratulations.

- Where are you from? - Congratulations!

- You are here on an excursion? - Yes.

Good for you.

Here is another task for you. To make a report about Ivanov

at the club tonight.

- But I know nothing about him. - Don't worry.

Talk to people and pay a visit to his mother,

she will tell you everything.

Ours is a family of steel-makers.

My late husband was a steel-maker

and so was my father.

Our dynasty goes down to our forefathers.

At first our family lived in the Urals.

And then, under Stalin,

we moved to this city.

We were, so to say,

invited here

to set an example.

You told me such a wonderful story, Antonina Ivanovna,

except you didn't say when he was born.

Oh, yes, of course.

He was born together with the new state,

on October 25, 1917, old style,

that was when he was born.

My late husband used to say:

'Exactly like Aurora battleship,

'you shot a valvo aiming at the old regime,

'by giving birth to our son.'

He is such a wonderful son:

like a shell, he'll destroy any obstacle...

Everything is ours:

the steel that we make,

and the machines that we build from this steel...

I'm so happy

to live in this wonderful time.

I'm happy that people like Alexei Ivanov

are in the vanguard

of my generation...

The country grew before his very eyes,

and he grew and became stronger together with it.

You may say goodbye to our concert, Victor.

Listen how she is extolling him.

"A hero, Man of the future...'

Relax, Kostya. You'll sing, and I'll play my new composition -

and she will sing praise to us, too.

She is saying all this because it's her public duty.

And I want to add something else.

To whom do we owe the victories of the present time?

Who opened these great possibilities for us?

You all know the name I'm thinking about now...

And, you know...

It would be the greatest happiness for me

to see him

and to tell him

how I...

But because it's impossible,

I will simply say:

Long live Stalin!

For he gave birth to us

into this great and happy existence!

Long live Stalin!

Great done. Good for you.

I just said what I felt.

And this is his mother.

What an orator. A real nightingale.

You did a big honor to our family.

Alyosha, you could have at least said 'thank you'.

Thank you from my very heart.

Your report left me blushing.

Thank you for your great record.

Allow me, as an affiliated musician,

- to see you home. - No, I will see her home,

as an affiliated steel-maker, so to say.

- Let's go? - The pleasure was all his.

Let's go?

Mother,

go home. I'll be back soon.

What means my name to you? ...'twil die

As does the melancholy rumour

Of distant waves, or of a summer,

The forest's hushed nocturnal sigh.

Who wrote this?

Pushkin.

Well, maybe.

And this one?

A long, unending wall

This building site

The sun of million furnaces

Siberia will ignite.

- Mayakovsky. - Right.

- It's here that you live? - Yes.

- Maybe you'll come in? - No, thanks. It's quite late.

Thank you very much.

Good bye.

You walk in the wrong way.

And where is the gate?

Over there.

I have two tickets to a concert tomorrow. Will you come with me?

Of course. With great pleasure.

Come and pick me up tomorrow.

No. I'll be waiting near the club.

All right.

- Bye. - Bye.

- Bye. - Bye.

Why do I love you so much,

Oh, bright night.

Oh, what a pleasure and anguish it is to watch you...

Oh, why do I love you so much,

Quiet night.

'tis not me but others

That you fill

With serenity...

The stars and the Moon, the firmament and the clouds...

This light

That moves along the cold granite

Turns the dew on the flower

Into diamonds...

Or, like a golden path,

It stretches along the sea surface...

Airport? We're coming.

- Am I disturbing? - Come in.

Come on in.

Vasily Vasilievich, let me leave on a vacation

or send me away to study. I can't stay here anymore.

Hi. Sit down.

I wish I could clip your ears,

but you're a lucky devil, you know.

You're being summoned to Moscow.

Even the North Pole would be all right for me now.

Who summons me?

Stalin.

I ain't going there,

not in your life. It's impossible!

- Just think what you're saying. - Vasily Vasilievich,

I won't be able to pull myself together and talk to him.

Oh, you are going to talk...

Alyosha... He will be the one talking to you.

And you'll be the one listening and getting wiser,

you lucky man.

Let's go. The plane is waiting.

We're flying together. We'll stick to each other.

Let's go.

Comrade Stalin, steel-maker Ivanov has arrived on your order.

Let him come here.

Do you know why he wants to see me?

Maybe I can skip it all?

I can't go there. Please let me go.

Do I need to report or something?

- You better summon Khmelnitsky. - And this is comrade Stalin.

- Hi. - Hi, Vissarion Ivanovich...

Oh, I'm sorry.

Vissarion Ivanovich was my father,

and my name is Joseph Vissarionovich.

- I know, comrade Stalin. - Come with me...

I was waiting for you, Alex.

I even don't know why. I couldn't sleep.

And I told Stalin how much I love you.

- Are you crazy? - Why not?

And what did he say?

He said: "Don't be afraid of poetry.

"You should love her, and your love will be returned."

You're making all this up. I don't believe you.

I swear by God, this is exactly what he said.

He also said: "And if she won't love you, write straight to me."

Alyosha, I love you so much,

so much that it seems to me

my own life

and all life around me

has become many times better

and more beautiful,

since that day

when I fell in love with you.

Alyosha, Alex...

Natasha...

Look, Alyosha...

What is this?

Natasha!..

What's wrong with you?

Alyosha, darling, what's going on?

Are you all right? Are you hurt?

- Where are we? What happened? - Let's go.

Natasha, darling... Mother! Mother!

Alyosha!

The order the German Army is going to install

is very humane!

The Russian nation

or any Slavs, for that matter, can't live on their own.

We shall install a new order.

We shall install it all around the world.

Three months thereafter...

Alyosha!

Who is this?

Kostya...

- And where is Natasha? - What are you talking about?

Germans have approached Moscow.

What?! And where is Stalin?

Stalin is in Moscow.

He is our only hope.

Without Stalin in Moscow, we'll be done for.

Germans near Moscow?

I can't believe it.

It's autumn already. You have been unconscious for three months.

But where is Natasha? Where is she?

She is alive.

Our folks said

Germans hanged some of her pupils.

As for Natasha...

She was driven away to Germany.

Natasha has disappeared.

Alyosha, I must bring you to the plant.

We should organize the production process.

Production process...

Natasha is in captivity...

Germans are near Moscow...

Production process...

My only mission can be only to produce dead sauerkrauts.

Alyosha, where are you to?

Germans are rallying forces.

According to our Intelligence, the 3rd and 4th tank groups

of Gott and Huebner are moving to north-western borders of Moscow.

I see...

They're planning to close the pincers on Moscow.

Their blitzkrieg has failed,

so now they are trying to resort to a concentric assault.

Go on.

In the centre, the 4th German Army is being reinforced, too.

In the south it is Guderian's 2nd army group versus our Tula.

Guderian's ordnance is being replenished.

All in all, according to our Intelligence,

they are gathering about 50 divisions near Moscow.

It seems, the Germans are preparing for a decisive attack.

And because they have concentrated on the flanks

powerful tank groups,

the attack will come from the south and the north simultaneously.

Such is the enemy's plan.

Yes...

Hitler has at his disposal all west-European resources,

with 300 million odd population,

which is no joking matter.

We need to hold out.

By wearing them down,

we need to buy some time

that we need to prepare a counter-offensive.

Yes, comrade Stalin.

We are short of soldiers and armaments.

We would need at least 150 more tanks.

150 tanks...

You can have only 18. Plus armor shells.

- They are fight-worthy. - Very fight-worthy.

Three thousand shells would be good.

Three thousand would not be enough.

But as for now you can have only two hundred.

You will have everything the moment you begin the offensive.

Hitler's tricky strategy

is to cause panic in our ranks.

To keep calm would mean to disrupt their plans.

What about anti-tank trenches?

I hope we'll make them in time.

Scherbakov has been handling this for four days already.

He said we'll make it.

Comrade Stalin, tomorrow is November 7.

What about the parade?

There will be a parade.

Their aviation is going wanton.

There has always been a parade on this day,

and so it will be tomorrow.

Shall I inform members of the Politburo?

Please do.

Do inform them.

Dear members of the Red Army and Red Fleet,

commanders and commissars,

workers

and collective farmers,

intellectual workers,

all brothers and sisters in the rear of our enemy,

all of you who have found themselves under the German sway.

I'm also addressing our glorious partisans...

It is in the dire circumstances

that we are celebrating today the 24th Anniversary

of the Great October Revolution.

The perfidious invasion of German rogues

and the war imposed upon us

have left our country in great danger.

Notwithstanding temporary defeats,

our Army and our Fleet

are heroically rebuffing the enemy's attack

along the entire frontline,

inflicting serious damage upon Germans.

Fascists will never step into Moscow.

For our Homeland! For Stalin!

We can and we must defeat the German invaders.

We have a wonderful Army

and a wonderful Fleet

defending selflessly the freedom

and independence of our country.

All peoples

of our huge country

are the stalwart of our Army and Fleet,

helping them to scatter the evil hordes

of German fascists.

On many occasions already

has our Red Army put to flight

the vaunted German troops.

Greetings from Spain, my Fuhrer.

President Ismet Inonu asked to tell you

about his admiration with your military victories.

Japan is celebrating your victory, my Fuhrer.

The Holy See sendeth their blessing

to German heroes of Moscow.

The Holy See has long ago connected their fate

with your fate, my dear Fuhrer.

Dear Orsenigo!

I can't wait to read an encyclic denouncing Bolshevism.

It is with a greater pleasure

that I would see you on St. Peter's Throne.

You are a true Nazi, Orsenigo.

A storm trooper’s uniform would befit you more than a cassock.

Gentlemen,

Moscow is lying at Germany's feet!

The gates to Russia are wide open!

I'm rewinding historical watch many centuries ahead!

Communism will be done for, once and for all.

And the reward for our victory would be

German borders stretching as far as the Urals.

We'll have Ukrainian grain and coal,

Caucasian oil,

Russian, Ukrainian

and Belorussian slaves.

There they are.

Them bastards are celebrating.

- They seized Moscow. - Impossible...

Silence!

I'm all right.

These slaves will have robust German masters.

Anyway, gentlemen,

it's high time to proceed from compliments

to real help.

Jodl, what is the news from the front?

Haven't my troops entered Moscow yet?

The troops are waned by unending battles.

They need a respite before delivering a decisive blow.

I don't think Russians will give away Moscow so easily.

Don't talk nonsense.

Russian army doesn't exist.

I destroyed it.

Who can ever offer resistance now?

A handful of Stalinist fanatics?

My order was to seize Moscow on November 7.

Which means today. Seize Moscow!

Long live our fatherland,

free and independent!

Under the banner of Lenin - to victory!

It is Stalin's address, my Fuhrer.

They seem to be holding a parade in Red Square.

A parade? How on earth?

Moscow is on its last leg already.

Damn, send one thousand planes,

send them into the air, against Moscow!

Not a single German plane broke through to Moscow.

Not a single German invader entered Moscow.

You're worthless, Brauchitsch!

I made you field-marshal

not for you to lose a war which began so brilliantly.

Let me remind you, my Fuhrer,

the prophetic words of Friedrich der Grosse

warning us against entering Russia...

I don't want even to hear about this!

Bismarck, too, voiced the same warning.

I do not care about Bismarck's behests.

I only know about what I foreordained.

The only word - 'forward!' - is inscribed on my banner!

Didn't you read Mein Kampf?

A war with Russia, my Fuhrer,

is something one knows how to begin,

but doesn't know to how to ever end it.

You promised political degradation of the Soviet Union -

and that's why we came to Russian expanses.

But degradation did not become a fact -

I should say, the opposite happened.

We shall have to wage a long

- and tedious war. - Shut up, Brauchitsch!

Just imagine what a powerful fist

I rose over this Asian country

which has already lost its best commanders.

All European industry and all its vital resources

are under my control.

American business circles are on my side.

Who and what can ever withstand me? Eh?

The only problem is the Russian winter

and not Russians. And you're my problem, too, Brauchitsch.

- You are a faint-hearted coward! - Winter is not what is the matter.

Brauchitsch!

You are a traitor and a deserter!

The victory outlined by me should become reality!

Rundstedt!

Take over the commandment.

My Fuhrer,

I can't accept your appointment.

It is sheer insanity to war against Russia.

If we could not defeat it in 1914,

when it was a backwards country,

the more so we won't be able to do it now.

What?

The strategy of the German campaign in the East

suffered a fiasco...

Oh, really?

Conspiracy!

Conspiracy!

I will teach you how to wage this war.

I myself will lead the army.

The blitzkrieg doctrine

is described in my book.

One only has to read it properly!

Communism is not only our enemy.

We are in the vanguard, followed by Britain and America.

You don't seriously believe, do you,

that Churchill is sincere in taking Stalin's side.

Generals, you are afraid of Russia.

But we are already in Russia.

We should make use of all resources.

We should drain Europe dry, all of them.

Italy, Romania, Hungary - everything into the furnace!

We should appeal to Spain, France, Sweden and Turkey.

I will head

this Crusade!

Let London and Washington know

that I'm doing their job for them.

Do your hear me?

I'm doing their job!

You are tired, my Fuhrer.

You need to take some rest.

Yes,

you need some rest, my Fuhrer.

Yes,

I do need some rest...

Calm down, Adolf.

You know, Eva, I will destroy Moscow one day.

Only if it were not for winter,

- I would've already seized Moscow. - Yes, darling. You're omnipotent.

You should wash your hair with that elixir every day.

Show me your nails.

Tut-tut...

Mussolini's nails are always neat.

And I will end that war in Stalingrad.

I will end with Stalin - in Stalingrad. How symbolical.

- Don't you think so? - Oh yes, of course.

Only you could come up with such a great idea.

Yes, only I.

You are right.

I'm a genius.

To end with Stalin - in Stalingrad.

I will close gigantic pincers on Russia.

I will tear it asunder, on the Volga River,

I will strangle Moscow.

This is fantastic! An ingenuous plan, my Fuhrer.

My Fuhrer, our resources are coming to an end.

It is next to impossible to launch a massive attack.

Farben Industry provides us with gasoline.

And what about these dumb-headed Englishmen

which are too slow with the deliveries of wolframium?

Or maybe they think I'm shedding our blood for their pleasure?

They must provide us with chromium and wolframium.

Otherwise I will conclude peace with Bolsheviks

and let them penetrate into Europe.

My Fuhrer, I have already summoned Bedston.

Who is Bedston?

Representative of British companies in Sweden.

He is closely connected with the ruling circles of Britain.

- Closely connected? - Yes.

Good.

Reichsmarschall, there is a guest from London.

Bring him in.

I'm so glad, dear Mr. Bedston,

that you accepted my invitation.

When I was approaching your castle,

I took it for the Siegfriedstellung.

Charles Bedston. From England?

Yes.

Feel at home, Mr. Bedstone.

Your collection has grown significantly.

- This is from the Kiev Museum. - How interesting.

And this is from Louvre.

A present from Vienna.

Mussolini's Venetian gift...

Dutch paintings...

With compliments - from Franco...

All world treasures in your castle.

As for now - only European treasures.

To be honest, dear Goering,

I was not very enthusiastic when leaving London.

It is my third visit to you, as you remember.

This time I, an old friend of Britain,

invited you, dear Bedston,

to ask you to do me a personal favor.

Why couldn't you fly to Britain yourself, in Hess' fashion?

Oh, no.

They have not invented a parachute

strong enough to carry me.

This way, please.

My request to you is the following:

Stalingrad Battle is devouring all our resources and reserves.

Americans are coming with a big air raid.

We can go down to a bomb shelter.

These American raids is just smoke and mirrors.

- Please go on. - For a new offensive

we are badly in need of tanks.

As you know, steel-hardening implies chromium and wolframium.

Which we don't have enough from Turkey.

For the sake of saving

the Western civilization from barbarians,

you must help us, Bedston.

Ours is not only the German cause.

You're just poor warriors, Goering.

Do not forget that you are dealing with Stalin,

who is a great commander.

You should do away with that madman of yours.

Germany has invested so much

into Hitler, it is too late

to change him for someone else.

Besides, he is very popular among common people.

Tell me frankly, Goering,

are you going to take Stalingrad sooner or later?

The scales of the war are balancing not in your favor,

while we did everything to help you.

There is no Second Front,

and it's a big question whether we'll open it at all.

You should value this fact.

We do. And we shall take Stalingrad.

Adolf announced about his nation-wide.

Nothing ever can drive us out of there.

You must believe me: we shall take Stalingrad.

When?

As soon as you provide us with chromium and wolframium.

- With how much? - 20 thousand tons, urgently.

- Unthinkable! - Let us not bargain.

We are your stronghold.

If we don't cope with Russia,

you and America will have to start everything anew.

Don't moralize me, Goering.

Where and how?

A representative of 'Vickers-Armstrongs'

will be waiting for a representative of 'Krupp' in Stockholm.

- To our Stalingrad! - To your troops in Stalingrad.

As they say in Russia, hurrah...

Hurrah...

Commander Chuikov.

Hi, friends.

You fought brilliantly!

We saw how you did this.

Especially you, Sergeant.

Your exploit - is an example for all.

Sergeant, on behalf of our state,

I award you with the Order of Red Banner.

Always faithful!

Commander, Sir.

What's all this 'hurrah' about?

Stalin once said: 'The sun will shine on our side of the fence'.

So, this day has come.

The Donskoy and Stalingrad fronts have joined forces.

The Germans are surrounded.

This is the great turning point in the war.

- Commander, Sir. - Yes?

- Permission to speak? - Permission granted.

There is the word circulating

that Stalin has arrived.

That he is here.

There was never a time when we fought without Stalin.

Stalin is always with us.

- Exactly. - Yeah.

Stalingraders did a great a job.

They showed to all these Moltkes,

Schlieffens, Ludendorffs and Keitels.

It was not without good reason

that Germany lived through two major defeats.

- Alyosha! - What?

- Do you know where we are? - Of course I do.

Our club.

It was here that I saw her for the first time.

Our school...

Natasha's school...

Take that!

- You, dirty dog! - We'll need him yet.

- Yes, we will. - You, devil.

Death to Fascists!

- Stop! - Stop, I said!

Yusup, tie him up.

Kostya, Yusup!

And this here used to be my house.

This one?

Over there was our room.

Come with me.

I grew up here, brother.

Oh, my poor old mother,

what they have done to you...

Who are you?

Are you wounded?

My God... Alyosha.

- You're alive! - Kostya Zaichenko!

- You're back? - I'm not back yet.

I'm not back.

I'm going to the West.

- Any news? - What can we say...

They drove Natasha away...

You, bastard, what do you think you are doing?

The war is not about killing children and women, you bastard.

I'm not a bastard. I'm an officer.

The cause of history

is that Germany moves ahead

and the Soviets - backwards!

Who told you this?

Adolf Hitler, my Fuhrer.

Oh, yeah, so this is what he said?

Very well then...

I swear by God - you'll die like a swine!

Don't, Yusup.

We are not going to kill him.

We shall put him to a special kind of execution.

- I don't agree with your approach. - Stop it, Yusup.

- Where are you from? - Berlin, Friedrichstrasse.

When I come to that Friedrichstrasse,

I will turn your house into a pulp!

The war will never reach Berlin!

Wait, Yusup.

Did you hear what I said?

I will turn your Berlin into ashes.

And so what you will cry bloody murder then.

I didn't touch you - you were the ones who came here. I'm kind.

So don't you thwart me, you bastard,

- keep your mouth shut. - I don't agree with your approach.

I want to live and see that day

when someone like him

will say by himself: 'may Hitler be damned

'for giving birth to me,

'and may I be damned for giving birth to Hitler!'

Do you hear

them flying?

Do you hear?

Our planes flying to your Berlin.

Feel this to the fullest:

like begets like.

You will have all of it.

See?

The historical Yalta conference was under way.

Due to unfavorable weather,

the operation was postponed till late January.

But because of disquieting situation

on the Western Front -

in the Ardennes, Germany had begun an offensive against our Allies -

our Supreme Commandment

ordered to begin the campaign

not later than in the middle of January.

During the first 18 days of this campaign

the Soviet Army smashed 45 German divisions

and proceeded 570 km to the West

thus reaching Oder River

near Custrin.

Our commanders,

by carrying out auxiliary operations on the flanks,

have over-extended the enemy's resources.

Thus the mission outlined by the Supreme commandment

was fulfilled.

Following this campaign,

Germany transferred to the Eastern Front

16 divisions. Another 5 divisions

are on their way. 30 more divisions waiting for redeployment.

Which amounts to more than 50 divisions.

In our mind, the Allies’ aviation

should attack the enemy's communications

thus preventing redeployment of troops

from Western Front and Italy - to the East.

They should begin the offensive in early February.

General Eisenhower thinks that

decisive activization is impossible.

Our forces are in a chaotic state,

there are great difficulties connected with supply support.

It's too early,

too early to talk

about beginning this campaign,

when Anglo-American troops have not crossed yet

the Siegfriedstellung,

when there is the Rhine River

and half-finished armies in front of us.

We are in a very serious situation.

But it is right now that the chances are favourable for you.

Germany has suffered a major defeat

on the Soviet front.

They have been stopped in the Ardennes.

You're right, but we need time.

Everything depends on strategy.

If it should be the unending

war of patrols, like it already happened,

one can make no progress even 5 years thereafter.

Make no progress?

Should your specialists

have shared with us the technique of crossing river-lines,

we would have been on the other side of Rhine already.

Besides, this time your blow

cannot have a stronger momentum than it was in January.

Such is the rule of diminishing force,

the relentless rule of the war.

This rule doesn't work in Soviet strategy.

Your troops being

70-80 km from Berlin means nothing at all.

The Germans were even closer to Moscow.

But we know how it all ended.

Our soldiers

have excelled Germans in military technique.

Your offensive would be fraught with a risk:

in your rear, in Kurland,

there are 30 German divisions,

a 500 thousand strong army.

Plus 27 divisions in Eastern Prussia.

And another 20 German divisions scattered in other hot spots.

The worse it is for Germany:

it will leave them with less troops to protect Berlin.

As for the army groups you mentioned,

they are surrounded and doomed to death.

You risk a lot by having this ambition

to be the first entering Berlin.

Should we do it altogether,

that would serve the idea of united nations.

If the Allies' commandment

begin all due military activity in the West,

then you may consider all of us

just one step away from the battle for Berlin.

Gentlemen...

We are not ready for this last battle.

Before delivering this blow

we should agree upon basic questions.

We have already come to this basic agreement

both here and back in Teheran.

I do not think there are any serious contradictions between us.

We have agreed about the occupation of Germany

and control measures after its defeat.

But we did it only in general.

We have specified the size of reparations.

Yes, only conditionally.

As far as I remember, it was an unconditional point.

We unanimously agreed about the veto power in UN

and we specified our common point of view

considering Poland's western borders.

Conditionally,

- only conditionally. - What do you mean?

During the period of 30 years

on two occasions, Poland had been used as the gates

to unleash the war against the Soviet Union.

These gates should be closed once and for ever

by creating there a powerful and friendly state.

There is nothing conditional in this matter.

My mission will not be over

if I do not provide Ukraine, Poland and Byelorussia

with peace they deserved for their heroism.

Haste is not my style.

We should not be in any haste.

The countries need peace.

We can and we must install peace

as soon as possible.

For the longest possible period, too.

Mister Stalin,

I cannot decide the outcome of the war and forget about Japan.

It will happen three months after we defeat Hitler.

I told you that much back in Teheran,

that you can rely on the assistance

of the Soviet armed forces in your war against Japan.

So, in three months.

You think so?

I'm repeating again: in three months.

Agreed.

- Conditionally? - This time - unconditionally.

Sir...

I have the last friendly request to you,

my dear fellow-soldier.

I'm asking you to drink the health of the British king.

The king?

You know very well, Mr. Churchill, that I'm against monarchy.

But I'm your guest, Mr. Stalin.

I'm kindly asking you.

Well, if it is so important to you,

I'm ready to please you.

Whose health you drinking?

I offered a toast for the king.

I drink the health of Kalinin.

End of Part One

MOSFILM STUDIOS

Part Two

Script by P. Pavlenko, M. Chiaureli

Directed by Mikhail Chiaureli

Photography by L. Kosmatov

Music by D. Shostakovich

M. Gelovani as Joseph Stalin

Enacting the leaders of the Party and the Soviet Union:

M. Schtrauch, A. Gribov, N. Ryzhov, G. Belov, R. Simonov, G. Pasechnik, A. Khanov

V. Lyubimov as Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasilevsky

S. Blinnikov as Marshal of the Soviet Union Konev

B. Livanov as Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky

F. Blazhevich as Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov

K. Bartashevich as General Sokolovsky

A. Abrikosov as General Antonov

B. Andreev as Alexei Ivanov M. Kovaleva as Natasha Rumyantseva

Yu. Timoshenko as Kostya Zaichenko A. Urazaliev as Yusup

D. Dubov as Egorov G. Tatishvili as Kantaria

V. Saveliev as Hitler M. Novakova as Eva Braun

Ya. Verikh as Goering N. Petrunkin as Goebbels

V. Kenigson as Krebs V. Andjaparidze as Hans’s mother

V. Pokrovsky as Jodl K. Gomola as Linge

So what next?

Who will seize Berlin?

- Will it be us or the Allies? - It will be us, sir.

This is what Reuters Agency writes:

"The Allies troops are moving ahead

"without almost no hindrance,

"the only problem being bomb craters

"and destroyed bridges.

"As yet not a single shot has been made."

From London paper:

"Germans dragging along the roads, only wishing to surrender."

We should bear in mind: Germans may give away Berlin

to Anglo-American troops without offering any resistance.

We should take urgent means in this connection.

We are planning to carry out

the final attack against Germany

on April 16.

The 1st Belorussian Front will strike Berlin.

The 1st Ukrainian Front will approach from the left,

and the 2nd Belorussian Front - from the north.

Any ideas? Proposals?

My front stretches as far as the sea.

If Rokossovsky takes the place

of my troops on the right flank,

I’ll be able to reinforce the centre and be ready by April 16.

Anything you need?

I would need artillery reinforcement,

to provide for the gunfire density

of 220 cannons per one kilometer.

It would be very helpful, sir.

I think you would rather need

at least 280 cannons per one kilometer.

And provide yourselves with a bigger amount of tanks.

Anyway, soon we'll reforge them into ploughs.

We're not living in the year 1941 anymore.

We have enough of everything.

Soldiers and armaments being more than enough

to carry out the Berlin operation.

So, if Rokossovsky replaces you on the right flank,

- you will make it by the 16th? - Yes, sir.

Comrades - be ready for the final battle.

High time to end this war,

high time.

Oh, what a voice I used to have, guys.

Such a clear, tender voice.

They even were going to send me to Conservatory.

You don't say so!

If it were not for this damned war,

I would have already performed in Bolshoi Theatre.

Did you hear that, Yusup?

Alyosha, why are they laughing?

Why have we stopped?

- We moved, but suddenly we stopped. - He is impatient to move on.

His Natasha was driven away to Germany.

Alyosha, but maybe she is still alive.

If only she was alive...

Natasha...

And you know, guys, why I lost my beautiful voice?

- Why? - Because of all this stress.

Why have we stopped?

Just you wait, guys.

When we're in Berlin, my voice will be restored.

I will sing atop the Reichstag, you know...

Oh, why do I love you so much,

Quiet night.

Oh, what a pleasure and anguish it is to watch you...

Full ahead to Berlin

- Sergeants: Yusupov! - Here!

- Ivanov! - Here!

- Zaichenko! - Here!

- Egorov! - Here!

- Kantaria! - Here!

- Ischadov! - Here!

- Scherbina! - Here!

- Privates: Polinchuk! - Here!

- Shubkin, Prygunov! - Here!

Dear warriors of the Stalingrad Battle!

The great day

for all soldiers

and all Soviet people has come!

We are moving towards Berlin,

with the banner we have been carrying since Stalingrad!

In the name of our country and Lenin's behests!

In the name of great Stalin!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

For our Motherland! For Stalin! Charge!

Hurrah!

The Russians have broken through the right flank of the 101st Corps,

in the sector of 'Berlin' Division. We're suffering heavy casualties.

Volkssturm!

Volkssturm to defend Berlin!

Call everyone to arms!

Germany is in danger.

Only those loyal to me selflessly,

only those who believe in victory can win!

Goebbels!

In these days of trial I entrust

the destiny of Germany into your hands.

I ordain upon you the high mission

of imperial commissar

of the defense of Berlin.

I will not spare my life, oh my Fuhrer,

to live up to your trust!

The Russians have broken through the 303rd Infantry Division

which is now asking for reinforcement.

The situation is very disquieting.

Employ Kurmark motorized division.

- Our last reserve. - Yes, Kurmark!

The Russians have broken through

in-between the 11th and 56th tank corpses.

There are heavy casualties. They are asking for reinforcement.

Don't let Russian pass - at any price!

Employ the 18th motorized division.

The 11th and 56th tank corpses are retreating towards Berlin.

Have the commander shot to death!

Circulate the order: not a single step back,

even if there are American tanks in Berlin already.

Send forth Nordland division to cover up the breakthrough!

Good news, my Fuhrer.

Churchill and Eisenhower are in a disagreement. A conflict!

Americans refused to attack Berlin

due to problems in the rear. Your genius has foreseen this.

I'll set the English against Americans,

and both parties - against Russia!

I'll knock them together, bickering!

And another piece of news, my Fuhrer.

Our 9th Army counterattacked the Russians

and stopped them at Seelower Heights.

Russians will never take Berlin!

I will defend it personally!

Redeploy our troops from Elbe River - to Berlin.

Let the Americans hurry up.

They must stop the Russians.

Wenck's army should move to the positions to defend Berlin.

He should do it now!

I'm telling you - Russians will never enter Berlin!

To Berlin!

Alyosha, wait. Today we won't manage.

We will. Should you move back - I'll kill you!

Why move back? We'll move ahead!

Charge!

Charge! To Berlin!

We'll never seize these damned Seelower Heights.

- What heights? - Seelower.

Seelower...

May devil take them...

Duck!

Charge!

Tie him up!

You devil.

A good identification prisoner.

- An SS one. - How many tanks are there?

Shut up!

You are the prisoner.

Russ - surrender!

You son of a bitch.

I'm almost in Berlin, and you want me to surrender?

Who is in Berlin?

You? Never!

Only with your hands raised.

We'll fight until Americans are here, and then...

Devil take him!

There he is, talking about Americans. Yusup, take him away.

A useful prisoner. A tankman.

Our men have just captured a tankman - corporal Hans Anderer.

He said, Hitler's order was to fight to the last,

even if there are American tanks in Berlin already.

So, they are waiting for Americans.

Send the testimony of this captive to the General Staff HQ.

Come in.

There is a message from Zhukov.

Read it.

A war prisoner corporal Hans Anderer said

they had Hitler's order

to hold Oder to the very last.

Anderer said: "We should not let Russians come near Berlin

“even if there are American tanks in Berlin already.”

Who said this?

Some corporal? An unreliable source of information.

The difficulties the 1st Belorussian Front is facing

are obvious to us as it is.

Wire to Zhukov:

"Pay no attention to the testimony of the captured corporal."

Hitler is weaving a web of intrigues

around Berlin,

trying to cause disagreement between the Allies.

We should cut off this web

by taking Berlin by our own forces.

We can do this and we must do this.

Inform Rokossovsky:

"Not later than April 24

"and using our main forces -

"to proceed further to the south-west,

"by-passing Berlin and delivering a north-wards blow,

"thus covering up Zhukov's troops on the north-west."

Put me through to Konev.

Comrade Konev? Good evening.

Zhukov is stuck.

Readdress Rybalko's and Lelyushenko's tank armies

towards Zehlendorf,

by-passing Berlin on the south,

as per our previous agreement.

Your troops should join

Zhukov's forces in the region of Potsdam

thus encircling Berlin.

I wish you luck.

Soon everything will be over for Berlin.

Katya!

Mister Zizka!

Comrade Pasic!

It's our planes!

I can know them by the sound.

Look!

Look, they are coming again!

They are coming!

Let them bomb everything here!

Let them bomb everything!

Let them raze this damned camp to the ground!

We've no time for evacuation. Drive them inside and kill them all!

My dear friends!

The time has come!

Let us challenge them before they kill us!

Let's go! Emilio, let's go!

I want to go back to my mother!

The war took away her husband and her brother!

Don't shoot! Are you mad? I'm an American!

Johnson, tell them.

Impossible to find reason with beasts!

Natasha!

Natasha!

Natasha!

Kostya, I think Natasha is here!

Someone is calling for me!

- Tanks! - Our tanks!

Our tanks!

Hurrah!

They walked amongst fire,

they came to save us...

She is neither among the dead, nor among the quick...

My Fuhrer, the situation is critical.

Russians broke through the Seelower defense line.

Some extraordinary measures should be taken.

You believe that the war is over, don't you?

You are wrong, Krebs.

It's all the other way round:

never before have the developments been so favorable.

Let's proceed to the bomb shelter, my Fuhrer.

Berlin is in the danger of encirclement.

Gentlemen!

Berlin is in no danger!

The orders I issued

and the new armaments will change the situation.

I think you should hide in your bunker, my Fuhrer.

Hot days, eh.

But not to worry, not to worry!

I have prepared a surprise for them.

Blondie...

Is it safe here? Where are we?

We are beneath 8 m of reinforced concrete.

Nice ventilation. Communication with the fronts.

Not a single sound will penetrate here.

- Not a single sound of life. - What did you say?

It's a touch-and-go. In Berlin the fate of Germany will be decided.

The moment you talk about Russians, you begin shivering.

You still can't overcome the stress of the year 1941?

Today I came to a final decision.

Keitel and Jodl will take the plane to join Doenitz.

Goering will take care of preparing the Alpine base.

You will go to western regions.

And I will be defending Berlin.

Goebbels and Bormann will remain here with me.

Here in Berlin I will have Stalin

and Allies at loggerheads. Thus I'll win this war.

And you will see what strong will means.

Blondie!

Persuade him to leave Berlin, and it will be left unharmed.

You know very well that Hitler only brings misfortune.

What are you talking about? It's too late.

Russian tanks have entered Luckenwalde.

- What? - Russian tanks are in Luckenwalde.

This wounded soldier says that Russian tanks are in Luckenwalde.

It's impossible!

Impossible!

This is Krebs.

Tell to the Fuhrer cautiously

that Russian tanks broke through southern approaches to Berlin

and are swiftly advancing on their way.

Berlin is holding out!

It is holding out for the sake of Germany and all Western Europe.

New forces are coming to our rescue.

The Bolsheviks will be smashed,

smashed right here in Berlin.

Berlin will remain a German capital to the end of times.

The Fuhrer will never abandon Berlin.

The Soviet tanks will be stopped by a new weapon

never used before.

Goebbels thinks his long tongue is such a new weapon.

No way it can stop me, let alone Russians.

And our dear Fuhrer can't wait to run away to Bavaria.

A new weapon, ha.

Fritz!

Take this to Mueller's on Kurfurstenstrasse.

He is connected with Americans, so he will keep it.

Is the plane waiting?

- I'm coming. - Shall I bring your best suit?

Bring a parasuit.

Nowadays you're in your best suit when you're in a coffin only.

I wonder whether they will show my ultimatum to him.

What a scoundrel!

- Who is a scoundrel? - Goering, my Fuhrer.

We expected it coming.

Goering betrayed you.

Goering

wants me to retire!

Just listen to this...

If I don't, by 22 p.m.,

pass the supreme power to him, he will take it by himself...

Dirty pig! Counterfeiter!

He wants my supreme power!

This stinky pig wants to rule over Germany!

I will order to hold his public execution!

On April 25, on the west direction to Potsdam,

the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front

joined forces with the 1st Ukrainian Front

thus accomplishing the encirclement of Berlin.

Where is the army of that wretched Wenck?

Why is he so slow? Did you send my orders to him?

Wenck is cut off, my Fuhrer.

Berlin is surrounded by the Soviet troops.

What a brilliant operation. Unimaginable!

Where are those damned Americans?

Krebs, do everything to help them

to get to Berlin as soon as possible.

I will send them into confrontation with each other!

They will be at each other's throats before my very eyes!

Do you hear me?

My Fuhrer...

My Fuhrer...

We intercepted American radio.

Himmler offered Americans peace on any conditions.

You are heroically defending Berlin,

and he is playing a double game, traitor.

All your generals are swines...

Swines!..

An ultimatum!

To me! - from Himmler,

that runt

whom I have turned into a man.

No cup has passed me by…

There is no such treachery

which did not touch me...

This is the end.

All your generals are traitors, they all abandoned you...

Betrayed you...

Yes, it's time to step down…

My will... Be quick... my will...

I decided to leave...

At the present moment Germany should...

But before you do this,

Adolf, I want to become your wife.

It is vulgar to die just being your mistress.

Yes,

we shall get wed.

Call for a pastor...

Summon Americans quickly...

Stalin!...

He put all of them to their knees...

But maybe it is not the end... I will not give in...

- There is a hope yet. - Shall I write it all down?

To write what? It's too late.

Soon they will show me in the waxworks museum...

I'm a victim...

I’m doomed to Golgotha...

Good morning, my Fuhrer.

When is my wedding?

What wedding are you talking about?

The Russians are fighting in the metro, 200 m away from us.

In the metro?

Inundate it with Spree waters.

- But there are many children there. - It doesn't matter.

And thousands of wounded.

Nothing matters, except my own life.

Linge! Fulfill my order!

Linge, wait!

My Fuhrer, there are many thousands of wounded Germans there,

including my brothers....

Open the Spree floodgate - and inundate the metro!

The metro...

The water!

May Hitler be cursed!

The Russians

are only 100 m away from the Reich Chancellery.

- Where is the Fuhrer? - Hush, you idiots.

Wrong time for this. The Fuhrer is getting wedded.

What?

Getting wedded.

The Fuhrer is getting wedded!

Hans!

My dear son...

I have no one left in this world...

My dear son...

My darling boy...

May you be cursed...

You, Hitler, you, wretched clown!

Give me back my Germany!

Give me back my brothers!

Give me back my son Hans!

May you be cursed!

Gentlemen,

I took a decision

to leave you.

At the present moment

Germany should be left with free hands.

My dear Linge,

I cannot see our doctor among us.

The doctor has left us, Frau Eva.

Hasn't he left anything for us?

He has, Frau Eva.

Is it reliable?

I don't know, Frau Eva.

Very well then.

It's a reliable substance.

Chuikov is here.

Yes, General, sir...

Yes, they have sent flag-bearers.

Chief of the Army General Staff

General Krebs, with an important message.

I see...

Yes, sir. I'll be waiting for you.

You'll bring the messengers when General Sokolovsky is here.

- Will you need an interpreter? - We gonna tell them a thing

they'll understand with no interpreter.

Go.

- General... - At ease.

At ease!

General, permission to report:

the German commandment have sent

General Krebs with an important message.

Well, let's listen him out.

- Be seated. - He is all yours.

It's your hq, so he is all yours.

Bring in Krebs.

- How is everything? - Can't be better.

Take a seat.

Chief of the Army General Staff,

General of infantry - Hans Krebs!

I was authorized

by the new Chancellor

Doctor Goebbels

to deliver to the leader of the Soviet state

a message of extraordinary importance.

I'm authorized to listen to it. Please be seated.

A message of extraordinary importance.

Put me through to Moscow.

General Krebs brought a letter from Goebbels and Bormann:

"I inform the leader of the Soviet people,

"the first among the non-Germans to hear it,

"that today, on April 30,

"at 15.50 hours, Adolf Hitler

"committed suicide."

Like a gangster,

like a defeated gambler,

he ran away from the judgment of the people.

- The reasons of suicide? - A war defeat.

Which means complete bankruptcy.

- What else? - Doenitz was made Head of State,

Goebbels - the Chancellor.

So, they seek a contact with the leader of the Soviet state.

Total surrender.

As the only pre-condition for any discussions.

Provide for the arrival of Doenitz to Moscow.

Should they oscillate,

hurry them up.

Total and unconditional surrender.

It's a total catastrophe.

The main thing is to end the war,

but I do not have the authority to make such a decision.

General,

I propose a pause in the fighting.

I beg you.

Surrender, or we shall have to kill all of you there.

But, General...

General...

Damn, the sun is rising.

General...

The 1st of May...

Today

is a big holiday in Moscow.

Nevermind, we'll have a nice 1st of May in Berlin, too.

Follow me!

Where are we?

Under Himmler's residence.

And this is the Reichstag!

- Sergeant Egorov! - Here!

- Sergeant Kantaria! - Here!

- Sergeant Ivanov! - Here!

Comrades!

We have been given a great honor.

To raise, by order of Comrade Stalin,

the banner of Victory over Berlin.

I'm handing this banner to you on behalf of our country.

Go ahead, sons.

My heart is with you.

See you soon.

Hey, guys!

There it is...

Kostya,

- what's wrong? - Yusup,

is so damn near,

but my life not long enough to get to it,

to climb the Reichstag.

Raise my flag, too.

Even though dead,

I want to be up there...

Bring the banner!

Kantaria - a grenade!

Yusup!

What?

Look, where we are, Yusup!

Berlin is ours, Yusup!

Victory!

Hurrah!

Comrades, Victory!

I'll take off my gloves -

Good evening, girls!

A conversation I want to start

To tell you what is on my heart.

Tomorrow is a big day!

Girls, use your papillotes…

I'm from Stalingrad. Victory!

- I'm from Orel. - I'm from the Urals.

- I'm from Erevan. Victory! - I'm from Leningrad!

- I'm from Moscow! - I'm from Baku. Victory!

- I'm from Kiev! - I'm from Ryazan!

And we're from Ryazan.

Victory!

My congratulations, comrades!

My congratulations to all of you!

We did great, eh.

Dance 'Komarinskaya' with us, sir.

- Join in! - No, I'm too old for this.

Let's go...

General, colonel Kuznetsov is here.

Commander Kuznetsov!

So, you took the Reichstag, eh.

And you took the Reich Chancellery. Look at them dancing away!

Of course they are dancing. They have finished the war

and they can go home now. But you and I will be out of work!

Glory to Stalin!

He is for ever true

To the vow that he made to Lenin.

Our friend and teacher

Has confidence in the people.

Together with the people

He has always prevailed.

Great leader! We wish you

Health and strength for many years.

Glory to Stalin!

He led the Soviet people fearlessly.

We passed like a storm,

Like a spring wind!

Great Leader! We wish you

Health and strength for many years.

Following you, to the radiant time

We march by the path of victories.

Glory to the great Stalin!

How do you do, comrade Chuikov.

How do you do, comrade Konev.

How do you do, comrade Rokossovsky.

Accept my words of gratitude

for the brilliantly performed operation

of encircling Berlin.

Glory to Stalin!

Glory to the Soviet banners

And Lenin's Party!

We sing them praise!

Comrades!

Today we are celebrating

a great victory over German fascism.

Hurrah!

This victory has been won at a great price.

Do not forget the sacrifices you have made.

Now history is opening up

wide vistas before those peoples

who love freedom.

Every people

must fight for peace throughout the world,

for the happiness of the ordinary men

of all countries and nations.

Only then will it be possible to say

that our sacrifices were not in vain,

that each and every one of us

will be able to look firmly to the future.

Alyosha?

Alyosha!

Natasha!

Glory to Stalin!

Glory! Glory!

Glory to Stalin!

Glory! Glory!

Great Leader! We wish you

Health and strength for many years.

May I kiss you, comrade Stalin?

For everything that you have done for our people,

for us!

We must preserve peace

for the sake of the future.

I wish you peace and happiness,

dear comrades!