The Devil's General Page #2

- First, I need a beer.

Hold on, young lady. No drinking yet!

Someone must make a toast first!

Francois, serve another.

No more nonsense, but from the heart,

drink the health of Friedrich Eilers...

...the first pilot to receive

the Knight's Cross with Diamonds.

- Congratulations, Commander.

- Thank you.

I feel like a monument.

That's right. You can call me by my first name, Fritze!

- Congratulations.

- Bravo!

I saw you wished to no longer be a fighter pilot.

The attack is always the best defense.

To General Harras!

If I may ...

To The Fhrer ...!

With empty glasses.

The Fhrer is a teetotaler.

Francois, a round of milk.

Be careful what you say.

I went too far myself.

Sorry, General.

I am very proud of my son-in-law, the pilot.

- We all are, Dad.

- The entire German people.

- Can I?

- Please Miss Mohrungen.

Miss Mohrungen, that sounds horrible.

It's so formal!

Very reactionary.

Call me Ptzchen, as do all my friends.

Seems a bit hasty.

We hardly know each other.

No harm in it...

Health, Harras!

Daughter!

Aren't you engaged to Lieutenant Hartmann?

Engaged? Engaged is a horrible word.

It catches in your throat.

Very reactionary.

What is not very reactionary to you?

Now, Dad. I do not want to spoil

such an enjoyable evening.

Otherwise, I would tell you.

I'm sure Harras understand me.

Completely, Miss.

The girls in the BDM no longer get engaged.

- It's a waste of time.

- Not getting married...

...increases the birth rate.

This is getting dangerous for me.

- Where is my protector?

- Here he is.

Say, Harras, have you found out anything new?

- Are you speaking of...?

- Yup.

I would not take a position on tomorrow's meeting...

...before knowing your opinion.

My opinion. Official or personal?

I think we can trust each other.

What is really happening?

I know very little of these technical details.

Always the same.

This afternoon there was

another message from Dessau:

Two more MO 204 of the V. series

were destroyed in crashes.

This is the fourth or fifth time.

The cause is an enigma.

We must know. As the Director, aren't you

directly responsible for finding out?

I can not examine every piece of aluminum...

...and pull each cable.

I can only design the tests...

...and assign the work

to each department.

Maybe this is a personal question.

These are people that you can really trust?

I do. You know my friend, Oderbruch?

Oderbruch?

Yes, the chief engineer of the

technical services conducting the tests.

- One hand ... - Yes.

A comrade from the '14 -'18 war. He has an eye for detail.

Compared to him, I'm blind. Nothing escapes him.

May I interrupt?

You're not speaking about

anything secret, are you?

There are no secrets between us.

It's all clear as water.

The director general orders us to build airplanes.

I and my people supervise.

Holzauge, the ever watchful.

Eilers and his boys sit inside...

...and fly through the air with them.

And when they have destroyed enough

ship tonnage or neighborhoods...

...they get to walk around

with a cross around their necks.

The Knight's Cross that is to say.

That's the trick.

It's like a magic trick, where you

pull rabbits out of hats.

Yes...exactly.

For Harras, it's all very easy.

Yes, for him there are

no unsolvable problems.

Speaking of problems...

Is there any explanation for these...

...incidents with the new bombers?

So, my dear?

We will never forget what

you've given us tonight...

...like the toast you gave him.

I mean not only recognition, but the warmth and friendship.

You've said it very well.

I would not have said it better myself.

Yes, yes, yes, I know you like an old book.

But you've always been my favorite...

...despite you not drinking. Come on, make an exception.

If you had heard what he's said

about you, you'd be embarressed.

- Harras is the best ...

- After the Fhrer, of course.

...and then there's a big space between them.

And now that you've personally met old Harras.

You're a little disappointed, aren't you?

Not what you expected in a general...

...and not even a party member.

Well, on that point we differ slightly.

But, essentially, there is no difference.

How is home? And the kids?

The children! They do not stop growing ...

Klaus is 11 already.

Almost ready to join the Hitler Youth.

I have pictures here.

I must have left them in my jacket.

Can you excuse me?

- Of course.

- Thank you.

You should have seen how happy

he was to see the children.

Barely noticed me, only saw the children.

That is as it should be when coming

home to your children ...

Yes, once you're back home ...

What?

Nothing. Excuse me.

I was just thinking out loud...

Captain Pfundtmayer and three pilots of the squadron Eilers.

Gentlemen.

I have the honor to congratulate

you for your devotion to duty...

...and to welcome you to

our little circle of friends.

Our heartfelt thanks, General.

Pfundtl! Old friend! Each time is better!

Harras, old friend, I say the same of you.

Can I still call you by your first name?

Now that you're an old fart.

We were comrades in the first war.

Yes, the war of 1917.

Where I was shot in the ass.

Then I went to England and Scotland.

But in 1933, I returned to the army.

Captain Hastenteuffel.

First Lieutenant Writzky.

Lieutenant Hartmann.

Oh, so it's you?

Congratulations!

Where have you been?

This is the Baron Pflungk.

I told you about him.

Pflungk, comforting widows and orphans.

Except when on vacation or during air-raids.

Harras must offer us a pleasant evening...

...in his famous propellor bar.

I guarantee you it will be very exciting.

You seems to be very interested

in that, young lady.

Harras, is it true that the waitresses...

...only wear fig leaves at your parties?

If so, I'll be a waitress.

That would be a delight on

a meatless meal day.

Eat...before it all spoils.

It's Hermann.

Cloakroom!

Please, go to the Fridericus room.

The Reichsmarshal has just arrived.

General, if you have a moment ...

I think not.

What does he want with me?

The singer Geiss would like to talk to you.

Go check your jacket. I'll wait here.

- I beg your pardon!

- I beg your pardon.

Hello, Olly.

I must speak to you today, Harras.

- What?

- Not here.

Can you come to my house later?

I'm only staying here fifteen minutes ...

What are you looking at?

I will be at home later.

I have guests.

Bring them with you.

The house will be full of people

because of the premiere party.

I'll try. If it is not too late.

Harras, please come before you're too drunk.

See you.

- Korrianke!

- Here.

Finally, Paule.

It's almost midnight ...

What, no oysters?

Either of you have a 'Der Angriff' newspaper?

- What?

- You have another new uniform.

So? I got it eight days ago.

Your boss know?

This is Kudritzki, waiter for Otto.

And this is Kleinschmidt, driver for Gring.

- Nice to meet you!

- Nice to meet you!

Look! A cold wave in Russia.

Well, if you're getting cold then...

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