Original subtitles

GERMANY

LINE OF SEPARATION

THE MORNING AFTER THE WAR

END OF APRIL, 1945

Anna, are you coming? Please take off my dress.

Do you think it suits me?

Go to the kitchen, Johanna needs you.

I don't want to look like a scarecrow.

I have no time for vanity either.

Who still looks at you?

Anna!

Anna, come back!

No!

Leave me alone!

Let me go! Help!

Come on!

Father?

- What are you doing here? - No one must know. You hear?

No one.

- Now go home. - I'm not going alone.

I'm scared.

Franz, where have you been? Don't you think we should go,

- like the Gauleiter? - We don't need to.

Have you been poaching again? In the Count's forest?

It's just as much my forest. He's deserted and he's back.

- Kathi, I must go again. - Now?

The Americans are coming. It'll all be over soon.

Horst, they're afraid of you.

Other mothers are proud of their sons.

That's not you inside that uniform.

Heil Hitler!

Hello, Horst.

Ah, Hilde...

I'm taking her to her cousin's. Chemnitz is in ruins.

He's back, my special friend, the Count.

He's hiding behind the manor farm.

Get reinforcements, go there, and arrest him.

I'm taking Mother away.

Desertion is corrosion of military morale.

Make an example in the name of the Führer.

I've been given an order.

But the war's over.

I can give you a ride.

I know the way.

Wait for me in the pub.

Our village is full.

No space for anyone else.

Are you mad?

The Americans will get here soon and shoot the village to pieces.

Kratzer, be quiet.

Hellinger, your grandson stays. No one leaves their post.

- Yes. - Right.

Or you'll all be shot under martial law, right Hubertus?

Just delay the war's end.

We'll die for the Führer and the fatherland.

If we didn't need you and your mill, Kratzer,

we'd have had you shot long ago.

Walter, go home at once!

- Mother! - No arguing!

Hubertus Prantl, you will send my sons to slaughter no more.

Do I have to force you?

Right, that's enough. Come on, everyone.

Countess!

Philippe, have you seen Anna?

- I haven't. - Where could she be?

No idea, but...

Hello. We're from Berlin.

Can we stay with you for a night or two?

Is she wounded?

She needs a drink and something to eat.

- Johanna! We need more soup! - At once, madam.

- How old are you two? - 15.

No need to say more. The greater their fear, the more fanatical they become.

Go to the storehouse, the back right. Come on. Everyone in the storehouse.

- Everyone in the storehouse. - Countess!

Countess!

The Americans dropped these.

Everyone listen! An appeal from the Americans.

"Resistance is useless. We come as liberators."

Philippe, everyone. Hang up sheets.

Any white cloths you can find. Quick.

That's defeatism!

Resist till the last drop of blood is spilt,

was the Führer's order. Victory or death!

- Yes? - Can I come in?

Hilde, do you know where Walter is? He's gone again.

Hans, come here.

Move it, move it.

Well, well! I knew it!

- Heil Hitler! - Heil Hitler!

Go now, quickly.

Come with me, please. You can hide in the house.

Come on then.

You go to the front.

Mother!

Anna. Where were you?

Father is back. He's in the house.

Make sure the sheets get hung up.

Georg?

You're mad coming here!

Heil Hitler!

The SS! Hide, go!

Get out and secure the place!

You two, over here!

I'm told this is a defeatist lair.

We'll take the house at the back.

Where is the Count?

I want an answer. Where is the Count?

Take the flags down. Gather everyone together.

Move it, over there.

The Americans are coming. Any minute.

The SS are here, looking for Father.

You were safe in the cabin.

Mother knew you were back?

Don't go down there.

It's not the first time I've had a visit.

Out of there!

Out!

Get the others out!

And everyone else here! Where is the Count?

- What's going on here? - Where's your husband?

I don't know. At war.

Did you order the white flags?

Yes, because the Americans are coming.

That's undermining military morale.

They're old women.

All males from houses flying white flags must be shot.

Line the men up!

No. These are children!

- Move aside! - I'm a party member!

I have nothing to do with that rabble!

Attention!

No.

Mother!

- You will not do this. - Get out of the way!

You don't know where your husband is?

No.

Then you alone are responsible for this.

Please do something, Dad.

Yes.

All men, dismissed.

You stay.

For the very last time...

where is he?

Countess, madam!

They're shooting her.

- Attention. - Father, they're shooting her!

Fire!

Run! Get out of here!

You stay here.

We won't surrender!

Till the final victory!

Go! Fast!

Jesus, my Walter.

That's Striesow.

Why aren't you with your unit, Count?

Did you run away?

A deserting officer.

Traitor to the fatherland!

Thank you.

I'm leaving for my cousin's soon. I'm just waiting for Horst.

Your son had the Countess shot.

He's dead.

- Do you think they'll shoot us? - No.

They'd have done it straight away.

They made them dig their own graves on the Eastern Front.

You Nazis came up with that.

The Americans aren't monsters.

They will punish the Nazis.

Exactly.

What cowards you are.

Traitors. All of you.

Aunt!

Hello, Hilde.

They sent Grandpa back home to us.

About Horst...

We've already heard.

Sit down.

We surrendered, but nothing better will come. Nothing.

- Be quiet, Father. - You'll see. Nothing better.

Want something to eat?

Please release my sons.

They're children, not soldiers.

You can remove blood stains with salt or alcohol.

Without your mother, none of the men would be alive, including my sons.

That was her favourite dress.

Franz, for heaven's sake, where were you?

- Were the Americans here? - Not at ours.

Franz?

What are you doing?

Jesus!

- Not the beautiful memories! - They must go!

Where's my party membership book?

- In the rucksack. - It's not there.

You look down here, I'll look upstairs.

- Sitting in the tub again? - My bones hurt.

Have you seen my party membership book?

Ah, the wind is changing! Tomorrow you'll be human too.

- What do you mean? - Sometimes I'm ashamed of you,

how easily you shake things off.

Speaking of shame, the feeling's mutual.

Life is unfair.

- Karl died for us. - He died for Hitler, not us.

Gustl is somewhere on the Eastern Front. And you?

You're here.

Kathi!

- So? Where is it? - I can't find it.

For Christ's sake!

- And you? - Nothing.

Then look harder! Damnation!

You go away and...

There.

The dress is good as new.

Thanks.

My husband is the miller. He has to stay here.

No Nazi. Social Democrat.

Please.

Erwin!

I spoke to the Commandant. My sons are to be released.

Lothar! Friedrich! Come! Quick!

Hubert!

Resi?

Theresa?

Theresa?

Were you sick again?

What's been wrong with you lately? Are you pregnant?

You are pregnant.

Leave me alone.

Didn't I tell you not to get involved with that French rabble?

- We'll get rid of it. - I've tried everything already.

Do you know what that will do to us?

A French sweetheart, that's treachery.

The war is over, Mum.

Just as they've taken your father away!

You'll never find a good husband now! What will you live on?

Thank you, Countess.

Thanks.

Anna.

I'd like to see her one more time.

This is your house?

Far too grand for such tragedies.

Your family?

How many children do you have?

Three.

- Two sons died in action. - I'm sorry.

- You have no papers? - No.

I take it you were an officer.

- Yes, a major. - Yes, of course. German nobility.

That means you deserted.

A fatal decision to return to your estate. For your wife at least.

Where were you stationed?

Russia.

Where? Belarus? Ukraine?

What was your assignment there?

I did my duty like anyone else.

When I hear the word "duty" pass the lips of a German...

You're a farmer.

Bury your wife. Then arrange food supplies. The people are hungry.

Imagine you being back, Count!

Butter.

I lit the heater in the bathroom

and prepared the black suit.

I think two of you will fit in it now.

Johanna said you'd need me. I'm a seamstress.

May I?

Do you want to sit down?

No. Carry on.

I had a small studio in Berlin before we were bombed.

But I'll start again.

In Munich perhaps.

Perhaps somewhere else.

- Father? - Yes?

We must leave in an hour.

We'll manage that.

Why should I be out of mind, simply because I'm out of sight?

Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.

Play,

smile,

think of me.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same that it ever was.

I'm waiting for you somewhere very near.

Death is nothing at all.

All is well.

I'd like to be alone.

I'm sorry about your mother.

But you do still have your father.

He just watched them shoot her.

What could he have done against the SS?

They wanted him.

I shouldn't have brought him home.

They took my father too because he opposed Hitler.

My father wasn't against Hitler.

- Is he a Nazi? - I don't know what he is now.

I don't know what he thinks.

And I don't care.

Lord, forget not our Gustl, who may have no bread on his plate.

Franz, I need to talk to you.

The Führer and the farmers' land, give us this day our daily bread,

God watch over the Führer and bless this land,

that our people may never suffer hardship again. Amen.

Franz.

- How dare you come here? - You sent Horst to the manor.

He's dead because of you.

Did I make the Americans come too? What do you want from me?

I want him buried in the cemetery, with a decent cross.

- I have no influence there. - You do! You're important!

That's the least you owe him.

Do you even know why Horst became a criminal? A murderer?

You're asking me?

Or why he joined the Nazis? And the SS?

Because he wanted to impress you.

So you'd be proud of him.

You were glad too that he finally made it somewhere.

That he had a career.

I can't do anything for him.

Now leave.

You were lucky, Mr Schober, that you weren't here yesterday.

I was in town, for food stamps.

I'm responsible for feeding the people here.

And I could be of help to you.

Tannbach,

population 121, 53 female, 24 male.

34 at war or missing.

52 prisoners of war.

153 displaced by bombing, 34 refugees...

from the eastern regions.

Maps of the farms.

Agricultural area.

Livestock.

Farm output.

Plus my notes on party membership.

Political views.

Communist subversion.

Anything that may be of interest to you.

Should the Russians one day no longer be allies.

Are you a party member?

Everyone had some kind of involvement, what do you expect?

My duty was to provide for the people and to maintain order.

Ask people. They'll all give good references.

Do you speak English?

May I go?

- Good morning. - Morning.

- Is Heini here? - He's in there.

Heinrich!

Theresa.

Father isn't here.

I know.

I came to see you.

How can I help?

With your crooked leg, you're the only male the Americans didn't summon.

You're a lucky beggar!

You think so?

- Can I have a glass of milk? - Yes.

- Here. - Thanks.

Do I have a moustache?

Yes.

Want to kiss it off?

Theresa, don't make fun of me.

You have character and soul.

I've always felt that.

- They say you're with a Frenchman. - Me and a forced labourer?

- Do I look like I am? - That's not what I meant.

Stop it, I'm all dirty.

So what? Is work a bad thing?

Theresa.

Come in. Have a drink with us.

The war is over.

No one must see us, Philippe!

We don't need to hide now.

I don't want to any more.

But you said you loved me.

Everything's different now.

Come, we'll get away from here.

Is he bothering you, Fräulein?

- Don't interfere. - Careful, young man. Careful.

And don't break the curfew.

That goes for both of you.

I can't.

Get me another beer!

A beer, please.

Coming.

Open it and pour a glass.

I don't work for the enemy.

Get a grip on yourself!

I'll do it, if I may.

Enough. Stop that!

Enough of your wheezing!

Something has happened.

Cilly, switch the radio on.

...that our Führer, Adolf Hitler,

fell this afternoon at his command post in the Reich Chancellery

having fought to the very end against Bolshevism

for Germany.

On April 30th...

the Führer...

German men and women.

In profound grief and in reverence,

the German nation bows.

He was quick to recognise

the terrible danger posed by Bolshevism

and dedicated his life to fighting it.

At the end of his struggle

and of his unerringly straightforward life journey,

he met a heroic death in the capital city.

Flag flying high

Ranks firmly closed

Brownshirts march

- In quiet solid step... - Play "La Marseillaise".

Hitler is dead.

Why did Mother have to die?

Why won't you talk to me?

- What do you want to hear? - The truth.

Anna?

Is that yours?

Yes.

A new beginning is coming. Don't you think?

Face the facts, Friedrich. Look what they've done.

- But a new age is coming. - What kind of age can come now?

Ours.

Would you like a handkerchief? It's a little dirty, but...

Now, at last we Jews are free from persecution.

Finally, I needn't hide any more.

Do you think my parents are well?

Do you think they'll come back to find me?

I must go back.

You'll stay. There's still fighting.

I have to.

I must find them. I will find them.

The Red Cross has set up refugee camps everywhere for survivors.

Why don't you think I should go?

If they're alive, then you'll find them.

What...

- Shall I come with you? - No. Stay here and wait for me.

It's over. We'll see each other once I've found my parents. I promise.

I always fear for you two. I want us to leave Germany,

so the fear ends.

What makes you so sure it's better anywhere else?

We'll wait until he's back. I'll earn money sewing, so it's easier for us.

Attention.

All Tannbach residents have until 5pm to make their way to the pub.

It is obligatory for all adults and children over 10 to attend.

Attention. All Tannbach residents

have until 5pm to make their way to the pub.

It is obligatory for all adults and children over 10 to attend.

Are we being sent to a camp too?

On April 11th

our Third Army liberated Buchenwald concentration camp.

Citizens of Weimar were taken there

so that they could see

what they fought for and we fought against.

They arrived as cheerful tourists.

The Führer never knew about this!

Good evening.

You said they were sent to a labour camp.

You said they would come back.

When they were herded down Kant Strasse. Why did you lie to me?

You knew all along.

I couldn't ask because they killed Father?

Suffocated him? Beat him to death like a dog?

Friedrich, listen to me. Do you really believe I knew about that? Do you?

How could you let Lothar go and search for his parents?

Are you a murderer too?

You believed in the Führer too. I often heard you and Mother arguing.

You understand nothing of that. Eat your dinner.

You wore your swastika armband at Aunt Else's wedding.

All the men wore those armbands.

Mother never wanted to join them. She knew about it all.

No one knew what would happen. And now stop it.

So how did Mother know?

Why did you join them?

Surely everyone could see! I don't believe you!

Go to your room. At once.

So Father, is that why you were so proud of your Führer?

Not everything Hitler did was bad.

And what was, is over.

- Now we must think about the future. - Future?

What future do you have with your botched life?

But I don't care about your life anyway.

I want the farm.

You want what?

I want to be a farmer. Give me the farm.

If anyone ever gets the farm,

it'll be the firstborn. And that's Gustl, since Karl has died.

What if Gustl is dead too, just like your fourth son, Horst?

- What are you talking about? - Do you really think I'm that stupid?

You think I don't know why Hilde came yesterday? All of us knew.

And I want the farm. Immediately.

And I'm getting married.

You!

Who'd have a cripple like you?

Theresa. She doesn't mind if I drag my foot.

And if you don't give me the farm voluntarily...

Is that a threat?

No, I just want to say you needn't keep looking for your membership book.

It's well hidden.

Mother!

Mother!

You have to help me.

Horst.

You're alive!

- Where have you been? - Someone hid me. I need money.

Meet me tomorrow at 6am. Where I let you out of the car.

You must hand yourself in!

We all saw what happened.

It was just normal.

When it was no longer normal,

they yelled their victory slogans so loud that it became normal again.

I saw them take Lothar's parents.

I simply looked away.

I didn't want to know.

That's not normal, is it?

Horst was always...

unloved, because he was born out of wedlock.

But no child can do anything about that.

I could never love him the way a mother should love her child.

But I should never have let him become what he is now.

The responsibility for his life,

you can't take that from him.

But no mother can think their child deserves to die.

Perhaps I could have forgiven him, if I'd seen his corpse.

Lying there, as innocent as a baby.

Horst!

- That was Horst, Hilde. - I know.

He was in the forest.

The captain said he'll be court-martialled now.

I'm surprised they haven't locked him up.

Countess.

- That's who sent the SS man here. - Who?

He told them to arrest you.

- Schober? Are you sure? - Yes.

Dad!

Father!

Did you kill my wife?

Father!

They will lock you away for that! For life!

Schober is a criminal and the biggest Nazi swine in the whole village!

You will now explain to me who's a good and who's a bad Nazi.

How do you tell them apart?

I'll tell you how.

It comes down to who can do what for us.

Schober can do things for us.

- So he's not held responsible? - I released you to arrange supplies,

not to murder your neighbour.

Georg von Striesow.

Nazi Party member since 1934. Rank of major since 1940,

Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class,

and German Cross in Gold.

Now you demand justice! You of all people?

Father!

- Don't worry. - Where are they taking you?

I repeat, he'll be locked up like any criminal.

- And why? - Why?

Do you know what I've seen all the way from France to here?

They should all be shot. All of them!

Goddamned Germans!

Go!

Stay with her until I'm back.

What do you want?

You're my son!

It took you a long time to say those words.

Why did you come?

I want to make peace.

Do you know where Mother is?

She fought for you.

She betrayed me,

her own son.

I brought you something.

I owe you that.

Take care of her.

Thank you.

Father!

Father! Where are they taking you? What will they do with you?

- Anna! - Father! Please!

Are you all right?

- Where are they taking you? - I'm going to a camp.

- Why you, when Schober's free? - What do the victors know about us?

Anna, listen!

Whatever happens, you must stay on the estate.

It's your home. No one can take it away.

You're in charge now.

- I can't. - Yes, you can.

Father, if I hadn't brought you home, Mother would be...

My child.

Here.

Take this.

Nothing's your fault. Don't forget that.

I'm so ashamed.

Aren't you leaving too?

No. Just Lothar.

I still have to fix your bike.

I'm staying with you, whether you like it or not.

2 MONTHS LATER, JULY 1945

- Friedrich. - Yes?

Here. "Remains of Hitler regime to be completely liquidated.

"The fight against hunger, unemployment and homelessness.

"Large estates belonging to the nobility are being liquidated.

"Their land and property

are to be given to war-ruined, destitute farmers."

Friedrich, a new age is beginning.

The big landowners made a hash of it.

With their exploitation. With their war.

The Count was quite decent.

But the fascists, there's no place for them.

It's our turn now, Friedrich.

Anna, I think better times are coming. Fairer times.

Everyone will have everything. And everything will belong to everyone.

Do you really believe that?

Yes, really.

And there will be no more upper and lower.

And no more war.

Hilde.

- You're staying at home today? - I'm working as usual.

Are you mad? The Russians are coming.

Maria, what can happen to me?

Besides, the Americans are here.

- Hilde... - Bye.

Please stay.

Aunt!

Aunt!

- Can I come? - No, Kurt. No way.

Please, Aunt, I'll help you carry things.

I'm not going shopping.

Go back to your mother at once, do you understand? No arguments.

Off you go.

The Russians are taking over Tannbach. The Americans are withdrawing.

- We must pack. We must leave. - No, Mum. The Russians won't harm us.

- They're only punishing Nazis. - They'll take revenge on all of us.

Anna, you can come with us, Johanna too.

Anna...

Come on. She'll have relatives in the west.

Once we've arrived, we'll write to Lothar.

Where do you want to get to?

You always talk of arriving, but where are you going?

The division of the occupation zones has been confirmed in Yalta.

Bavaria is west of Tannbach. We advanced too far.

But you can't just abandon us now. The Russians only want revenge.

You can leave if you don't like it here any more.

- Search the house! - Go on, move it!

- We must go round the house. - Move it, get going!

Come on, faster.

- Faster. - But be careful. No shooting.

- All clear! - Here too.

We fly to thy protection, Holy Mother Mary,

despise not our petitions in our necessities.

- We fly to thy protection... - Upstairs!

Search the whole place.

Faster!

Look upstairs.

Look around here.

Go, go.

Keep an eye on them.

Is there anyone else here?

Comrade Commander, this fascist killed Russian soldiers.

Here is his weapon.

- Bring him here. - Move, over here!

- Father! - What is this, you fascist pig?

- On your knees! Kneel! - No. Grandpa!

What's he doing? On the floor with them.

On the floor with them. Shut him up.

Shoot the pigs.

Everybody out!

I can't leave. I promised Father.

I can't do it on my own.

Please, you could still leave.

How am I supposed to go now?

How? Can you tell me that?

Move out!

They're coming.

Come on.