Original subtitles

Polish Television presents

PLAYlNG FOR HlGH STAKES

WANTED GRUPPENFUEHRER WOLF

written by

music by

as captain Kloss

starring

production manager

photography by

directed by

They're coming.

- Everything is in order. - Al l of them?

lt's not the first time l'm doing it.

Poured over with petrol and set on fire.

Kurt! Everyone into the car!

Why! ls the war over? Why aren't you moving on?

lt's none of your fucking business, sir.

Kloss!

Take down the name of this scoundrel.

Don't write anything, captain. The general wil l remember my name.

l'm colonel Lutzke.

lf you don't move on at once you' ll be court-martialled.

We will .. . l've just told my men to fil l the tanks with water.. .

because there's just enough petrol for one vehicle for three kilometres.

Let's go, Kloss.

Where to?

We've been ordered to attack american tanks.

l cancel this order. Whose order was it?

Gruppenfuehrer Wolf's.

l'm the defense commander of this town.

And you are not soldiers, but a group of crazy kids.

Your anti-tank guns won't stop even a single tank and you' ll get mangled.

- Go back home. - What about the Fuehrer's order?

l'm counting to three.. . Leave your guns and rush home at once.

''l take over all the authority over this town...

even if only one German soldier should remain alive...

Gruppenfuehrer Wolf.'' Do you know that Wolf?

He's arrived from Berlin yesterday.

- But you've been to Berlin. - Yes, but that was a week ago.

Try to get in touch with him, Kloss.

After all l have to know with whom l am to defend the town.

''This is Radio Hamburg.

To all Germans.. . to all the German nation. ..

to soldiers and civilians.

You are going to hear a massage of great importance and gravity.

This morning died the Fuehrer.. .

of the Great Germany, Adolf Hitler.

He died at his post fighting against Bolsvevism to the very end.

He died a soldier's death...

while defending the capital of the Great Germany - Berlin.

By virtue of the Fuehrer's last will ...

al l the authority is taken over by admiral Doenitz.''

lt's over now.

There won't be any defence of the town.

It's over. But before the Americans come here...

Wolf will manage to send several hundred kids to die.. .

as well as a number of deserters who couldn't stand it al l.

All right.

l'm assigning you a task, Kloss... the last task during this war.

l want you to assemble some of the tankers from that square surround...

the Gestapo building and permit no one to leave it until the Americans arrive.

l want them to know that the Wehrmacht has always been against those curs.

Always?

Or since it became clear that the war was already lost?

You' re tired.

We're al l tired.

One more thing, general.

About 500 captives worked in factories here. All Russians and Poles.

The factories are under Wolf's command. l'm worried about these captives.

l strip Wolf of any authority.

The army fought and only the army can talk with the Americans.

Execute the order, please.

The Wehrmacht has surrounded the building. They've put up machine- guns.

Dirty swines! They want to trade us away to Americans.

Wernitz is right.

l told you, Ohlers, we shouldn't have hurried with those...

Firstly, nobody knows about it. And secondly, such was the order.

The order of Gruppenfuehrer Wolf. We couldn't have acted otherwise.

You're right, Leubov.

We were acting under orders.

We can't be responsible for the decisions of our commanders.

May Gruppenfuehrer Wolf answer for that.

They have to capture him first. But that won't be easy.

Come in!

Hello. .. l'm lieutenant Lewis. ..

the acting boss of this waste-stuff depot.

Captain Roberts, captain Karpinsky from the special service.

l can guess. l've been informed about your arrival.

Al l the first floor is at your disposal.

Unfortunately, there're no secretaries.

We've brought ours along.

Have you prepared anything other than the rooms for us?

l've isolated the officers. They're kept in one wing.

The privates are in another place.

But it's possible that there' re stl l some officers hidden among the privates.

ls it true you've got all the local SD organisation.

Yes, it is. General Wil lman made us a gift.

We're getting to work in the afternoon.

Bring us the list of the officers of the Wehrmacht and the SD.

What do you know about the Russian and Polish captives?

They've probably been evacuated.

- l don't think so. - Let's have a drink.

Schreder!

l must admit that their manners are strange.

They should start from me, don't you think so, Kloss?

- l'm of the highest rank here. - You should have shot me there.

They would have certainly got interested in you.

- They are interested in murderers. - Even they disdain traitors.

You' ll pay for having our building surrounded...

and for surrendering the town.

l'm accustomed to being referred to as ''general''.

l take al l the resposibility for everything l did.

You' ll have to do it too.

Gentlemen, the guard is listening to us. lt's no place for quarrelling.

Fahrenwirtz!

They're asking about Wolf.

- Your name? - Otto Fahrenwirtz.

- Rank? - Standartenfuehrer.

- Family status? - Married. Four children.

- The course of your military service? - A member of the SD since 1 938.

l operated only in Poland and Russia. l never shot at Americans or Englishmen.

l only executed the orders. You know how it is in the army.

Stand up!

- Did you know Gruppenfuehrer Wolf? - Yes, l did.

His description?

Fair-haired, 1 .80 metres tall , of about 40.

- ls he in the camp? - l don't know.

- You'd better tell us the truth. - l haven't seen him.

There were 500 Russian and Polish captives in the town.

- What's happened with them? - l don't know.

- Then you'd better recall . - That's enough. You may leave.

One might think you're only interested in Wolf and those 500 captives.

- And what about you? - Me?

l already know what's happened with them.

An hour ago l questioned some SS-man from the liaison service.

Wolf had them executed.

Why is it only now you're telling me that?

Has that man seen Wolf?

No. He just happened to overhear some conversation on the phone.

He heard the order concerning the execution of the captives.

Then who has real ly seen Wolf?

Ohlers, Wernitz, Fahrenwirtz and Leubov.

Only them. Even the car driver who brought him from the airport is dead.

- Then l will talk to them. - You needn't hurry.

Even if we find Wolf we' l l have to extradite him to the Russians.

He's wanted for the crimes committed in Ukraine.

We're also looking for war criminals.

Certainly.

You' re hopelessly short-sighted, Karpinsky.

You've always been.

A spade, a broom, a spade.

A spade, a broom, a spade.. .

A good German.

lf you go on working like that there may be a reward.

- Your name? - Hans.

Military intelligence service?

- That's right. - Where?

ln Poland, Russia, France, Germany.

Where did you stay the longest?

ln Poland.

We're colleagues, in a sense, Mr. Kloss.

We're both professionals and l believe you understand the situation.

l think you' ll tell us many interesting things.

l don't understand.

You had quite a good spy network in the East.

We did.

Exactly. Do you have a good memory?

Very poor.

Nothing happens quickly in this world.

l guess l'm right thinking that neither you nor we want to stay long here.

- Did you know Gruppenfuehrer Wolf? - Unfortunately not.

- Unfortunately? - Wolf is a war criminal.

He ordered the Polish and Russian captives to be kil led.

- Do you know about that? - l do.

How long have you been against Hitlerites, Mr. Kloss?

- l'm sure Wolf is in this camp. - l wouldn't be so sure.

Why is finding Wolf so important for you?

Could it be due to some old scores between the Abwehr and the Gestapo?

- lt should be important to you. - Do you suggest cooperation?

We might be willing to accept it but not only in connection with Wolf.

ls it clear?

- Haven't you ever met Wolf before? - l've only heard about him.

How about those four from the local SD?

Did Ohlers, Wernitz, Leubov or Fahrenwirtz work with him?

They did. They must know him.

They must know the cover-up name he's using now. Unless.. .

What?

- Unless one of them is Wolf. - Are you through yet, gentlemen?

lt's nice to meet a German officer...

who is so eager to help with the search for war criminals.

You'd better be serious with us, Mr. Kloss.

We won't let you take us in.

You may leave.

How do you like him?

Who knows: maybe he real ly wants to help us find Wolf?

You suffer from persecution mania. We' ll get Wolf.

l wonder if he wants to sell us what he knows.. .

- or if... - What are you thinking about?

Germans underestimated Slavs and their intel ligence service.

And they paid a high price for that.

We have to decide what to do. Are we staying or running away?

But there's always a danger that the escape wil l be a failure.

People who can only be charged with executing orders shouldn't run away.

- l guess it's clear to everyone. - What are the chances?

l happened to get in touch with Sturmbanfuehrer Brunner.

He's managed to get the uniform and the lD of some dead man.

There're a few of our men with him.

They've got tatoos and they're afraid of any closer inspection.

That's why he suggests fleeing.

Do you know Brunner well , Ohlers?

l can vouch for him. Nevertheless l' m against fleeing.

Unless l were given a hundred-per-cent guarantee.

l prefer staying here and watching Americans seeking Wolf.

l'm for. Any way, we have to be prepared for being troubled about him a lot.

What do they know?

Even if not much at the moment they' l l soon learn more.

And you know what penalty he' ll be liable to if they collect all the data.

Byelorussia, Pomerania.. .?

lf they catch him they' ll have to extradite him to the other ones.

Let's quit this conversation now.

l've talked to the HQ.

A Russian officer has already visited their mission.

They want Wolf. And we?

Easy. ..

.. .we' ll find him.

Maybe we' l l have to look into the SD records. ..

to their personal records, of course if they fall into our hands.

Why do you attach no importance to this matter?

No, it's not the case.

l just have many more important things on my mind.

Then you should have seen the bodies of those captives.

Piles of half-burnt bodies and the one who is responsible for that is here.

lt's very likely he is.

There're also some others who operated in the East. ..

and know about the things we're interested in.

What are the things we' re interested in?

Didn't you by any chance make a mistake joining the ClC?

l didn't, but l guess you did.

About turn!

Forward, march !

Stop!

About turn!

Forward, march !

Stop!

Catch !

First they debased the nation and now they are debasing themselves.

l guess you are aware, Kloss...

that at least half of these soldiers are SS-men who aren'tjust little fishes.

They've taken off their uniforms and now throw mud at everything.. .

they made us believe in for so many years.

How long has it been since you lost your faith?

Does it matter? Now l don't even remember since when.

Since Stalingrad? Since the first thrashing?

Let's drop it. There're more important things now.

The war is lost but it's not the last war in the history of our nation.

Do you really think we could start everything from the very beginning, sir?

Do you know what cover-up name Wolf is using?

- Why are you asking? - He must be found.. .

- and handed over to the Americans. - Don't play the fool, Kloss.

- You must have some trump card on hand. - Trading to save your own skin?

To save the honour of the German army...

to save the dignity of the German soldier. Will you join us?

No...

You claim you're Vogel and that you're a sergeant.

But one of your comrades has ratted on you.

Right at my door l found a sheet of paper. ..

which makes it clear that your name isn't Vogel. ..

and that you are no sergeant but an SD official.

My name is Vogel .

l could have your clothes taken off, your hands raised up.. .

and examine your SS tatoo. But it might make me sick.

Besides l know it's true. l know human nature.

lf you own a bar in Texas, you have to know human nature.

One glance at your face tel ls me that the anonymous letter told the truth.

l was a non-commissioned officer and l just executed orders.

The anonymous letter says you executed orders in a concentration camp.

And downstairs there're two such guys who are looking for men like you.

Well , l might forget about this letter, but on one condition.

Don't you want to know what this condition is?

- l can guess, lieutenant. - l expected such an answer.

Keep your eyes open. Do you understand?

l want order here - no fleeing. lf you see three men talking...

you're to be that third one. ls it clear?

Herr Schitel .

Yes, sir.

At the assembly tomorrow you' ll be assigned to clean this office.

Not only you, of course.

You must be able to find some 5 minutes to report to me.

Get lost!

You knew about the order to blow up the factory.

No, l didn't. Wolf said he would see to the factory and the captives himself.

An innocent. Didn't Wolf tel l you about anything?

l was responsible for administration.

You supplied ''Cyclone'' to the camp. We know that already.

- Now tel l me where Wolf is. - l don't know.

You said he arrived from Berlin two days ago just before. ..

the capitulation and that he didn't leave your building.

- Yes, he was very busy. - 29 death sentences for desertion.

The last three - 5 hours before our soldiers came.

- l didn't sign anything. - You wil l show him to us?

6000 people. How shal l l find him?

We' ll help you. Let's go.

Look and talk!

None of them is Gruppenfuehrer Wolf.

- Or maybe Wolf had no tatoo? - Maybe he didn't.

You' l l never find him.

Captain.

l'd like to talk to you.

- Let's get inside. - Just a few words.

Maybe it' l l be even better here.

- Yes, what is it? - l want to help you find Wolf.

Why?

Let's say that the motives are unknown.

Tell me everything you know.

Not much real ly, almost nothing.

- So what do you want? - Just a trifle. Your help if need be.

- l'd like to carry out experiment. - Who exactly are you?

l want to help you capture Wolf. lsn't it enough?

At what price?

That no one will learn about our conversation.

- Not even captain Roberts? - Let's not mention any names.

What does he want from us?

How should l know? He said it was urgent.

l'm not very fond of those dandies from the Abwehr.

But we can listen to what he wants to tell us.

He's coming.

l' m coming to warn you, gentlemen.

A group of officers under the guidance of Willman. ..

those who stopped being national socialists two days ago...

want to seek favour with the Americans.

Wil lman wanted to seek their favour even before the capitulation.

He locked us up like rats.

Do you know which of his officers carried out that mission?

Does it really matter?

Now Wil lman wants Wolf to be handed over to the Americans.

- They have to find him first. - Why are you telling us about that?

You were the closest associates of the Gruppenfuehrer. ..

- and only you can help him. - You mean fleeing.. . but how?

l wouldn't come here if l wasn't sure, that an escape is possible.

One of my men is a stoker in the boiler house.

The chute of coke is outside the fence.

lt's well-hidden but it's enough to throw some coke aside and...

- How do you know that? - l was in the town last night.

And you returned?

Clothes and lDs are waiting for us at my friends' place.

We can stay there for a few days, orjoin our folks right away.

Do you stil l believe that there're any of our folks around here?

The war is not over as long as the last soldier...

Enough, Kloss. We know that. We made up this tale ourselves.

Now it's time we started saving our skin.

Why are you doing this? Motives?

l was the officer who executed general Wil lman's last order.

- You, swine! - Be quiet!

l knew about that. lt's good you said that. l was waiting for it.

When can we flee?

Even tomorrow.

Right after the assembly we' l l hide in the boiler house.

After that guards don't move away from the door.

And it will be safer if the Gruppenfuehrer comes last.

Al l right, Kloss.

Tomorrow at 21 .1 5, in the boiler house.

Let's go.

Leave it and take the empty bottles.

Fetch the ful l ones from the mess. Be quick as l'm waiting.

A flight tonight, six people - all big fishes.

Wil l l be released with the first group?

lf you' re not tel ling lies.

l' ll handle that myself.

Captain. ..

did you already want to go home?

Alone?

Or maybe with someone else?

Talk!

To a dark cell ! Bread and water!

When you've spent a night there you' ll start speaking.

Take him away!

We've been lucky.

lf it hadn't been for the fact that they were so hasty...

we would have al l been caught.

l wouldn't. l knew it would end this way.

- Why didn't you tell us? - l learnt about it at the last moment.

l was just ruuning to warn you, when l saw him being taken away.

Do you mean that one of us. ..

There's someone who wil l explain everything.

Would you, please, tell my over-trustful friends.. .

who Hans Kloss really is.

Who told you to lock up Kloss?

Why didn't you inform me about that report at once?

- An escape was being planned. - There was no escape.

Do you mean l've been deceived?

Release Kloss immediately. ..

and report to me before you make any decision.

What's this fuss about Kloss? Lewis locks him up and you release him.

- An experiment. - On your own?

You don't mind that, do you.

He may be helpful.

Wiil he deliver documents concerning the ''East'' group?

He wants to capture Wolf.

Lieutenant, why?

There has been no attempt at any escape!

But l saw them myself, lieutenant. Captain Kloss and some others.

You should have called me in then.

We've been waiting for you. We knew you would scramble out of it.

l didn't tell them anything. No one suspects you.

We believe you, Kloss. We believe you're a good German.. .

a great friend and a first-rate officer.

lt's no time forjoking, gentlemen.

lt was only the five of us who knew the exact time of our escape.

There's a traitor among us.

We've also come to the same conclusion.

We even know who the traitor is.

Kloss. ..

Hel lo, my old friend.

Hello, Brunner.

l didn't expect to meet you here. You should have been hanged long ago.

Life is also tough on you.

But l guess there's going to be no miss this time. Hands up.

You can't always succeed. You have to fail occasionally.

- l only wish l had captured Wolf. - No one wil l ever capture him.

Shall we give him a pleasure before he dies. ..

and tel l him where Gruppenfuehrer Wolf is?

There's no need to. l already know that.

Do you?

Quit it, Brunner!

Our old scores are going to be settled now, Hans.

Do you remember cousin Edyta. .. Tolberg?

Now it's the third time. ..

Quickly!

Stand by the wal l ! Hands up!

Who shot here?

- You know who. - Answer my questions.

- Hauptman Kloss. - Kloss?

- Where's he? - He's gone.

Why are you asking us about it?

- What's your name? - Brunner.

- Sturmbanfuehrer.. . - Or Gruppenfuehrer Wolf?

- No. Kloss can confirm that, anyway. - We' ll ask him too...

but first you have to tel l us everything.

l've got nothing to tell you. l just executed orders.

After al l l didn't kil l Kloss.

They should be here soon.

The HQ had to permit two gentlemen from beyond the Elbe to visit our camp.

Their liaison mission claims that Gruppenfuehrer Wolf. ..

whose extradition we promised to them , is right here.

We know nothing about that. We've been looking for him too.

You've disappointed me.

And you let yourself be taken in like a child.

- l did my best to find Wolf. - lt's not the point.

lt's a shame that Bolsheviks should know more than we do.

Our allies.

Not only al lies.

lf Wolf is really here you, Mr. Karpinsky, wil l go back to the States.

l dream of nothing else, general .

Come in.

They've arrived.

- You know why we are here? - l do.

- Why, it's you? - You've won this round.

l guess the next one too. l borrowed a coat from you.

Would you, please, return it to the right person.

You claim that Gruppenfueher Wolf is hiding in our camp, don't you?

l don't know anything about that..

Cal l in the fol lowing Gestapomen, please:

Ohlers, Leubov. Fahrenwirtz and Wernitz.

Lieutenant Lewis.. .

l know the history of your escape, major.

We'd rather you weren't our antagonist.

lt's up to you, general .

Let's drink to our victory. To our common victory.

To peace.

- Well, which of them is it, major? - Just a moment, general.

Stand here in the following order.. .

Wernitz.. .

Ohlers.. .

Leubov. ..

Fahrenwirtz.

This is Gruppenfuehrer Wolf.

We demand that these people should be extradited.

They won't manage to charge their mythical boss with their own crimes.