Original subtitles

TELEWlZJ A POLSKA presents

Playing for High Stakes

lN THE SlEGE

written by

music by

as Captain Kloss

starring

photography

production manager

directed by

Who to?

How should l know? l was told to come here.

Wait here.

The major wil l call for you.

Come over here.

- Do you have a cigarette? - l do. Why?

You' re from the reserve, aren't you?

Then you stil l don't know the smell of powder.

You're surprised. Weak.

Do you have a light? Then give it to the sergeant.

Sergeant! To the major!

We' ll surround Tolberg within two days.

- And we' l l reach the sea. - Yes.. .

You' ll reach it before us. Do you already know what the thing is?

Yes, sir. We' l l manage all right.

Jump out in a wood, ten kilometers to the west of the town.

Next show up in the cellar of a ruined house at 30 Keiserstrasse.

You' ll be at the disposal of our agent J-23.

Don't use the radiostation unless he orders you to.

Yes, sir. How shal l l recognize him?

Have a look at this photography.

Hauptman.

For us he's worth more. He's our major.

Attention, attention !

The SS commander for Tolberg orders that.. .

tomorrow, that is 1 8 March 1 945.. .

al l women and their children under 1 5 turn up at the harbour,

in order to be evacuated outside the front-line zone.

All men, not cal led up yet, aged from 1 5 to 60.. .

are to report at the city HQ!

- ls the colonel in? - l'm also waiting for him .

l' m glad we can spend some time with each other, Hans.

- Rotten situation, isn't it? - Yes, rather.

What are you going to do? l asked you what you are going to do.

Nothing. And you, Herman?

Tomorrow we may be cut off from the sea.

- That's possible. - Shall we al low that slaughter?

- Are you scared? - How about you?

What are you real ly driving at?

Maybe it's time we started thinking about ourselves.

Maybe we could.. .

Some idea has come to my mind.

- Tell Broch about it. - You' re kidding.

l suggest a covenant.

The Reichsfuhrer strongly rejects the idea of surrendering the city.

- The order is: no step backwards. - Behind us there is only the sea.

Yes, only the sea. Please report, Kloss.

lt's been quiet for the last few hours.

We're cut off from the east and the south.

This morning the enemy's armoured units reached the Szczecin road.

lf they reach the sea, the last retreat route wil l be cut off.

This information is out of date, Kloss. lt's already cut off.

They reached the sea two hours ago.

- Please report, Brunner. - The city is quiet.

- You had 20 people executed. - Yes, in the harbour this morning.

They were all healthy men trying to get on board of a ship.

- And a few women. - Continue, please.

The remaining ships are setting off tomorrow.

- And what about the factory? - Everything is ready for evacuation.

Professor Glass and the machines are leaving tomorrow.

You know how important the matter is for the Reichsfuhrer, don't you?

- And you' re in charge of that, Brunner. - Yes, sir.

- The SS wiil surround the harbour. - The harbour will be surrounded.. .

by the Wehrmacht. The SS wil l take care of the factory.

As you wish, sir, but l'm afraid. ..

That's all Brunner. Thank you. Good-bye.

- Anything else? - Nothing really.

Congratulations on your having been appointed defense commander for Tolberg.

You must be joking. lt won't take long, will it.

- What are you going to do? - To execute the order.

Together with them?

l' ll send the Volksturm to the canal. There's a gap.

Purely from the military point of view.

So what?

- The conclusions seem self-evident. - l'd rather you hadn't said that.

l bear no resposibility. l just obey orders.

- Do you have any suggestions? - No, l don't.

That's al l for now. l' m waiting for the reports from sector 5.

Yes, sir.

Have these orders announced through the factory megaphones.

Have these orders announced through the factory megaphones.

The trucks will be here at 4 a.m .

But you know how busy we are dismantling the machines.

We' ll destroy everything you won't manage to dismantle.

Greta!

What is going to happen with the personnel?

l don't know who you are talking about. About the foreign workers?

Don't worry about that. l' l l take care of them myself.

Please have it announced immediately.

But l'd real ly like to know what will happen with them.

Does it really interest you so much, professor?

The SS guard will only arrive on the trucks.

We have no people, do you understand?

We' l l give out guns to German workers and engineers.

They will take care of your favourites.

And pack your suitcases, please.

Attention, attention !

The foreign workers of the day and the night shifts!

The SS and the police commander's order is:

No one is allowed to leave the factory without a special permit.

That any attempt at sabotage or disobediance...

be punished by death !

How are you?

- Quite fine, sir. - What about your arm?

lt's all right. lt was just a sprain. l'm not used to parachute jumping.

Have you sent the report?

Yes, l have. Aren't they searching yet?

l guess they haven't started so far. What have you received?

The factory is to remain untouched. The evacuation of neither professor Glass...

nor the machines producing elements for V-2 missiles are to be allowed.

- lt's easier said than done. - What next?

Point out the weak points of the defense system.

Report.. .

The canal two kilometres from the factory.

This night or tomorrow morning. ..

the Volkssturm battalion will deploy in this section.

- What about the factory? - l don't know yet.

l have no acces to it.

By the way, there's information about professor Glass's son, Kurt.

He is in our prisoner-of-war camp.

That's important.

Are you crazy?

But it was painted by Kurt. Would you want to leave it?

You care about nothing. Everything is on my head.

Calm down.

You could have obtained Kurt's release from the army.

The Kreisleiter's son works in Berlin. And your son... Oh, God!

Stop it!

You are at last. Where have you been?

- l' l l teach you a lesson ! - Don't hit!

Poor me! Get packing the crockery.

Some captain Kloss wanted to see me. Show him to my study.

Good afternoon. ls professor Glass in?

Yes. Come in, please.

- A glass of cognac? - Yes, please.

French.

The last bottle.

You work for counter-espionage, don't you?

l do.

Why is counter-espionage interested in me?

Please excuse me, captain but l have hardly any time.

l understand. Would you like a cigarette?

American !

- A war trophy? - Maybe. ..

Have you received the evacuation order?

- You know l have. - l do.

A sea voyage isn't the safest but if it's a success.. .

What are you driving at?

lf it's a success you' ll continue your research. Great prospects.

l'd rather you really told me what l owe the honour of your visit to.

lt's not so easy, professor.

You are celebrating some sort of anniversary this year, aren't you.

Are you joking, captain?

Ten years ago assisstant professor Glass. ..

spent a few months in Moabit prison in Berlin. ..

for the help extended to a frind of his.

- Everybody knows about that. - That's right.

Later on your great knowledge was completely in the service to Germany.

Prizes, awards.. . And finally this factory.

You surprise me, captain.

Have you been sent here to check my loyalty?

l'm just wondering.. .

if you' re still anything like the person you used to be.

- Your best friend, doctor Bart... - Enough.

l guess that the German counter-espionage. ..

has more important things to do than bothering about me.

No doubt about it. Doctor Bart was executed in Hamburg.

- Provocation? - Suppose someone asked you.. .

if you consider it necessary to evacuate?

Suppose.. . l repeated this question at the Gestapo?

The one asking such a question would probably be secured in some way.

Just a bluff, captain.

We' ll see when we've put our cards on the table.

l like theoretical considerations. l am a mathematician.

The one asking the question would have to offer some guarantee.

Do you mean the guarantee of survival?

May be you could only be offered a chance of survival?

The only possible one in this situation.

lt's too enigmatic, young man.

But suppose l'm not a fanatic...

and that theoretically l would be ready to consider certain suggestions.

Sounds promising.

But only in the presence of authorized persons.

Besides there is something like the duty faithfulness.

A duty? Does it mean approval of everything?

You are carrying things too far. lt's risky.

We're talking theoretically.

Oh, l see! Now you're withdrawing.

Even when talking theoretically l'd have to know. ..

- if l'm talking to the right person. - And if so?

Would you be willing to consider some suggestions?

Within certain limits.

The demand is simple. No evacuation !

Whose demand? Who wil l hear the answer?

What do you know about your son, professor?

For goodness' sake, you know something about Kurt? Please talk.

He got missing two months ago. ls he alive?

Yes, he is in captivity.

ls it certain? Where is this information from?

The answer doesn't seem necessary. l believe you understand now.

l suppose l do.

And if you'd like to repeat this conversation to anyone.. .

Don't finish, please. l understand everything.

This war is ruthless. The missiles produced in your factory. ..

- are falling on London now. - Enough!

- Stop it. - Al l right.

l don't think you' l l be left in peace if you don't turn up on the ship tomorrow.

l suggest we meet at the corner of Pommernstrasse at, let's say at. ..

- Show the captain to the door. - Good-bye.

- Do you live here? - Yes. My room overlooks the garden.

There's one important thing. We have to meet tonight.

- See you, Agnieszka. - See you.

You could help me.

lt's not necessary. We aren't going anywhere.

- What did you say? - l have good news for you.

Our Kurt is alive. He's in captivity.

We were both in the same clandestine organisation in Warsaw.

We were both in the same clandestine organisation in Warsaw.

She's a great girl and a chance for us. She may have a contact in the factory.

lnform the HQ that l'm starting the ''Glass'' mission.

You've got nothing to smoke again.

Take these. l' ll bring you more.

Be careful with the light.

- Yes, sir. - Take care of yourself.

Watch out. ..

Careful ly. ..

Get the cart, Saszka!

You have to run away.

Be careful . Someone may see us. What's up?

l overheard the conversation between Glass and that officer.

Some guns have been brought here. Then the SS is to arrive and you...

- l understand. - You have to run away.

l' ll bring you my brother's clothes. l' l l issue a pass.

And l' ll be watching what they are doing with the others.

- Why? Don't you want to survive? - Where those guns are.

- Staszek! - Find out where those guns are.

Then the camp, the factory. ..

And since the Glasses needed a servant.. .

l understand. How about the boys from our group?

l got caught before the uprising. They remained there.

Listen, Agnieszka.

Go to the factory now and tell the folks. ..

that their operation must be coordinated with the military operation.

Tell them to get rid of the guard at the main gate at 2.45.. .

and then to wait for us. We're meeting by the gate at 2.30.

ls that al l?

Yes. lt's better not to know too much.

Get up, Fritz!

l was to wake you up.

Where are you, Fritz?

Fritz!

Open the door!

Open at once!

Why do you lock your door? Who's been here?

- Nobody. - You're lying!

l heard someone here.

Where is my husband? Where is professor Glass?

So you say that captain Kloss was here?

Yes, he was.

- What for? - l don't know.

- What were they talking about? - l don't eavesdrop, sturmbanfuhrer.

That's a pity.

And next professor Glass went to rest in his room , didn't he?

He was very excited and said that he wanted to be alone.

l was in the room next to his. l was thinking about Kurt.

- Who is Kurt? - Our son.

We thought he was dead but my husband told me. ..

that Kurt is alive and that he's in captivity.

When did your husband receive this news?

l don't know.

lt's a pity you don't know anything. But when did he tell you about that?

He told me that right after that captain had left.

Right after captain Kloss had left. Are you sure about that?

Yes, l am. And he said we weren't going to evacuate.

And that you were't going to evacuate?

Brunner speaking.

l understand. Al l right. Thank you.

Mrs. Glass! We, Germans have to be tough.

Your husband, professor Glass is dead.

Sector 5 - quiet!

So far quiet. ..

l think their offensive will start no sooner than at 5 a.m .

l hope they' ll pass round the canal.

Our radiocars are on the trail of the enemy's radiostation.

- Here, in the city? - Yes. Here, in the city.

ln the sector between Kaiser and Pommernstrasse.

lf they have any information about our defense system ...

- Are they transmitting? - Yes. We've inercepted some message.

The code department has been working on it for two hours.

Our counter-espionage is good for nothing, Kloss.

Falkenhorn starts searching that area in half an hour.

l'm going back to sector 5. l' ll be reporting by phone.

- Are you in a hurry, Hans? - Yes, l am.

l' m afraid you' ll have to stay.

l'd like to ask captain Klossa few questions in your presence, colonel.

- What's that supposed to mean? - l' l l make it clear soon.

What were you doing this afternoon, Kloss?

- l don't like such a tone, Brunner. - You're oversensitive, Hans.

What were you doing from 5 and 8 p.m . today?

l won't answer any questions unless you tel l me what's it all about.

- A good method! - Start talking, for heaven's sake!

Kloss has been here since 9 p.m. There's no time for fiddle-faddle.

l' l l tel l you right now. Professor Glass has been murderd.

- Do you know what it means? - But what has Kloss to do with that?

He was the last person to see him alive.

- Did you visit him? - Yes, l did.

- What for? - The professor is an old frind of mine.

False! Mrs. Glass said she had seen you for the first time.

Maybe.. .

- What were you two talking about? - l went thare to say good-bye.

And the upshot of that. ..

was professor Glass's decision not to evacuate. Right?

- What do you know about his son? - Nothing.

- You're lying. - l'm warning you, Brunner.

Stop it. The murderer of professor Glass must be immediately found.

- Where is the body? - Next door, in my office.

- Do you mind, colonel? - No, l don't. Go ahead.

What about the radiostation, colonel?

ln half an hour gendarmerie and Folkenhorn's platoon.. .

wil start searching that sector.

- And what? - Nothing.

Mrs. Glass identified the body.

Yes, she did. By the smoking-jacket and the slacks.

That man got completely mangled, colonel.

But l don't quite understand why he has his shirt inside out.

The professor isn't in the factory, Freulein.

l know. l'm to fetch his briefcase.

- The Germans will be here any minute. - l'm start transmitting in ten minutes.

- Haven't you sent the last report yet? - No, l haven't.

The operation in the factory starts at 3 a.m.

We won't manage to inform the HQ about that.

Go away, major. l' ll send the message.

Are you crazy?

lf we don't send the message the people in the factory will die.

We' l l try to defend ourselves.

Why don't you want to say who that man is?

- Believe me, l can't. - Al l right, Agnieszka.

We've got nothing to lose. But we may save the factory and the people.

This town wiil be Polish after the war.

- Maybe you'd better go, major. - Four more minutes.

- Risky like hell . - Quiet, sergeant.

The guns are in the guardhouse.

They still haven't distributed them so we may manage.

- Have you talked to any people? - l've chosen ten of our men.

- Yugoslav? - Ready.

- And you Saszka? - We've also got ten men.

At 2.45 a.m. Wacek and Saszka will dispatch the guard.

We' ll try to take the guns. Get back to work now.

Let's go to the office. That German hag will stamp your pass.

Start!

This is ''Vistula 5''. ..

Come on. Don't be scared.

There's no one here. She must have gone to bring me her brother's clothes.

- l wonder why she is doing that. - How should l know?

l suppose she loves you. And you?

You know you are the only one l love, Agnieszka.

And she brings me food, she's found out about these guns.

Who is this ''our man''?

He's Polish but in the uniform of a German officer of the Wehrmacht.

Remember: you are only to dispatch the guard.

Groll 45, 32, Konig 36, 38, Schmidt 40, 42.

Kurt - downstairs! The rest fol low me!

Only one. Let's try.

Change quickly!

What else can you tel l me about this German officer?

Nothing more. l've told you everything.

Associating with that Pole, you disgraced the German race.

You know what the penalty for such an offence is, don't you?

l do, sturmanfuhrer. But l .. .

But your sincere confession has absolved you from all guilt.

- You no longer like Poles, do you? - l hate them .

Your testimony wil l help us to eliminate our serious enemy. Therefore l think. ..

that we should, in the name of Fuhrer, forgive Grata Raschke her mistake.

Right.

Thank you, madam.

- May l leave now? - Certainly.

Please wait for me in my office.

Wel l, colonel. lt's a serious and dangerous enemy.

- lf it's al l true. - Don't you suspect anybody?

As far as l remember, he was even a friend of yours.

''A friend'' is such a strong word.

So we are both thinking about Kloss.

- ls the colonel in? - Yes, sir.

Get out! Faster!

Get up!

Why are you waking me up? l was to sleep for another hour or so.

- J-23 is reporting from Tolberg. - During a war every report is late.

Give me a cigarette.

How about our famous J-23?

The operation in the factory begins at 3 a.m.

A bit hasty. They're nervous.

The Germans don't expect any offensive across the canal.

They're going to reinforce the defense there only in the morning.

Cal l for Podgorsky. We' ll have a try.

l guess they' ll hold out in that factory for some time.

2.40 a.m.

- lt's time. - O. K.

Hands up! Halt!

What's the name of the officer you had an appointment with?

- l know nothing about any officer. - How was it?

That Polish girl told him their man would come in a German uniform.

lf you tel l me everything, you may save your lives.

What's his name?

You' ll tell me.

Take him separately.

Why, French?

Your boy-friend! You' l l go instead of him.

Bastard!

l'm giving you three minutes.

They've dispatched the guard. l'm going.

Halt! Hands up!

So you've come, Hans. l've arranged that nicely, haven't l?

Oh, and here is the girl. Stand by the wall over there.

And you, Hans, have a look at them.

l never lose the last battle.

You bastard! You' re a skunk! You're running away from the burning...

ship like a rat. How long have you been working for them?

Since the very beginning, Brunner. Since the very first day.

l'm an officer of the Polish intelligence service.

Then you will tell us everything.

- Contacts, names? - What for, Brunner?

Sturmbanfuhrer, the harbour is blocked.

Take everybody out!

- To be dispatched? - Wait for my order.

This is Vistula 5.

J-23 arrested in the factory. Help needed immediately.

l repeat. ..

The blockade of the harbour surprised you? There's no escape for you.

Do you think l won't manage? Don't delude yourself.

Your situation is much worse.

l' l l have time to take care of you and the others.

But first l'd like to talk with you. Sit down, Hans.

- A cigarette? - You've changed your tone?

The circumstances have changed.

Two officers of the same service might do a deal. l have a suggestion.

l'm not interested in your suggestions.

This morning l suggested a covenant but you refused. The worse for you.

Now l've got something more precious than the lives of these people.

Something that the English and Americans would be very grateful to me for.

l've got Glass.

l knew about that. lt was a fake murder.

You wanted to take him out of the country and then trade him.

You're an exceptional bastard, Brunner.

But it's only me who knows where he is.

Don't be silly, Hans. After al l l've got Glass.

Take the microphone and cal l for the one who's mined the factory.

- l won't do that. - Take the microphone!

Engineer Kroll is to call at the duty-room !

Repeat!

Engineer Kroll is to call at the duty-room !

Turn around.

Ask him where the detonators are.

Kroll has run away, sturmbanfuhrer.

- Where are the detonators? - ln Glass's office.

Blow up the factory.

Don't shoot!

Where is Brunner?

Help!