Der kleine Löwe und die Großen oder Die Patriarchen und die Diplomatie Page #6

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will be in Geneva in no time.

And that's where Chantecler is based.

That group

is your second guarantee.

How far is Annemasse from the border?

Under a kilometer.

Altitude?

400 meters, at most.

- No mountains to climb?

- None.

Your family won't be the first.

It's not a difficult route.

You'll go with them?

Up to the border. I'll wait

for confirmation they're in Switzerland.

Chantecler?

Never heard of that group.

Thank God!

Or your family wouldn't stand a chance.

There's no risk, I promise you.

I need to be sure.

I require solid proof.

I've already

used their services twice before.

You?

To what ends?

To help a French family,

some time ago.

And more recently...

My wife.

Your wife? I don't understand.

My wife is Jewish, Mr. Choltitz.

She lives in Lausanne now.

In safety.

I'd like to help you further but...

I cannot put myself in your shoes.

Lieutenant Bressensdorf!

First Lieutenant Hegger?

That's me.

Are you ready?

Sure. We just need the order.

That's why I'm here.

Guys, Paris gets

its firework display!

I need to confirm I'm here.

Confirm?

It only works up on the roof.

To the roof, then.

The General too.

Fine. The General too.

Who's he?

My guide.

Clear out!

Listen carefully.

Just a moment.

That's my final order.

Operation canceled.

Paris won't explode.

Sh*t! Dammit!

We worked our asses off!

3 days and nights,

without eating, shitting or sleeping!

All for nothing? Not a chance.

3, 6 and 9, in position.

Hegger!

Yes, 2nd Lieutenant?

Can it!

In Annemasse, give her this.

Engraved with our wedding date.

She'll believe you.

My loved ones are in your hands.

Nothing will happen to them.

I give you my word.

Well...

My career ends here.

Everything will be fine.

Being the man who didn't destroy Paris

is a real credit to you.

Let's have a drink, shall we?

You have an excellent whisky

tucked away in this cabinet.

How do you know?

Rest assured, I won't tell the Brits.

You like it straight, don't you?

You're a funny fellow, Mr. Nordling.

Is there anything you don't know?

About what, General?

About me.

You?

I must make a confession.

The mirror over the fireplace

is a two-way mirror.

Miss Howard was a flirt

and Napoleon III

was either as jealous as a tiger

or a terrible voyeur, right?

I'd say he was a terrible voyeur.

And I'd agree with you.

To the courtesan

who led me to you.

You're leaving?

I think it's time.

Wait!

You need a safe-conduct

or you'll never reach Annemasse.

The German army

still holds half of France.

Excuse me.

Hotel Meurice, yes.

The French!

A problem?

No, it's Parisian humor,

I suppose.

A man asking to book a room tonight.

You think

they'll all take turns to call?

Another reservation?

No, that one wanted to see me dead.

I fear he's in the majority.

Hurry, you've no time to waste.

Thank you, General.

Church bells?

Who are they burying at this time?

I guess Paris is burying

the Occupation.

The bells announce

the Allies' entry into Paris.

So, they're tolling for me.

Farewell, General.

General...

Mayer?

We were stopped 20 km from here.

I'm sorry.

An enemy roadblock,

impossible to get past.

They opened fire on us.

You have to get to Baden-Baden!

You don't understand.

They weren't there by chance.

They were French

and they were all over us.

Without Alfred at the wheel,

we'd be dead.

The Resistance?

Men...

One last time, we must fight together.

As a soldier among soldiers,

I shall be at your side.

My compliments.

De Gaulle will speak at city hall.

He wants you at his side.

What's that?

Shall we take the car?

On a day like this? You're kidding?

Let's walk!

General Choltitz was taken prisoner

by the Allies and released in 1947.

Thanks to the German debacle,

his family was not arrested.

Nordling and Choltitz met one more time.

In Paris, in 1955.

The diplomat gave the general

the medal awarded to him after the war.

Specially minted,

this unique medal shows...

Paris breaking its chains.

Adapted from the play

Diplomacy by Cyril Gely

To the memory of my friend,

Richard Holbrooke,

whose diplomacy

ended another war.

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