Before the Fall (2004) - full transcript
In 1942, Friedrich Weimer's boxing skills get him an appointment to a National Political Academy (NaPolA) - high schools that produce Nazi elite. Over his father's objections, Friedrich enrolls, seeing this as his ticket out of factory life to university and a good salary. During his year in seventh column (fifth form), this innocence is altered as Friedrich encounters hazing, cruelty, death, and the Nazi code. His friendship with Albrecht, the ascetic son of the area's governor, is central to this education; a night in the forest hunting for escaped Russian POWs brings things to a head.
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Friedrich! Quitting time!
- Friedrich, your money.
- Thank you.
Hello, Mr. Merten!
Friedrich! Be careful!
Berlin, late summer, 1942
Watch out! I'm throwing a stone!
Thomas, a hard left, a hard left!
Go with him! Come on!
- Move, Thomas, come on, again!
- We need more ice.
Sorry. I'm late.
- So I see. Why?
- I had to work.
- Today is important. You know that.
- Is that them?
Yes, that's them,
the Napola students, our new elite.
Spiffy, huh? But they still put
their pants on one leg at a time.
Alright. That should do.
Don't let 'em get to you.
Got a problem, kid?
You want I smack you one, boy?
I'll make you even uglier.
And you? You say something?
I can't hear you.
What's going on?
You okay?
Fight over. Next!
Well done.
- Keep away.
- And keep your guard up.
- Box! Go!
- Go in! Go in! Go in!
Get back! Get back!
Guard up! Go in!
Take the left, the left!
That's it! Now hit him!
Guard up!
Keep your guard up!
Keep your guard up!
Good. Go get him, Friedrich, go!
Now! Come on! Take him!
Here it comes.
- You fought great.
- You put up a good fight out there.
Well done.
Heil Hitler!
I saw your fight.
I like your boxing.
Where do you go to school?
I don't. I just graduated.
Have you heard
of the Fuhrer's schools?
The National Political Academies?
I teach boxing and German at one.
At the Napola in Allenstein.
The entrance exams
are taking place now.
Sign up there tomorrow morning.
Maybe I can do something for you.
What's your name?
Friedrich Weimer.
I am Heinrich Vogler.
You're talented, Friedrich.
Man, oh man!
That's the elite, Friedrich!
- Really?
- They only take the very best.
How did you get in?
My coach recommended me.
Who's that?
And jump! Next.
And jump! Next.
- Heil Hitler, Friedrich!
- Heil Hitler.
Nice of you to come.
We'll examine you first,
then fitness tests, alright?
Good. Go line up.
Thirteen.
Ten.
Eye color...
Fifteen.
Hair color?
B.
Why do you want to be a cadet
at the Fuhrer's academy?
Because I want to serve
Fuhrer, Folk and Fatherland.
Nordic. Class One B.
SUITABLE
Where were you?
- Boxing.
- At this hour?
No, I... I was at
the entrance exam for a Napola.
You were what?
You're not going there!
But Papa! It's my big chance!
It can really get me somewhere.
Absolutely not!
The Hitler Youth's bad enough,
an elite school is out of the question!
You start
in the factory, like we agreed.
Why? I could go on to university,
become somebody.
You don't even have to pay.
Because I say so. We won't
have anything to do with these people!
Yes, Father.
Why is Papa so mad?
- I could go to a school. He doesn't want me to.
- What school?
A really special one.
It's in a castle. It has everything.
Real showers,
a boxing hall, and even gliders.
And when you graduate,
you're part of the elite.
- You don't have to worry about money.
- And Papa doesn't want that?
But it sounds great.
- I'll come out even dirtier.
- Then forget it.
Here's your invitation
to become an apprentice.
You start next month.
- Next month already?
- Yes.
So you don't get any stupid ideas.
Are you excited?
I want to stay here.
Nonsense!
It'll be nice there.
The country evacuation
is like a holiday camp.
You don't have to go in the bunker,
and all your friends are with you.
Hey!
Does a German boy act like that?
No.
"Dear Mama, don't be mad at me.
I believe this is the chance
of my life. Your Friedrich."
"Dear Father, I forged
your signature on the permit.
If you pull me out, I'll tell them
what you said about the Napola."
Wake up!
We're there.
- Could you let me out here?
- Of course.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
- Mama, I have one already!
- Daddy just slaughtered it for you.
Just pack it away. Tidy yourself up.
Just look at yourself!
Tubby, good vacation?
Stand there.
Take your brother in your arm.
- Smile.
- Herr Von Brock.
Nice summer?
- Fine, thank you. - Madame.
Friedrich! Heil Hitler.
- Heil Hitler. - Good to have you.
- You convinced your father.
- No, I just left.
And the signature?
I did it.
That's not done here, Friedrich.
A true cadet is honest and sincere.
Oh well, you'll learn.
I'll show you your uniform.
- One complete set. Make sure they fit.
- Yes, sir!
It's not so common
for someone to be taken at your age.
I put in a word for you.
I hope you appreciate it.
Ah, Schneider, come here.
This is Friedrich Weimer.
He's new. He'll be in your room.
- Show him around and introduce him to his new comrades.
- Yes, sir.
I'm Christoph. Welcome to Allenstein.
Thanks.
First I'll show you the room.
Then you can get changed.
Hey, pretty boy,
now we have a real Arian, too.
And here we are.
That's your bed,
and this is your locker.
So, training and drill clothes,
bottom left. Uniforms hung up.
Sewing kit, clothes brush,
small personal effects.
Cap on the brown shirt.
Below, towels and handkerchiefs.
Bag on top. Toilet bag on the hook.
Keep it sharp
- or the duty cadet will pull it all out.
- Yes.
You can manage the rest.
That'll be one desert.
- What?
- A joke. The first time is free.
Hurry! Speech in 15 minutes.
- Get changed. See you downstairs.
- Yes.
Friedrich! Friedrich!
C'mere!
Sit with us.
Sit.
Cadets!
Teaching staff!
My most heartfelt welcome
to the new year of service, 1942.
To all new students,
I emphasize that this is a place
where you will be educated
without regard for your origins.
Farmer or factory owner's son,
in this school everyone's equal.
You are the future elite
of our Thousand Year Reich.
Men make history,
but we make the men.
We will take care of you.
We will polish
the raw diamond in you
until you become shining gemstones.
For when
the final victory is achieved,
we will need many governors.
Not just in Austria or Germany,
I speak of governors
for Washington, Moscow, London
or Cape Town.
So use your time well.
Steel your body and soul
and be faithful, dependable comrades.
To our brave soldiers
at the frontiers of our Reich
and our beloved Fuhrer,
Adolf Hitler, three times: Sieg!
- Heil!
- Sieg!
- Heil!
- Sieg!
Heil!
"Our flag waves us forwards,
We go forward man for man,
We march for Hitler
through night and need,
With the flag of the young
for freedom and bread,
Our flag waves us forward,
It is the flag of a new era,
And our flag leads us to eternity,
Yes, our flag is greater than death!"
Guys, listen up.
This is Friedrich Weimer.
He's our new roommate.
- Hi, Friedrich. - Hello.
This is Wilhelm. We call him Tubby.
His father
is the district meat supplier.
- That's why he was accepted.
- Don't listen to him.
- What do you want for your magazines?
- 300 grams of liverwurst.
- 300 grams? You're crazy!
- Right!
Maybe I'll let you have
another look at that photo, hmm?
- This is Tjaden. He holds the room's farting record.
- Hi.
Hello.
- Current time: 8 seconds. - Yeah.
- What kind of photo?
- My sweaty sisters doing sports.
- What?
- My biggest source of income.
I even sold their socks
for two marks.
- Someone bought them?
- You don't know my sisters.
Back there is Siggi.
Jaucher's coming!
Friedrich, go!
Attention!
- New cadet?
- Yes, sir.
- Name?
- Weimer, Friedrich.
So you're the one.
You've got quite the reputation.
Supposed to be quite dashing.
What's this mess?
Tidy this up properly!
Don't sleep on the job!
Twenty push-ups!
Now! And one! And two!
And three! And four!
And five! And six!
And seven! And eight...
- What's going on?
- Locker inspection, sir!
Stand up.
- Enough, he's new here.
- Yes, sir.
Dismissed.
I'd say you just made
yourself an enemy.
Christoph?
What?
- I just wanted to know...
- Talking in bed is forbidden.
- Heil Hitler, Heinrich.
- Heil Hitler, Karl. Evening, gentlemen.
Welcome to Allenstein.
Thank you.
Get up! Make your beds!
Report to morning training!
Hurry up, Friedrich.
- Thanks.
- Don't worry. I learned it at my old school.
- I'm Friedrich.
- Albrecht.
Can't you hurry up?
Seems to me that
laziness is taking over, Weimer!
Get going!
Get down to the quadrangle.
Get running, you softies!
I'll run you ragged!
Till you sweat blood!
In two rows! Present!
Hurry up!
Down on the ground!
Push-ups! Go, go!
And one!
- And two! And three!
- Schulze, straighten your back!
Four!
- Krüger, lower! - And five!
- Six! And seven! And eight!
- Gladen pissed his bed again.
Nine! Ten!
Attention!
Cadet Gladen! Three steps forward!
Get your mattress.
Pants down.
- What?
- Pants down for God's sake!
And now piss!
Come on!
As you wish.
Cadets,
we're doing squat jumps!
Ready!
One, two, three...
Four, five, six...
You will jump
until this cadet here pisses.
Three, four,
five, six...
One, two,
three, four,
five, six...
One, two,
three, four,
five, six...
One, two,
three, four...
Stop!
Stand to attention!
Thank him!
Take your mattress.
Get out of my sight, you filthy swine!
He who does not want to fight
in this world of struggles,
does not deserve to live.
Eat well!
Eat well!
Cadets!
I am pleased to welcome here
the son of an old comrade
from the early days of our movement.
Albrecht Stein,
the son of our
new governor, Heinrich Stein.
Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome, Albrecht.
You're lucky.
You got the best room.
- Who's that?
- That's Katharina.
But she's taken, so you know.
- Says who? - Me, fat boy.
And as Darwin describes
the development of species,
so, too,
do races compete with one another.
Today we will discuss the topic,
"Roman writers
and the Jewish question."
What principles did the Fuhrer
give the National Socialist movement
to lead it to victory?
The culling out of the weak
guarantees the survival of
the strong, as in the animal world.
What saying of Martin Luther's
does this remind us of?
"... after the devil, you have
no more bitter,
poisonous or tough enemy
than a righteous Jew
who takes Judaism seriously."
A modern night bomber
can carry 1800 bombs.
Over how many kilometers can it
drop them while flying at 250 km/h,
dropping one bomb a second?
- What is it?
- It's the pastor. He brings the death reports.
Come with me.
Are we alone?
Yes.
Shall we?
Combination.
More power.
More power!
More power! Don't sleep, man!
Guard up! Keep your guard up!
Pull your fists up!
Guard up!
Do it! Go!
You have strength and talent,
but you have to work on technique.
Don't punch when you're off-balance.
Hit from the front when it's safe,
but without mercy, right?
You must be prepared to.
In that moment forget your humanity,
your learned pity and false modesty.
When you can do that,
you can reach your potential.
Only then will you
be ready for the big fights.
What big fights?
Come with me.
The golden days of our boxing squad.
That's Franz Jensen,
1937 at the Napola championships.
Allenstein was
the best boxing school in the Reich.
And then?
Potsdam took the cup from us
the last few years.
- When are the championships?
- In Winter. If you train hard,
- you might get there.
- Really?
Yes, maybe.
So, hit the showers.
No pity.
It's the only way he'll learn.
- Get one on the nose?
- You could start gluing...
Mail! Wait. This is mine.
- Müller!
- Yes!
Yes, yes!
Friedrich, package!
- The swimming photo.
- Yes.
- Look. You can have all of it!
- We'll see, Tubby, we'll see.
- Want to see?
- Why does he get to see it for free?
Because it's so much fun
to see you suffer, Tubby!
Hey! You can't do this!
- Tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.
- Come on, Christoph, please!
"Dear Friedrich, I hope you are well.
I don't know if you heard,
but Dad got visited by the Gestapo
and now has to work double shifts.
He mustn't know I'm writing to you.
Please be decent and brave always.
Hans is well in the country.
I miss you both very much.
Love, your mother."
Tjaden! Wow!
What? Everyone takes a deep,
comradely pull and it's gone.
Yes?
Cleaned up?
- You doing the school paper?
- From the next edition.
You like writing, huh?
I do, really.
What's that?
My essays from my old school.
I just got them back.
And?
Flip through them.
Give it to me.
I put hairs in the pages.
They fall out when it's opened. Look!
None in here.
They're all still here.
My mother tells me
that they love what I write,
but they don't even look at it.
Be happy. It's like
winning a fight without fighting.
No.
It's like getting a medal 'cause they
can't be bothered to watch you fight.
Give them to me.
- What are you going to do?
- Read.
- You want to read them?
- Sure. Or are you afraid of my opinion?
- No.
- Alright then.
Friedrich!
You want to see something?
Come on!
- When did you find it?
- Today.
- You're going to look in?
- If you help me, I'll help you.
- Why you first?
- I found it. And I have to check.
- You're the rearguard.
- I'd rather be the vanguard.
- Friedrich, please!
- Alright, since you found it.
See anything?
No, no one there.
Let me see.
No one there.
- What are you doing?
- It's my turn.
- There's no one.
- Still.
And?
Nothing. Just like you said.
Shit!
- Friedrich?
- Yes?
How did you know she was there?
You suddenly stopped breathing.
Ready?
Ready!
Pull!
Run!
Go!
Friedrich!
Jump over the gate, you assholes!
"Silence! Enough whining.
You should
come hence with me, fine virgin.
"May God reward you,
Seifriede, finest knight,
but I fear
you may not resist the dragon."
Please, gentlemen,
this is German poetry.
- I'm sorry.
- No! Never apologize! Come on!
And?
- Yes, it's pretty nice.
- Pretty nice?
It's good. Really good.
Remember what I said.
You box to K.O. today.
It's either you or him.
If you make it to the third round
you have a realistic chance.
Get him!
Friedrich, go get him!
- Come together.
- You can take him down!
You know the rules. Victory by K.O.
To your corners.
Knock him out!
Box!
Boy, watch your cover!
Stop. Stop.
Alright? Box!
Hit him!
Hit him!
Go on, hit him!
You fight till K.O.!
Victory by K.O.:
Friedrich Weimer!
Congratulations, my boy.
A great fight.
- Thank you.
- Such a performance after such a short time here!
You set a fine example.
If we can beat Potsdam this winter,
I could get you into
the Reich Sports Academy.
There'll be Olympics again.
Keep it up.
- We have high hopes for you.
- Thanks. Thank you very much.
- What?
- Nothing.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
Didn't you feel any pity?
He was already on the ropes.
Why? He'd have done the same.
I saw him just now.
He still hasn't really come to.
What do you want?
You'd rather I was out cold?
You didn't have to be so brutal.
- Aren't you happy for me?
- Sure.
But I wonder
if it could be done differently.
No, it couldn't.
Get up!
Siegfried!
- Where're you running to?
- The bathroom.
Turn around.
You're a disgrace to the academy.
Aren't you ashamed?
What if the Fuhrer came
and your room stank of piss?
- What will the trainer say?
- Please don't. I...
- 20 Reich marks and I'll forget.
- I don't have that much.
Get it!
If you don't have it by dinner,
the trainer will hear of it.
You alright, Siegfried?
A hand grenade's
fragmentation is concentrated mainly
in a 15 meter circle.
But individual fragments
can fly much further.
To summarize the procedure:
Unscrew the cap,
pull the string, and it's live.
With a broad sweep
wind up, throw and get under cover.
Don't forget, you have four
and a half seconds till detonation.
Any questions?
Alright.
Christoph, come.
And... Pull! Wind up!
Throw! Cover!
Very good.
Next.
Friedrich, come.
And... Pull!
Wind up!
Throw! Cover!
Wilhelm!
And... Pull!
Wind up! Throw! Cover!
Albrecht, come.
And... Pull! Wind up!
Throw! Throw it!
Cover!
God damn it!
Martin, come.
And...
Are you crazy?
Throw it!
Our governor has come personally
to pay his last respects
to our fallen hero.
We are gathered here today
to honor your comrade
Siegfried Gladen.
He sacrificed himself
for the common good
in an exemplary manner
in a moment of grave danger.
He gave his life
to save the lives of 20 comrades.
The cadet
who lies in this coffin
did not hesitate
in those last seconds of his life.
He acted!
Hesitant thinking
is not called for in these times.
Aesthetes are not needed
in this hour!
We need boys who act!
Every one of you here
should ask yourself
why you didn't throw yourself
on that grenade. Each one of you
should ask yourself
whether you value your life
more than your comrades'.
And if you do,
why?
Our bodies are no longer our own.
They belong to the folk,
to our country
and, most of all, to our Fuhrer!
And what,
what could be more glorious
than a heroic death?
Siegfried Gladen!
The folk thank you
and will not forget you.
You can go lower!
I can't believe this!
And nineteen, and twenty...
You can do more than you think.
- And 22...
- No pretending to be tired!
And twenty three, and twenty four,
and twenty five...
And up!
Cadets!
Today we will work on the high jump.
This is
one of my very favorite sports.
The high jump
requires total physical control.
The stomach muscles
are strained to the limit
and are hard as a board.
They get you over. If your
stomach muscles fail, so will you.
Hard as a board.
Who wants to try?
Weimer, you're the boxer.
Like a board. Hit me.
Come on, man...
Alright.
Line up for the first jump!
That was brave of you.
Would you like
to come with me this weekend?
It's my father's birthday.
- Heil Hitler, Herr Stein.
- Heil Hitler, Johann.
Albrecht! Finally you're here.
So nice you're here. You must be
Friedrich. We've heard so much.
Thanks for inviting me. - Of course.
- Mother, I... - Tell me later, yes?
Come on, show me your room.
- Not bad.
- Yes, it was all already here.
- The whole house?
- Yes.
Quick, quick, quick!
"Three cheers for him,
three cheers for him,
three cheers!"
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
Thank you. I'm very moved.
All my love.
Good evening, Father.
Congratulations on your birthday.
Thank you, Albrecht.
You're getting thinner.
- Don't you exercise?
- Of course.
- This is Friedrich. You know, the...
- But of course!
I've heard about your boxing.
Welcome.
Dearest Heinrich,
in the name of your old
comrades-in-arms. Congratulations.
And also for your good start
in the Warthegau.
May you live up to your reputation
and really clean up around here!
Cheers, Heinrich! To you! Health!
Cheers!
Dearest Father, I took the liberty
of writing you a birthday poem.
"The Essence of Things: Once..."
Thanks, Albrecht. Thank you.
We should do this later.
Dear Franz,
honored fellow party members.
I thank you for your welcome.
I can honestly say
that my important role here
fills me with pride.
I know my position
has been undermined in Berlin,
that some disagree with my methods,
but the Fuhrer
still decides, not the bureaucrats!
Cheers!
- Cheers, Heinrich!
- Cheers! Karl! Wilhelm! Franz!
Cheers!
- How's your military training going?
- Fine.
Albrecht will go to
the Waffen-SS when he graduates.
Oh, have they relaxed
the physical requirements?
So you're the boxer, yes?
- I hear he's in good shape.
- Really?
- Maybe you can show us later?
- Excellent idea!
Gentlemen, join me in the cellar
after dinner. Our young elite
wants to entertain us with a show.
Excellent idea!
God, what's all this?
Pretty good, huh?
I try to keep in shape myself.
Come on, get undressed.
- Undressed?
- Yes. Show us what you've learned.
- But Governor, Albrecht isn't...
- Nonsense. Any German boy can.
And... box!
What's this? Put up a fight, boy!
Don't go easy on him.
- Fight for real.
- Yes. Come on.
Get started.
- Hit me.
- No!
Hit me, damn it!
Hit me, damn it!
Fight me!
Out!
- Don't worry. Excellent punch.
- Really terrific.
Hans, get him a schnapps.
Our country needs boys like him.
A couple more like you
on the Eastern front,
- and we could wrap that up. Cheers!
- Cheers!
- But Governor...
- No! Call me Heinrich!
- Can we go, gentlemen?
- Yes, let's go.
Listen, Albrecht...
Attention!
Face the eighth column!
Cadets, I have good news.
The army asked some Napolas
for help because of the air war.
The eighth column
has volunteered to help the Luftwaffe
in flak duty. Our senior class
will be helping
to protect hard-pressed cities
in the Reich against the enemy.
It fills me with special pride
that our final-year cadets
are following this call to duty
without any concern
for the danger involved.
Heil Hitler, cadets!
Heil Hitler, Headmaster!
We're finally rid of him.
- How long are you going to sulk?
- I'm not sulking.
I'm afraid.
Of what?
Friedrich!
Wake up!
What is it?
Your father.
Let's go! March, march!
Fall in!
Attention!
Governor.
Seventh column fully present.
- Heil Hitler, cadets!
- Heil Hitler, Governor!
At ease.
Cadets, this is the situation:
A POW transport caught fire
in the Allenstein station.
A dozen Russians escaped
into the forest near Karlstadt.
They strangled two guards
and took their weapons.
No one knows the area as well as you.
I'm asking for your help.
Do you want to help us with this
dangerous, exciting task,
and capture these wild hordes?
If so, say, "Yes, Governor!"
Yes, Governor!
Then let's go!
Hurry! Take your own ammunition.
- Live ammunition?
- Do you want to catch them by hand?
Let's go, hurry up. Next!
Go! Go!
Get in.
Move it out!
Cadets! Give your best
and don't let them get away!
I will recommend the best group
for the war medal
of honor.
Load!
Safety off!
And go! March! March!
Stop! Don't move!
- Stop! Stay where you are!
- Stop or I'll shoot!
I saw them.
One had something in his hand.
They're... children.
First aid kit!
Quick!
- What's he saying?
- I don't know.
It's no good. Albrecht!
It's alright.
It's alright.
You'll be alright. You'll be alright.
You'll be alright.
He's dead.
So what? Let's get out of here!
What's going on?
Report, cadet.
Governor.
Four POW's shot while escaping.
- Is that the last one?
- Yes.
- Move, Albrecht.
- It'll be alright.
Father, no!
Never contradict me in public!
Do you understand?
Do you understand?
Yes, father.
Good work, cadets! Keep going.
There are plenty more out there.
Go! Get a move on!
- Governor, we...
- Call me Heinrich.
Of course, Heinrich.
Come on, Albrecht.
Keep going.
- Pull yourself together!
- Pull myself together?
Do you know what we just did?
You shouldn't have shot!
- You shouldn't have shot!
- I didn't give the order.
Your father said they had guns.
- Why are you looking at me like that?
- I'm not looking at you.
I know what you're thinking!
Don't look at me like that!
- Albrecht!
- Stay here. It's no use.
Hey, Weimer.
Did you guys shoot them?
Hey, tell me!
Hey, I asked you a question!
Are you deaf?
- Break it up.
- I'm taking over.
Pick up your weapons!
Have you gone crazy? You're on duty!
Get a move on!
Get in.
Move!
Lie down!
This way.
Be happy they didn't take you, too.
You get out tomorrow.
You in there.
Christoph?
Shut up, Tubby.
- But I have to talk to you.
- I said shut up, damn it!
Attention!
Sit down.
Get your notebooks. Write an essay.
"The winter landscape as
it appears in Germanic sagas."
You have one hour.
Alright. Time's up.
Christoph, come and read.
Go ahead.
"The winter landscape as
it appears in Germanic sagas.
The winter landscape plays
a major part in Germanic sagas."
You don't say.
"The earliest sources tell us
of the immense importance
of winter in historic tales."
- Enough. Sit down.
Albrecht, come and read yours.
Go ahead.
"As childish as it sounds,
the winter time
and the sight of freshly fallen snow
always fill us with inexplicable joy.
Perhaps because as children,
we associated it with Christmas.
I always imagined myself the hero
who killed dragons, rescued virgins
and freed the world from evil.
As we went out yesterday
to find the prisoners,
I felt like that little boy
who wanted to save the world."
Albrecht, stop.
"But as we returned,
I understood that I am
a part of the evil that
I wanted to save us from."
Albrecht, stop!
"Shooting prisoners is wrong.
They were not armed, as
Governor Stein told us, to incite us.
We didn't shoot men, only children."
- Out!
HEADMASTER
What do you have to say?
Do you know the situation
that you have put me in?
I don't think you understand
what privileges you enjoy here.
What I wouldn't have given
to go to a school like this!
But I didn't have the chance.
At 16, I'd been working for 3 years.
And you?
You treat all this with contempt.
But not anymore.
I want you to write another essay
and present the facts correctly.
Then I expect you to volunteer
for the Waffen-SS.
I've spoken with Brigadeer Börner.
I think the Ukraine
is just what you need.
- I can't.
- What?
I can't write the essay.
I meant what I wrote.
I'll have the essay tomorrow morning.
You won't want the alternative.
Out! Time's up!
- What's going on?
- Didn't you hear?
Albrecht Stein wrote
an essay against his father.
What?
Albrecht!
What happened?
I'll be 17 next week.
My father's sending me
to the Eastern front.
I'm also supposed to write
an essay to correct my mistakes.
Why did you go and write it?
I had no choice.
- You had no choice?
- You didn't, either,
when you hit the trainer.
- But that was totally different.
- Really?
But you didn't do anyone any good!
- Yes I did.
- Who?
Explain. I don't get it!
I did myself good.
Yourself?
Can't you think of anyone else?
Say something!
You selfish bastard!
I'll bet it's the first essay of mine
that my father has read.
What're you going to do now?
I don't know.
Get up! Let's go!
At the lake in 10 minutes!
The next time I say,
"In 10 minutes at the lake,"
then I mean in 10 minutes!
Is that clear?
Alright.
You enter this hole
and swim to that one.
Afterwards, you can wash and eat.
Christoph, you first.
It won't get any warmer!
Christian and Peter!
Go to the other hole!
Go up to your room!
Friedrich next! Come on!
Albrecht, your turn.
Tjaden is next.
Albrecht! Albrecht!
Albrecht! No! No!
Albrecht! No! No!
Oh God! No! No!
Albrecht!
Albrecht!
Albrecht!
Too weak.
Just too weak.
OBITUARY
Yes?
Friedrich.
Nice to see you up and about.
Could you please put
this in the next edition?
No.
But...
We can't even bury him.
You can't just go and...
There's no room for a suicide
among the Fuhrer's fallen heroes.
By the way, his parents agree.
They asked me
whether I was premature
in clearing you of any blame.
They noticed a change
in their son's behavior
since your friendship began.
Against my better judgment,
I took you under my wing. Never fear,
I know how hard
you'll fight for us on Saturday.
It'll be proof of your belief
in our Governor's actions
and of your gratitude
for the chance you're getting here.
Thank you. Dismissed.
How are you?
Friedrich, what happened
in the forest was terrible.
And Albrecht's death
is a great loss for all of us.
But this is about you.
About your life and your future.
There are teachers from
the Reich Sports Academy here.
Use this chance!
You alright?
Kill him.
You know the rules.
Nothing below the belt. No butting.
A clean fight. To your corners.
Box!
Kill him!
Very nice, yes!
Get off the ropes!
Now, now!
Yes!
Yes!
Get back! One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Box!
Box!
Undress.
Everything.
The underpants are ours, too.
Dismissed.
Quickly, Weimer. Hurry up.
Go now! March, march!
Until 1945, there were almost
40 Napolas in the 3rd Reich
with over 15,000 students.
When the war was already
a lost cause, they were sent to battle.
Fanatical and inadequately armed,
they put up bitter resistance.
Half of them fell.
BEFORE THE FALL
---
Friedrich! Quitting time!
- Friedrich, your money.
- Thank you.
Hello, Mr. Merten!
Friedrich! Be careful!
Berlin, late summer, 1942
Watch out! I'm throwing a stone!
Thomas, a hard left, a hard left!
Go with him! Come on!
- Move, Thomas, come on, again!
- We need more ice.
Sorry. I'm late.
- So I see. Why?
- I had to work.
- Today is important. You know that.
- Is that them?
Yes, that's them,
the Napola students, our new elite.
Spiffy, huh? But they still put
their pants on one leg at a time.
Alright. That should do.
Don't let 'em get to you.
Got a problem, kid?
You want I smack you one, boy?
I'll make you even uglier.
And you? You say something?
I can't hear you.
What's going on?
You okay?
Fight over. Next!
Well done.
- Keep away.
- And keep your guard up.
- Box! Go!
- Go in! Go in! Go in!
Get back! Get back!
Guard up! Go in!
Take the left, the left!
That's it! Now hit him!
Guard up!
Keep your guard up!
Keep your guard up!
Good. Go get him, Friedrich, go!
Now! Come on! Take him!
Here it comes.
- You fought great.
- You put up a good fight out there.
Well done.
Heil Hitler!
I saw your fight.
I like your boxing.
Where do you go to school?
I don't. I just graduated.
Have you heard
of the Fuhrer's schools?
The National Political Academies?
I teach boxing and German at one.
At the Napola in Allenstein.
The entrance exams
are taking place now.
Sign up there tomorrow morning.
Maybe I can do something for you.
What's your name?
Friedrich Weimer.
I am Heinrich Vogler.
You're talented, Friedrich.
Man, oh man!
That's the elite, Friedrich!
- Really?
- They only take the very best.
How did you get in?
My coach recommended me.
Who's that?
And jump! Next.
And jump! Next.
- Heil Hitler, Friedrich!
- Heil Hitler.
Nice of you to come.
We'll examine you first,
then fitness tests, alright?
Good. Go line up.
Thirteen.
Ten.
Eye color...
Fifteen.
Hair color?
B.
Why do you want to be a cadet
at the Fuhrer's academy?
Because I want to serve
Fuhrer, Folk and Fatherland.
Nordic. Class One B.
SUITABLE
Where were you?
- Boxing.
- At this hour?
No, I... I was at
the entrance exam for a Napola.
You were what?
You're not going there!
But Papa! It's my big chance!
It can really get me somewhere.
Absolutely not!
The Hitler Youth's bad enough,
an elite school is out of the question!
You start
in the factory, like we agreed.
Why? I could go on to university,
become somebody.
You don't even have to pay.
Because I say so. We won't
have anything to do with these people!
Yes, Father.
Why is Papa so mad?
- I could go to a school. He doesn't want me to.
- What school?
A really special one.
It's in a castle. It has everything.
Real showers,
a boxing hall, and even gliders.
And when you graduate,
you're part of the elite.
- You don't have to worry about money.
- And Papa doesn't want that?
But it sounds great.
- I'll come out even dirtier.
- Then forget it.
Here's your invitation
to become an apprentice.
You start next month.
- Next month already?
- Yes.
So you don't get any stupid ideas.
Are you excited?
I want to stay here.
Nonsense!
It'll be nice there.
The country evacuation
is like a holiday camp.
You don't have to go in the bunker,
and all your friends are with you.
Hey!
Does a German boy act like that?
No.
"Dear Mama, don't be mad at me.
I believe this is the chance
of my life. Your Friedrich."
"Dear Father, I forged
your signature on the permit.
If you pull me out, I'll tell them
what you said about the Napola."
Wake up!
We're there.
- Could you let me out here?
- Of course.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
- Mama, I have one already!
- Daddy just slaughtered it for you.
Just pack it away. Tidy yourself up.
Just look at yourself!
Tubby, good vacation?
Stand there.
Take your brother in your arm.
- Smile.
- Herr Von Brock.
Nice summer?
- Fine, thank you. - Madame.
Friedrich! Heil Hitler.
- Heil Hitler. - Good to have you.
- You convinced your father.
- No, I just left.
And the signature?
I did it.
That's not done here, Friedrich.
A true cadet is honest and sincere.
Oh well, you'll learn.
I'll show you your uniform.
- One complete set. Make sure they fit.
- Yes, sir!
It's not so common
for someone to be taken at your age.
I put in a word for you.
I hope you appreciate it.
Ah, Schneider, come here.
This is Friedrich Weimer.
He's new. He'll be in your room.
- Show him around and introduce him to his new comrades.
- Yes, sir.
I'm Christoph. Welcome to Allenstein.
Thanks.
First I'll show you the room.
Then you can get changed.
Hey, pretty boy,
now we have a real Arian, too.
And here we are.
That's your bed,
and this is your locker.
So, training and drill clothes,
bottom left. Uniforms hung up.
Sewing kit, clothes brush,
small personal effects.
Cap on the brown shirt.
Below, towels and handkerchiefs.
Bag on top. Toilet bag on the hook.
Keep it sharp
- or the duty cadet will pull it all out.
- Yes.
You can manage the rest.
That'll be one desert.
- What?
- A joke. The first time is free.
Hurry! Speech in 15 minutes.
- Get changed. See you downstairs.
- Yes.
Friedrich! Friedrich!
C'mere!
Sit with us.
Sit.
Cadets!
Teaching staff!
My most heartfelt welcome
to the new year of service, 1942.
To all new students,
I emphasize that this is a place
where you will be educated
without regard for your origins.
Farmer or factory owner's son,
in this school everyone's equal.
You are the future elite
of our Thousand Year Reich.
Men make history,
but we make the men.
We will take care of you.
We will polish
the raw diamond in you
until you become shining gemstones.
For when
the final victory is achieved,
we will need many governors.
Not just in Austria or Germany,
I speak of governors
for Washington, Moscow, London
or Cape Town.
So use your time well.
Steel your body and soul
and be faithful, dependable comrades.
To our brave soldiers
at the frontiers of our Reich
and our beloved Fuhrer,
Adolf Hitler, three times: Sieg!
- Heil!
- Sieg!
- Heil!
- Sieg!
Heil!
"Our flag waves us forwards,
We go forward man for man,
We march for Hitler
through night and need,
With the flag of the young
for freedom and bread,
Our flag waves us forward,
It is the flag of a new era,
And our flag leads us to eternity,
Yes, our flag is greater than death!"
Guys, listen up.
This is Friedrich Weimer.
He's our new roommate.
- Hi, Friedrich. - Hello.
This is Wilhelm. We call him Tubby.
His father
is the district meat supplier.
- That's why he was accepted.
- Don't listen to him.
- What do you want for your magazines?
- 300 grams of liverwurst.
- 300 grams? You're crazy!
- Right!
Maybe I'll let you have
another look at that photo, hmm?
- This is Tjaden. He holds the room's farting record.
- Hi.
Hello.
- Current time: 8 seconds. - Yeah.
- What kind of photo?
- My sweaty sisters doing sports.
- What?
- My biggest source of income.
I even sold their socks
for two marks.
- Someone bought them?
- You don't know my sisters.
Back there is Siggi.
Jaucher's coming!
Friedrich, go!
Attention!
- New cadet?
- Yes, sir.
- Name?
- Weimer, Friedrich.
So you're the one.
You've got quite the reputation.
Supposed to be quite dashing.
What's this mess?
Tidy this up properly!
Don't sleep on the job!
Twenty push-ups!
Now! And one! And two!
And three! And four!
And five! And six!
And seven! And eight...
- What's going on?
- Locker inspection, sir!
Stand up.
- Enough, he's new here.
- Yes, sir.
Dismissed.
I'd say you just made
yourself an enemy.
Christoph?
What?
- I just wanted to know...
- Talking in bed is forbidden.
- Heil Hitler, Heinrich.
- Heil Hitler, Karl. Evening, gentlemen.
Welcome to Allenstein.
Thank you.
Get up! Make your beds!
Report to morning training!
Hurry up, Friedrich.
- Thanks.
- Don't worry. I learned it at my old school.
- I'm Friedrich.
- Albrecht.
Can't you hurry up?
Seems to me that
laziness is taking over, Weimer!
Get going!
Get down to the quadrangle.
Get running, you softies!
I'll run you ragged!
Till you sweat blood!
In two rows! Present!
Hurry up!
Down on the ground!
Push-ups! Go, go!
And one!
- And two! And three!
- Schulze, straighten your back!
Four!
- Krüger, lower! - And five!
- Six! And seven! And eight!
- Gladen pissed his bed again.
Nine! Ten!
Attention!
Cadet Gladen! Three steps forward!
Get your mattress.
Pants down.
- What?
- Pants down for God's sake!
And now piss!
Come on!
As you wish.
Cadets,
we're doing squat jumps!
Ready!
One, two, three...
Four, five, six...
You will jump
until this cadet here pisses.
Three, four,
five, six...
One, two,
three, four,
five, six...
One, two,
three, four,
five, six...
One, two,
three, four...
Stop!
Stand to attention!
Thank him!
Take your mattress.
Get out of my sight, you filthy swine!
He who does not want to fight
in this world of struggles,
does not deserve to live.
Eat well!
Eat well!
Cadets!
I am pleased to welcome here
the son of an old comrade
from the early days of our movement.
Albrecht Stein,
the son of our
new governor, Heinrich Stein.
Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome, Albrecht.
You're lucky.
You got the best room.
- Who's that?
- That's Katharina.
But she's taken, so you know.
- Says who? - Me, fat boy.
And as Darwin describes
the development of species,
so, too,
do races compete with one another.
Today we will discuss the topic,
"Roman writers
and the Jewish question."
What principles did the Fuhrer
give the National Socialist movement
to lead it to victory?
The culling out of the weak
guarantees the survival of
the strong, as in the animal world.
What saying of Martin Luther's
does this remind us of?
"... after the devil, you have
no more bitter,
poisonous or tough enemy
than a righteous Jew
who takes Judaism seriously."
A modern night bomber
can carry 1800 bombs.
Over how many kilometers can it
drop them while flying at 250 km/h,
dropping one bomb a second?
- What is it?
- It's the pastor. He brings the death reports.
Come with me.
Are we alone?
Yes.
Shall we?
Combination.
More power.
More power!
More power! Don't sleep, man!
Guard up! Keep your guard up!
Pull your fists up!
Guard up!
Do it! Go!
You have strength and talent,
but you have to work on technique.
Don't punch when you're off-balance.
Hit from the front when it's safe,
but without mercy, right?
You must be prepared to.
In that moment forget your humanity,
your learned pity and false modesty.
When you can do that,
you can reach your potential.
Only then will you
be ready for the big fights.
What big fights?
Come with me.
The golden days of our boxing squad.
That's Franz Jensen,
1937 at the Napola championships.
Allenstein was
the best boxing school in the Reich.
And then?
Potsdam took the cup from us
the last few years.
- When are the championships?
- In Winter. If you train hard,
- you might get there.
- Really?
Yes, maybe.
So, hit the showers.
No pity.
It's the only way he'll learn.
- Get one on the nose?
- You could start gluing...
Mail! Wait. This is mine.
- Müller!
- Yes!
Yes, yes!
Friedrich, package!
- The swimming photo.
- Yes.
- Look. You can have all of it!
- We'll see, Tubby, we'll see.
- Want to see?
- Why does he get to see it for free?
Because it's so much fun
to see you suffer, Tubby!
Hey! You can't do this!
- Tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.
- Come on, Christoph, please!
"Dear Friedrich, I hope you are well.
I don't know if you heard,
but Dad got visited by the Gestapo
and now has to work double shifts.
He mustn't know I'm writing to you.
Please be decent and brave always.
Hans is well in the country.
I miss you both very much.
Love, your mother."
Tjaden! Wow!
What? Everyone takes a deep,
comradely pull and it's gone.
Yes?
Cleaned up?
- You doing the school paper?
- From the next edition.
You like writing, huh?
I do, really.
What's that?
My essays from my old school.
I just got them back.
And?
Flip through them.
Give it to me.
I put hairs in the pages.
They fall out when it's opened. Look!
None in here.
They're all still here.
My mother tells me
that they love what I write,
but they don't even look at it.
Be happy. It's like
winning a fight without fighting.
No.
It's like getting a medal 'cause they
can't be bothered to watch you fight.
Give them to me.
- What are you going to do?
- Read.
- You want to read them?
- Sure. Or are you afraid of my opinion?
- No.
- Alright then.
Friedrich!
You want to see something?
Come on!
- When did you find it?
- Today.
- You're going to look in?
- If you help me, I'll help you.
- Why you first?
- I found it. And I have to check.
- You're the rearguard.
- I'd rather be the vanguard.
- Friedrich, please!
- Alright, since you found it.
See anything?
No, no one there.
Let me see.
No one there.
- What are you doing?
- It's my turn.
- There's no one.
- Still.
And?
Nothing. Just like you said.
Shit!
- Friedrich?
- Yes?
How did you know she was there?
You suddenly stopped breathing.
Ready?
Ready!
Pull!
Run!
Go!
Friedrich!
Jump over the gate, you assholes!
"Silence! Enough whining.
You should
come hence with me, fine virgin.
"May God reward you,
Seifriede, finest knight,
but I fear
you may not resist the dragon."
Please, gentlemen,
this is German poetry.
- I'm sorry.
- No! Never apologize! Come on!
And?
- Yes, it's pretty nice.
- Pretty nice?
It's good. Really good.
Remember what I said.
You box to K.O. today.
It's either you or him.
If you make it to the third round
you have a realistic chance.
Get him!
Friedrich, go get him!
- Come together.
- You can take him down!
You know the rules. Victory by K.O.
To your corners.
Knock him out!
Box!
Boy, watch your cover!
Stop. Stop.
Alright? Box!
Hit him!
Hit him!
Go on, hit him!
You fight till K.O.!
Victory by K.O.:
Friedrich Weimer!
Congratulations, my boy.
A great fight.
- Thank you.
- Such a performance after such a short time here!
You set a fine example.
If we can beat Potsdam this winter,
I could get you into
the Reich Sports Academy.
There'll be Olympics again.
Keep it up.
- We have high hopes for you.
- Thanks. Thank you very much.
- What?
- Nothing.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
Didn't you feel any pity?
He was already on the ropes.
Why? He'd have done the same.
I saw him just now.
He still hasn't really come to.
What do you want?
You'd rather I was out cold?
You didn't have to be so brutal.
- Aren't you happy for me?
- Sure.
But I wonder
if it could be done differently.
No, it couldn't.
Get up!
Siegfried!
- Where're you running to?
- The bathroom.
Turn around.
You're a disgrace to the academy.
Aren't you ashamed?
What if the Fuhrer came
and your room stank of piss?
- What will the trainer say?
- Please don't. I...
- 20 Reich marks and I'll forget.
- I don't have that much.
Get it!
If you don't have it by dinner,
the trainer will hear of it.
You alright, Siegfried?
A hand grenade's
fragmentation is concentrated mainly
in a 15 meter circle.
But individual fragments
can fly much further.
To summarize the procedure:
Unscrew the cap,
pull the string, and it's live.
With a broad sweep
wind up, throw and get under cover.
Don't forget, you have four
and a half seconds till detonation.
Any questions?
Alright.
Christoph, come.
And... Pull! Wind up!
Throw! Cover!
Very good.
Next.
Friedrich, come.
And... Pull!
Wind up!
Throw! Cover!
Wilhelm!
And... Pull!
Wind up! Throw! Cover!
Albrecht, come.
And... Pull! Wind up!
Throw! Throw it!
Cover!
God damn it!
Martin, come.
And...
Are you crazy?
Throw it!
Our governor has come personally
to pay his last respects
to our fallen hero.
We are gathered here today
to honor your comrade
Siegfried Gladen.
He sacrificed himself
for the common good
in an exemplary manner
in a moment of grave danger.
He gave his life
to save the lives of 20 comrades.
The cadet
who lies in this coffin
did not hesitate
in those last seconds of his life.
He acted!
Hesitant thinking
is not called for in these times.
Aesthetes are not needed
in this hour!
We need boys who act!
Every one of you here
should ask yourself
why you didn't throw yourself
on that grenade. Each one of you
should ask yourself
whether you value your life
more than your comrades'.
And if you do,
why?
Our bodies are no longer our own.
They belong to the folk,
to our country
and, most of all, to our Fuhrer!
And what,
what could be more glorious
than a heroic death?
Siegfried Gladen!
The folk thank you
and will not forget you.
You can go lower!
I can't believe this!
And nineteen, and twenty...
You can do more than you think.
- And 22...
- No pretending to be tired!
And twenty three, and twenty four,
and twenty five...
And up!
Cadets!
Today we will work on the high jump.
This is
one of my very favorite sports.
The high jump
requires total physical control.
The stomach muscles
are strained to the limit
and are hard as a board.
They get you over. If your
stomach muscles fail, so will you.
Hard as a board.
Who wants to try?
Weimer, you're the boxer.
Like a board. Hit me.
Come on, man...
Alright.
Line up for the first jump!
That was brave of you.
Would you like
to come with me this weekend?
It's my father's birthday.
- Heil Hitler, Herr Stein.
- Heil Hitler, Johann.
Albrecht! Finally you're here.
So nice you're here. You must be
Friedrich. We've heard so much.
Thanks for inviting me. - Of course.
- Mother, I... - Tell me later, yes?
Come on, show me your room.
- Not bad.
- Yes, it was all already here.
- The whole house?
- Yes.
Quick, quick, quick!
"Three cheers for him,
three cheers for him,
three cheers!"
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
Thank you. I'm very moved.
All my love.
Good evening, Father.
Congratulations on your birthday.
Thank you, Albrecht.
You're getting thinner.
- Don't you exercise?
- Of course.
- This is Friedrich. You know, the...
- But of course!
I've heard about your boxing.
Welcome.
Dearest Heinrich,
in the name of your old
comrades-in-arms. Congratulations.
And also for your good start
in the Warthegau.
May you live up to your reputation
and really clean up around here!
Cheers, Heinrich! To you! Health!
Cheers!
Dearest Father, I took the liberty
of writing you a birthday poem.
"The Essence of Things: Once..."
Thanks, Albrecht. Thank you.
We should do this later.
Dear Franz,
honored fellow party members.
I thank you for your welcome.
I can honestly say
that my important role here
fills me with pride.
I know my position
has been undermined in Berlin,
that some disagree with my methods,
but the Fuhrer
still decides, not the bureaucrats!
Cheers!
- Cheers, Heinrich!
- Cheers! Karl! Wilhelm! Franz!
Cheers!
- How's your military training going?
- Fine.
Albrecht will go to
the Waffen-SS when he graduates.
Oh, have they relaxed
the physical requirements?
So you're the boxer, yes?
- I hear he's in good shape.
- Really?
- Maybe you can show us later?
- Excellent idea!
Gentlemen, join me in the cellar
after dinner. Our young elite
wants to entertain us with a show.
Excellent idea!
God, what's all this?
Pretty good, huh?
I try to keep in shape myself.
Come on, get undressed.
- Undressed?
- Yes. Show us what you've learned.
- But Governor, Albrecht isn't...
- Nonsense. Any German boy can.
And... box!
What's this? Put up a fight, boy!
Don't go easy on him.
- Fight for real.
- Yes. Come on.
Get started.
- Hit me.
- No!
Hit me, damn it!
Hit me, damn it!
Fight me!
Out!
- Don't worry. Excellent punch.
- Really terrific.
Hans, get him a schnapps.
Our country needs boys like him.
A couple more like you
on the Eastern front,
- and we could wrap that up. Cheers!
- Cheers!
- But Governor...
- No! Call me Heinrich!
- Can we go, gentlemen?
- Yes, let's go.
Listen, Albrecht...
Attention!
Face the eighth column!
Cadets, I have good news.
The army asked some Napolas
for help because of the air war.
The eighth column
has volunteered to help the Luftwaffe
in flak duty. Our senior class
will be helping
to protect hard-pressed cities
in the Reich against the enemy.
It fills me with special pride
that our final-year cadets
are following this call to duty
without any concern
for the danger involved.
Heil Hitler, cadets!
Heil Hitler, Headmaster!
We're finally rid of him.
- How long are you going to sulk?
- I'm not sulking.
I'm afraid.
Of what?
Friedrich!
Wake up!
What is it?
Your father.
Let's go! March, march!
Fall in!
Attention!
Governor.
Seventh column fully present.
- Heil Hitler, cadets!
- Heil Hitler, Governor!
At ease.
Cadets, this is the situation:
A POW transport caught fire
in the Allenstein station.
A dozen Russians escaped
into the forest near Karlstadt.
They strangled two guards
and took their weapons.
No one knows the area as well as you.
I'm asking for your help.
Do you want to help us with this
dangerous, exciting task,
and capture these wild hordes?
If so, say, "Yes, Governor!"
Yes, Governor!
Then let's go!
Hurry! Take your own ammunition.
- Live ammunition?
- Do you want to catch them by hand?
Let's go, hurry up. Next!
Go! Go!
Get in.
Move it out!
Cadets! Give your best
and don't let them get away!
I will recommend the best group
for the war medal
of honor.
Load!
Safety off!
And go! March! March!
Stop! Don't move!
- Stop! Stay where you are!
- Stop or I'll shoot!
I saw them.
One had something in his hand.
They're... children.
First aid kit!
Quick!
- What's he saying?
- I don't know.
It's no good. Albrecht!
It's alright.
It's alright.
You'll be alright. You'll be alright.
You'll be alright.
He's dead.
So what? Let's get out of here!
What's going on?
Report, cadet.
Governor.
Four POW's shot while escaping.
- Is that the last one?
- Yes.
- Move, Albrecht.
- It'll be alright.
Father, no!
Never contradict me in public!
Do you understand?
Do you understand?
Yes, father.
Good work, cadets! Keep going.
There are plenty more out there.
Go! Get a move on!
- Governor, we...
- Call me Heinrich.
Of course, Heinrich.
Come on, Albrecht.
Keep going.
- Pull yourself together!
- Pull myself together?
Do you know what we just did?
You shouldn't have shot!
- You shouldn't have shot!
- I didn't give the order.
Your father said they had guns.
- Why are you looking at me like that?
- I'm not looking at you.
I know what you're thinking!
Don't look at me like that!
- Albrecht!
- Stay here. It's no use.
Hey, Weimer.
Did you guys shoot them?
Hey, tell me!
Hey, I asked you a question!
Are you deaf?
- Break it up.
- I'm taking over.
Pick up your weapons!
Have you gone crazy? You're on duty!
Get a move on!
Get in.
Move!
Lie down!
This way.
Be happy they didn't take you, too.
You get out tomorrow.
You in there.
Christoph?
Shut up, Tubby.
- But I have to talk to you.
- I said shut up, damn it!
Attention!
Sit down.
Get your notebooks. Write an essay.
"The winter landscape as
it appears in Germanic sagas."
You have one hour.
Alright. Time's up.
Christoph, come and read.
Go ahead.
"The winter landscape as
it appears in Germanic sagas.
The winter landscape plays
a major part in Germanic sagas."
You don't say.
"The earliest sources tell us
of the immense importance
of winter in historic tales."
- Enough. Sit down.
Albrecht, come and read yours.
Go ahead.
"As childish as it sounds,
the winter time
and the sight of freshly fallen snow
always fill us with inexplicable joy.
Perhaps because as children,
we associated it with Christmas.
I always imagined myself the hero
who killed dragons, rescued virgins
and freed the world from evil.
As we went out yesterday
to find the prisoners,
I felt like that little boy
who wanted to save the world."
Albrecht, stop.
"But as we returned,
I understood that I am
a part of the evil that
I wanted to save us from."
Albrecht, stop!
"Shooting prisoners is wrong.
They were not armed, as
Governor Stein told us, to incite us.
We didn't shoot men, only children."
- Out!
HEADMASTER
What do you have to say?
Do you know the situation
that you have put me in?
I don't think you understand
what privileges you enjoy here.
What I wouldn't have given
to go to a school like this!
But I didn't have the chance.
At 16, I'd been working for 3 years.
And you?
You treat all this with contempt.
But not anymore.
I want you to write another essay
and present the facts correctly.
Then I expect you to volunteer
for the Waffen-SS.
I've spoken with Brigadeer Börner.
I think the Ukraine
is just what you need.
- I can't.
- What?
I can't write the essay.
I meant what I wrote.
I'll have the essay tomorrow morning.
You won't want the alternative.
Out! Time's up!
- What's going on?
- Didn't you hear?
Albrecht Stein wrote
an essay against his father.
What?
Albrecht!
What happened?
I'll be 17 next week.
My father's sending me
to the Eastern front.
I'm also supposed to write
an essay to correct my mistakes.
Why did you go and write it?
I had no choice.
- You had no choice?
- You didn't, either,
when you hit the trainer.
- But that was totally different.
- Really?
But you didn't do anyone any good!
- Yes I did.
- Who?
Explain. I don't get it!
I did myself good.
Yourself?
Can't you think of anyone else?
Say something!
You selfish bastard!
I'll bet it's the first essay of mine
that my father has read.
What're you going to do now?
I don't know.
Get up! Let's go!
At the lake in 10 minutes!
The next time I say,
"In 10 minutes at the lake,"
then I mean in 10 minutes!
Is that clear?
Alright.
You enter this hole
and swim to that one.
Afterwards, you can wash and eat.
Christoph, you first.
It won't get any warmer!
Christian and Peter!
Go to the other hole!
Go up to your room!
Friedrich next! Come on!
Albrecht, your turn.
Tjaden is next.
Albrecht! Albrecht!
Albrecht! No! No!
Albrecht! No! No!
Oh God! No! No!
Albrecht!
Albrecht!
Albrecht!
Too weak.
Just too weak.
OBITUARY
Yes?
Friedrich.
Nice to see you up and about.
Could you please put
this in the next edition?
No.
But...
We can't even bury him.
You can't just go and...
There's no room for a suicide
among the Fuhrer's fallen heroes.
By the way, his parents agree.
They asked me
whether I was premature
in clearing you of any blame.
They noticed a change
in their son's behavior
since your friendship began.
Against my better judgment,
I took you under my wing. Never fear,
I know how hard
you'll fight for us on Saturday.
It'll be proof of your belief
in our Governor's actions
and of your gratitude
for the chance you're getting here.
Thank you. Dismissed.
How are you?
Friedrich, what happened
in the forest was terrible.
And Albrecht's death
is a great loss for all of us.
But this is about you.
About your life and your future.
There are teachers from
the Reich Sports Academy here.
Use this chance!
You alright?
Kill him.
You know the rules.
Nothing below the belt. No butting.
A clean fight. To your corners.
Box!
Kill him!
Very nice, yes!
Get off the ropes!
Now, now!
Yes!
Yes!
Get back! One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Box!
Box!
Undress.
Everything.
The underpants are ours, too.
Dismissed.
Quickly, Weimer. Hurry up.
Go now! March, march!
Until 1945, there were almost
40 Napolas in the 3rd Reich
with over 15,000 students.
When the war was already
a lost cause, they were sent to battle.
Fanatical and inadequately armed,
they put up bitter resistance.
Half of them fell.
BEFORE THE FALL