Original subtitles

Hello, Father.

One should follow one's conscience. Those are your words.

I don't need you, Lena.

Mommy.

I will always fight with and for you.

Ferdinand is here. - You're on leave?

To the women. You're the backbone of our society.

Women, children, Poles,Jews, Russians.

We shot and buried them with spades. - Stop.

For desertion you get the death sentence. I'll have to report you.

Would you sentence me to death? - No.

I love my brother and am innocent. In eternal loyalty, your Heinrich.

Helga. - Wait.

How will we manage? Just POW and foreign labourers.

You can't do that, not with Mikolai.

Frenchmen have to be reported to the Red Cross.

East Prussia shall be defended to the last man.Who leaves will be executed.

I demand absolute loyalty. - I'm not a servant.

We won't go until we seat all. Can I rely on you? For your people and for mine.

With 20 POWs you risk everyone's life. - I gave him my word and I'll keep it.

Out of the question, no.

We'll all die.

We'll go alone, right now.

Lena,Vicky is gone.

Vicky.

I'm going to ind Vicky. You must lead the march.

Only you can, Lena. The responsibility is all yours.

But I won't manage. - You will, Lena.You're strong.

Now go, my child. This is the women's hour.

Let's go.

Just don't turn around.

March of Millions Part 2

Mrs Meister, at the next crossroads we'll head northeast.

Lena, we can't go on any more. We have to ind shelter for the night.

I know.

East Prussia January

We'll leave at two in the morning. We'll make more headway.

Tomorrow we'll reach Lahnstein.

That's a detour for us, Francois. - No, Louis, it's important for the child.

Everyone is free to go his own way.

We'll go to Lahnstein together and drop off the girl.

Objections?

Then that's what we'll do.

With all my might I tried to fulfill my task to look after my people.

One didn't have eyes any more for the suffering of others.

Did you see the farmer, Mrs Schaller?

Vicky had been gone for Eve days.

There are over 90 people here already. In the barn, the house.

I don't know where else to put them. - At least a place to stable the horses.

Where can we sleep? The children are exhausted.

I have no room. - Martha Schaller?

Mrs Schaller.

Good to see you. - Countess, is that you?

It's really you. What an honour, what a joy.

Come on,Waltraud, don't just sit there. Hop to it.

Soon we won't have to take it any more, my child.

Just sleep it off and tomorrow you'll be fine.

I made space for you in the little room. - That's not necessary.

You can't sleep in the barn, Countess. Really, I insist.

Thank you. - I found this too.

Martha, keep it for yourself. We have plenty, really.

Mikolai.

It's your turn.

I sent my guardian angel to Mommy, so that she'll ind me.

Tomorrow I'll take you to Lahnstein, to your mommy.

And now, sleep well.

Lahnstein Estate

I've heard that the road is blocked. We have to head north.

Johannes, has Lena finally arrived? - No.

Cousin Erich from Allenstein is here.

The Russians are coming from the north and the south now.

If you wait any longer, they will cut off the road across the Nogat and Vistula.

We're going to wait for Lena. And as long as Sophie is this ill...

Let me go say hello to Erich.

Lena, Lahnstein is that way, but we keep making all these detours.

It's no use. Did you really think we'd ind them here?

Who'd take in 20 POWs and a little girl? Not even normal people ind shelter.

Lena, Francois must have taken a back road.

She'll kill herself trying to find that girl. - Did you tell her, Babette?

We can manage without men. It's not easy, but we can.

Grandma Herta, that's not what this is about.

Where would Fritz be now? And Georg?

If I'm not at Mahlenberg, how will they ever ind me?

Georg would never leave his home, you understand?

Never.

But what am I saying? You don't understand me.

Jean thought we'd go to his country. He also lives in the countryside.

'Ma petite paysanne', he always says.

Search the cottage.

Everyone out, move it. Out with you, hands raised.

Vicky. Vicky, quick

Hide yourself.

Come on, move it.

Come on, move it. - Don't shoot.

Come on, get out - No problem.

Go on, get out. - No problem.

Come on, let's go.

Hurry up, get out.

Come on, move it.

How is it? -It's clear.

Documents.

François?

That's Alexei. He fled from his masters, afraid that the Russians would kill him.

Countess, he says your horse has to be fitted with new studs.

That would be of great help. If he wants to, he can come with us.

He could ride Hector or Linda.

I understand.

Stop.

Go on.

Go on.

Jean.

Why did the Lord equip us with reason?

Get down.

Get down.

Mikolai?

Mikolai?

Sophie. - Rudiger.

You're responsible for 150 people.

I'm not going without you. - You have to. I want you to go.

I'll come with Lena. We'll meet up at Lilienfelds or Kleist.

It's the first time you talk to me since Ferdinand's death.

Let's go.

I'm hungry.

Well, imagine that.

Here.

Morphine. Liquid gold. - Will you come with us?

My place is here.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Why didn't you wake me? - I wanted to, but Babette forbade it

Countess, we managed to convince the farmer and the old man to come with us.

Good.Just not too much baggage.

Once we reach Lahnstein, it'll be better.

If we reach Lahnstein. And it can't get better any more.

Alexei, Helene, I need your help. We have to move the car.

Grandma, I beg you, don't tell Lena. And in spring you will all come back...

and say it was senseless and crazy. - But child...

How else will Georg and Fritz find me, if everyone is gone?

She can't do that. There's no way, she can't do that.

She's right, she's really right. We're not making any headway.

And if the Russians come?

War or no war, the Russians are also only human.

Today we'll reach Lahnstein. It's not far any more.

I am a traitor swine.

Well,Grandma Herta?

You're so cold.What are you doing? Didn't I tell you to move about?

Why doesn't anyone listen to me? - Oh Lena...

Where's Babette?

Where's Babette?

Uncle Johannes.

Magdalena.

Good to see you. - At long last.

My sweetheart. Oh, my sweetheart.

Lena. - Sophie.

I'm going to Mahlenberg, Mrs Meister, where at least I have my own bed.

I won't take another step today, nor will you.

From the Baron's secret cellar, to celebrate.

Thank you, François. Thank you.

Where are your men? Did they all get some food?

Why won't he speak?

Did he say anything to you? - No, nothing.

Babette must have returned to the farm. I'll be back before Vicky wakes up.

Thank you.

Enough potatoes to last half the winter, Babette.

If only Georg knew, Mrs Meister, that I was at some stranger's farm.

Or that I'd even left Mahlenberg. - I'm going to get some wood.

Though I didn't want to. I only did it because that child left with the men.

Otherwise I'd never have left

Mrs Meister?

Babette, Babette.

Lena, let's go.

Babette and Mrs Meister are in there. - You stay here.

Wait here. Don't take as much as one step, okay?

Babette?

Where's Mrs Meister?

What are you doing here?

Looking after Viktoria. I don't want her to run away again.

Well,then get into bed.

Are Francois and Mommy back yet? - It will be a while,Vicky.

By the time you wake up, she'll be back.

Come, Babette. Lena, wait.

Come, this way. I know where we are.

I know the area. Come, this way.

I'm alright now, I'm alright. We have to go, we have to...

Thanks for coming.

I'm here because your daughter begged me.

Why didn't you wait for me at Mahlenberg?

We had an agreement. You and your father broke your word.

But you aristocrats don't care.

I told Vicky that Mikolai and the others continued on their way.

What about the others?

Dead.

Dead, all of them.

Jean, Louis, Vladimir, Dimitri, Igor, dead.

They couldn't wait to go.

I forced them to wait. - I didn't let them go.

There was nothing I could do.

Nothing.

He died next to me.

Like my brother.

Mikolai.

A child.

All civilians must be transferred to the cellar and barn.

We have women, children and sick people. How dare you, at this time?

I have men to take care of. I'm sorry, dear lady.

We're only doing our duty. - Duty?

Please, stop giving me that claptrap.

An entire population is on the run because they weren't evacuated.

Civilian and military structures are falling apart.

Exactly, because everyone shuts their eyes to the truth.

Our valiant army is reduced to a few louts, since the best are dead.

I expect you to respect the house rules and that you camp in the barn.

Heinrich. - Mother.

Good that you're here. Please see to it that the gentlemen behave properly.

Babette?

Babette, you mustn't give up now, you hear?

Remember I told Father I was pregnant and he disowned me as his daughter?

Driving home the cattle, I went way out into the river.

Suddenly you were there.You pulled me from my horse and shouted at me.

You told me I had to live, you hear?

You said there's a reason for everything.

Whether you understand it or not, you must live.

Babette, I need you.

Stay with me.

You can eat the soup in the library. - Send for the bowls, as I won't serve you.

I have new marching orders from Colonel Metzger. I will escort you.

You take care of everything here.

It's too much.

Why won't you look at me?

Since Ferdinand's death you haven't talked to me.

As if it was my fault. It wasn't my fault, you know.

Even if you make me feel that way, always.

I was better at school, I had success in my studies.

I was successful. I did my best.

But you just cared about your darlings, Constantin and Ferdinand.

You don't see me. Why don't you see me?

I will go and bring her back. - Yes, bring Lena back. Go.

Uncle Heinrich, take me with you.

Vicky, I can't.

It's not a game. - He'll ind your mommy.

Yes. - And Francois and Babette. Promise?

Promise.

Mahlenberg probably looks the same. - Your father saw it coming.

He wanted you to leave even before Christmas.

I just didn't think it was possible. I didn't believe that...

that we'd lose everything.

We must reach Lahnstein before the Russians.

Vicky will be fine.

This snowstorm also slows down the Russians.

We'll get there before they do, Lena.

I'll go look after Babette.

Is no one sleeping tonight? Come on, get into bed.

We're going back.

We must have passed them.

Easy.

Are you okay?

Thank you, Francois. Thank you for coming to my aid.

Thanks, I'm okay now.

Heinrich.

What about Hector?

Francois,tomorrow we'll look for Mikolai.You promised me.

We won't find him, Vicky. - What do you mean?

Where is he?

Why won't you tell me?

Is he dead?

Yes,Vicky, he's dead. - No.

The Germans shot him.

How can you do that? How can you talk like that to a child?

Telling her the truth? Should I've kept lying to her?

Lena, is that what I should have done?

What does your truth do, except cause more grief? Your truth.

And wherever I am, God is with me.

Even if I never see Him, I know for sure that God is here. Amen.

Dear God,thank you for bringing back my mommy.

And forgive me for not watching over Mikolai.

Although you could have watched over him as well.

At least now he doesn't have to fear the Germans and Russians any more.

Give him some every two hours. And he has to drink a lot.

If he doesn't want to, just use a spoon.

The Russians have taken Osterode, Deutsch Eylau, Allenstein...

Mohrungen and Preussisch Holland. All roads leading West are cut off.

We'll have to cross the lagoon.

Is this goodbye for ever?

Give me another chance, Lena.

The Red Army surrounded us. East Prussia had been isolated.

Our only option was to cross the frozen Baltic Sea lagoon.

The retreating German army did the same, doubling the danger.

Exhausted, unprotected and across fragile ice...

we continued our westward trek

Await your turn, follow the markings. Don't go left or right, and keep moving.

You mean the ice isn't evenly thick? -It's the only way. 30 kilometres.

Go left or right and you're dead. Heil Hitler.

Heil Hitler.

You can't take everything. - Leave it. Hands off my wagon.

What's going on? - He's forcing us to leave everything.

But he only wants it for himself

Major, I'm a man of honour. The wagon has to be unloaded.

Waltraud.

Fritz? Fritz, Babette's little Fritz.

Wait here. Babette, your son.

Fritz?

Administrator Georg's son? - Yes, Count, at your service.

It's for your own safety. The load has to be redistributed.

Some of the wagons are too heavy.

I don't care if you approve or not. Fritz is and always will be my grandson.

God wanted me to rind him, and I'll take him with me before the Russians come.

The party assigned him to my service. - To hell with your party.

It betrayed you and sold you out

The boy is underage and belongs with his Home Guard unit.

Since it no longer exists, he belongs with his family.

And if you deter us any longer, I'll report you.

Mom won't get oft She doesn't see why the load must be redistributed.

Helene? Helene, we...

He's asleep.

Is he doing better?

He'll recover. But now he's asleep.

No.

Our Father,Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses...

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever. Amen.

We'll make it, together.

With God's help.

It's a girl.

Planes are coming. Quick, get underneath.

Vicky, Sophie, come quickly. Come on.

Under the wagon, Lena.

Stay under the wagon,Vicky.

Mom, where are you?

Vicky?

Pull, I say. Pull.

Vicky.

God, no.

Francoise Francois.

No.

Maybe it was all meant to be.

Maybe it's important.

We people just don't count.

Whether we live or die.

This will help against the pain.

What's wrong with you?

With that you save me, all of us.

Because it gives us hope.

Now help me lay this man down.

Not now. Later.

Why do you run from me?

I don't it into your world?

You're in danger.

I'm afraid that...

You have to leave.

I implore you, you have to leave.

Everyone heard her on the ice, shouting your name.

You're in danger.

You're both in danger.

The next day we set out again.

After four months on the run...

which brought indescribable suffering and privation...

completely bereft, via Thuringia we finally reached Bavaria.

But here too, no one wanted us.

We don't want any strangers here

This war couldn't come to an end.

Bavaria April

Lena. - Well, what do you say?

We're mobile again. - Great.

I have good news, Lena.

Milk

I had to pay for the milk with the coals. - The ones Fritz stole?

Alexei and I got something else. - Potatoes and apples.

Wonderful, cough it up. - Who has too much should share it.

That's called petty larceny, Babette. Now come, or it won't be ready in time.

Good day. We're on our way to Regensburg.

We belong to 413 Rifle Battalion, but we got lost

They all bolted and left us behind.

Well...

if you're not deserters and don't stink like hell, it'll be alright.

Are you hungry? - Yes.

There's enough for three more. Come along.

Got you. - Got you.

All the best.

Countess. - Thanks a lot.

Judge Advocate General. - Major Gernstorff?

Over there are three soldiers without unit.

Lena.

Shouldn't you have brought some food?

What unit are you from? -413 Rifle Battalion.

We're looking for it, Lieutenant - Do you have marching orders?

No, Lieutenant. - Documents?

Who are those three? - They joined up with us a while ago.

What are they doing? - Weapons.

Schmidt, Kuhler. These men will be taken into custody.

Why do they do that? The war is almost over.

Sophie, they can't do that They're taking those boys.

Of course. Go ahead and verify it I'm sure they're telling the truth.

Every castle, farm and town hall in Dlngolfing and Erding...

even private dwellings, everything is overcrowded.

Nobody wants homeless bands like us. Nobody will take us in voluntarily.

We don't need anyone's bed, nor anyone's' lice: we have our own.

In the village everyone talks about capitulation.

It will come.

All that suffering, only to capitulate in the end.

We'll get those Communist swine. - Stop talking nonsense, Fritz.

What we need is peace, you hear? Peace.

Thank you.

Wilhelm is having nightmares again.

Heinrich, if we see your father again...

I want you to know how much you mean to me.

You've protected us and given us security.

But between us... - Lena, this is not the right time.

Has there ever been a right time?

You don't have to love me like I love you, Lena.

The love marriages...

they make one unhappy...

because it's never a real match.

But we, we made it.

Major, it's time.

Heinrich, stay here. it's all over.

Continue sleeping, Mother. I'll be back soon.

Gentlemen, I ask you for your verdict.

Guilty. - Guilty.

Guilty.

Fire.

The Führer's Headquarters report that our Führer, Adolf Hitler...

this afternoon, righting to his last breath...

has given his life for Germany.

Hitler committed suicide.The Russians took Berlin, and the Americans Munich.

On May 8, peace had come at last.

As uncertain as our future was, so sure was I...

that it would not resemble the world we had come from.

And I wasn't the same any more.

We have enough Prussians. It's more than enough.

I'm looking for my husband.

Everyone is looking for someone, but what can we do about it?

Would you be... - My name is Gernstorff

Countess, what an honour.

The Count isn't here, he's in Munich. But come, come on in.

There you are, Max. - You two, get undressed.

It's no good. Bathing won't help either.

I always wanted a life where everyone had the same chances. My Fritz too.

That's how it should be. Socialism without nationalism, that's all I want.

Communists believe in the same thing.

But you hate the Russians, Mother. - Yes, but I also hate the Germans...

who murdered the women and children in Alexei's village.

Mother,that's enemy propaganda. Are there just dirty swine and traitors here?

Fritz.

Why do you tell her that bullshit? Lies and slander.

He made us great.The Führer made us great, and you he has destroyed.

Have you lost your mind? Is your head filled with dung?

You betrayed him too, Mother. We've failed the Führer.

Sophie.

I look ridiculous.

I was in Munich. it's not easy...

to ind a regular job and a place to stay.

I'm not used to begging.

Sophie, aren't you exaggerating? Barbara can do that. Or our good Resi.

Not Barbara: Babette. - Of course, Babette.

I'd like a cup of black tea.

I'll make it.

I can't stand that lordly manner. I could only just stomach it from you.

Sophie just told us. You had them shot.

You had those poor soldiers shot. Why? What difference did it make?

Lena, I've never acted contrary to official applicable law. Never.

Which means you conferred absolution on this regime.

You don't get it. - Lena, try to understand.

We're very tiny cogs.

We couldn't stop it.

What should I have done?

You're one of them.

You're not one iota better.

Lena,you expect too much from me.

The hero you always wanted, that's not me.

When I'm a judge at the Supreme Court, then you'll understand.

Rudiger?

Come to bed.

I always wanted one of my children to be like you.

That they wouldn't always do what others expected of them.

I've also always done what was expected of me.

Sooner or later one has to show one's true colours.

If I'd done so, I wouldn't have sent off the man I was afraid to love.

I've always avoided it.

Conventions, compromises.

How did your father always put it? 'The circle of guilt'.

Now it's catching up with me.

Sophie always understood.

Yet she's put up with me for a long time, don't you agree?

To me you were always...

my dear little daughter-in-law.

Even as a child.

Hello?

It's often pain that makes one realize one has lost something.

I looked for you at the castle in Regensburg...

but you weren't there.

Then the Americans helped me. - If I'd known...

I'm working for the Allied Control Council.

I will help distinguish the guilty from the innocent.

I don't want to lose you again.

Thanks for everything.

All the best.

Come on,Wilhelm. Come,Vicky, we have to go.

Francois, come.

Thank you.

It belonged to my mother.

I will wait for you.

I'll come, I promise.

Once I've brought everyone home, I'll come with Vicky and Wilhelm.

An estimated 30 million people in Europe lost their homes in this war.