Original subtitles

Central Film Studio of Children's and Youth Films

named after M. GORKY

By commission of the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR

on Television and Radio Broadcasting

SEVENTEEN MOMENTS OF SPRING

Part 4

Starring

Stierlitz - Vyacheslav TIKHONOV

Vladimir Gromov - Peter CHERNOV

Alexandr Kovalenko - Vladimir RUDYY

Pastor Schlag - Rostislav PLYATT

Kät - Ekaterina GRADOVA

Schellenberg - Oleg TABAKOV

General Wolff - Vasiliy LANOVOY

Müller - Leonid BRONEVOY

Eismann - Leonid KURAVLYOV

Himmler - Nikolai PROKOPOVICH

Insurance man - Viktor SHCHEGLOV

Narrated by Yefim KOPELYAN

Justas to Alex.

I'm still confident that no Western politician

will negotiate with the SS or SD forces.

But now that I have this assignment,

I'm starting to see...

It might be possible if I brief Himmler

on some of the information I got from you.

With his backing, I could

keep an eye on those trying

to open channels for such negotiations.

I'll stage my "report"

to Himmler right here, on the spot, without checking with you first.

That way, I can update you on any developments that

either confirm your theory or, on the contrary,

disprove it.

For now, there's no other way.

If approved,

send your message through Erwin.

Justas.

He's on the verge of failure.

He's on the verge of failure.

If he goes straight to Himmler,

he'll fail immediately, and nothing will save him,

even if Himmler decides to toy with him.

But it's hardly possible.

He's not the one to play games with the Reichsführer-SS.

Send him tomorrow

an immediate, categorical prohibition.

Understood, Vladimir.

Stierlitz was heading to Erwin.

That morning, Stierlitz had to get

the answer from headquarters through Erwin.

By legend, Erwin owned a small record-player business.

This allowed him to travel frequently

and receive many visitors at his place.

Hey, you! Move it! Faster!

Come on! Quicker!

Work faster!

Do you hear me?

Faster, faster!

What are you staring at? Come on! Move!

There are so many vehicles.

If they start bombing now, we'll be wiped out.

I don't think they'll bomb today.

It's overcast.

Move!

Do you hear me? People are waiting over there.

This way.

"Nowhere else in the world," thought Stierlitz,

"do policemen enjoy giving orders the way we do here."

"We do"?

Stierlitz caught himself at thinking

that way about Germany and the Germans.

And he was surprised. A paradox.

Can't you see the vehicles are waiting, the people are waiting?

Of course not.

He was living in Germany,

knew those people, and believed in their future.

Stierlitz remembered the day he saw Thälmann

for the first time.

Thälmann was leading a column of demonstrators,

with workers guarding the column on all sides.

"To be a soldier of the revolution means

"to remain faithful to our cause,

"a faithfulness

"tested by life and death,"

Thälmann once said.

And Thälmann was a true soldier of the revolution.

He fought to the end for his people's happiness.

Go away.

Quickly, quickly.

Go...

-Heil Hitler. -What's up?

The street's blocked. Use a side street.

What happened?

British fighters dropped a powerful bomb.

Only ruins are left.

I'm sorry, Standartenführer, but entry's forbidden.

The sappers fear there may be time bombs.

Then we die together.

Is everyone dead?

I don't know, but there were a lot of ambulances.

-Anything left? -No! Look at the mess!

Mummy!

Mummy!

Mummy...

She was rushed to the hospital

with a severe concussion and shock.

It took half an hour to dig her out of the rubble.

She survived by a miracle.

This Polish girl gave birth to such a giant.

-She's not Polish. -Russian, Czech?

She's German, according to her passport.

They found a passport in her coat - Kathrin Kinn.

Maybe it's somebody else's coat?

Maybe.

A gorgeous, chubby baby. He must weigh at least five kilos.

Will you call the Gestapo, or should I?

Better wait a bit. We've got plenty to do first.

All right.

Hello, Frau Kinn.

Hello.

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

-Do you hear me? -Yes...

I won't trouble you for long.

-Where are you from? -From the insurance company.

My...

Is my husband dead?

I'd like to ask you

where he was when the bomb fell.

He was in the bathroom.

Ah, you had some briquettes left.

Such a shortage... We get terribly cold at our company.

Yes.

He got some by sheer luck.

Are you tired?

Is he dead?

I have sad news for you, Frau Kinn.

He's dead.

We're helping those affected by the bombing.

What kind of assistance would you like while you're in the hospital?

I think food is provided.

We'll prepare clothing for you and the baby, once you're

released from hospital.

What a wonderful, chubby baby!

A girl?

A boy.

A loud one?

No.

I haven't heard him cry yet.

Do they often cry?

Mine cried terribly.

My eardrums were bursting from their cries.

But mine were tiny, and yours is a giant.

And giants like him are usually quiet.

Could I ask one more question?

What was the sum of your property insurance?

I don't know. My husband handled it.

Where was your property insured? Which office?

I think at the corner of Kurfürstendamm and Kantstrasse.

That's the 27th office. It'll be easier to make inquiries now.

Do you remember the insured amount?

-I think 10,000 marks. -That's quite a large sum.

Come, come... A young mother shouldn't cry or worry.

Believe me, father of three children here.

It shows right away on the baby's stomach,

and you'll hear his bass.

You shouldn't think only about yourself.

This luxury is over for you once and for all.

Now you must think only of your baby.

Yes.

I won't cry.

Where are your relatives? Our company can help them come here.

We'll cover travel costs and provide lodging.

Though some hotels are ruined and others taken by the military.

But we have private apartments.

Your relatives will be well looked after.

Who should I contact?

They're in Königsberg. I don't know their current situation.

What about your husband's relatives?

Who should I contact?

They're in Sweden, but it's no good writing to them.

His uncle is friendly with Germany,

and we were instructed not to write.

That's why we sent letters through the embassy.

Do you remember the address?

I'm sorry. I'll feed the baby first,

then I'll tell you the address.

I won't trouble you.

While I write down your uncle's address,

have a look at these photos and tell me

if you recognize any of your belongings.

Some things were recovered after the bombing.

In your situation, even one suitcase is a great help.

Of course, she recognized the suitcase with the radio transmitter.

You can sell some items and buy what's needed for the baby.

We'll try to prepare everything before you leave the hospital...

Franz...

Baken...

Gustav Adolf's Square...

25...

Stockholm.

Thank you.

-Are you tired? -A little.

Just look carefully, and I'll leave.

No, I don't see our suitcases here.

Thank you.

Let's consider this matter settled as well.

In a day or two I'll drop by

and... inform you about the results.

The commissions I take

are very small and won't offend you.

I'll be most grateful to you.

Himmler's reception room.

The SS Headquarters Chief, Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff.

General Wolff, they called from the airport.

The plane is ready, but

by evening the weather may change.

I'm leaving right away. Call the airport, please.

General, this is what the Reichsführer has ordered prepared for you.

I'll read them in the car. You'll go with me and then take them back.

These documents can't be taken out. Here are three short summaries.

I'll go through them at your office.

Tell Schellenberg to come in.

I've sent Wolff to Bern to contact Dulles.

I think it's a wise move.

It's madness, Schellenberg.

Madness and recklessness.

You mean the failure of the entire operation?

I mean the whole range of possibilities.

It's you.

All your doing. You pushed me to take this step.

If Wolff fails, all the materials will fall to us.

First they may reach the man in Vienna.

Sorry?

Kaltenbrunner.

And I've no idea whether these materials will go to Bormann or to me.

And you know what Bormann will do as soon as he gets

his hands on such papers.

And imagine the Führer's reaction when he sees it all

with Bormann's comments attached.

I've analyzed that possibility too.

Which possibility?

That Bormann might get hold

of these documents himself.

First, Wolff must speak to Dulles

not on your behalf or his own,

but on behalf of Kesselring. He's under his command in Italy.

He's Deputy Commander there and not

directly subordinate to you.

That's fine.

Did you think of that earlier, or just now?

It came to me the moment I heard of Wolff's trip.

-Sit down. -Thank you.

-You may smoke. -Thanks.

If you don't mind.

Himmler knew that Schellenberg

smoked only "Camel" and disliked any other brand.

After America entered the war, he asked him:

"Where do those cigarettes come from?"

Schellenberg smiled and said:

"It's true. When you smoke American cigarettes,

they'll call you a traitor."

Himmler didn't forget that.

I've analyzed all the possibilities, including the unpleasant ones.

Meaning?

What if Kesselring,

or worse, his patron Göring,

can prove their alibis in this case?

We'll prevent that. Take care of it in advance.

We will.

But you were right to remove your deputy,

Kaltenbrunner, from this game.

He can give us the opening. He and Müller.

All right then. What do you suggest?

I suggest we kill two birds with one stone.

Impossible.

-Actually, I'm no hunter. -Neither am I.

The Führer says the relations among the Allies are on the verge of rupture.

Therefore, a split between them is one of our main objectives.

And?

I can't say what Stalin would do

if he learns of SS‑General Wolff's talks.

I can't predict his reaction.

But I have no doubt he'll take action.

So should Wolff's journey

be coded by us as a major deception for Stalin,

for the Führer's benefit or not?

I mean our legend -

that these negotiations are merely a bluff for Stalin.

That's what we'll tell the Führer in case we fail.

I'll think about it.

Do you want the details, or should I handle them?

You'd better handle them.

Actually, there shouldn't be any details in this case.

What exactly do you mean?

First of all, a cover operation.

We should send a decoy - not one of ours -

to negotiate with the West.

Then we'll present the Führer with the files on this man.

If need be, it'll look like an intelligence coup.

We've frustrated the enemy's plans.

That's exactly what Goebbels would say. Wouldn't he?

Secondly, thousands of eyes will be watching Wolff in Switzerland.

Among them might be our own agents

who'll send messages back here.

Who gets the message?

Who will inform - your agent or Müller's?

An intellectual who can judge the situation - or a blind fanatic

like Kaltenbrunner.

Consequently, I'd like

five or six eyes like mine

among the thousands of Western eyes watching Wolff.

Wolff must not know about our people.

The agents will send information directly to me.

And finally, there's the third alibi.

In case of failure, we'll sacrifice Wolff,

but the materials documenting his actions will form part of our alibi.

Your alibi.

Yours alone.

Who do you want to send?

For the first task,

Schellenberg chose Stierlitz with his pastor.

Do you have specific candidates?

I have some excellent candidates.

But I can consider it myself without disturbing you.

You may go.

Investigator, Gestapo District Department.

-Did you call me? -Yes, Lemke.

Take the photos and the suitcases and send them for expert tests.

I coated them with Norwegian lacquer - it shows fingerprints well.

Hurry them up.

They've tested the fingerprints from the suitcase with the radio.

Fingerprints were found on the suitcase as well.

So... And?

But the prints aren't very clear. The leather is warped.

-Bring them here. -Yes.

23 Feb 1945 9:00 a.m.

The troops of the 3rd Byelorussian Front

are conducting offensive operations southwest of Königsberg.

The troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front, with the help of Polish patriots,

have wiped out the encircled enemy forces,

and taken the city and the Poznań fortress.

Today, February 23,

Order No. 5 of the Supreme Commander in Chief was issued

on the 27th anniversary of the Red Army.

The order summed up the results of the Soviet winter offensive,

which, on January 1, 1945,

delivered an unprecedentedly powerful blow to the enemy

along the entire front from the Baltic to the Carpathians,

breaking through the enemy's 1,200-km-long defenses,

and after fierce fighting advanced from the border of East Prussia

to the lower stretch of the Vistula - 270 km,

from the Vistula bridgehead south of Warsaw,

to the lower Oder stretch - 570 km,

and from the Santomir bridgehead into German territory - 480 km.

Within 40 days of the offensive, Soviet forces

drove the fascists out of 300 cities,

seized around 100 military factories,

taken over more than 2,400 railway stations

and gained control of the rail network

spanning more than 15,000 km.

They also inflicted severe losses on the enemy's men and equipment.

The Soviet government received a message from U.S. President Roosevelt,

conveying his greetings to the Red Army on its 27th anniversary.

"Looking ahead to our complete victory over the Nazi invaders,

"I wish to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt congratulations

"the Red Army on its 27th anniversary.

"The important decisions made at Yalta

"will bring us closer to victory and lay a strong foundation for lasting peace.

"The ongoing great victories of the Red Army,

"together with the efforts

"of the Allied forces in the South and West,

"will ensure the swift achievement of our common goal -

"world peace based on mutual understanding

and cooperation."

The British Prime Minister, Churchill, wrote:

"The Red Army is celebrating

"its 27th anniversary in triumph, earning the great

"admiration of the Allies,

"and shaping the fate of German militarism.

"Future generations will recognize their debt to the Red Army

"as unconditionally as we do - we who

witnessed those great victories."

Today, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR awarded

orders and medals to 45 officers

of the French army unit "Normandy."

23 Feb 1945 9:00 a.m.

Stierlitz requested an appointment with Himmler.

It was, of course, an extreme measure,

but he had no other choice.

Yes.

I see.

All right.

In that folder was his letter to Himmler.

Alone now, he had no other way out.

To carry out his mission, he had to secure Himmler's support,

receive an assignment from him,

and, using him as official cover,

begin searching for those

who might be starting, or had already started,

negotiations with the West.

Half an hour ago, he wrote the following letter:

"To the Reichsführer-SS,

"Heinrich Himmler.

"Top secret. Private.

"Reichsführer!

"In the interest of our nation, I must write this letter to you.

"From sources close to the press,

"I learned that...

"behind the back of the SD and the Reichsführer himself,

"certain people are establishing contacts with the West.

"Trying to deal with the enemy

"I request an audience to present my proposals.

"I ask your permission to use my connections

"to gather further details

"and to outline my own plan for investigating this version,

"which, unfortunately, seems all too close to the truth.

Respectfully yours, SS-Standartenführer von Stierlitz."

If Himmler were to ask Stierlitz where he got

such information, he knew exactly what to say.

Three days ago, a Portuguese cameraman died in a raid,

Poeblos Wasserman.

He had close ties to the Swedes.

From that point of view, his story was flawless.

Still, going to the Reichsführer-SS

without Schellenberg's approval

was a serious breach of the chain of command.

Stierlitz had foreseen that as well.

He knew that on Wednesdays and Fridays,

Schellenberg would be at the suburban intelligence center.

Today was Friday.

Please, General. You have ten minutes.

You're next, Standartenführer. You have three minutes.

No 15. This is Tsoller speaking.

Bring me the report on those killed and wounded in yesterday's bombing.

In Berlin. In Berlin.

No one could have foreseen that.

General Polt is

in the Reichsführer's office. Shall I announce you?

I need you, Stierlitz.

I'll be there in half an hour.

What are you doing here?

You were out. I wanted to tell you, but you weren't here.

You were at the airport, but it's urgent.

It's about the family of the late Colonel Kroll.

What happened?

Tomorrow the last car leaves with staff families.

Everyone is being evacuated.

But no place was found for the Kroll family.

No place for them?

That's outrageous. Give it to me.

It's disgraceful.

Colonel Kroll stood by the Reichsführer in the early days of our movement.

And now that he is gone...

How quickly we forget.

If you allow me, I'll call the administrative department

and take care of everything.

Fine. Do it.

Tsoller speaking, Brigadeführer.

-Who's that? -Hallman.

What did you want, Standartenführer?

-They're expecting you. -I'm on my way.

The Brigadeführer is coming here.

I need you, Stierlitz.

What a voice!

He reports like an operetta singer

projecting from his gut, trying to impress everyone.

I always feel sorry for the aides-de-camp.

They always have to act important, or else

everyone will see no one needs them.

No, an aide-de-camp is quite necessary.

Very necessary.

He's like a fine hunting dog.

You can talk to it, and if it looks good enough,

other hunters get jealous.

I knew an aide-de-camp who fancied himself an impresario.

He kept telling everyone his boss was a genius.

In the end, they arranged a car accident for him.

He was singing a little too much.

Did you make that up?

-Of course I did. -It's funny.

Did you also make up that story about Kroll's widow?

Just kidding.

Heil Hitler, gentlemen!

Heil Hitler, Müller!

Glad to see you, young devils!

Plotting your next act of treachery?

Why not?

Nothing compares to your kind of treachery.

We're angels compared to you.

To me?

Well, it's nice to be mistaken for the devil.

People die, but their memory lives on - even that kind of memory.

Excellent work, Hallman. Everything's in order and done fast.

Everyone gets what he deserves - right?

And Dietrich had freckles. I never noticed them before.

Did you know him?

He's your aide-de-camp for special assignments.

Same with those two. Complete change of guard.

Let's get down to business, Stierlitz.

"I need your... pastor."

I need your pastor.

Pastor Schlag.

Did I say that right? Is he alive and well?

Is he still living with his sister and nephews at Gartenstrasse 2?

Yes, he's living with his sister and nephews at Gartenstrasse 2.

I need your pastor. I...

I'm sending him to Switzerland.

Fine. I hope you don't mean a mountain retreat.

Of course not. He's going there to make peace.

So you think the pastor will

come back if we take his sister and nephews

as hostages, don't you?

He'll definitely come back.

Those are one-ton bombs, at least.

I think so.

They're flying away... aren't they?

They're heading back to reload with new bombs.

So you think when Pastor Schlag comes back,

he won't spill that it was you

who sent him there to make contact?

Depends on who questions him.

Good thing you've got recordings of his conversations.

I'd rather he got killed somewhere in a bombing.

I'll think about it.

For how long?

I'd like your permission...

to think it over.

How long will you weigh?

I'll try to come up with something tonight.

Fine.

Does the Reichsführer know about your plan

to send the pastor to Bern?

No.

Let's say no. Clear?

Yes.

It's nice you catch on

so quickly.

I like working with you.

Same here.

-Why are you so upset? -Me, upset?

I'm much gloomier when I'm angry.

I'm just thinking things over.

If everything works out, you can go to the mountains for five days.

Enjoy the skiing,

the blue snow, the brown tan.

Oh God, we've lost so much in this war.

Most of all, ourselves.

Yes, like a coat in the closet after a wild Easter bender.

Yeah, just like a coat in the closet.

-When did you stop writing poems? -Never started.

A small lie breeds great mistrust.

I swear, I wrote everything except poems.

Why not?

I've got an aversion to rhyme.

He was on the verge of failing.

More than two hours later,

after Stierlitz had left Himmler's reception room,

he realized that he was on the verge of failure.

Nevertheless, he considered that day

as one of the most successful days in his life.

It was a major success.

First, because he was alive

and knew that

the negotiations had been initiated by Himmler himself.

He could have been very close and never known about it.

Now he knew - and that fact alone was the most important.

He also knew that Schellenberg

had already decided to release the pastor

and use him as a backup channel of contact

long before.

Now that he knew everything, he had to act.

Stierlitz had to draw the right conclusions

and move forward.

Schellenberg expected the pastor to be just a pawn in their game.

But Stierlitz didn't know what kind of game it would be.

It was clear the pastor was bait - a cover.

That was Schellenberg's plan.

But he overlooked the fact that Schlag had strong connections in Switzerland.

"So," decided Stierlitz, "I should make Schlag

"use his influence against those

who, through Stierlitz's hands, are sending him to Switzerland."

Stierlitz wanted to use the pastor

as a backup channel of contact.

Now the pastor had to play a different, more responsible role.

It was necessary to prepare a legend for the pastor

that would provoke serious counter-interest

compared to the other Germans coming - or already coming -

to Switzerland for such negotiations.

Please.

But one pastor is both too little and too much.

We need someone to stand by. We need another.

We need one more reliable person,

like Professor Pleischner.

But Karl Pleischner is dead,

and his death severed all links with the German Resistance group.

It wasn't easy to find such a person, and

impossible in a single day.

Hans.

Yes?

Coffee, please.

As usual, black?

He needed one more person. A cover was clearly required.

Another fact was clear too.

Himmler, whose support he was counting on,

had now become a potential threat.

In that case, it was necessary to search for

the other key figure

and gain his cooperation.

23 Feb 1945

February 23, 1945

"Today is a day off," Stierlitz decided.

Friday night.

It was February 23, Red Army Day.

A day Colonel Isaev always marked.

He marked it differently depending on the circumstances.

Leningrad, 1942

Stalingrad, 1943

Moscow, 1944

23 Feb 1945 9:35 p.m.

Eismann had been studying Stierlitz's file for days.

He sifted through stacks of documents, yet couldn't understand

why Stierlitz was under suspicion.

File on Fritz Schlag, a Catholic priest.

Arrested on June 23, 1944.

Accused of anti-state activity

and of attempting the Führer's life.

Two denunciations triggered the arrest:

those of Barbara Krein

and Robert Niche.

Both parishioners of his church.

They claimed that in his sermons, Schlag

called for peace and friendship among all peoples,

denouncing barbaric wars and bloodshed.

A fact-check showed the pastor

had met with former Minister Krauze,

who lived in exile in Switzerland.

They were friendly, but nothing indicated

any political connection between the pastor and Krauze.

Eismann wondered why Schlag had ended up in intelligence hands.

Why not the Gestapo?

Why was he of interest to Schellenberg's people?

He found the answer in a brief supplement to the file.

In 1933, Pastor Schlag went twice

to Great Britain to attend pacifist congresses.

Eismann realized they were interested in his connections.

They wanted to know who he had met there.

That's why he ended up in intelligence custody.

And why Stierlitz worked with him.

And Stierlitz? He was following orders.

Please, call up the special card index.

This is Eismann from Department IV. Hello.

Will you check your card index

for any recording of Pastor Schlag's interrogation

by Stierlitz?

Yes.

Yes, yes.

All right. But what if you weren't a pastor?

I don't entertain such ideas.

I'll be blunt.

If you were stripped of your cloth, would you join the Resistance?

You asked me that

nine days ago,

when you took me to that odd little restaurant,

"Fat Gottlieb," right?

Still, answer me.

Would you resist the regime if stripped of your post?

I don't know. I've always hated violence.

But everyone reaches a point when they can no longer endure...

any longer.

Were you afraid in prison?

I...

was afraid...

through all 11 years of your rule.

Demagogy.

You were afraid when you were in prison.

-Of course. -Of course.

Would you like to come here again,

if by some miracle we released you?

I wouldn't want to deal with you.

What if I released you on one condition?

-I'm not... -I'm not talking about that.

We have many informers.

You wanted to ask about it, didn't you? No?

-Yes. -You see? No.

Here's my condition.

I want a purely human,

friendly relationship with you.

Do you want to help me as a person...

-...or are you counting on me? -I'm counting on you.

In that case...

I must be confident

that your aim is honorable.

Otherwise I cannot give a positive answer.

Believe me, my intentions are entirely honorable.

What do you want me to do?

I have friends

within the state apparatus.

Scholars, party officials,

journalists, military men.

They're not opposition. These people are loyal to the regime.

If I persuade my superiors

to have you released, it would be interesting

if you could speak to them.

I won't ask you to report on those conversations.

But I can't be sure there aren't bugs behind the wall.

You can go out into the woods or the fields and talk there.

I'd be interested to know

your thoughts on the measure of evil

or good that you'll find in those people.

Could you do that for me?

Either you trust me too much

and ask for support you'll never get

from anyone else,

or you're provoking me.

And if you are, this talk will just go in circles.

-Meaning? -We'll never speak the same language.

You'll remain a functionary, and I'll remain a man...

doing my best not to become one.

How can I convince you it isn't provocation?

Look into my eyes.

Let's imagine we've exchanged credentials

and the agreement is nearly done.

Oh you steppe.

Oh you steppe, how vast you are

how endless you are

Oh, Mother-Volga

how free you are

Eismann speaking.

I need information concerning pastor Schlag's behavior in prison.

His contacts, personality,

conversations with convicts, his interests.

I need all the details.

The answer, which was ready an hour later,

was absolutely unexpected.

Pastor Schlag was released from prison in February 1945.

It was unclear whether he had agreed to work for the SD

or his release was the consequence of some other reasons.

There was only Schellenberg's oral order.

There was only Schellenberg's oral order

to release the pastor and put him under Stierlitz's supervision.

-Is that all? -Almost.

There's one more thing.

After his release, a special agent from Department VI worked with Schlag.

Where are his materials?

He was directly connected with Standartenführer Stierlitz.

And no records left?

No. Records were destroyed for operational reasons.

Find that agent.

But only three people should know about it:

you, me and him.