The Night of the Generals Page #5

flamethrowers ready to action.

Phase one to continue

until further orders.

Yes, sir.

All sectors, from commanding

general, phase one to continue

until further orders.

Main sector, flamethrowers ready, sir.

Go ahead.

Forward march.

General Tanz?

A few more minutes.

- Halt!

- Stop!

Get him!

Stop! Fire!

- Sandauer!

- Sir?

Stand by for phase two.

Phase two, sir?

Stand by for phase two.

Yes, sir.

Notify all units.

Phase one completed.

Stand by for phase two.

Yes, sir.

CP to all sectors,

stand by for phase two.

Phase two!

Phase two.

Yes, sir. Phase two.

Phase two.

Fire!

Fire!

Now the major

may put his questions.

He's gone, sir.

That maniac is blowing up

half the city.

Let's go.

Did you say there was

no real resistance?

No, I was there.

One shot from one sniper,

that was all, and he blows up

the city!

Now, now,

we're not the generals.

It is their business,

you know, not ours.

We're here just

to keep the papers moving.

And yours have arrived.

Congratulations.

For what?

You've been promoted

to lieutenant colonel.

Promoted?

And transferred to Paris

as of this date.

Lucky fellow.

Transferred, but why?

Who signed the transfer?

General Gabler, naturally.

What are you doing?

I'm going to find out

where the order originated.

On whose recommendation here.

Calm down. I've already checked.

General Kahlenberge.

He recommended your transfer.

Did he indeed?

You must have made

quite an impression last night.

It would seem so.

Thank you, colonel.

It's just as well, you know.

That's a matter of opinion.

Above all, Major Grau,

not too much zeal.

I have a zealous nature,

sir. I can't help it.

Yes, inspector, I was

in Warsaw with General Tanz.

And I resent those

cheap journalists

who try to make him out to be

some sort of inhuman monster.

He was not.

[SPEAKS IN SPANISH]

Forgive me, inspector.

We hire a lot of foreigners

nowadays.

We can't get Germans

any more, not for real work.

I've seen General Tanz in the field,

with the wounded, the dying.

He was extraordinary.

Compassionate, gentle.

Do you know that after Leningrad,

Hitler ordered the general

not to expose himself to enemy fire.

Of course, he found this

a great hardship.

He was only happy in battle.

Yes?

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH]

Ah, gracias. Gracias.

I'm also learning Spanish.

Well, soon everything

will be automated.

Except the manager, of course.

And then in July 1944,

we were transferred to Paris.

The Allies were

in Normandy by then

and Hitler ordered us to stop them

in front of Paris.

We nearly did too, except that

the army was betrayed, as usual.

But we mustn't talk politics.

It's bad for business, isn't it?

You asked me about Paris.

It was a paradise to us,

particularly after Russia.

I remember that summer

as though it were yesterday.

The empty streets,

the heat, the quiet.

Everything cheap.

By the way, I was in Paris last

summer, and my God, the prices.

When they gave me my hotel bill,

I couldn't believe it.

But in July '44,

Paris was still our city.

I suppose that's a tactless thing

to say, but we did love Paris.

In any case, General Tanz and I

were due to arrive on July 20th.

But at the last moment, the general

decided to come a few days early.

So I sent a messenger to 7th Corps

headquarters at Versailles

to say that we would be in Paris

on the 17th.

I think you know why I'm giving you

the exact dates.

As it turned out, it was a good thing

we arrived when we did.

However, there were those

who were not at all pleased

to learn of our early arrival.

Thank you, that will be all.

Heil Hitler.

Heil Hitler.

Oh, I shall be with General Gabler

in the War Room.

What about my pass?

Is it all right?

For God's sake, relax!

Operation Hartmann, phase one,

will begin tomorrow, 18 July, at 0915

when the lance corporal

reports to the railway station.

With a car.

With a car duly requisitioned

from the motor pool.

Phase two, the lance corporal

will then meet the secret consignment

from Berlin.

Then?

Then phase three.

A 24-hour pass for the lance corporal

will begin tomorrow at noon.

You've got it?

Here.

A corporal and

a general's daughter.

You know, you really are

asking for trouble.

But it's your funeral, not mine!

The British second army

has been advancing towards the left,

trying to cut off two of our panzer

divisions from our main supply route.

During the last 48 hours,

the enemy has succeeded

in crossing the Ohm River,

here and here.

However, we were able

to stop them here,

with help from the

12th SS Panzer Division,

which is counterattacking

at the moment.

Well?

Now what do we do?

To be precise, what do you do?

We. You're in this too.

General Gabler.

The field marshal will see you at 4:00.

Thank you, major.

I admit that

it's inconvenient for you.

It's a good deal more

than that. Why?

Just why is General Tanz

arriving three days earlier

than was planned?

You suspect something odd?

He comes straight from Hitler.

Isn't that odd enough?

I want to hear this.

The American 1st Army

occupied the town of Saint-Claude.

Our troops are withdrawing

to new positions south

and southeast.

General Gabler,

General Kahlenberge.

I never had the opportunity

to thank you for my promotion.

I'm sorry. Grau,

Intelligence, Warsaw 1942.

Oh, yes, yes.

Good to see you again, colonel.

You once had the vision

to transfer me to Paris.

We do our best to give pleasure,

colonel. Good day.

I understand we're soon

to be joined by General Tanz.

Quite like old times.

Excuse me.

I just wanted to greet you.

General.

Tiresome fellow.

Strange, isn't it?

Everybody seems to be aware

that Tanz is coming here.

I don't like it.

I don't like it at all.

Obviously not.

It's always disagreeable

when the cat gets back

to find the mice

have been playing.

We could, of course,

distract the cat

by suggesting that he take

a few days off to play a little too.

Particularly after all...

After all that you've been through,

my dear general, these past few

months in Russia,

I know it must have been

perfect hell for you.

I want 4,000 men

by the end of the week.

And you shall have them.

Your Colonel Sandauer

has been working closely

with General Kahlenberge.

We are scraping the sides of

the barrel, but you'll have 4,000.

Meanwhile, why don't you

take a few days off?

Rest a bit, see the sights

of Paris. It's your first visit.

I want only combat troops,

no decaying old men or children.

Yes, sir. We are making good

progress, General Kahlenberge and I.

After all, it may be your

last chance to see Paris.

It may be anyone's

last chance. Such a pity.

A necessity.

But of course.

Of course it's necessary.

Stern measures, the only thing

people respect.

All I'm suggesting is that

you leave everything to us.

A commander does not...

And your excellent Colonel Sandauer.

We've arranged a suite

for you at the... Kahlenberge?

At your hotel.

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