“Downfall” quotes

“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.”
Bruno Ganz - 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.”
Bruno Ganz - Adolf Hitler

“In a war as such there are no civilians.”
Bruno Ganz - Adolf Hitler

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.
Alexandra Maria Lara - Traudl Junge

“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!”
Ulrich Matthes - Joseph Goebbels

“- General 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.”
Michael Mendl - General Weidling
Bruno Ganz - Adolf Hitler

“When I meet Eisenhower, should I give the Nazi salute, or shake his hand?”
Ulrich Noethen - Heinrich Himmler

“Tomorrow millions of people will curse me, but fate has taken its course.”
Bruno Ganz - Adolf Hitler

“- Feldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: Your report impressed the Führer. He has appointed you commander of Berlin's defenses.
- General Weidling: I'd rather be shot than have this honor.”
Dieter Mann - Feldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel
Michael Mendl - General Weidling

“I won't use my final hours as Reich Chancellor to sign a statement of surrender!”
Ulrich Matthes - Joseph Goebbels

“Many mistakes have been made, so be ruthless. Life never forgives weakness. This so called humanity... is just priests' drivel. Compassion is a primal sin. Compassion for the weak is a betrayal of nature.”
Bruno Ganz - Adolf Hitler

“- 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!”
Christian Berkel - Prof. Dr. Ernst-Günter Schenck
Veit Stübner - Obergruppenführer Tellermann