A character in Downfall (2004)

Adolf Hitler quotes from Downfall (2004)

Bruno Ganz
Played by Bruno Ganz Downfall (2004) · 13 quotes

Most-quoted character in Downfall (2004): in 8 of its 13 quotes
Most scenes with: Hans Krebs (3), Alfred Jodl (2)

A line from Adolf Hitler [Believing Goering's offer to take power is a coup]

The loser, the sponge. A parvenu, a lazy bones! How dare he say I'm incapacitated? The Luftwaffe, what did he turn that into? For that alone, he should be executed! This morphine addict corrupted the country! And now this, he's betraying me — me of all people!

More lines from Adolf Hitler

4 quotes
Adolf Hitler

In a war as such this, there are no civilians.

Adolf Hitler
[upon discovering that Himmler has been negotiating with the Western Allies behind his back]

Out of all people, Himmler? The truest of the true? This is the worst betrayal of all! Goering, of course, he was always corrupt. Speer, a genius, unpredictable artist. All the others, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! But Himmler, no. Has he gone insane? He claimed authority by saying I was sick, or maybe even dead!

Adolf Hitler

Tomorrow millions of people will curse me, but fate has taken its course.
We didn't force the German people. They gave us a mandate, and now their little throats are being cut! — Joseph Goebbels

Adolf Hitler

I will win in Berlin, or face my downfall.

Scenes with Adolf Hitler

3 scenes
Adolf Hitler

Koller, do you know that Berlin is under artillery fire?

Karl Koller

No.

Hitler

Can't you hear the shelling?

Koller

No, I'm in Wildpark Werder.

Hitler

Berlin is chaotic. Apparently, the Russians have captured a railway bridge over the Oder.

Koller

The enemy has no railway artillery near the Oder. [Looks at a notice] That's not long range artillery. The Flak and Zoobunkers say the shells are only 10 and 12 cm in caliber, meaning the Russians are closer. The Russians have positions near Marzahn.

Hitler

That's only 12 kilometers from the city center! Are the Russians that close? They should hang the entire Luftwaffe leadership! [hangs up] This is unheard of, unheard of! The Russians are 12 kilometers from the city center. Nobody told me anything. I had to ask.

Maybe it is long-range artillery after all. You mentioned that railway bridge over the Oder.

Hitler

Nonsense!

Wilhelm Keitel

I know I'm repeating myself, but the 9th Army must retreat! Otherwise it will be surrounded and wiped out! We must—

Adolf Hitler

The 9th Army will not retreat! Tell Busse to fight where he stands!

My Führer, then the 9th Army is lost.

Hitler

We'll push back the Soviet armies in the north and east with a ruthless, almighty attack.

Using which units?

Hitler

Steiner will attack from the north and join the 9th Army.

The 9th Army is unable to move north. The enemy outnumbers us by ten to one!

Hitler

Wenck! He'll support them with the 12th Army.

But my Führer, the 12th Army is moving west to the Elbe!

Hitler

Then tell them to turn around!

Then the Western Front will be open!

Hitler

Do you doubt my orders? It's final! I think I've been clear enough!

The enemy made a breakthrough. They took Zossen and are advancing towards Stahnsdorf. They're at the northern city border, between Frohnau and Pankow. In the east, they reached Lichtenberg, Mahlsdorf and Karlshorst.

Adolf Hitler

With Steiner's attack, that will be all right.

My Führer, Steiner...

Steiner couldn't gather enough forces for the attack. Steiner's attack didn't proceed.

Hitler
[pauses to take off his glasses]

The following stay in the room: Keitel, Jodl, Krebs and Burgdorf. [The four named generals, along with Goebbels and Bormann, remain in the room as the others leave.] That was an order! Steiner's attack was an order! Who are you to dare disobey my order? [Hitler's ranting is clearly audible outside the room] So this is what it's come to: the military lied to me. Everybody lied to me, even the SS! The entire general command is nothing more than a bunch of vile, faithless cowards!

Wilhelm Burgdorf

My Führer, I can't accept that the soldiers who bled for you—

Hitler

They're cowards! Traitors! Failures!

Burgdorf

My Führer, what you're saying is outrageous!

Hitler

The general command are the pests of the German people! [flings a pencil onto the table] They're without honor! You call yourselves generals because you spent years at a military academy, only to learn how to hold a knife and fork! For years the entire military has hindered my campaigns. It has only put every kind of resistance in my way. I would have done well years ago to liquidate all the senior officers like Stalin! I never went to the academy. And yet I alone — all on my own — conquered all of Europe. Traitors! From the very beginning I've been only betrayed and deceived. Such enormous betrayal of the German people! But all these traitors will pay. They will pay with their own blood! They will drown in their own blood!

Traudl Junge
[to Gerda, outside the room]

Gerda, please calm yourself.

Hitler
[calms down]

My orders were spoken into the wind. It is impossible to lead under these circumstances. It's over. The war is lost. But gentlemen, if you think that I'll leave Berlin for this, you're greatly mistaken. I'd rather shoot a bullet through my head. Do what you will.

Otto Günsche

We cannot find Gruppenführer Fegelein. He is not in the bunker.

Adolf Hitler

What's that supposed to mean, you can't find Fegelein? Then look for him! I want to see Fegelein at once! If he left without orders, it's desertion, treason! Bring me Fegelein! [pounding the table] Fegelein, Fegelein, Fegelein!

Adolf Hitler

Frau Junge, Frau Christian, get changed. In one hour, a plane will take you south. Everything is lost, completely lost.

Eva Braun

You know I'll stay with you. You can't send me away.

Traudl Junge

I'm staying too, my Führer.

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