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“Poor old man.”
―Burgdorf singing.

The Singing Burgdorf Scene is a scene in Downfall, which is used quite frequently by Untergangers in parodies, due to it being one of the few amusing parts of the film.

In Downfall[]

Burgy_sings_a_Hawaiian_song!_Epic!

Burgy sings a Hawaiian song! Epic!

Translated verses of the song.

Wilhelm Burgdorf, being drunk, starts to sing a German song, accompanied by a version of the sea shanty "Johnny Come Down to Hilo" while Hans Krebs, Martin Bormann and Helmuth Weidling just sit and listen. As Burgdorf sings away, other officers in the hallway look with amusement while Weidling seems irritated. After Burgdorf finishes, Krebs applauds and Bormann congratulates him.

Weidling looks at his watch, saying that he should have been with his troops by now. Bormann tells him that he made a good impression to the Führer. Krebs asks him whether Felix Steiner will attack; Weidling is unsure and tells them that they should know better. Burgdorf says that if Steiner doesn't attack, Berlin would be lost.

At that moment Wilhelm Keitel enters and congratulates Weidling for his report: the Führer has appointed him Commander of Berlin’s Defense. Weidling is visibly displeased with his new post, saying that he would have preferred to be shot than had that honor.

In Downfall Parodies[]

The scene is fairly commonly used in parodies due to its humorous theme. This is also Burgdorf's most famous scene, as it involves him singing. Many parodies show Burgdorf singing for various (usually humorous) things, such as in Hitler and the Burgdorf shooting Fegelein incident, where he sings his success after he thought he killed Fegelein.

Transcript[]

German transcript and English translation
Speaker German English
Burgdorf's singing
BURGDORF Ich lieb' ein Mädchen, ich weiß nicht warum I love a girl and I don't know why
Mein Mädchen kaut Tabak, mein Mädchen trinkt Rum My girlfriend's chewing tobacco, my girlfriend drinks rum
When Jackie comes down to Hilo... When Jackie comes down to Hilo...
Poor old man. Poor old man.
BORMANN Komplimenten. My compliments.
Main part (Weidling in the Bunker)
WEIDLING Ich sollte längst bei meiner Trupper sein. Sind sie sich sicher, dass der Führer mich noch braucht? I should be with my squad by now. Are you sure that the Führer still needs me?
KREBS Austrinken! Drink!
BURGDORF Führerbefehl! Führer's order!
BORMANN Sie haben heute großen Eindruck gemacht auf den Führer. You've made a good impression today to the Führer.
KREBS Aber Sie glauben nicht, dass Steiner morgen angreift, habe ich recht? But you don't believe that Steiner will attack tomorrow, am I right?
WEIDLING Ich bezweifle allerdings, dass Steiners Verbände für einen Angriff ausreichend sind, aber was erzähle ich Ihnen das, meine Herren? I certainly doubt that Steiner's units have sufficient forces for an attack, but why am I telling you this?
Das wissen Sie doch besser als ich. You know this better than I do.
BURGDORF Wenn Steiner nicht angreift, ist Berlin verloren. If Steiner doesn't attack, Berlin is lost.
KEITEL Ich gratuliere, Ihr Vortrag hat den Führer beeindruckt. Congratulations, your report has impressed the Führer.
Er ernennt Sie zum Kommandanten der Verteidigung von Berlin. He has appointed you as the Commander of the Berlin defense.
WEIDLING Es wäre besser, er hätte befohlen, mich zu erschießen. I would have been better off if he had ordered me shot.
Dann ginge dieser Kelch an mir vorüber. Then this chalice would pass over me.

Trivia[]

  • The first part of the scene, where Burgdorf sings, is included only in the Extended Edition.
  • The part where Weidling looks at his watch is present in the Theatrical version.
  • This scene shows Burgdorf can sing.
  • The singing incident is noted in James P. O'Donnell's book The Bunker, where he tells that the song he sings is a mixture of German and English (as shown in the film) and that it comes from a sailor's song (a version of When Jackie Comes Down to Hilo). A translation has been made by PiretBCN in this video.

Gallery[]

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Wilhelm and Dorothee Kranz arguing
Singing Burgdorf Scene
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Peter Kranz's street battle
Scenes in Downfall's timeline
  1. Prologue
  2. Hitler's Secretarial Interview
  3. Battle Scenes (first part - bombing)
  4. Traudl, Gerda and Constanze wake up to artillery fire
  5. Hitler Phone Scene
  6. Eva and Traudl discuss in the kitchen [ext]
  7. Fegelein and Himmler at Hitler's birthday
  8. Schenck and the burning of documents
  9. Himmler greets Hitler (aka Hitler Wants Himmler Scene)
  10. Himmler and Fegelein at the garage (garage)
  11. Hitler walks around the model of Berlin (Germania)
  12. Hitler Youth Artillery Scene
  13. Hitler Planning Scene [diff]
  14. Hitler's Generals Discussing Scene
  15. Hitler congratulates the Hitler Youth
  16. Traudl, Gerda and Constanze talk in bed
  17. Schenck and Müller around a bonfire
  18. Party Scene (beginning)
  19. Hitler and Speer chat on the couch
  20. Party Scene
  21. Battle Scenes (second part - Weidling)
  22. Mohnke calls Schenck
  23. Weidling goes to the Bunker
  24. Schenck in the Hospital
  25. Wilhelm and Dorothee Kranz arguing [ext] [noDl]
  26. Singing Burgdorf Scene [diff]
  27. Peter Kranz's street battle
  28. Fegelein talking to Traudl and Gerda
  29. Original Bunker Scene
  30. After the Original Bunker Scene
  31. Fegelein and Friends
  32. Traudl and Gerda talking in bed
  33. Eva walks Blondi
  34. Hitler Laughing Scene (aka Hitler's Trollface) [ext]
  35. Battle Scenes (third part - Mohnke)
  36. Schenck and Müller in a truck
  37. Schenck enters the shelter [ext]
  38. Mohnke talks to Goebbels
  39. Eva talking on the phone with Fegelein
  40. Magda Goebbels and the Goebbels children arrival [noDl]
  41. The Goebbels children sing to Hitler
  42. Schenck and Haase operating [ext]
  43. Hitler instructs how to commit suicide
  44. Eva and Magda write their letters
  45. Hitler stares at his favourite painting
  46. Peter Kranz in the bomb shelter [ext] [noDl]
  47. Battle Scenes (fourth part - Peter Kranz)
  48. Hitler talks about the Battle of Berlin (aka Bunker Scene 2) [ext]
  49. Peter Kranz hides in the artillery crater [noDl]
  50. Keitel, Krebs and others talk [ext]
  51. Hitler talks to Keitel
  52. Battle Scenes (fifth part - well)
  53. Bormann informs Hitler
  54. Speer and Traudl talk
  55. Peter Kranz in the fog [noDl]
  56. Magda, Eva and Bormann talk to Speer
  57. Speer's last conversation with Hitler
  58. Peter returns home [ext] [noDl]
  59. Traudl and the singing Goebbels children [ext] [noDl]
  60. Hitler meets Greim and Reitsch
  61. Hitler Eating Scene
  62. Hitler Explains Scene
  63. Traudl and Eva discuss Fegelein's flee [ext] [noDl]
  64. Hitler, Grawitz and Günsche (Reviews / Informed / Pros and Cons)
  65. Grawitz family's suicide
  66. Högl enters the brothel [noDl]
  67. Fegelein's Arrest Scene
  68. Eva wants Hitler to spare Fegelein
  69. Weidling and Mohnke inform Hitler (Bunker Scene 3, pt1)
  70. Generals discuss and Burgdorf gets angry (Bunker Scene 3, pt2)
  71. Fegelein Execution Scene
  72. Traudl is late to Hitler's dictation [diff] [noDl]
  73. Hitler will scene
  74. Hitler wedding scene [diff]
  75. Goebbels crying scene
  76. Mohnke caught in the artillery fire [noDl]
  77. Mohnke talks to Hitler
  78. Hitler and his generals receive telegram from Keitel (Bunker Scene 4, pt1)
  79. Hitler instructs Günsche (Bunker Scene 4, pt2)
  80. Haase, Flegel and Schenck meet Hitler
  81. The doctors and the drunken people / Bunker Jokes
  82. Soldiers deliver gasoline to the bunker
  83. Blondi is killed
  84. Traudl's last chat with Eva [noDl]
  85. Hitler's last supper
  86. Traudl and Gerda smoke in the generator room [ext] [noDl]
  87. Hitler's Farewell Scene
  88. Magda begs Hitler
  89. Hitler Suicide Scene
  90. Krebs and others walk through the streets of Berlin [noDl]
  91. Krebs meets General Chuikov [diff]
  92. Goebbels Rants Scene
  93. Magda drugs her children
  94. Joseph Goebbels gives a last testament
  95. Goebbels Children Murder Scene
  96. Weidling announces Berlin's surrender [diff]
  97. Krebs and Burgdorf's suicide
  98. Joseph and Magda suicide
  99. Mohnke convinces Schenck to evacuate [ext]
  100. Berlin's breakthrough [diff]
  101. Soviet women in the Bunker
  102. German soldiers gathered in a plaza
  103. Günsche scouts the Soviets [noDl]
  104. Traudl and Peter walk past the Soviets [noDl]
  105. Schenck's conversation with Stehr and Hewel [diff]
  106. Traudl and Peter leave Berlin
  107. Fates of surviving characters scene
  108. Epilogue
ext Scenes only in extended edition, diff Scenes differ between theatrical and extended edition, noDl Scenes without known download link

List is part of the Grand Unified Downfall Scenes Database.

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