Original subtitles

Central Film Studio of Children's and Youth Films

named after M. GORKY

By commission of the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR

on Television and Radio Broadcasting

SEVENTEEN MOMENTS OF SPRING

Part 3

Starring

Stierlitz - Vyacheslav TIKHONOV

Kät - Ekaterina GRADOVA

Erwin - Nikolai VOLKOV

Gabi Nabel - Svetlana SVETLICHNAYA

Isaev's wife - Eleonora SHASHKOVA

Yemelyanov - Yevgeny LAZAREV

Hitler - Fritz DIEZ (GDR)

Göring - Wilhelm Burmeier (GDR)

Himmler - Nikolai PROKOPOVICH

Kaltenbrunner - Mikhail ZHARKOVSKY

Müller - Leonid BRONEVOY

Eismann - Leonid KURAVLYOV

Holthoff - Konstantin ZHELDIN

Pleischner - Yvgeniy EVSTIGNEEV

Scholz - Lavrenti MASOKHA

Narrated by Yefim KOPELYAN

Göring was returning from the front.

He had spent the entire day in the sector

where Russian tanks had broken through.

What he saw there stunned him.

He decided to go straight to Hitler and report personally.

There's no organization at the front.

Absolutely none, mein Führer - total chaos.

There's no discipline whatsoever.

I even saw officers drunk on duty!

The Bolshevik advance is demoralizing the army,

throwing it into panic - almost a savage panic.

And...

It seems to me...

Göring, I forbid it... I forbid you to go to the front!

I forbid you to panic!

It's not panic.

It's the truth, mein Führer, and it's my duty to tell you.

Shut up!

Mind your Luftwaffe, Göring,

and stay out of matters that need a clear head.

This isn't for you - it's obvious.

Don't go to the front again!

I forbid it - once and for all!

For the first time in his life Göring defied the Führer.

He left crushed and humiliated.

He could feel the smirks of the nobodies behind him -

the Führer's aides-de-camp, Schmundt and Burgdorf.

At Carinhall, Luftwaffe staff officers were waiting for him.

As he left the bunker, he ordered his men to assemble.

Good morning.

The Reichsführer has arrived.

He wishes to speak in private.

Show him into the sitting room.

Please.

The Führer can no longer lead the country.

What now?

The SS troops are holed up in the bunker.

But that's not the real problem.

The Führer's will is frozen.

He can't make any decisions.

We have to address the people.

Göring wanted to say, "Yes, Heinrich, I agree,"

but this black folder was in the way.

He knew a dictaphone could be hidden inside,

and two hours later their conversation would reach the Führer.

You're the successor, meaning you're the President.

So that makes me the Reich Chancellor.

"He can say whatever he likes," Göring thought.

"The father of provocateurs can't be honest.

If he were,

I'd go along with all his proposals."

Impossible.

Only one person can be both President and Chancellor.

Who is it?

Where?

Over there.

Where?

Behind that column, the one in the blue coat.

It was the funeral of Professor

of Medicine, Karl Pleischner,

who had been Stierlitz's

comrade-in-arms in the anti-fascist struggle.

Stierlitz wanted to approach the coffin and kiss the deceased,

but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Looking at Werner standing near the coffin,

Stierlitz finally realized

how much the two brothers resembled each other.

Karl's younger brother, Werner,

didn't know Stierlitz had secured his release from the camp,

where he'd been thrown on a denunciation.

It was eight years ago...

Since then he's been living alone,

because his wife had left him the day after he was arrested...

Who's that?

Kaltenbrunner.

Does he also have bad kidneys?

Yes, he'd been Pleischner's patient for a long time.

For some reason, Stierlitz suddenly recalled

Heydrich's funeral in 1942,

the very man whom Kaltenbrunner had succeeded.

The funeral was solemn. The Führer himself attended.

This gesture...

That very gesture, exactly repeated by Kaltenbrunner,

brought back memories of 1942.

"They all want to be like

the Führer," Stierlitz thought.

Shall we go?

Yes.

Do you have kidney problems?

-Sorry? -Was he also your physician?

Unfortunately.

Who will treat us now?

I don't know.

Yes.

20 Feb 1945 6:55 a.m.

Information for consideration: HIMMLER

The Reichsführer-SS,

responsible for implementing Hitler's racial policies.

Honored Doctor of Archaeology.

Married. Has a daughter.

Completed secondary education.

"There should be only one principle for an SS member:

"Be honest, decent, and loyal - only to

the representatives of our race.

Whether other peoples flourish,

or die of hunger matters to me

only because we need them as slaves for our culture."

Himmler.

Himmler started as Strasser's pupil, the ideologist of Nazism.

It was Himmler who took part in his teacher's execution,

after the latter had quarreled with Hitler.

Himmler's betrayal gained him nothing, people viewed him with suspicion.

In Berlin, he was seen as Strasser's man.

That's why he was appointed to the humiliatingly low post

of chief of Munich's criminal police.

Another person might have given in to despair,

but Himmler was a man of action.

He began establishing the first concentration camps in Germany.

Once Göring wondered

if such measures might alienate Paris and London.

"Never," Himmler replied.

"Our concentration camps

are a humane way to control the enemies of National Socialism.

If we don't confine them, there would be mob violence.

In this way, they will be fully reformed

and come to acknowledge our righteousness."

For his success in setting up the death camps,

the Reichsführer-SS Himmler, by order of the Führer,

was appointed Vice Minister of Internal Affairs.

For the first time, he was not in Hitler's suite.

He was close to Hitler himself.

He took the next step on the hierarchical ladder of Nazism.

Back in Berlin,

Himmler, with his assistants

and the SS Headquarters Chiefs, Karl Wolff and Heydrich,

began gathering information on friends and enemies.

On Ley,

Göring,

Hess.

He began appearing alongside the Führer

at the party rallies in Nürnberg,

but he was not among the favored.

He was not one of the Reich chiefs -

his only duty was to guard the Führer's life.

Only when Himmler staged

an assassination attempt on Hitler during his Berlin travels,

and saved him from a blank bullet,

only then did Himmler become, in Hitler's words,

his blood brother.

Where did you come from?

Who is your master, honey?

So I guess I should feed you.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Come in.

I'll bring you something here.

Information for consideration: - continued -

HIMMLER

Himmler made his rise not on the battlefields

nor solely by organizing the concentration camps

in the USSR, Poland, Yugoslavia, Hungary.

That work no longer surprised anyone.

"The great organizer of cleansing terror,"

said the Führer of Himmler.

Himmler achieved his greatest rise

after the generals' attempt on Hitler's life.

Afterward, Himmler was hailed as a hero, the man who uncovered the plot.

Hitler honored him and called him the bravest Aryan.

He started representing Hitler at meetings.

And Bormann, Göring and Goebbels

had to greet Himmler

as they greeted only the Führer.

Stierlitz saw Himmler as one of the strongest figures

in the Reich's political landscape.

Naturally, Himmler could begin negotiations with the West,

maintain obedience over the army and SS,

and build a front against the Bolsheviks,

relying on a separate peace with the West.

But Stierlitz thought that

the Allies would never start talks with Himmler,

because, to the whole world, "Himmler" and "the hangman" meant the same.

So, was it Himmler then?

It meant that to carry out his mission

he had to contact Himmler.

20 Feb 1945 11:54 p.m.

Here, in Köpenick, lived his

radio operators, Erwin and Kät.

Stierlitz was violating the secrecy regulations

that he had strictly followed for 20 years.

But now he had no choice. Kät was pregnant.

They didn't expect Stierlitz that night.

They came out for communication on Monday, and today was Wednesday.

Wednesday was the emergency day,

and Erwin realized there would be some work.

Good evening.

Good evening.

You look wonderful.

You belong to the rare type of women

whom pregnancy makes irresistible.

Pregnancy makes any woman beautiful.

You simply hadn't had the chance to notice it.

No, I hadn't. You're right.

Would you like coffee with milk?

Where did you get the milk? Damn, I forgot to bring you the milk!

I managed to get some.

She desperately needs at least a little milk.

Yes, now we even have two cans of milk.

And carrot coffee.

You have to be crafty to get food for pregnant women.

Will you play for us?

Yes.

Did you check whether they stuffed your air-hole with anything?

-Yes, I did. What's the problem? -Nothing. Everything's fine.

Did your brothers from the SD come up with some new filth?

It's possible. Who knows? Quite possible.

Humankind loves secrets.

What?

I got an assignment.

I must find out

who from the highest bonzes

is going to hold separate negotiations with the West.

They have in mind Hitler's top command.

What do you think? A funny task? Yes?

They think I'm all-powerful, since I haven't failed in 20 years.

It means I'm all-powerful.

It would be nice to be Himmler's deputy

or become the Führer.

Heil Stierlitz!

I'm becoming a grumbler. Did you notice?

It suits you.

How are you going to give birth?

I don't think they've invented any new way.

The day before yesterday I spoke with an obstetrician.

I don't want to scare you, guys.

Go on, honey. Go on.

Thank you.

I don't want to scare you, but I was scared myself.

That old doctor told me he can tell

any woman's nationality by the way she gives birth.

I don't get it...

Go ahead, sweetheart. Don't be scared.

Just listen first, and then we'll figure a way out of this mess.

You see, women cry

when they're in labor.

I thought they were singing.

You see, sweetheart, they cry out in their native tongue,

in the dialect of the place where they were born.

So you'll cry "Mommy" with a Ryazan accent?

What can we do?

What about giving birth in Sweden? I think I can manage that.

You'll be cut off from communication.

But I'll stay here.

She can only leave if you go with her.

As a disabled veteran, you need treatment at a spa.

There's an invitation from German relatives in Stockholm.

They won't let you go alone.

His uncle's the one registered here as a Swedish Nazi.

No.

We'll stay here.

That's fine.

I'll scream in German.

Well...

then you can swear in Russian, but with a Berlin accent.

We'll decide tomorrow.

We'll think it over calmly, without any heroic emotions.

Let's go, Erwin.

Our decision depends on

the answer I get tomorrow.

-Ready? -Yeah.

Let's go.

Justas to Alex.

I'm still confident that no serious Western politician

will negotiate with the SS or SD.

But since I got the assignment,

I'm starting to realize it's possible.

I think I can pull it off

if I pass Himmler some information I got from you.

With his backing

I'll be able to keep an eye on those

looking for channels to start such negotiations.

21 Feb 1945 4:45 a.m.

TOP SECRET

Personnel File Eismann, Kurt

SS-Obersturmbannführer, Department IV, Reich Security Office.

Character Report: Member of the Nazi Party since 1933,

Eismann, Kurt, SS-Obersturmbannführer.

A true Aryan.

Character: close to Nordic, firm.

Maintaining good relations with colleagues.

Impeccable in the performance of his duties.

Relentless toward the Reich's enemies.

Athlete. Winner at shooting competitions.

Exemplary family man.

No improper associations reported.

Decorated by the Reichsführer SS's.

I understand.

Fine. You may go.

What's wrong?

I have also a splitting headache.

I dream of seven hours of sleep, like manna.

I never imagined insomnia would be the worst torture.

You tell me.

Listen...

Sit down.

Here's the thing...

It's a strange case.

The chief called me today.

Our chiefs are all dreamers.

They dream because they have no concrete work.

Even a trained chimp could give directions.

You see...

He holds a grudge against Stierlitz.

Who?

Yes, yes. Against Stierlitz.

He's the only person in Schellenberg's intelligence

I liked - and still do.

He's calm and not a lickspittle.

Not hysterical, doesn't fake zeal.

I don't trust people who hang close to the chiefs

and spout speeches at our party meetings.

They are nothing.

Chatterboxes and idlers.

This one is silent.

I like silent people.

If your friend is silent, he's a friend. If your enemy is silent, he's an enemy.

I respect them.

One can learn from them.

I've known Stierlitz for eight years. We served together in Spain.

In Smolensk, I saw him during a bombing.

He's made of flint and steel.

Why the epithets? Are you tired?

Leave the epithets for our party bigwigs.

We detectives stick to nouns and verbs.

He met with her, and she says he handed her something.

You don't suspect?

No. I can't believe Stierlitz is dishonest.

Nor can I.

We should convince Kaltenbrunner of that.

Why?

What if he wants Stierlitz to be dishonest?

Then why dissuade him?

Finally, Stierlitz...

is not from our department. He's from Department VI, not the Gestapo.

Let Schellenberg dance.

Schellenberg will demand proof,

and you know the Reichsführer will back him up.

-You think so? -I'm sure of it.

Why?

I can't prove it.

I'm certain, Gruppenführer.

All right. What now?

I think...

we should be honest with ourselves.

That will guide our next actions and behavior.

Actions and behavior are the same thing.

Fine.

I'll give you an excellent chance to be honest.

Take these materials and draw a conclusion,

an honest one.

And I'll use it as a basis

when I report to the chief about the inspection.

Why me? Why should I?

Where's your honesty, my friend?

Huh?

Where is it?

It's easy to tell others to be honest.

But personally, everyone

tries to turn their dishonesty into honesty.

In other words, they justify themselves and their actions.

Am I right?

I'm ready to write a report.

What report?

I'll write that I've known Stierlitz a long time

and I can vouch for his loyalty.

Go ahead, write it.

To Gruppenführer Müller, Chief of SS Department IV.

I think Standartenführer von Stierlitz is a true Aryan,

devoted to the Führer and the Nazi Party's ideals.

I ask your permission not to open an inquiry into his case.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Eismann.

Well...

Fine fellow.

I've always treated you

with respect and full trust.

And now I have the chance to be sure once again

of your high integrity, Eismann.

Thank you, Gruppenführer.

There's nothing for you to thank me for. I should thank you.

Take these folders and prepare

a favorable report on Stierlitz's work.

I don't need coaching.

The scout's skill, the detective's shrewdness,

the courage of a true National Socialist.

How long will it take?

To compile everything

and back it up with documents,

I'll need a week.

-Five days. No more. -All right.

Don't forget to mention Stierlitz's work with that priest.

Kaltenbrunner thinks someone is trying, through priests,

to establish contacts with the West,

the Vatican, and the like.

Understood.

Good luck.

Go get some sleep.

-I can't promise seven hours. -How about five?

Yes.

-Sleep well. -Thank you.

-Heil! -Heil!

21 Feb 1945 5:05 a.m.

Your ID.

They're blocking roads to the West and South.

What's happening?

There was an alarm. They're searching for radio operators.

They reacted fast.

But it's naive.

True, when dealing with amateurs unfamiliar with Germany.

But I know Germany. A braggart.

Why? It's not bragging.

If I didn't know Germany, I'd have taken that road.

But I drove Erwin through Neekeln. Good job, Stierlitz.

Want to search the trunk?

There are craters on the road. Be careful, Standartenführer.

I'm always careful.

How did Pushkin put it? You're awesome, Pushkin! Son of a bitch!

You're awesome, Stierlitz.

-Good evening, Mr. Bolzen. -Good evening.

Here are your cigarettes and your matches.

Stierlitz used to go to a pub called "The Elephant."

Maybe he didn't even remember how it all happened.

It was ten years ago.

He had to go to Spain.

He didn't know about it.

Moscow Center, knowing this,

had arranged for him to meet his wife there.

Cognac and cigarettes.

Your successes are undisputed.

Hello, Gabi.

So...

Our successes are undisputed, huh?

As always.

I'm very glad.

And where's Frau Saurich?

Her friend fell ill. She went to bring her some food.

How about a game of chess?

Gabi, you're not much fun as a chess partner.

I know.

Goodbye. I've got things to do.

May I come in?

Listen, Holthoff,

I'm assigning you a task

of utmost importance and secrecy.

I'm all ears, Gruppenführer.

"This one will dig deep," thought Müller.

"He's got the drive of a young stallion.

He still enjoys our games, he swims in them like a fish.

He'll get the job done - and how!

Good.

That'll give me something to bargain with Schellenberg about."

You'll have to study these cases.

They're Standartenführer Stierlitz's work

from the past year.

This one concerns the vengeance weapon -

the atomic weapon - and physicist Runge.

In general, it's a messy case, but dig into it.

Come to me if you run into problems.

That's all.

One more thing.

Go over the files on his frontline activity.

And find out whether Stierlitz

ever crossed paths with Eismann.

Where are the detectives?

-Hauptsturmführer Geppert is here. -Bring him in.

Heil Hitler!

Gruppenführer.

Come in, Geppert.

Remember this man.

From now on, you'll go with him everywhere.

It'd be best if you even followed him from the toilet to the bathroom.

May I take it?

Pain, my pain, leave me,

at least for a while

Like a blue-gray drifting cloud,

fly home

Fly home from here

My homeland, show yourself

somewhere in the distance

My homeland, my gentle land,

how I long to reach you -

if only one day

Far away, so far away,

sunlight through the rain,

by the river in the garden

The cherries ripen on the trees

Somewhere deep in memory,

it's warm like childhood,

though my memory lies buried

by such layers of snow.

Thunderstorm, quench my thirst

till I'm drunk, but not dead.

Once again, as if for the last time,

I look to the sky,

searching for an answer.

Pain, my pain, leave me

at least for a while

Like a blue-gray drifting cloud,

fly home

Fly home from here.