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 12

Starring

Stierlitz - Vyacheslav TIKHONOV

Stalin - Andro KOBALADZE

Gromov - Pyotr CHERNOV

Vasilyev - Gennady PETROV

Kovalenko - Vladimir RUDYY

Pastor Schlag - Rostislav PLYATT

Kät - Ekaterina GRADOVA

Himmler - Nikolai PROKOPOVICH

Schellenberg - Oleg TABAKOV

Bormann - Yuriy VIZBOR

Kaltenbrunner - Mikhail ZHARKOVSKY

General Wolff - Vasiliy LANOVOY

Dollmann - Yan YANAKIYEV

Allen Dulles - Vyacheslav SHALEVICH

Gäwernitz - Valentin GAFT

Güsmann - Aleksey EYBOZHENKO

German Embassy Advisor - Vladidmir PAULUS

Owner of a Bird Shop - Yevgeny GUROV

Courier - Paul BOUTKEVICH

Kaltenbrunner's secretary - Stanislav KORENEV

Woman in bar - Inna ULYANOVA

Narrated by Yefim KOPELYAN

Ingrid, will you help me?

Are you deaf? Find out what's wrong.

Border post.

Control point, listening.

Your wife's asking when you'll be back for breakfast.

In 20 minutes.

The lieutenant will be here in 20 minutes.

-Thank you. -Frau von Kirstein, please.

Well, Katya...

It's all over.

What's wrong, Katya?

It's over for your... baby.

And for that fellow's girl too.

You should think about the future.

There's no future without a past.

I'll leave you here in a good hotel until tomorrow.

I'll pick you up tomorrow.

Don't be afraid of anything. The worst is over.

Switzerland BERN

18 Mar 1945 3:10 p.m.

Residence of the U.S. Special Service

-Hello, gentlemen. -Hello.

My colleagues and I have come to lead the negotiations.

I'm glad that our talks

will be handled at such a high level.

Please.

We've been very much impressed

that the top-ranking SS officer

asks for nothing for himself.

My only demand is peace for the Germans.

Bravo. Spoken like a real soldier.

Please.

Any news?

Kesselring's been urgently called to the Führer's bunker.

That's the most unpleasant news.

You think...

I don't expect anything good from such summons.

According to our information,

Kesselring is set to receive a new appointment.

He'll take command of the Western Front.

I've heard that, but the facts aren't confirmed.

It'll be confirmed

soon enough.

Can you name Kesselring's successor?

Yes.

It's Colonel General Vietinghoff.

I know that man.

Frank, bring me some water.

What's your opinion of him?

He's a conscientious soldier.

You could say the same about most Wehrmacht generals.

Even Beck and Rommel?

No.

They were true German patriots.

Anyway, I never had any direct contact with Vietinghoff.

What about Kesselring?

Kesselring had those contacts.

How would you regard our proposal

to approach Kesselring

and ask him to capitulate on the Western Front?

With Vietinghoff's prior consent for a simultaneous

capitulation in Italy.

It's... a risky move.

We're all taking chances here.

In any event, your contact with Kesselring

on the Western Front

could provide a clear picture

of whether he will capitulate in the West.

Since he did so in Italy,

one might assume he'd do the same in Strasbourg.

When will you visit him on the Western Front?

Kaltenbrunner is calling me to Berlin,

but I postponed the trip because we had agreed to meet.

Then you can head there after reaching Italy.

Yes.

In general, it's possible.

-But... -I understand you.

You're risking more

than all of us.

But in this situation, there's no other way out.

There is another way.

You initiated the negotiations.

You probably have some support in Berlin.

It should help you find a pretext to visit Kesselring.

If you're concerned about Germany's fate,

in this case, it's squarely in your hands.

Naturally, that argument doesn't leave me indifferent.

Will you go to Kesselring on the Western Front?

Yes.

Will he agree to capitulate?

I'm sure of it.

Will Vietinghoff follow his example?

I have to return to Italy and try to...

If Vietinghoff hesitates,

will you be able to influence the events here?

Yes.

Of course, if necessary, you'll have to meet

General Vietinghoff here or in Italy.

If it's deemed useful, we'll establish such contact.

When will you return from Kesselring?

In a week, if all goes well.

And I'll inform you and Vietinghoff

about the exact date of the capitulation in the West.

Stierlitz told Katya everything was over.

After meeting the pastor, Stierlitz realized he'd been wrong.

Nothing was over.

On the contrary, everything was only beginning.

Stockholm?

Stockholm.

-The second one is also there? -Yes, to Stockholm.

-And to Constantinople. -Yes.

Justas to Alex. I'm in Bern.

I wait for the courier at "The Skier" bar every night at 10 p.m.

Contact method: a box of "Gold Block" tobacco,

British matches with the "Punch" label.

The person should recognize me by sight.

The assignment is complete.

I've obtained reliable information on the contents

of the talks between the German representatives and Dulles.

Behind the USSR's back, they're attempting to secure

a separate peace with the Nazis.

Wolff is negotiating on Himmler's behalf.

The documents being sent through the Elbrus-2 channel.

Justas.

-Did you get the materials? -Yes.

Yes, Comrade General.

-Alexander, come to my office. -Yes, Vladimir.

Sviridova is handling the cipher.

She'll have it decoded in 20 minutes.

Ask Fomicheva to help her.

Yes. May I go?

Call in all my deputies.

And the chiefs of Departments I and II.

Yes.

Hello?

Hello, Alexander.

Yes, I think it's possible.

Yes.

In two days I'll be able to take this up.

Two days will suit them.

Thanks. Goodbye.

The addendum will be sent to you.

Prepare a report for the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Yes.

What about the couriers?

Two of them have arrived.

-And the third one? -Not a word.

22 Mar 1945 5:20 p.m.

The Commissar for Foreign Affairs invited the British ambassador,

Sir Archibald Kerr, to come to the Kremlin at 8 p.m.

He didn't ask the U.S. ambassador, Harriman,

as Kerr was an experienced intelligence officer

who could talk business without the overwrought emotions

so typical of Harriman.

I'm instructed to hand you a note from the Soviet government.

Comrade Pavlov,

please read the note to Mr. Kerr.

He may have questions.

"Confirming receipt of your letter

"regarding the talks in Bern between German General Wolff

"and officers of Field Marshal Alexander's headquarters,

"the Soviet government states

"this is not a mere misunderstanding

but something far more grave."

"General Wolff and his staff

"arrived in Bern to negotiate with representatives

"of the British and American commands

over the surrender of German forces in Northern Italy."

"When the Soviet government stressed the need

"for its military representatives to be included,

the request was denied."

"For more than two weeks in Bern,

"behind the USSR's back,

"which bore the chief burden of the war,

"talks have been under way

"between the German command on one side

and the British and American commands on the other."

"The Soviet government finds this wholly unacceptable."

I have no questions, Mr. Molotov.

I will immediately inform

His Majesty's government of this note.

May I send a few books to that professor from Sweden?

Sorry, I forgot his name.

-The Swedish professor, Swedenborg? -I believe so.

He wished us all... a long life.

He jumped from a window and died.

When?

Day before yesterday. He left home and never returned.

A pity. My friend asked me to bring him some books

and pick up the ones the professor had.

Call the police. They've taken all his things.

If you prove it, they'll return your property.

-Thanks. I'll do that. -Not at all.

-Could you? -Please.

FLOWER STREET

Could you stop here?

Rosie, you must eat.

This seed is good, picked just for you.

Hello.

Hello.

I'm listening.

Could you tell me the way to the nearest flower shop?

A flower shop?

It's close by.

Round the corner to the right, there's a fine little shop.

They always have splendid carnations.

Thank you.

I suppose birds sing like that only in paradise.

You think so?

I agree with you.

Look at that pair. They're rare birds.

Stierlitz pictured the professor throwing himself from the window.

A frail, quiet, little man.

He imagined the terror the man felt

in those last moments

if he had chosen to jump

out here in the open.

Stierlitz would never know how it truly happened.

But one thing was certain.

He knew Pleischner had not betrayed him.

To the center, please.

Anywhere there.

Preferably near a place where I can rent a car.

I didn't dare speak of my family this morning.

But now I can't keep silent about them.

How is my sister?

Do you recall her handwriting?

Of course.

"Dear brother...

"Dear brother,

"thank you

"for the generous care you've

"shown us.

"We're living in the mountains now...

"We're living in the mountains now

"and have almost forgotten

"the terror of the bombings.

"We're with a kind family.

"The children help tend

"the cows.

"We have enough food and

"feel safe.

"I pray God helps you

"to overcome the hardships

"you now face.

Your Anna."

What hardships?

I had to tell her you'd been arrested.

I visited her not as Stierlitz, but as your parishioner.

Here's the address.

When this is over, you'll find them there.

Thank you.

Actually...

I'd have believed you even without this photo.

Why do you look so drawn?

I'm a little tired.

Well... any other news?

There is news, but...

to accept it -

one must stop believing the world,

or turn into a cynic.

The Americans have begun talks with the SS. They trusted Himmler.

-Information? -What?

What information? Where did it come from?

What documents confirm it?

If you're going by rumor,

we could fall victim

to a finely crafted lie.

I'd like to believe Mr. Dulles isn't

talking with Himmler's men, but...

Did you read my morning report?

And now this...

Give it to me.

Here it is.

German Embassy.

-Heil Hitler. -Heil Hitler.

Standartenführer Stierlitz.

I've heard of you.

I've received a coded message...

I need a separate room and a tape recorder.

Please.

General, I'd like to introduce my colleagues.

-Mr. Glenn Allen Howard. -Hello.

-Mr. Harold Barkin. -Hello.

-Mr. Deckueller. -Glad to meet you.

-Mr. Jack Madison. -Glad to meet you.

My colleagues and I are here to oversee the negotiations.

I'm glad our talks are being held at this level.

Please.

We've been greatly impressed

that a top-ranking SS officer

makes no personal demands.

My only demand is peace for the German people.

Bravo. Spoken like a true soldier.

Please.

Any news?

Kesselring's been urgently summoned to the Führer's bunker.

That's most unpleasant.

You think...

I don't expect anything good from those urgent calls.

I need to send a coded message to Bormann.

Please.

"The negotiations

"between X's personal representative and Y

"are in full progress

"in Bern.

"It's necessary

"to take urgent measures

"and summon X's representative to the bunker

"under any pretext.

"Your devoted Nazi Party member.

Ernest, I have a request.

It's a personal and rather sad request, Ernest.

I'm all attention.

General Wolff is a traitor.

That's impossible.

Have I often made mistakes?

And don't breathe a word to Himmler.

The Reichsführer is too touchy, as we well know.

Tomorrow, or better today,

I want general Wolff

in the Reich.

And not only in the Reich

but in Berlin.

And not only in Berlin but in the Führer's bunker.

And let your people bring him there.

In handcuffs.

Without insignia.

Of course, Kaltenbrunner didn't say anything to Himmler.

That was the Reichsleiter's order.

He ordered Karl Wolff's recall from Italy, supposedly

for a meeting with the Führer.

In the vast machinery of the Security Office, nothing happened

without the intent attention of the two competitors:

Gestapo and Intelligence - Müller and Schellenberg.

Kaltenbrunner's radio operator, recruited by Schellenberg,

reported to his secret chief

about the top-secret cable sent to Italy.

Track Wolff's trip to Berlin.

At the airport, on Kaltenbrunner's orders,

a prison car with armored doors, along with thugs

from the Gestapo prison was waiting for Wolff.

-How was your journey? -Very well, thank you.

I'm glad to see you.

You look fine.

The Reichsführer ordered me to meet you. Please.

The thugs didn't risk arresting Wolff.

The only risk they took was tailing Schellenberg's car

and reporting it to their chief.

You failed me!

How did Bormann and Kaltenbrunner

find out about the negotiations?

How did Müller's bloodhounds sniff it out?

Reichsführer,

you should remember that I had to prepare

all the details of this operation.

Everything's fine with the cover operation.

For Wolff, I made up a legend

claiming he was exposing the plotters

who were seeking a separate peace in Bern.

We'll discuss the details here.

To my dictation, Wolff will write

a report on how we,

the SS service,

uncovered this plot

of our enemies.

So write down, Wolff.

I beg your pardon.

The Führer asked you to wait.

He has a meeting with the Reichsführer.

Bormann realized that he'd lost the game.

General,

I'm informed about everything.

Thank you for your courage and loyalty to the Führer.

Bormann is speaking. Call Müller.

The Führer is waiting for you, Reichsleiter.

Top secret. Private.

From I.V. Stalin

to President Franklin Roosevelt.

I won't speak of honesty and reliability in my letter.

I've never doubted your honesty and reliability,

just as I've never doubted Mr. Churchill's honesty and reliability.

I'd like to point out that during our correspondence

we've noticed a difference in views

on what the ally can do

and cannot do

with respect to the other ally.

We, Russians, think that

in the present situation on the fronts,

when the enemy is about to capitulate,

any meeting with Germans on capitulation issues

of one ally

requires the participation of the other ally.

In any case, it's necessary

if the ally is aiming

to participate in such a meeting.

Americans and Englishmen hold a different view

and consider the Russian position wrong.

Because of that, they refused Russians

to take part in the meeting with Germans in Switzerland.

I've already written to you and repeat once again,

that under the same circumstances

Russians would never refuse Americans and Englishmen

to take part in such a meeting.

I consider the Russian point of view

the only correct one

because it excludes

any possibility to evoke distrust.

As for their informants,

I assure you,

they are honest and modest people

who faithfully carry out their duties

and don't intend to insult anybody.

These people have proved their loyalty many times.

Stierlitz had been going to "The Skier" bar

for several nights.

Here he was supposed to meet a courier.

But the courier won't be coming tonight.

They will meet only tomorrow.

-I'll get your pram registered. -All right.

In Paris you'll get it with your claim check.

Please.

Here it is.

I'll take it.

-Take care of the babies. -Yes.

Anything else? I'll do it.

-No, thank you. -Fine.

Sour cream and coffee, please.

-With milk? -No, just black.

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

I left my cigarettes in the car.

This drive has worn me out.

Me too.

Stierlitz noticed the courier long ago.

But he couldn't shake off the drunk woman

who had been bothering him from the moment he arrived.

You have to listen to me, you have to believe me.

Folks think mathematicians are dried-up old sticks.

It's a lie! A lie!

In love, I'm a real Einstein!

I'd like to tell you that I want to be with you.

Wait for me outside. I'll come to you.

-Honest? -Yes.

I'm going... going.

Swear it.

Drop dead! Go jot down a couple of formulas.

-All right! -Go.

He'd pushed the idea more than once.

I've been waiting for you for a long time.

I had to make my way across Spain.

First, I'd like to say...

-Please. -Thank you.

Understanding the present situation and its consequences,

the Center doesn't insist on Justas'

return to Germany.

But if Justas feels his position is strong,

the Center will be interested in his return to Germany.

Comrade Justas has to make

a final decision.

That's the last straw!

I'm all ears.

I'd like to tell you

that the Command applied

to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR

to confer on Comrade Justas the title

of Hero of the USSR

for exposing "Operation Sunrise Crossword."

If Justas believes it's workable

to return to Germany,

he'll have a liaison:

two radio operators based in Potsdam and Veding.

The places are safe.

They were closed two years ago.

So the Center

would be interested in Justas' return to Germany.

Do you have a moment?

What do you mean?

If you have time.

If you have ten minutes, I'll write a short note.

I've got ten minutes to catch the train to Paris.

-I'd like... -I'll write it in French.

With my left hand, no address.

They know the address at the Center and will forward it.

I'm afraid to talk to you.

You're a clairvoyant.

You're kidding.

Yes, I see.

Got a couple minutes left.

You're right.

You shouldn't haul it across three borders.

Sorry for taking your time.

24 Mar 1945 4:33 p.m.

Today, March 24,

Stierlitz is returning to Berlin.

The Great Patriotic War will end in 45 days.

The war that saved the world from Hitlerism,

the war in which the Soviet Union lost

20 million lives.

That will happen on May 9, 1945.

On November 20,

the first trial in history will take place in Nürnberg,

the trial of the war criminals.

The chief counts of the indictment were crimes against peace,

and crimes against humanity.

The fear of just retribution drove Hitler, Himmler, and Goebbels

to commit suicide.

But most of Hitler's accomplices would appear

before the Court of History

on November 22

and receive a just verdict:

execution by hanging.

On June 24, in Moscow, on Red Square,

there will be a parade of the Soviet Armed Forces

dedicated to the victory over fascist Germany.

But at present, neither Stierlitz

nor anyone else in the world could know that.

Today,

March 24,

the world is not yet free.

That's why Colonel Maxim Isaev

is returning to Berlin.

He's going there to work.

I beg you, if only for a while

My pain, please let me be

Like a blue-gray drifting cloud

Go to my home

From here to my home

My shore, appear to me afar

A faint and slender line

My shore, my gentle shore

Ah, if I could only reach you

Reach you - at least one time

Somewhere far away, so far away

Soft summer rains still fall

There by the river in a tiny orchard

The cherries bend grown heavy all

Somewhere far away in my memory's haze

It's warm as in childhood's glow

Though that memory now lies buried

Beneath such deep, deep snow

Thunderstorm come quench my thirst

Till I'm drunk, but not undone

And once again as if the last time

I raise my eyes toward heaven

As though I seek someone

I beg you, if only for a while

My pain, please let me be

Like a blue-gray drifting cloud

Fly to your home

From here fly home.

THE END