Падение Берлина 1 серия / The Fall of Berlin film 1

MOSFILM STUDIOS

THE FALL OF BERLIN

Part One

Script by P. Pavlenko,
M. Chiaureli

Directed by Mikhail Chiaureli

Photography by L. Kosmatov

Music by D. Shostakovich

Art Directors - V. Kaplunovsky,
A. Parkhomenko

M. Gelovani as Joseph Stalin

Enacting the leaders
of the Party and the Soviet Union:

M. Schtrauch, A. Gribov,
N. Ryzhov, G. Belov and others

V. Lyubimov as Marshal
of the Soviet Union Vasilevsky

F. Blazhevich as Marshal
of the Soviet Union Zhukov

A. Abrikosov as General Antonov
B. Tenin as Lt. General Chuikov

B. Andreev as Alexei Ivanov
M. Kovaleva as Natasha Rumyantseva

Yu. Timoshenko as Kostya Zaichenko
S. Giatsintova as Ivan's mother

N. Bogolyubov as Khmelnitsky
D. Pavlov as Tomashevich

O. Frelikh as Roosevelt
V. Stanitsyn as Churchill

V. Saveliev as Hitler
M. Novakova as Eva Braun
Ya. Verikh as Goering

N. Petrunkin as Goebbels
N. Plotnikov as Brauchitsch

V. Pokrovsky as Jodl
V. Renin as Rundstedt

A sunny day. The birds fly.
The flowers grow, and so do I.

The flowers wither
in autumn late.

But I ain't a flower -
I'll never fade.

I'll grow and grow
becoming strong,

I'll grow up and sing a song.

I'll grow up and sing a song

That everyone is my friend

In this sunny land.

Come on!

Good afternoon,
Natalia Vasilievna!

- And where is Lenya Gurov?
- There he is.

- Lenya! The excursion!
- We are being late!

- Coming!
- Hurry up!

Lenya, where have you been?

- Over there.
- Found anything interesting?

- Lots of flowers!
- Let's go to the steelworks.

A sunny day. The birds fly.
The flowers grow, and so do I.

Alyosha, how much
did you do?

Compared to yesterday's
9 tons per one square meter?

You are famed as a hero.

Oh, stop it.

- What shall I write down?
- Write down.

Eleven tons
per one square meter.

But this makes a world record!

Be careful, don't approach
it too close.

As I already told you,
children...

First steelworks
were built in Russia by...

Peter the Great.

Right, the great tsar Peter.
Only his steelworks were small.

What's going on?
An excursion?

And our journalists
were not even informed.

We'll write an article:

'A young pretty teacher
visited the steelworks.'

- Please don't.
- We won't write this,

but we'll bear it in mind.
Do you know about Alex Ivanov?

- No. Why?
- He set a world record.

Kostya, tell me more about it.

Eleven tons per one
square meter!

Kostya, wait!..

Published in 'Pravda' daily?

I can't believe it.
Your word of a Komsomol member?

Hi, Lidia Nikolaevna.
Is Vasily Vasilievich here?

- Kostya, you know...
- I already know.

Ivanov set yet another record.

- What record?
- A world one.

Bring a copy of 'Pravda' daily.

- I need to see Khmelnitsky.
- Forget about it.

- I need to tell him.
- Go and bring the copy.

Why didn't you produce
enough steel?

- An echelon with ore was late?
- Vasily Vasilievich...

How many wagons lacking?

- I'll take care of this.
- Vasily Vasilievich.

We were awarded
with the Order,

Order of the Red Banner!

- Who said this?
- It's written in 'Pravda'.

- Where is a copy?
- I sent it to your home.

'As per the decree of the Presidium
of the Supreme Soviets, to bestow...'

An Order of Lenin for Alyosha
Ivanov, and for you, too.

- Congratulations!
- Toss him!

Toss the director!

Congratulations!

It means we should work
even more better.

Ivan Palych,
my congratulations.

- Where are you from?
- Congratulations!

- You are here on an excursion?
- Yes.

Good for you.

Here is another task for you.
To make a report about Ivanov

at the club tonight.

- But I know nothing about him.
- Don't worry.

Talk to people and pay
a visit to his mother,

she will tell you everything.

Ours is a family of steel-makers.

My late husband was a steel-maker

and so was my father.

Our dynasty goes down
to our forefathers.

At first our family lived
in the Urals.

And then, under Stalin,

we moved to this city.

We were, so to say,

invited here

to set an example.

You told me such a wonderful
story, Antonina Ivanovna,

except you didn't say
when he was born.

Oh, yes, of course.

He was born together
with the new state,

on October 25, 1917, old style,

that was when he was born.

My late husband used to say:

'Exactly like Aurora battleship,

'you shot a valvo aiming
at the old regime,

'by giving birth to our son.'

He is such a wonderful son:

like a shell, he'll destroy
any obstacle...

Everything is ours:

the steel that we make,

and the machines that we
build from this steel...

I'm so happy

to live in this wonderful time.

I'm happy that people
like Alexei Ivanov

are in the vanguard

of my generation...

The country grew
before his very eyes,

and he grew and became
stronger together with it.

You may say goodbye
to our concert, Victor.

Listen how she is extolling him.

"A hero, Man of the future...'

Relax, Kostya. You'll sing,
and I'll play my new composition -

and she will sing praise to us, too.

She is saying all this because
it's her public duty.

And I want to add
something else.

To whom do we owe
the victories of the present time?

Who opened these
great possibilities for us?

You all know the name
I'm thinking about now...

And, you know...

It would be the greatest
happiness for me

to see him

and to tell him

how I...

But because it's impossible,

I will simply say:

Long live Stalin!

For he gave birth to us

into this great and happy existence!

Long live Stalin!

Great done. Good for you.

I just said what I felt.

And this is his mother.

What an orator. A real nightingale.

You did a big honor to our family.

Alyosha, you could have
at least said 'thank you'.

Thank you from my very heart.

Your report left me blushing.

Thank you for your great record.

Allow me, as an affiliated musician,

- to see you home.
- No, I will see her home,

as an affiliated steel-maker,
so to say.

- Let's go?
- The pleasure was all his.

Let's go?

Mother,

go home. I'll be back soon.

What means my name to you?
...'twil die

As does the melancholy rumour

Of distant waves, or of a summer,

The forest's hushed nocturnal sigh.

Who wrote this?

Pushkin.

Well, maybe.

And this one?

A long, unending wall

This building site

The sun of million furnaces

Siberia will ignite.

- Mayakovsky.
- Right.

- It's here that you live?
- Yes.

- Maybe you'll come in?
- No, thanks. It's quite late.

Thank you very much.

Good bye.

You walk in the wrong way.

And where is the gate?

Over there.

I have two tickets to a concert
tomorrow. Will you come with me?

Of course. With great pleasure.

Come and pick me up tomorrow.

No. I'll be waiting
near the club.

All right.

- Bye.
- Bye.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Why do I love you so much,

Oh, bright night.

Oh, what a pleasure and
anguish it is to watch you...

Oh, why do I love you so much,

Quiet night.

'tis not me but others

That you fill

With serenity...

The stars and the Moon,
the firmament and the clouds...

This light

That moves along the cold granite

Turns the dew on the flower

Into diamonds...

Or, like a golden path,

It stretches
along the sea surface...

Airport? We're coming.

- Am I disturbing?
- Come in.

Come on in.

Vasily Vasilievich, let me
leave on a vacation

or send me away to study.
I can't stay here anymore.

Hi. Sit down.

I wish I could clip your ears,

but you're a lucky devil, you know.

You're being summoned to Moscow.

Even the North Pole
would be all right for me now.

Who summons me?

Stalin.

I ain't going there,

not in your life. It's impossible!

- Just think what you're saying.
- Vasily Vasilievich,

I won't be able to pull
myself together and talk to him.

Oh, you are going to talk...

Alyosha... He will be the one
talking to you.

And you'll be the one
listening and getting wiser,

you lucky man.

Let's go. The plane is waiting.

We're flying together.
We'll stick to each other.

Let's go.

Comrade Stalin, steel-maker
Ivanov has arrived on your order.

Let him come here.

Do you know why
he wants to see me?

Maybe I can skip it all?

I can't go there.
Please let me go.

Do I need to report or something?

- You better summon Khmelnitsky.
- And this is comrade Stalin.

- Hi.
- Hi, Vissarion Ivanovich...

Oh, I'm sorry.

Vissarion Ivanovich was my father,

and my name is
Joseph Vissarionovich.

- I know, comrade Stalin.
- Come with me...

I was waiting for you, Alex.

I even don't know why.
I couldn't sleep.

And I told Stalin
how much I love you.

- Are you crazy?
- Why not?

And what did he say?

He said: "Don't be afraid of poetry.

"You should love her,
and your love will be returned."

You're making all this up.
I don't believe you.

I swear by God,
this is exactly what he said.

He also said: "And if she won't
love you, write straight to me."

Alyosha, I love you so much,

so much that it seems to me

my own life

and all life around me

has become many times better

and more beautiful,

since that day

when I fell in love with you.

Alyosha, Alex...

Natasha...

Look, Alyosha...

What is this?

Natasha!..

What's wrong with you?

Alyosha, darling,
what's going on?

Are you all right?
Are you hurt?

- Where are we? What happened?
- Let's go.

Natasha, darling...
Mother! Mother!

Alyosha!

The order the German Army
is going to install

is very humane!

The Russian nation

or any Slavs, for that matter,
can't live on their own.

We shall install a new order.

We shall install it
all around the world.

Three months thereafter...

Alyosha!

Who is this?

Kostya...

Zaichenko.

- And where is Natasha?
- What are you talking about?

Germans have approached Moscow.

What?! And where is Stalin?

Stalin is in Moscow.

He is our only hope.

Without Stalin in Moscow,
we'll be done for.

Germans near Moscow?

I can't believe it.

It's autumn already. You have been
unconscious for three months.

But where is Natasha?
Where is she?

She is alive.

Our folks said

Germans hanged some
of her pupils.

As for Natasha...

She was driven away to Germany.

Natasha has disappeared.

Alyosha, I must
bring you to the plant.

We should organize
the production process.

Production process...

Natasha is in captivity...

Germans are near Moscow...

Production process...

My only mission can be only
to produce dead sauerkrauts.

Alyosha, where are you to?

Germans are rallying forces.

According to our Intelligence,
the 3rd and 4th tank groups

of Gott and Huebner are moving
to north-western borders of Moscow.

I see...

They're planning
to close the pincers on Moscow.

Their blitzkrieg has failed,

so now they are trying to resort
to a concentric assault.

Go on.

In the centre, the 4th German Army
is being reinforced, too.

In the south it is Guderian's
2nd army group versus our Tula.

Guderian's ordnance
is being replenished.

All in all, according
to our Intelligence,

they are gathering about
50 divisions near Moscow.

It seems, the Germans
are preparing for a decisive attack.

And because they have
concentrated on the flanks

powerful tank groups,

the attack will come from the south
and the north simultaneously.

Such is the enemy's plan.

Yes...

Hitler has at his disposal
all west-European resources,

with 300 million odd population,

which is no joking matter.

We need to hold out.

By wearing them down,

we need to buy some time

that we need to prepare
a counter-offensive.

Yes, comrade Stalin.

We are short of soldiers
and armaments.

We would need
at least 150 more tanks.

150 tanks...

You can have only 18.
Plus armor shells.

- They are fight-worthy.
- Very fight-worthy.

Three thousand
shells would be good.

Three thousand
would not be enough.

But as for now you can have
only two hundred.

You will have everything
the moment you begin the offensive.

Hitler's tricky strategy

is to cause panic in our ranks.

To keep calm would mean
to disrupt their plans.

What about anti-tank trenches?

I hope we'll make them in time.

Scherbakov has been handling
this for four days already.

He said we'll make it.

Comrade Stalin,
tomorrow is November 7.

What about the parade?

There will be a parade.

Their aviation is going wanton.

There has always been
a parade on this day,

and so it will be tomorrow.

Shall I inform members
of the Politburo?

Please do.

Do inform them.

Dear members of the Red Army
and Red Fleet,

commanders and commissars,

workers

and collective farmers,

intellectual workers,

all brothers and sisters
in the rear of our enemy,

all of you who have found
themselves under the German sway.

I'm also addressing our glorious
partisans...

It is in the dire circumstances

that we are celebrating today
the 24th Anniversary

of the Great October Revolution.

The perfidious invasion
of German rogues

and the war imposed upon us

have left our country
in great danger.

Notwithstanding temporary defeats,

our Army and our Fleet

are heroically rebuffing
the enemy's attack

along the entire frontline,

inflicting serious damage
upon Germans.

Fascists will never
step into Moscow.

For our Homeland!
For Stalin!

We can and we must
defeat the German invaders.

We have a wonderful Army

and a wonderful Fleet

defending selflessly the freedom

and independence of our country.

All peoples

of our huge country

are the stalwart of our Army
and Fleet,

helping them to scatter
the evil hordes

of German fascists.

On many occasions already

has our Red Army put to flight

the vaunted German troops.

Greetings from Spain, my Fuhrer.

President
Ismet Inonu asked to tell you

about his admiration
with your military victories.

Japan is celebrating
your victory, my Fuhrer.

The Holy See sendeth
their blessing

to German heroes of Moscow.

The Holy See has long ago
connected their fate

with your fate,
my dear Fuhrer.

Dear Orsenigo!

I can't wait to read an encyclic
denouncing Bolshevism.

It is with a greater pleasure

that I would see you
on St. Peter's Throne.

You are a true Nazi, Orsenigo.

A storm trooper’s uniform
would befit you more than a cassock.

Gentlemen,

Moscow is lying at Germany's feet!

The gates to Russia
are wide open!

I'm rewinding historical
watch many centuries ahead!

Communism will be
done for, once and for all.

And the reward for our victory
would be

German borders stretching
as far as the Urals.

We'll have Ukrainian grain and coal,

Caucasian oil,

Russian, Ukrainian

and Belorussian slaves.

There they are.

Them bastards are celebrating.

- They seized Moscow.
- Impossible...

Silence!

I'm all right.

These slaves will have
robust German masters.

Anyway, gentlemen,

it's high time to proceed
from compliments

to real help.

Jodl, what is the news
from the front?

Haven't my troops entered
Moscow yet?

The troops are waned
by unending battles.

They need a respite
before delivering a decisive blow.

I don't think Russians will
give away Moscow so easily.

Don't talk nonsense.

Russian army doesn't exist.

I destroyed it.

Who can ever offer resistance now?

A handful of Stalinist fanatics?

My order was to seize Moscow
on November 7.

Which means today.
Seize Moscow!

Long live our fatherland,

free and independent!

Under the banner of Lenin -
to victory!

It is Stalin's address, my Fuhrer.

They seem to be holding
a parade in Red Square.

A parade? How on earth?

Moscow is on its last leg already.

Damn, send one thousand planes,

send them into the air,
against Moscow!

Not a single German plane
broke through to Moscow.

Not a single German invader
entered Moscow.

You're worthless, Brauchitsch!

I made you field-marshal

not for you to lose a war
which began so brilliantly.

Let me remind you, my Fuhrer,

the prophetic words
of Friedrich der Grosse

warning us against
entering Russia...

I don't want even to hear
about this!

Bismarck, too, voiced
the same warning.

I do not care about
Bismarck's behests.

I only know about
what I foreordained.

The only word - 'forward!' -
is inscribed on my banner!

Didn't you read Mein Kampf?

A war with Russia, my Fuhrer,

is something one knows
how to begin,

but doesn't know
to how to ever end it.

You promised political
degradation of the Soviet Union -

and that's why we came to Russian
expanses.

But degradation did not
become a fact -

I should say, the opposite happened.

We shall have to wage a long

- and tedious war.
- Shut up, Brauchitsch!

Just imagine what a powerful fist

I rose over this Asian country

which has already lost
its best commanders.

All European industry
and all its vital resources

are under my control.

American business circles
are on my side.

Who and what can ever
withstand me? Eh?

The only problem
is the Russian winter

and not Russians. And you're
my problem, too, Brauchitsch.

- You are a faint-hearted coward!
- Winter is not what is the matter.

Brauchitsch!

You are a traitor and a deserter!

The victory outlined by me
should become reality!

Rundstedt!

Take over the commandment.

My Fuhrer,

I can't accept your appointment.

It is sheer insanity
to war against Russia.

If we could not defeat it in 1914,

when it was a backwards country,

the more so we won't be
able to do it now.

What?

The strategy of the German
campaign in the East

suffered a fiasco...

Oh, really?

Conspiracy!

Conspiracy!

I will teach you how
to wage this war.

I myself will lead the army.

The blitzkrieg doctrine

is described in my book.

One only has to read it properly!

Communism is not only
our enemy.

We are in the vanguard,
followed by Britain and America.

You don't seriously believe, do you,

that Churchill is sincere
in taking Stalin's side.

Generals, you are afraid of Russia.

But we are already in Russia.

We should make use of all resources.

We should drain Europe dry,
all of them.

Italy, Romania, Hungary -
everything into the furnace!

We should appeal to Spain,
France, Sweden and Turkey.

I will head

this Crusade!

Let London and Washington know

that I'm doing their job for them.

Do your hear me?

I'm doing their job!

You are tired, my Fuhrer.

You need to take some rest.

Yes,

you need some rest, my Fuhrer.

Yes,

I do need some rest...

Calm down, Adolf.

You know, Eva, I will
destroy Moscow one day.

Only if it were not for winter,

- I would've already seized Moscow.
- Yes, darling. You're omnipotent.

You should wash your hair
with that elixir every day.

Show me your nails.

Tut-tut...

Mussolini's nails are always neat.

And I will end that
war in Stalingrad.

I will end with Stalin -
in Stalingrad. How symbolical.

- Don't you think so?
- Oh yes, of course.

Only you could come up
with such a great idea.

Yes, only I.

You are right.

I'm a genius.

To end with Stalin - in Stalingrad.

I will close gigantic pincers
on Russia.

I will tear it asunder,
on the Volga River,

I will strangle Moscow.

This is fantastic!
An ingenuous plan, my Fuhrer.

My Fuhrer, our resources
are coming to an end.

It is next to impossible
to launch a massive attack.

Farben Industry provides
us with gasoline.

And what about these dumb-headed
Englishmen

which are too slow with
the deliveries of wolframium?

Or maybe they think I'm shedding
our blood for their pleasure?

They must provide us with
chromium and wolframium.

Otherwise I will conclude
peace with Bolsheviks

and let them penetrate
into Europe.

My Fuhrer, I have already
summoned Bedston.

Who is Bedston?

Representative of British
companies in Sweden.

He is closely connected with
the ruling circles of Britain.

- Closely connected?
- Yes.

Good.

Reichsmarschall, there is
a guest from London.

Bring him in.

I'm so glad, dear Mr. Bedston,

that you accepted my invitation.

When I was approaching
your castle,

I took it for the Siegfriedstellung.

Charles Bedston. From England?

Yes.

Feel at home, Mr. Bedstone.

Your collection has grown
significantly.

- This is from the Kiev Museum.
- How interesting.

And this is from Louvre.

A present from Vienna.

Mussolini's Venetian gift...

Dutch paintings...

With compliments - from Franco...

All world treasures
in your castle.

As for now -
only European treasures.

To be honest, dear Goering,

I was not very enthusiastic
when leaving London.

It is my third visit to you,
as you remember.

This time I,
an old friend of Britain,

invited you, dear Bedston,

to ask you to do me
a personal favor.

Why couldn't you fly to Britain
yourself, in Hess' fashion?

Oh, no.

They have not invented a parachute

strong enough to carry me.

This way, please.

My request to you is the following:

Stalingrad Battle is devouring
all our resources and reserves.

Americans are coming
with a big air raid.

We can go down to a bomb shelter.

These American raids
is just smoke and mirrors.

- Please go on.
- For a new offensive

we are badly in need of tanks.

As you know, steel-hardening
implies chromium and wolframium.

Which we don't have
enough from Turkey.

For the sake of saving

the Western civilization
from barbarians,

you must help us, Bedston.

Ours is not only the German cause.

You're just poor warriors, Goering.

Do not forget that
you are dealing with Stalin,

who is a great commander.

You should do away with
that madman of yours.

Germany has invested so much

into Hitler, it is too late

to change him for someone else.

Besides, he is very popular
among common people.

Tell me frankly, Goering,

are you going to take Stalingrad
sooner or later?

The scales of the war
are balancing not in your favor,

while we did everything
to help you.

There is no Second Front,

and it's a big question
whether we'll open it at all.

You should value this fact.

We do. And we shall take Stalingrad.

Adolf announced about his
nation-wide.

Nothing ever can drive us
out of there.

You must believe me:
we shall take Stalingrad.

When?

As soon as you provide us
with chromium and wolframium.

- With how much?
- 20 thousand tons, urgently.

- Unthinkable!
- Let us not bargain.

We are your stronghold.

If we don't cope with Russia,

you and America will have
to start everything anew.

Don't moralize me, Goering.

Where and how?

A representative
of 'Vickers-Armstrongs'

will be waiting for a representative
of 'Krupp' in Stockholm.

- To our Stalingrad!
- To your troops in Stalingrad.

As they say in Russia, hurrah...

Hurrah...

Commander Chuikov.

Hi, friends.

You fought brilliantly!

We saw how you did this.

Especially you, Sergeant.

Your exploit -
is an example for all.

Sergeant, on behalf
of our state,

I award you with the Order
of Red Banner.

Always faithful!

Commander, Sir.

What's all this 'hurrah' about?

Stalin once said: 'The sun will
shine on our side of the fence'.

So, this day has come.

The Donskoy and Stalingrad fronts
have joined forces.

The Germans are surrounded.

This is the great turning
point in the war.

- Commander, Sir.
- Yes?

- Permission to speak?
- Permission granted.

There is the word circulating

that Stalin has arrived.

That he is here.

There was never a time
when we fought without Stalin.

Stalin is always with us.

- Exactly.
- Yeah.

Stalingraders did a great a job.

They showed to all these Moltkes,

Schlieffens, Ludendorffs
and Keitels.

It was not without good reason

that Germany lived through
two major defeats.

- Alyosha!
- What?

- Do you know where we are?
- Of course I do.

Our club.

It was here that I saw her
for the first time.

Our school...

Natasha's school...

Take that!

- You, dirty dog!
- We'll need him yet.

- Yes, we will.
- You, devil.

Death to Fascists!

- Stop!
- Stop, I said!

Yusup, tie him up.

Kostya, Yusup!

And this here used to be
my house.

This one?

Over there was our room.

Come with me.

I grew up here, brother.

Oh, my poor old mother,

what they have done to you...

Who are you?

Are you wounded?

My God... Alyosha.

- You're alive!
- Kostya Zaichenko!

- You're back?
- I'm not back yet.

I'm not back.

I'm going to the West.

- Any news?
- What can we say...

They drove Natasha away...

You, bastard, what
do you think you are doing?

The war is not about killing
children and women, you bastard.

I'm not a bastard.
I'm an officer.

The cause of history

is that Germany moves ahead

and the Soviets - backwards!

Who told you this?

Adolf Hitler, my Fuhrer.

Oh, yeah, so this is
what he said?

Very well then...

I swear by God - you'll die
like a swine!

Don't, Yusup.

We are not going to kill him.

We shall put him to a special
kind of execution.

- I don't agree with your approach.
- Stop it, Yusup.

- Where are you from?
- Berlin, Friedrichstrasse.

When I come to that
Friedrichstrasse,

I will turn your house into a pulp!

The war will never reach Berlin!

Wait, Yusup.

Did you hear what I said?

I will turn your Berlin into ashes.

And so what you will cry
bloody murder then.

I didn't touch you - you were
the ones who came here. I'm kind.

So don't you thwart me,
you bastard,

- keep your mouth shut.
- I don't agree with your approach.

I want to live and see that day

when someone like him

will say by himself:
'may Hitler be damned

'for giving birth to me,

'and may I be damned
for giving birth to Hitler!'

Do you hear

them flying?

Do you hear?

Our planes flying
to your Berlin.

Feel this to the fullest:

like begets like.

You will have all of it.

See?

The historical Yalta conference
was under way.

Due to unfavorable weather,

the operation was postponed
till late January.

But because of disquieting situation

on the Western Front -

in the Ardennes, Germany had begun
an offensive against our Allies -

our Supreme Commandment

ordered to begin the campaign

not later than in the middle
of January.

During the first 18 days
of this campaign

the Soviet Army smashed
45 German divisions

and proceeded 570 km to the West

thus reaching Oder River

near Custrin.

Our commanders,

by carrying out auxiliary
operations on the flanks,

have over-extended the enemy's
resources.

Thus the mission outlined
by the Supreme commandment

was fulfilled.

Following this campaign,

Germany transferred
to the Eastern Front

16 divisions. Another 5 divisions

are on their way. 30 more divisions
waiting for redeployment.

Which amounts to more than
50 divisions.

In our mind, the Allies’ aviation

should attack the enemy's
communications

thus preventing redeployment
of troops

from Western Front and Italy -
to the East.

They should begin
the offensive in early February.

General Eisenhower thinks that

decisive activization is impossible.

Our forces are in a chaotic state,

there are great difficulties
connected with supply support.

It's too early,

too early to talk

about beginning this campaign,

when Anglo-American troops
have not crossed yet

the Siegfriedstellung,

when there is the Rhine River

and half-finished armies
in front of us.

We are in a very serious situation.

But it is right now that the chances
are favourable for you.

Germany has suffered a major defeat

on the Soviet front.

They have been stopped
in the Ardennes.

You're right, but we need time.

Everything depends on strategy.

If it should be the unending

war of patrols, like it
already happened,

one can make no progress
even 5 years thereafter.

Make no progress?

Should your specialists

have shared with us the technique
of crossing river-lines,

we would have been
on the other side of Rhine already.

Besides, this time your blow

cannot have a stronger momentum
than it was in January.

Such is the rule
of diminishing force,

the relentless rule of the war.

This rule doesn't work
in Soviet strategy.

Your troops being

70-80 km from Berlin
means nothing at all.

The Germans were even closer
to Moscow.

But we know how it all ended.

Our soldiers

have excelled Germans
in military technique.

Your offensive would be
fraught with a risk:

in your rear, in Kurland,

there are 30 German divisions,

a 500 thousand strong army.

Plus 27 divisions
in Eastern Prussia.

And another 20 German divisions
scattered in other hot spots.

The worse it is for Germany:

it will leave them with less
troops to protect Berlin.

As for the army groups
you mentioned,

they are surrounded
and doomed to death.

You risk a lot by having
this ambition

to be the first entering Berlin.

Should we do it altogether,

that would serve the idea
of united nations.

If the Allies' commandment

begin all due military
activity in the West,

then you may consider all of us

just one step away from
the battle for Berlin.

Gentlemen...

We are not ready
for this last battle.

Before delivering this blow

we should agree upon
basic questions.

We have already come to this basic
agreement

both here and back in Teheran.

I do not think there are any
serious contradictions between us.

We have agreed about
the occupation of Germany

and control measures
after its defeat.

But we did it only in general.

We have specified
the size of reparations.

Yes, only conditionally.

As far as I remember,
it was an unconditional point.

We unanimously agreed
about the veto power in UN

and we specified our common
point of view

considering Poland's
western borders.

Conditionally,

- only conditionally.
- What do you mean?

During the period of 30 years

on two occasions, Poland
had been used as the gates

to unleash the war
against the Soviet Union.

These gates should be
closed once and for ever

by creating there a powerful
and friendly state.

There is nothing conditional
in this matter.

My mission will not be over

if I do not provide Ukraine,
Poland and Byelorussia

with peace they deserved
for their heroism.

Haste is not my style.

We should not be in any haste.

The countries need peace.

We can and we must
install peace

as soon as possible.

For the longest
possible period, too.

Mister Stalin,

I cannot decide the outcome
of the war and forget about Japan.

It will happen three months
after we defeat Hitler.

I told you that much
back in Teheran,

that you can rely on the assistance

of the Soviet armed forces
in your war against Japan.

So, in three months.

You think so?

I'm repeating again:
in three months.

Agreed.

- Conditionally?
- This time - unconditionally.

Sir...

I have the last friendly
request to you,

my dear fellow-soldier.

I'm asking you to drink
the health of the British king.

The king?

You know very well, Mr. Churchill,
that I'm against monarchy.

But I'm your guest, Mr. Stalin.

I'm kindly asking you.

Well, if it is so important to you,

I'm ready to please you.

Whose health you drinking?

I offered a toast for the king.

I drink the health of Kalinin.

End of Part One