Continuing from the previous scene, following Helmuth Weidling and his adjutant entering the bunker. After passing the first security post, they arrive at the second one. They hand over their weapons to the security checking personnel waiting for clearance. Weidling takes out a pack of cigarettes from his front coat pocket, to which the guard tells him that he's not allowed to smoke. After receiving clearance, only Weidling is allowed to go further.
Weidling meets Hans Krebs and Wilhelm Burgdorf who remind him that the Führer has forbidden westward movements and officers who disobey are to be shot. Weidling tells them that his unit has fought for days and his command post is less than a kilometer away from the enemy. Burgdorf tells him to continue and Weidling shows him his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and tells him to watch his tone. The two generals say that Weidling would be better off explaining this incident to the Führer personally and they proceed into the bunker.
In Downfall Parodies[]
The scene has been used in only a handful of parodies, owing to the fact the majority of it is just Weidling walking.
Parodies using this scene usually involve the Krebs & Burgdorf duo pulling a prank or mocking Weidling, such as in Weidling's Bad Day. Another use is in Der Disneygang, where Krebs and Burgdorf opened the Burgdorf and Krebs Clothing store in the Führerbunker and Weidling is their customer.
Transcript[]
German transcript and English translation
Speaker
German
English
Scene with the guards in the checkpoint
WEIDLING
Ich muss den Führer sprechen.
I must speak to the Führer.
SS GUARD 1
In welcher Sache?
What is it about?
WEIDLING
Ich soll erschossen werden.
I'm going to get shot.
SS GUARD 1
Warten Sie hier.
Wait here.
SS GUARD 2
Die Waffen bitte.
Weapons, please.
SS GUARD 2
Hier nicht.
[about Weidling's cigarette] Not here.
SS GUARD 2
[zum Telefon] Wachen 2.
[to telephone] Guard post 2.
SS GUARD 2
Verstanden.
Understood.
SS GUARD 2
[zum Weidling] Herr General.
[to Weidling] General.
SS GUARD 2
[re: Adjutant] Sie nicht.
[re: adjutant] Not you.
Weidling meets the generals
KREBS/BURGDORF
Heil Hitler!
Heil Hitler!
WEIDLING
Heil Hitler!
Heil Hitler!
Was geht hier eigentlich vor? Warum soll ich erschossen werden?
What is going on dver here? Why am I to be shot?
KREBS
Sie wissen von dem Befehl des Führers, dass ein Ausweichen nach Westen für alle ausdrücklich verboten ist.
You know about the Führer's order that any evasive maneuver toward the West is expressly forbidden.
Offiziere, die sich dieser Anordnung nicht bedingungslos fügen, sind festzunehmen und augenblick zu erscheißen.
Officers who do not unconditionally comply with this directive are to be taken into custody and shot instantly.
WEIDLING
Wovon reden Sie? Meine einheiten stehen seit Tagen in schwersten Kämpfen.
What are you talking about? My troops has been fighting heavily for days.
Mein Gefechtsstand ist einen Kilometer von der vordersten Kampflinie entfernt!
My command post lay one kilometer from the battle's frontlines!
BURGDORF
Weiter.
Go on.
WEIDLING
Sehen Sie das?
Do you see this?
Ich verbitte mir Ihren schnoddrigen Ton!
Don't talk so brash to me like that!
Und jetzt tun Sie, was Sie nicht lassen können.
And now do what you feel you must.
BURGDORF
Ich glaube, Sie sollten die Sache dem Führer selbst vortragen.
I believe you should plead your case to the Führer himself.
Kommen Sie mit.
Come with me.
Trivia[]
Weilding's Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to him on January 15, 1943. And later the 408th Oak Leaves on February 22, 1944, and 115th Swords on November 28, 1944.
Weilding's adjutant, who was denied permission to access the bunker, is not seen again until Weidling announces the surrender of the Berlin garrison. His face is barely noticeable behind the General, while he speaks in front of the recording machine.
Gallery[]
Weidling and his adjutant at the first guard post.