Rommel Page #8

It may not be about

anything incriminating.

You were asked how you assessed the

war, and you gave an honest answer.

How does it look on the front line?

The Americans broke through

yesterday at Avranches.

I would not like to be in your shoes.

Fuhrer's Headquarters - August 1st, 1944

Heil, my Fuhrer.

Read this, Keitel.

It's what Hofacker said

about Rommel.

He discussed the attack with him.

If that's true, Keitel ...

it would be for me one of

the bitterest disappointments.

But I can't hurt the people who idolizes

him so highly, by prosecuting him.

Rommel's home in Herrlingen -

August 8th 1944

- Field Marshal.

- Loistl, good to see you.

Jesus ...

As long as your head is attached

to your body, it's OK.

Come on.

France - August 17th, 1944

Come, if your coming.

I have a letter from

the Fuhrer for you.

You are asked to come to Berlin

and make a report.

To report?

The Americans have already crossed

the Seine with two divisions.

Yes, Speidel ...

This is it for me.

Good to see you, Colonel.

How are you?

I need to talk to you in private.

Go find your mother and tell

her we have guests.

- What is it, Colonel?

- Field Marshal Kluge is dead.

He ingested poison after Hitler

had summoned him.

General Speidel thought

you ought to know.

Yes. Thank you.

Do we know why?

We assumed that Hitler blamed him

for the collapse of the front.

Everything is fleeing us.

Aren't you ashamed, you bastard...

The People's Court in Berlin - August 30th, 1944

you've betrayed the Fuhrer in

such despicable manner?

I regret only that

I did not perform the attack.

Because I would have succeeded.

- You are still a Culprit.

- Be quiet, Mr. Freissler .

Today, it's my head.

In a year, it's going to be your head.

- What was behind it?

- Nothing at all. It came totally unexpected.

It comes out of the blue.

I have to go to Germany and

await my orders.

- Who will replace you in the army group?

- General Krebs.

Blumentritt is also relieved.

He must report to Berlin.

This is nothing unusual, Speidel.

They seek scapegoats for the

failure at the front.

The conspirators from Paris

were sentenced a week ago.

Terrible. Even Stulpnagel.

Hofacker has apparently not

been executed yet.

Maybe they still need him.

Have you got any anything

to fear, Speidel?

Freudenstadt - September 7th, 1944

Good morning, Frau Speidel.

Is your husband home?

Security Ministry in Berlin

September 20th, 1944

- Good morning, General.

- Lieutenant Colonel.

-That, he no longer is.

Herr von Hofacker has just

his pathetic life left.

Well, Herr von Hofacker...

tell him what you've

told us Dr. Speidel.

That you've talked to him

about the attack plans.

And that even Field Marshal Rommel

was informed about them.

No, the field marshal, nor the

lieutenant-general knew.

Should I have said that...

I must have been confused.

Herrlingen, October 1.

Dear Frau Speidel ...

the fate of your husband

touches me very much.

Especially since you have not heard anything

from him for over three weeks ...

... worries me a lot.

I consider your husband ...

as an excellent, hard-working General.

I'll write to the Fuhrer today and put

in a good word for him.

" You, my Fuhrer, know that

I have been committed...

"since France in 1940, during the campaigns

in Africa from 1941 to 1943...

... "In Italy in 1943 and on the

western front in 1944.

"I have always and only wanted to

fight for your new Germany.

"Heil, my Fuhrer. E. Rommel. "

- But he did not participate actively.

- Knowledge is still betrayal.

If he knew about it,

he is a traitor.

"According to Lieutenant

General Speidel he,

by an officer of General Stulpnagel, namely Hofacker ...

Berlin - October 4th

had been informed of the plan for

the attack of July 20, 1944.

He then informed

Field Marshal Rommel.

That if he had not passed on,

he would not have known."

I believe the General Lieutenant's

testimony to be unlikely.

It was his duty to warn

for the attack itself.

Certainly there is no mention of it made

to Rommel or he would have said something.

The Fuhrer is of the opinion ...

that Speidels account can

not be doubted.

Gentlemen.

If General Speidel claims...

that he has informed Rommel

of the attack...

then we must prove the opposite.

This is an attempt to

exonerate Dr Speidel.

Even if it is true ...

The matter was so serious that Speidel

should not have relied on the marshal.

What can a soldier

rely on, if anything ...

if he can't rely on the sense

of duty of his superior?

I hope you realize

what this means for Rommel?

Herrlingen - October 14th, 1944

You are accused of being involved with the

assassination attempt on the Fuhrer.

- Who says that?

- We have testimonials ...

from General Stulpnagel,

Lieutenant-Colonel von Hofacker ...

and General Speidel.

Speidel?

He states that he had informed you

about the attack plans.

I don't believe you.

Well ...

I wasn't myself.

I will take the consequences.

Would you give us a few minutes?

In recognition of your great

service to the Reich ...

your betrayal will

be withheld from the people.

If you are ready.

- I don't trust using a gun.

- I have something that works fast.

- And my family?

- They are not arrested.

There is a state funeral

is being prepared.

Your wife will get a full pension

as the widow of a Field Marshal.

Thank you.

- May I say goodbye to my family?

- Of course.

What is it?

In about fifteen minutes

I'll be dead.

Come, my son.

Aldinger...

this is the end.

- Field Marshal?

I'm innocent.

I was not involved in the attack.

I have always served my country.

And done my best.

Salute comrades. Especially my

beloved Afrika Korps.

Manfred, they did not

spare Speidel either.

Take care of Frau Speidel also.

Good luck, son.

At a state funeral, the nation says goodbye

to one of it's bravest generals.

With him, reports the Fuhrer ...

one of our best generals is gone.

His name is written in our current struggle ...

as a symbol of bravery and

fearless fighting spirit.

This southern German city honors the

great soldier on his last road.

THE OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH WAS

THAT ROMMEL DIED FROM HIS INJURIES.

HIS WIFE AND SON DID NOT REVEAL

THAT HE WAS FORCED TO TAKE POISON.

SPEIDEL SURVIVED IN PRISON.

HE WAS LIBERATED IN APRIL 1945

BY THE FRENCH ARMY.

TWELVE YEARS LATER, HE BECAME

NATO's FIRST GERMAN ARMY OFFICER.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes