War and Remembrance (TV Mini Series)

Part I (1988)

Steven Berkoff: Adolf Hitler

Quotes 

• Adolf Hitler : [reading a report from Brauchitsch]  Who is responsible for this driveling nonsense?

  Col. Gen. Franz Halder : As ordered, mein Fuhrer: the Eastern front strategy to knock England out of the war.

  Adolf Hitler : What has England to do with this... filthy rubbish?

  [reads off the report] 

  Adolf Hitler : "General withdrawal in the east your positions... the front straightened and shortened. New front line chosen with an eye to... easy quartering... and simplified... supply... problems."

  [slams the report onto his desk] 

  Adolf Hitler : Ah... yes! You gentlemen of the officer corps, with your 'Von's before your names. You never dusted your polished boots in a trench... the kind of trench I served in for four years. Always looking for an easy war, for *simple* war, while you snicker behind my back, at the Bohemian Corporal, who KNOWS... from bitter experience... from lying gassed in a field hospital, THAT WAR IS HARD...! Vain... soft, *cowardly* wretches, be-neath contempt!

  Field Marshal Walter von Brauchitsch : [quietly]  I repeat my request to be permitted to resign.

  Adolf Hitler : YES, NOW! Now that you have ruined my eastern campaign - I designed it with crystal clarity, it was BOUND to lead to victory if you had DONE AS YOU WERE TOLD... and driven for the Caucasus oil! But no... you knew better... you and your generals had to march on Moscow. You wanted your prestige successes! Fool!... Weak! Nincompoop. There will be no withdrawal on the eastern front. Not - one - inch! Every German soldier will hold, or die where he stands! My Wermacht will not turn its back on the Russians, and fall to pieces, like Napoleon's grand army!

  Field Marshal Walter von Brauchitsch : I beg you... let me resign.

  Adolf Hitler : [shrilly]  Resign! You are DISMISSED, Herr Von Brauchitsch! From your post, from my armed forces, from all further service to the Fatherland... that you tried to betray with THIS... TREASONIST... FILTH!

  [throws the report at Brauchitsch]