Downfall Quotes
Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler : When I meet Eisenhower, should I give the Nazi salute, or shake his hand?
Movie: Downfall
Adolf Hitler : The war is lost... But if you think that I'll leave Berlin for that, you are sadly mistaken. I'd prefer to put a bullet in my head.
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[ first lines ]
Traudl Junge : I've got the feeling that I should be angry with this child, this young and oblivious girl. Or that I'm not allowed to forgive her for not seeing the nature of that monster. That she didn't realise what she was doing. And mostly because I've gone so obliviously. Because I wasn't a fanatic Nazi. I could have said in Berlin, "No, I'm not doing that. I don't want to go the Führer's headquarters." But I didn't do that. I was too curious. I didn't realise that fate would lead me somewhere I didn't want to be. But still, I find it hard to forgive myself.
Traudl Junge : I've got the feeling that I should be angry with this child, this young and oblivious girl. Or that I'm not allowed to forgive her for not seeing the nature of that monster. That she didn't realise what she was doing. And mostly because I've gone so obliviously. Because I wasn't a fanatic Nazi. I could have said in Berlin, "No, I'm not doing that. I don't want to go the Führer's headquarters." But I didn't do that. I was too curious. I didn't realise that fate would lead me somewhere I didn't want to be. But still, I find it hard to forgive myself.
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[ last lines ]
Traudl Junge : All these horrors I've heard of during the Nurnberg process, these six million Jews, other thinking people or people of another race, who perished. That shocked me deeply. But I hadn't made the connection with my past. I assured myself with the thought of not being personally guilty. And that I didn't know anything about the enormous scale of it. But one day I walked by a memorial plate of Sophie Scholl in the Franz-Joseph-Strasse. I saw that she was about my age and she was executed in the same year I came to Hitler. And at that moment I actually realised that a young age isn't an excuse. And that it might have been possible to get to know things.
Traudl Junge : All these horrors I've heard of during the Nurnberg process, these six million Jews, other thinking people or people of another race, who perished. That shocked me deeply. But I hadn't made the connection with my past. I assured myself with the thought of not being personally guilty. And that I didn't know anything about the enormous scale of it. But one day I walked by a memorial plate of Sophie Scholl in the Franz-Joseph-Strasse. I saw that she was about my age and she was executed in the same year I came to Hitler. And at that moment I actually realised that a young age isn't an excuse. And that it might have been possible to get to know things.
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Walter Hewel : Why do you want to live on?
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : And you? Why do you absolutely want to die?
Walter Hewel : You see this? [ shows him a cyanide cap ]
Walter Hewel : The Führer personally gave it to me!
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : [ bitter ] As last honor?
Walter Hewel : ...maybe.
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : And you? Why do you absolutely want to die?
Walter Hewel : You see this? [ shows him a cyanide cap ]
Walter Hewel : The Führer personally gave it to me!
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : [ bitter ] As last honor?
Walter Hewel : ...maybe.
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Adolf Hitler : General Von Greim, I appoint you supreme commander of the Luftwaffe. I hereby promote you to General-Fieldmarshall. A big responsibility rests on your shoulders. You have to rebuild the Luftwaffe from scratch. Many mistakes have been made. Be ruthless. Life doesn't forgive weakness. This so-called humanity is religious drivel. Compassion is an eternal sin. To feel compassion for the weak is a betrayal of nature. The strong can only triumph if the weak are exterminated. Being loyal to this law, I've never had compassion. I've always been ruthless when faced with internal opposition from other races. That's the only way to deal with it.
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Joseph Goebbels : I feel no sympathy. I repeat, I feel no sympathy! The German people chose their fate. That may surprise some people. Don't fool yourself. We didn't force the German people. They gave us a mandate, and now their little throats are being cut!
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Adolf Hitler : That was an order! Steiner's assault was an order! Who do you think you are to dare disobey an order I give? So this is what it has come to! The military has been lying to me. Everybody has been lying to me, even the SS! Our generals are just a bunch of contemptible, disloyal cowards... Our generals are the scum of the German people! Not a shred of honour! They call themselves generals. Years at military academy just to learn how to hold a knife and fork! For years, the military has hindered my plans! They've put every kind of obstacle in my way! What I should have done... was liquidate all the high-ranking officers, as Stalin did!
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SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Convince him that we need to leave Berlin, Eva! [ a shocked and mildly horrified reaction from Eva ]
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : ...Or come with me. [ Eva begins to walk away as if she has not heard him. Fegelein grabs her arm ]
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Eva! You're going to die!
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : ...Or come with me. [ Eva begins to walk away as if she has not heard him. Fegelein grabs her arm ]
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Eva! You're going to die!
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Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler : Between us, I'd say he's had it.
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Yeah? What do you expect from a teetotal, non-smoking vegetarian?
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Yeah? What do you expect from a teetotal, non-smoking vegetarian?
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General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling : My Führer, as a soldier I suggest we try to break through the encirclement. During the fight for Berlin we've already lost 15-20,000 of the younger officers.
Adolf Hitler : But that's what young men are for.
Adolf Hitler : But that's what young men are for.
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Adolf Hitler : [ dictating to secretary ] My political statement. Since 1914, when I invested my modest strength in the First World War, which was forced upon the Reich, over 30 years have passed. In those 3 decades, all my thoughts, actions and my life were dictated by my love for and loyalty to the German people. Centuries will pass, but from the ruins of our cities and cultural monuments our hatred will be renewed for those who are responsible, the people to whom we owe all this: The international Jewry and its supporters.
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Constanze Manziarly : I hate those two-faced sods who say 'Sieg Heil', but behind their backs say, 'Kiss my a... aunt'.
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Joseph Goebbels : I won't use my final hours as Reich Chancellor to sign a statement of surrender!
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Magda Goebbels : My Führer, I beg you to leave Berlin! My Führer, please. Don't leave us! What will become of us?
Adolf Hitler : Tomorrow millions of people will curse me, but fate has taken its course.
Adolf Hitler : Tomorrow millions of people will curse me, but fate has taken its course.
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Adolf Hitler : [ in a furious tirade upon hearing of Himmler's attempt to surrender ] Has he gone crazy?
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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel : Your report impressed the Führer. He has appointed you commander of Berlin's defenses.
General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling : I'd rather be shot than have this honor.
General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling : I'd rather be shot than have this honor.
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Martin Bormann : [ at Hitler's birthday reception ] Himmler is such a pompous clown.
General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf : Big shots. Big shots everywhere. It makes me sick.
General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf : Big shots. Big shots everywhere. It makes me sick.
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Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : [ as the SS and Wehrmacht offices are leaving Berlin ] I won't allow my staff to be evacuated!
SS-Obergruppenführer Tellermann : Is that so?
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : The food supply to Berlin will collapse!
SS-Obergruppenführer Tellermann : A good soldier will always find something to eat.
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : Yes. And when the fighting starts, who will he take food from? Civilians! I won't allow it!
SS-Obergruppenführer Tellermann : It's the Führer's Orders!
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : As Department Head, I answer to the SS and Reichsführer Himmler. But as a doctor, I answer to the Wehrmacht and we are still here. Please keep that in mind.
SS-Obergruppenführer Tellermann : [ to aides ] The Professor can stay in Berlin. Please give him an authorized permit!
SS-Obergruppenführer Tellermann : Is that so?
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : The food supply to Berlin will collapse!
SS-Obergruppenführer Tellermann : A good soldier will always find something to eat.
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : Yes. And when the fighting starts, who will he take food from? Civilians! I won't allow it!
SS-Obergruppenführer Tellermann : It's the Führer's Orders!
Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck : As Department Head, I answer to the SS and Reichsführer Himmler. But as a doctor, I answer to the Wehrmacht and we are still here. Please keep that in mind.
SS-Obergruppenführer Tellermann : [ to aides ] The Professor can stay in Berlin. Please give him an authorized permit!
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Oberleutnant : [ after the telephone line is cut ] Orders, sir?
General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling : I am to be shot.
Oberleutnant : What? Why?
General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling : They believe I moved my command post to the West, away from the enemy!
Oberleutnant : Not a bad idea, General.
General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling : I am to be shot.
Oberleutnant : What? Why?
General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling : They believe I moved my command post to the West, away from the enemy!
Oberleutnant : Not a bad idea, General.
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Traudl Junge : Herr Speer! How did you get into Berlin?
Albert Speer : It wasn't easy, but I must speak with the Führer.
Heinz Linge, Kammerdiener : If I were you, I'd wait a bit.
Albert Speer : It wasn't easy, but I must speak with the Führer.
Heinz Linge, Kammerdiener : If I were you, I'd wait a bit.
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Officer : [ In the bunker during a bombardment ] Berlin is now nothing but warehouses: Here were some houses, and there were some houses. [ laughter ]
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Adolf Hitler : [ Screaming after Steiner didn't attack after giving an order ] Traitors! I've been betrayed and deceived from the very beginning! What a monstrous betrayal of the German people, but all those traitors will pay. They'll pay with their own blood. They shall drown in their own blood!
Movie: Downfall
Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel : The Führer has lost all sense of reality.
Generaloberst Alfred Jodl : He moves divisions that only exist on his map. Steiner's scattered unit can hardly defend itself and yet, Steiner is ordered to attack! It's pure madness!
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Then why don't you tell him yourself?
Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel : He won't listen to reason. You should know that.
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Something must be done.
Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel : Are you insane? We'll be thrown out like Rundstedt and Guderian!
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Yes, and?
Generaloberst Alfred Jodl : [ glares at Fegelein ] We are soldiers! We pledged our allegiance to the Führer!
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : So that means we are no longer allowed to think?
General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf : All this coming from you? An opportunist? A ruthless careerist?
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Pardon? [ Burgdorf takes a swig of alcohol ]
Generaloberst Alfred Jodl : He moves divisions that only exist on his map. Steiner's scattered unit can hardly defend itself and yet, Steiner is ordered to attack! It's pure madness!
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Then why don't you tell him yourself?
Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel : He won't listen to reason. You should know that.
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Something must be done.
Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel : Are you insane? We'll be thrown out like Rundstedt and Guderian!
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Yes, and?
Generaloberst Alfred Jodl : [ glares at Fegelein ] We are soldiers! We pledged our allegiance to the Führer!
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : So that means we are no longer allowed to think?
General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf : All this coming from you? An opportunist? A ruthless careerist?
SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein : Pardon? [ Burgdorf takes a swig of alcohol ]
Movie: Downfall