Massacre in Rome (1973) - full transcript

This is Radio Rome.

And now the news.

The High Command of the German
Armed Forces has issued
the following communique.

At the Cassino Front, the German Tank
Core victoriously counter attacked

futile attempts by the enemy
to break the line of defence.

The enemy is now using Negro troops
and other armed coloured people

in their vain attempts
to advance.

End of communique.

From neutral,
Stockholm and Lisbon sources

it has been learned that the Allies
are becoming increasingly divided.

The Americans have accused
the English of starving Europe.



And Churchill has been accused
by British leaders as becoming

a slave of Wall Street
and Jewish financial interests.

We inform our listeners that
the curfew falls at 19 hours.

And beginning tomorrow the daily
bread rations will be cut

from 150 grams
to 100 grams per person.

Milk will be available...

THE MARCHING OF TROOPS

Ah, va fan...

Here is where you should
start feeling fear.

No matter how carefully you cut
the dust away, inevitably you

remove some of the painting with it,
destroyed by the edge of your knife.

And the loss of even the most
infinitesimal part of a true work
of art must make you panic.

So, tremble as much as you like,

but when you are ready cut
decisively, sure of every stroke.



The Father General is here
with the gentlemen.

Good morning. Good morning,
Father Antonelli. Morning.

Father Antonelli,
there seems to have been a
regrettable misunderstanding.

Our friends... May I?
My dear Professor.

Weren't you responsible for the
work on Masaccio's crucifixion

which was restored here
at the Institute last year?

Two years ago. Two years ago.

It was displayed last month at
the Staatliche Museum in Berlin.

Oh, I didn't know.
Unfortunately something rather
disagreeable has occurred.

One of our experts, one of the very
best men we have in Germany seems

to be on the opinion you understand,
that it was, er...

Fake.

Strange.

A very good one to be sure but
of slightly more recent vintage.

The panel itself is 15th Century,

early 15th Century according
to the experts when Masaccio
was in Florence.

But chromatographic analysis of the
paint has revealed that this Masaccio

was painted a little
less than two years ago.

Father Antonelli, do you paint?

May I know the name of this expert?

Seiglau Stuttgart,
you know him of course.

Only by name. One of the greatest
art forgers in Europe.

Then we may safely assume that he
is an authority on the subject.

My business
is restoring works of art.

It wouldn't be the first time I
have heard of an original denounced

as a forgery,
or a forgery taken for an original.

Let us simply say
an error was made on the part
of whoever sent the painting.

He mistook the copy for the
original. I sent the painting.

I packed it myself when I was
ordered to ship it to Germany.

Then nothing would be easier
than for you to prove
it's authenticity or not.

I fervently hope so.

And the people of Germany have
taken Masaccio to their heart.

It would be cruel to disillusion
them, would it not, Father?

Of course. You will, erm,

you will look into it immediately,
will you not, Father?

It was a mistake. Yes. And
every man is entitled to a mistake.

One mistake.
I shall do everything possible.

The impossible too let us hope.

The church has always thrived
on doing the impossible.

You know who they are,
Father, don't you?

LOUD EXPLOSION

A BABY WAILS

On the 17th of March you went
to a hiding place near the
Risorgimento bridge to remove

a wireless transmitter which you use
for contacting the Headquarters

of the American 5th Army and
the Partisan movement
in the state of Lazio.

Nothing to say?

What would you do in my place?

What would you do in mine?

- I'd have you shot.
- Not before I'd talked.

I didn't think of that.

But then I'm not a policeman.

(You're wanted at Headquarters.)

Carry on, Schutz.

PHONE RINGS

Hello. Yes.

Yes, Father. Father Pancrazio.

Good evening, Father General.

You can be sure he wants to
talk about the Florentine arts.

We simply cannot stand in their way.

You must also realise that
Colonel Kappler went to you today
prepared to do his best.

If he has to come back tomorrow, you
can rely upon him to do his worst.

They will take away everything.

Down to the very last painting
and the very last restorer,
including yourself.

Oh, I understand the
situation perfectly.

We sit here like sheep watching
Rome being plundered in a way
that would put the Vandals shame.

I know, my son, I know.

But you are aware of the mission
the Holy Father has given me.

It is one of extreme delicacy.

Negotiations with the
Germans at the highest level
for the safeguarding of all Rome.

I am asking you to choose
the lesser of two evils.

Are you asking me,
or is this an order?

An order, Father Antonelli.

An order.

I thank you, my son.
May Jesus Christ be praised.

May He be praised forever.

What would you do?
Should we barricade ourselves

inside the institute and say, "Come,
get it if you have the courage."

If everybody were ready to
resist that way, I'd say yes.

The trouble is the people are
exhausted and disillusioned.

Then we'll put up
passive resistance.

No. I think it's about time
Italians find themselves

some national conscience after
20 years of dictatorship.

Kappler, good of you to come.

You sent for me, General.

The Duce's new Minister for the
Interior, His Excellency, er...

Guido Buffarini-Guidi.

The Duce says that he's
the most hated man in Italy.

Hated and feared.

And as we say in Italy,
the Duce's always right.

In that event Your Excellency,
I'm glad to hear we're not the
only ones the Italians hate.

Ah, Police Chief Caruso,
good of you to come.

Kappler, His Excellency is most
unhappy because of the difficulties

you have raised about the
celebrations for tomorrow, the...

The 25th anniversary of
the founding of the Fascist party.

On the contrary, I've raised
no difficulties whatsoever.

Providing that the
festivities were held behind

- closed doors.
- Which means YOU have

prevented the members of our new
Fascist Republican party
from parading through Rome.

I did nothing of the sort.

I simply pointed out to the
Head of your party that
this seemed hardly the time

to provoke the citizens of Rome
with a demonstration which they would
find unpopular to say the least.

Such talk is inadmissible, Colonel.

All Colonel Kappler meant
is he doesn't consider

that a public demonstration
in Rome could come
of without incidents.

Our men will safeguard
law and order.

Then who would be left
to do the parading.

Would your Excellency be kind
enough to listen to a list of raids
and sabotage acts committed in

the last 10 days against the German
Armed Forces and our fascist allies?

We're aware there are
some criminal elements.

Yes, yes. They're ingenious,
audacious and well organised,

and they have a strategy, we know.

What strategy?

Block our supply lines.

Turn Rome into hostile territory
and make us withdraw. Communists.

Communists, Socialists,
Anarchists, Christian Democrats,
Liberals and Monarchists.

Monarchists?

Monarchy is dead.
The King went out with the traitors.

They will not dare attack
a military formation.

Besides they are divided gangs.

Colonel Dollmann and I have good
reason to believe the contrary.

There exists a military council
with representatives

from every political party with
the exception of yours, of course.

We're talking about a parade,
Your Excellency, there are no
military formations in Rome.

Rome is politically neutral.

Rome is swarming with German troops.

Tanks and whole divisions pass
under the Pope's window every day
on the way to the front.

You call that a neutral city?

I do not call it so.

Our leaders do and so does your Pope.

Therefore,
Rome is politically neutral.

Besides there have been
no troop movements through
Rome for nearly a week.

A column of SS Troops has marched
past my hotel every day for the
past five days. Who are they Kappler?

11th Company SS Bolzen Police,
sent here from the Tyrol recently.

Local security is considered
by all, including His
Holiness to be inadequate.

I have ordered the 11th Company
to march through the centre
of Rome every day as...

for psychological reasons. But
that will be cancelled for tomorrow.

To march through the city on the day
of Fascism's glorious anniversary
would be useless provocation.

No-one would dare
attack German troops.

General, I'm forced to insist.

Are you in charge or is this Colonel?

I am in charge. Commandant of Rome.

And where will be no parade
tomorrow. Cancel, finished.

Celebrate whatever it is you want
to celebrate, but indoors!

Kappler.

Sir.

Now sit down. Sir.

You don't like our allies
very much, do you?

You asking my opinion, sir?

Politics is not strictly my field
but I would say that Fascism is dead.

It must disappear so that we
can hold onto the last vestige
of our prestige here in Italy.

This means the
elimination of Mussolini.

And if I were ordered to do so,
I would know exactly
how to go about it.

You say this.

You organised his rescue.

Our opinions, General,
are rarely heard.

More often, we do as we are told.

Yes. You will do as you are told.

The Fascist parade is cancelled, but
our SS column continues to patrol.

They are fully armed, I presume.

My boys can take care of themselves.

Tomorrow, they march.

Tomorrow, sir,

they march.

Elena here, carrying
the raincoat. Paolo here.

The rest here, here and here.

When you get the signal, Paolo,
you light the fuse.

Elena here, walking. You pass him
the raincoat and escape here.

We'll be there at two,
like clockwork.

Paolo, remember, you have 45 seconds
to round the corner.

The fuse burns in 50.

You'll do it in 40...walking.

It's been tried out a hundred times.

Fuses don't always burn the same.

We know that.

Any questions?

This is Radio London.

Buona sera.

This is Colonel Stevens.

Today Mr Hitler ordered
the occupation of Hungary,
another of his former allies.

He would of course have preferred...
RADIO CRACKLES

...what has happened to Hungary
today, happened to Italy yesterday,

but we are confident that Italy
will soon succeed in overcoming
it's present difficulties.

Act now, my Italian friends,
to help yourselves
and the Allies will help you.

Good night.

You know, Dollmann, you've ruined
my appetite by repeating

those nightly ghost stories you hear
on the BBC. I'm not the only one.

They tell me there's not a
single radio silent, unless
Colonel Stevens is on the air.

The Romans love the way
the English speak Italian.

Do not delude yourself, my friend.

I speak to Himmler every
morning on the telephone.

Berlin is being bombed every night,
the Russians move west
on a thousand mile front.

Everyone expects the Allies
to invade France any day now.

The Third Reich is sinking,
my dear man.

We must be sure not to sink with it.

Is that what you're trying
to tell me, Dollmann?

I don't need to make
long distance telephone calls
to know what's going on.

I just keep my eyes
open here in Rome.

And you don't like what you see.
I love Rome, Dollmann.

I love it's light,
it's burnt, decadent colours,

it's crumbling stone.

In spite of the war.
Perhaps because of the war.

We're Rome's masters, we control it.

For the moment.

It's getting more
difficult every day.

Yesterday our Tribunal, our War
Tribunal acquitted three Italians,

two men and a woman who,
two weeks ago, would've been
sentenced to death and executed.

But those gentlemen in the Wehrmacht
also listen to the BBC.

They've started reading out
lists of so called war criminals.

I suppose it must be
somewhat frightening to hear
one's name in that context.

Are you frightened, Dollmann?
My name hasn't been mentioned yet.

And you, Kappler?

I'm afraid of disorder.

MUSIC: Donizetti's
"Una Furtiva Lacrima"

WHIPPING NOISES

MUSIC CONTINUES

Giovanni. Yes.

I'm looking for Father Pietro
Antonelli, the Director of the
Institute of Restoration. That's me.

From Colonel Kappler.

Excuse me.

"I understand that your
Institute is short for materials
that you use for restoration.

"I have managed to find
a can of turpentine.

"They tell me it's the right
quality for your work.

"You needn't have scruples about
accepting it, it isn't plunder.

"If you have managed to find
the Masaccio, you may give
it to Captain Priebke.

"Unless you would prefer to deliver
it to me in person,

which for the sake of formality
would be the correct thing to do,

apart from giving me
the pleasure of seeing it.

Have a seat, please.

General Harster's Headquarters.

Hello. Hello, this is SD.

Hello? One moment please.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

GUN CLICKS
SOMEONE WHISTLES

That's your uniform.

We better go. They're waiting for
us and the Germans are never late.

Here's the raincoat.

TEMPO OF MUSIC INCREASES

These are all the men I can spare,
Caruso.

They should help you maintain
order on this happy occasion.

Thank you, Colonel.
You are a true friend of Italy.

We're all true friends of Italy.

We Germans, the Pope, new Fascists,
the Allies and the Partisans,

all true friends of Italy.

Poor Italy.

BANGING AND FAINT SHOUTING

Communists.

Italians.

< Viva la liberta!
Get his name.

PEOPLE CHATTER IN ITALIAN

I'm sorry I kept you waiting, Father.

Only a few minutes.
Thank you for coming.

Thank you for the gift.

Ah, it's Colonel Dollmann
you should thank for the gift.

He has great friends, we have great
friends in the gallery of Modern Art.

That's impossible. Oh, really. Why?

No, I didn't... I meant that
the people of the gallery told
me they didn't have any left.

Well, probably you didn't offer
them anything in exchange. Mmm.

I see you have this
all wrapped up ready to be sent.

If you'd like to check it.
No, no, no. There's no need.

I'm extremely sorry to be
depriving you of it.

I'd be extremely sorry
if it were destroyed.

Half of Europe has been destroyed.

That's why art is the only
means for real communication
from one people to another.

From one generation to another.

Only what is beautiful
can hope to save the world.

Things that are beautiful,
true and good.

A trinity
older than that of the church.

Would you like to sit down?
Thank you.

I saw you looking
at that vase when I came in.

I found it in a bomb crater
after an allied air raid.

So war now serves archaeology.
Yes, yes.

Do you think it could be Etruscan?

Perhaps.

More likely it was brought in
from Egypt by Venetian sailors.

There are some lines from Homer,

er, "Skilled silent chisellers
with their craft created it.

"Venetian sailors brought it,
erm, over the, over the..."

"Mist veiled seas to, er, display
in the stalls of foreign ports."

Right.
Excellent. Very surprising that

a priest reads Homer.
I read when I have time.

So do I. So do I.

We have a great deal
in common, Father.

We both read Homer, we both
follow the orders of our Orders.

And, er, we both
wear our uniforms honourably.

This is not a uniform, Colonel.

You're a soldier
of the church, Father.

Your hypothesis, I say
yours, but it's shared by

a great many other people is that the
normal condition of society is peace.

I believe that the normal condition
of society is war.

You call this slaughter normal.

I call it
the madness of wild animals.

What would you do, if your church
were attacked by wild animals?

Defend her. You see, Father,
we are very much alike.

Great religions rise and fall
because of the deeds of men like you.

Nations and civilisations
are defended by men like me.

I'd much rather nations
didn't need defending.

And I'd much prefer a religion
that didn't need priests.

Well, I'm sorry, I have to go.

Very good of you to come along.
Can I drop you anywhere?

Thanks, I prefer to walk.

Yes, I understand.

It's not a good idea to be seen
in the same car as me.

We, er, we must be honest with
each other, Father, whatever happens.

Do you know what Picasso
said when France surrendered?

"The German Generals have beaten
the French Generals. I am a painter.

"If the German painters want to
take me on, I'm ready for them."

Picasso's a decadent bore.

Do you think he would've won?
He would've won.

The Masaccio.

Mm-hm. "We'll fatten up the priests,"
Hitler said years ago,
"And they'll lead the flock."

Won't be too easy
to fatten up that priest.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

CART RATTLES ON COBBLES

Hey, no parking here today.

The Germans come by here.

Hey. What are you doing round here?
Who are you?

What's it to you?

This is my street.

So you pick it up.
I'm just passing through.

Where is Emilio?
Er, he's sick. I'm filling in.

Sick, eh? I had lunch with him.

What's inside there?
Come on, tell me.

Coffee? Tobacco, cigarettes?

Tell me.
You come and see me in Piazza
Vittorio at four o'clock,

I'll get you some, eh?

I'll be there.

Be careful, eh?

And next time,

wear your badge right.

If they don't come in 15 minutes,
we call it off. Pass it on.

Look, I'm waiting for someone.

THUDDING OF MARCHING BOOTS

ORDERS SHOUTED IN GERMAN

Go and play somewhere else.
Look, go down there. Please go home.

Go away, you'll get hurt.

BOOTS THUD
SHOUTS ORDERS IN GERMAN

It's mine! Give it back.

Come back. Come back.

BOMB EXPLODES

LOUD GUNFIRE

BANGING AND SHOOTING

PHONE RINGS

Kappler.

Right.

Provocation was challenged.

I think you better come with me.

Where?

Via Rasella near the Via Veneto.

The 11th Company
has apparently ceased to exist.

SIRENS WAIL

MACHINE GUN FIRE

SHOUTING IN BACKGROUND

GUNFIRE RESTARTS

Stop firing.

Stop firing!

Dobrich?

Well, Dobrich?

Colonel, I don't know what happened.

It was just... I don't know.
How many civilians killed?

None, there was no-one in
the street, just us. All right,
all right. Count our dead.

Your men are marching men,
so they marched.

Kappler.

Revenge, Kappler.

Revenge for my poor boys.

You see, Kappler.

You see what they've done to
my boys.

Here are the beautiful results
of your security,

here in this filthy street!

Who were they?

British?

American spies? Italians.

Italians.

It's impossible.

I used to love the Italians,
Kappler.

Now I hate them!

Dobrich! Where's Dobrich?

Over there.

Dobrich...mine this whole street.

I'm going to blow up
all these houses.

I swear it. There are people
in these houses, sir.

You protect the murderers.

Here, all the houses go up.

The whole neighbourhood.

My poor boys.

My poor boys.
Try and calm yourself, sir.

It's not a question of your good name
but the good name of our country.

We are the ones who have
been attacked. We have
the moral advantage.

None of that is important to me.

Dobrich, follow my orders.

Up.

Hands up.

Up, up!

Sir. Is that what we're here for?

You are responsible for this,
Kappler.

You will pay for this.
Come away, sir.

This must be reported to the High
Command and only you can do that.

Leave Colonel Kappler in control
of the situation here.

What are we to do
with these people, sir?

They will all be shot.

Take them into custody,
hold them for questioning.

But, the General's order, sir.
He's upset.

I will take full responsibility.

But... Lieutenant!

Yes, sir.

I admire your discretion, Kappler.

The war may end any day now and
we don't want our names on the BBC,

do we?

It is essential that I speak
to Field Marshal Kesselring.

What?

An inspection at the front.

Well, find him.
I must speak to him at all costs.

First get me General Jodl in Berlin.

Immediately.

Where's Caruso? German Headquarters.

We must mobilise everybody
down to the last man.

We can expect anything now.

In the meantime,
we must notify Il Duce.

Take this down...

Today at 2.30pm a German
military detachment of the SS,
while proceeding up Via Rasella...

Father, did you hear the blast?

Seems the partisans have attacked.
Yes, I heard it.

The Germans are going mad, swarming
around town arresting people.

They say a lot of people were killed.

Go lock the front door.

We didn't want to come here,
Father, but

Paolo felt sick and we had to.

But don't worry, as soon as
it's dark, we'll go.

PHONE RINGS

Hello.

Yes, I am alone.

What is it?

It happened nearby in Via Rasella,
they say. I don't know.

If I hear anything, I'll call you.

May He be praised forever.

He is roaring.

He is roaring, roaring.

I called Berlin,
Jodl spoke to him personally.

They're trying to get me Kesselring.

Then get me Mackensen.

General Mackensen, idiot.

He wants to blow up the whole block

house by house. It's as I said.

He wants 50 to 1.

50 Italians for every 1 of our dead.
He will reconsider.

This is a political matter.

Rome is not the Eastern Front.
He will reconsider.

Besides, this time for a change,
WE are not the wild animals.

Animals? We?

General Mackensen. How...

Oh, you've heard? Yes.

Yes, one moment, Kappler is here.

How many dead? As of now, 28.

28. But there will be more.

General, I have recommended
and the Fuhrer himself...

Oh, you know.

Excessive? But the Fuhrer...

Reconsider?

He wants to speak with you.

Yes, General.

Yes, I want to discuss the
matter with General Harster.

We agree that if reprisals
were called for,

all our male prisoners
under sentence of death

and those serving life terms would
be considered candidates.

Yes, sir, if necessary we would
include all those accused of crimes

punishable by death but
not yet tried in a court.

Yes, sir, they would be
taken from our prisons
here in Rome and executed.

Very good, sir. Thank you, sir.

I hadn't finished speaking.

He hung up on me, sir.

Well, what did he say?
How many to one?

He said that you would be
informed when the measures to
be taken had been decided on.

I don't understand you.

Our men are lying in that stinking
street, torn apart by Italian pigs

and you seem to want to forget
about the whole affair.

We didn't ask to come
to this filthy place.

We came to help,
invited by our allies.

You would see them go unpunished?

The Romans must be discouraged
from illegal acts but

reprisals never stopped anyone,
General.

One of the chief causes
of the First World War and made
martyrs out of the Czechs at Lidice.

Reprisals, General,

punish nobody except the victims
and their...executioners.

So, now you're giving
me history lessons.

They will stop the Italians.

They scare easily.

You, you have another plan.

Well, let's say, I have an opinion.

To hell with your opinions.

You will do as I tell you. No, sir.

What?

I will do what you are
ordered to tell me to do.

Field Marshal Kesselring, General
Maelzer has telephoned four times.

He says it's urgent. Not now.

The congestion at the
front is now at an end.

The Americans are in a
position to move north.

I don't think we can hold out
much more than a couple of months.

We shall therefore continue to
prepare our withdrawal from Rome.

Sir, General Maelzer has rung again.

He says that the partisans
attacked a detachment of SS
in the centre of the city.

And that there have
been heavy losses.

I see. Thank you.

Shall I call him back?

No, call Berlin. High Command.

Well, Colonel,
what was your impression of what
we saw at the front today?

I like the chance of playing the
Americans' hand, if only for a day.

I'd walk all over you with the
arms and equipment they've got
down there. General Jodl, sir.

Kesselring speaking.

I see.

Yes.

What do you expect, 30 dead?

I lost 400 today alone.

But Rome is the front too.

If he's gonna stick to that decision,
he must send me everything himself.

I cannot spare one
fighting man, one truck.

Ask him to reconsider.

Yes, that is my answer.
I await yours.

In Rome, the 25th anniversary of the
founding of fascism was gloriously

commemorated by imposing ceremonies
at the Ministry of Corporations.

The event organised by the
Fascist Republican Party,

has as it's guest speaker,

the great blind poet and hero of
the Albanian war.

Carlo Borsani, now Under Secretary.

Borsani recalling the historic
events of March 23rd, Fascism's

most sacred day, said that
the glorious Fascist experience...

Just isn't possible. Not one word.

..that in their misfortunes
they don't despair.

I thought a nice bowl of hot soup.

Thank you, Giovanni. But no bread.

Doesn't matter. There are
plenty of blankets in the cupboard.

If you don't need me for anything...

A Vatican spokesman
has disclosed that the Holy Father
is enjoying perfect health.

He suffers only from the anguish
brought on by the war,

with it's privation, sorrow
and the destruction...

Father,
try to understand why we did it.

I can't.

I'm sorry but I can't.

..German assault operation.
At Anzio enemy losses were

reported to be much more severe than
those of the German Armed Forces.

Reports from Tokyo disclose that
Japanese Forces are advancing
victoriously in Indian territory...

Nobody's mentioned it yet.

We wait for the BBC.

I wonder what the Allies
will make of it.

Also, our king.

This committee is operating
under Allied directives.

Our king thinks we ought to sit
tight and wait for his return.

But you know the Hague Convention
provides for reprisals.

Listen, Andrea,

a state of war exists
between Italy and Germany.

We attacked an enemy formation,
full battle dress

in broad daylight,
on our own territory.

I'd like to know what
the Germans are thinking.

If they follow the rules
of the Hague Convention,

they'll say that if the people
responsible don't come forward,

they'll execute hostages.

Even two or three times the number
of German soldiers killed.

They wouldn't risk it.
They know Rome would explode.

Let's get one thing straight.

Whatever happens,
none of our men comes forward.

No-one. But innocent people...

Innocent people were living
in worse in Rotterdam,
in London, in Leningrad.

And innocent people,
millions of Jews are being
exterminated in the gas chambers.

Do you seriously believe
that Rome alone is immune,
because of the Pope?

I won't accept that.

And neither will millions
of other Italians.

You say that Germans will
take reprisals, shoot hostages.

Let them try.

We'll make the whole of Rome
rise against them. He's right.

I have children,

one day I want them to say,

"My father chose to drown in blood

"rather than live in shit."

I know you've been calling
for hours, General Maelzer,

but please try to calm yourself.

I understand how you feel.

Perhaps you've lost
the habit of seeing blood.

From now on, we must all get
used to the idea that the
partisans are an army too.

Now listen carefully,

I've spoken to Berlin several times.

The matter has been thought out
more carefully.

Your orders have been
dispatched to you by teletype.

They are to be
carried out accordingly.

These are not my orders, gentlemen.

Not the Chief of Staff's
and not from the High Commander.

What I have here, my friends,

is an order from the Fuhrer himself.

The Fuhrer has reconsidered,
Kappler.

Field Marshal Kesselring argued
the case that the measures
proposed were excessive.

I think we can all be proud
that the Field Marshal succeeded

in making an honest and generous
effort to exercise humanity.

50 to 1 is hardly the same
as 10 to 1.

It is the Fuhrer's expressed wish
that the entire operation
is completed in 24 hours.

The official order
was despatched at 1910.

It is now a few minutes to midnight.
That means we have...

19 hours and 10 minutes, sir.
May I see that teletype?

32 of our men are dead.

That means 320 Italians.

Kappler, you will make up the list.

This order, sir, calls for those
condemned to death and those
accused of serious crimes,

we may not hold enough prisoners
sufficient to complete the quota.

I'll leave that for you to resolve.

You're the best judge.
Caruso will help you.

Caruso, you will furnish
Kappler with 80 names.

More, if he needs them. 80?

General, that's impossible.

We have only a few.

10, 12.

We have no way of... All right.

Make it 50, for now.

But, General, we need...

Could we have an
official letter for the 50 names?

Coordinate that with Kappler.

Schutz, How many men in the
sentenced to death? Three, sir. Who?

Communist, a spy and a saboteur.

How many in the Regina Coeli prison?

None, sir. Life sentences?

None, sir. Any kind of sentence?

We have several with terms
ranging from... Several.

Now what do you mean by several?
16, sir.

16.

3 and 16.

We have 3 men sentenced to death
and they want 320. It's impossible.

Priebke? Sir?

Contact the President of the Military
Tribunal. Wake him if you have to.

I want written authorisation
for the 3 and the 16.

Yes, sir. I want permission in
writing to include all those awaiting
sentence for serious offences.

Get me General Harster in Verona.

Yes.

Domizlaf, get over to Caruso.

I want the names of those arrested
in the Via Rasella and
everything known about them.

I'll join you after I talk
to General Harster. Harster?

Yes, yes, he can help us.

He has jurisdiction over a category
I totally overlooked. All right.

Right away, Colonel.

Yes, it would be easier to show
their guilt.

PHONE RINGS

General Harster?
Kappler here, sir. Kappler in Rome.

Yes, I heard.

Look, Kappler, what
do you want me to do?

The important thing is
to complete the list.

If you can't reach the right figure,
take Jews.

Then I have your absolute
authorisation, sir.

Thank you. Goodnight, sir. Schutz.

Count the Jews, I make it 57.

Sir.

57, sir.

We have another 8 at Regina Coeli
being held for anti-fascism
and political crimes.

Add them to the list. Right, sir.

57.

65... 71.

85 plus...

135 leaving us 185 to go. Yes?

I telephoned, sir. We have full
authorisation from the President.

Hear that, Schutz. He refuses
to accept responsibility
for those awaiting trial.

How can I believe that? We need
permission from the Chief Justice.

So I telephoned the Chief Justice...
And? Permission granted, sir.

Good. Good. Get it in writing. Sir.

Schutz, put these lists together.
Yes, sir.

We shall have to go through
the names very carefully.

First I must get over to Domizlaf
in Caruso's office.

We shall need every name we can get.

Not going to be easy, gentlemen.

You realise, of course,
the necessity for

lightning speed and
the utmost secrecy.

Well, to tell you the truth, sir,

the boys would rather get their
hands on the people who did it.

It's nothing to do with us but there
are security aspects involved

and we must examine them
with the utmost attention.

Anything can happen now, with the
Americans at the gates of the city,
it could be total chaos.

Could be the end.

Could be the end of Rome.

Don't tell me you came to see me
at this hour of night

just because Kappler
covets another painting?

No, Father, this time I have not
come to take but to give.

I came at this hour in
the hope of keeping this
particular meeting secret.

I don't see how our meetings
can be kept secret,

the diplomatic mission
the Holy Father has given me

is virtually public knowledge.

In any case, what I'm about
to tell you will remain
only between you and me.

You heard what happened
in Via Rasella?

Of course. I have few details.

32 German soldiers were killed. 320
Italians are to be shot in reprisal.

The order has come
down from very high.

In my opinion we are about to commit
an error which has to be avoided.

Don't misunderstand me, the fate
of 320 Italians matters little to me

compared to the 10 or 15 million
we've already lost in this war.

But we must be prudent.

A German reprisal will provoke
public outrage and hatred
of a most violent kind.

Need I tell you that
Rome is a time bomb.

And the partisan movement
is only waiting for a moment
to unite the resistance.

You said you came here to give.

Yes, Father.

To give you the name of the
only person in the world who
perhaps can avoid this reprisal.

The Holy Father. The Holy Father.

The complicity of at least
some of the people who live in the
Via Rasella goes without saying.

The attackers could not have planned
and perpetrated this outrage

without their support.

This is all your men managed to find,
Caruso.

We searched all the
houses on the street.

We found papers and pamphlets...

er, in English. Yes, what else?

How many have you arrested?

Oh, about 10.

Get their names.
I want those on my list.

But I wanted them for mine.
They are for mine.

You will give us 50 names
by 10 o'clock in the morning.

I need authorisation from
Buffarini-Guidi. Then get it!

Signor Colonnello, we don't have 50.

Then give us Jews.

HE MUTTERS INAUDIBLY

Giglio

Mass...

Minardi...

TYPEWRITER CLACKS SLOWLY

Pilo.

Lombardi.

HE MUTTERS INAUDIBLY

I spoke with the Duce last night.

To be fair to you, Your Excellency.

I think it would be best if you
act on behalf of the government.

The Duce says he wants more details.

So, when you have finished Kappler,
make me out a report.

Kappler wants 50 names. 50.

I don't have the authority.

Your Excellency, what can I do?

What can I do?

You must give them to him otherwise
who knows what will happen?

Yes, yes.
Give them to him. Give them to him.

In that case, could you give me
a written order, Your Excellency.

Why do you think I made you
Chief of Police, Caruso.

In Tuscany we have a saying,

if you ask for a bicycle,
then you must pedal it.

Just don't get me involved.

I'm in it up to my neck already.

All right. We'll give him a list.

Anyway, we are on a list ourselves,

are we not, Your Excellency?

Colonel, I have double checked
with Caruso's office and they say
the list is still incomplete.

Never mind Caruso for the moment.

We have another problem.

Burial site.

Dobrich is in charge of
the execution, but where?

It's a security problem.

We must find a suitable place.

Take days to, er...

dig a burial site, a communal grave.

Think in terms of a...

grotto, a large

natural death chamber.

Colonel, the priest is here.

Priest? What priest?
Father Antonelli.

What's he want?
He says he must speak to you.

Where is he?

I can only give you
a few minutes, Father.

Colonel, I came here because
you have been kind to me.

I would like to know what will
happen now, innocent...

It will be a fair reprisal, Father,
carried out according to the
laws of the Hague Convention.

So war has laws too?

Yes, and we will respect them.

The law provides for
retaliation against illegal
attacks on our Armed Forces.

They said it was
an act of open warfare.

They? Do you know them?

How many are there? 2? 3? 5?

Who are they, Father? Everybody.

It's the only thing people are
talking about all over Rome.
But you haven't said anything.

You've given a warning
if the persons responsible do not
come forward we shall shoot.

They are still waiting to hear.

They might give themselves up.

And what would we do with
a handful of assassins?
That's not enough, Father.

And you call this a reprisal.

Did you make any effort
to find the attackers?

Did you make a public announcement
warning the people of Rome

what measures would be taken
against them? You did not.

Italy is our ally.

Italy. But what's Italy?
There are two sides now.

And you are on the wrong side.

No, Colonel, this is not a reprisal.

Do not pretend to yourself.

You are not big enough to cover
crime with fancy words.

This is human slaughter
by any name.

But you haven't even followed
the most mandatory rule of war.

It's too late, Father.

Machinery is running by itself.
Then stop the machinery.

The machinery is what you call God, I
cannot stop it any more than I can...

than a bullet can stop
being fired by a gun.

I'm a man, alone, weighing
nothing in the scale of things.

And you cannot stop it, Father.

That is all.

I'll let the spin
of the wheel decide.

God doesn't spin wheels
to decide the fate of man.

Your God died 2000 years ago.

This is the list. You have made up
the list of the men who will die.

I can only say that for...

every name that I wrote
I thought three times.

Three times.

Do something, Colonel. Delay.

Destroy it. Burn it. Are you mad?!

You see that, Colonel?

The eternal symbol of renewal
of hope and change.

Many people sleep late.

They miss the dawn,
but it dawns for every man.

Many people, Father,
dream when they're awake.

I pity you, Colonel.

Don't pity me.

Pity the man who has to...
carry out this deed.

I'll stop you. Father Pancrazio will
speak to the Pope. We will stop you.

The Pope is...

very heavily burdened. Surely you
don't want to add to his burden.

His Holiness would prefer to hear
about it...after.

Father Antonelli.

I admire you.

Admire your mind.

I admire your courage.

But I detest men with illusions.

Don't press your luck.

HE SIGHS

HE MUTTERS ITALIAN NAMES

A telephone from Colonel
Kappler's office, sir.

How many names has he got?
He's finished.

And he says we are late. Late?

It's easy to say late.

He's going to say,
I had only 50 names.

But these are Italians.

I take more care.

I go over every name three times.

Three. Three times!

Where are they?

They went away just after you left.

They didn't leave a message?
No. Do you know where Elena lives?

Paulo? The others?

Few people live at home these days.

God help them.

God help us all.

Where is the Father General?
He's out.

I can see that but
I want to know where. You want?

I meant I MUST know where he is.

It's a question of life and death.
Do you understand?

Everything is a question of life and
death these days, Father Antonelli.

Father, please listen to me. I must
see the Father General at once.

You should know by now,
he sees the Holy Father every day.

He's at the Vatican...

Where we cannot
possibly disturb him.

RADIO: 'Yesterday according to public
records bureau, 80 persons were born.

'77 died.'
KNOCK ON DOOR

'The Rome stock exchange recorded
minor gains yesterday...'

Who is it?

Aldo.

Ciao.

'For the benefit of our listeners,
we will now read the schedule of
radio programmes for today.

'News broadcast at 5...'

Nothing.

Rome beat Lazio in soccer.

There's a new Swedish film
at the Barbarini.

Nothing about Verasella.

The radio, the newspapers, nothing.

Like it didn't happen.

It did happen.

I shall never forget it.

RADIO: '4.45, Melodies and Romance,

'5.30, Invitation to the Opera.

'8.20...'

I know, that is why I am here.

Try to prevent a senseless act
on the part of the Germans.

Yes, but... Listen to me.

Together with someone of great
importance, I have prepared a plan
for the Holy Father to consider.

Now be assured, he will give
this matter his utmost attention.

First, let he try to postpone
the reprisals, at least
for the time being.

Secondly, a requiem mass
in one of the basilicas of Rome
for the dead German soldiers.

The Holy Father might -
I say might - be present.

I have no doubt this will
arouse sympathy everywhere

and possibly soften the hearts
of those Germans

who have made this
reckless decision.

Father General.

Meet me at the Salvatorian Mission.

Wait there and pray.

Pray.

You refuse?

You refuse?!

My men are not trained for
an operation of this kind.

Most of them are just recruits.

Your men have been murdered

and you behave as though
it didn't concern you.

You refuse

to obey an order

of the Fuhrer himself!

That is high treason.

And you will answer for it
before a Court Marshal.

Consider yourself under arrest!

Get me General
Machensen's Headquarters.

The major
refuses to carry out his orders.

My list is ready, sir. With Caruso's
50, that should complete the list.

We also have a...

PHONE RINGS
Yes. Yes, put him through.

Colonel Hauser.

Colonel, you will proceed with the
utmost urgency to place a detachment
of your men at my disposal.

They will proceed with the
execution of 320 hostages.

What? You will what?!

Here are the names, sir.
Quite an ordeal.

This is a report
on the execution site

and here is...a copy of a plan
of the place of execution
which we considered most suitable.

Colonel Hauser has refused
to place his men at my disposal.

He says it is a job for the SS
and not the army.

Well, I would say he's correct, sir.

Kappler, you don't understand.

Doprich has refused.

Hauser has refused.

In other words, he washes
his hands of the whole affair.

We have only eight hours left.
What good is your list?
Who is going to shoot them?

I shouldn't worry, sir. I'm sure
you'll find somebody to do it.

Yes, you.

You will do it.

That is an official order, sir.

I will of course put my men at your
disposal for this...operation.

No, Kappler.

As Commander
of the security forces in Rome,

it is your duty
to set your men an example.

You and all your officers
must participate at
least once in this operation.

That is my official order.

And of course,
you shall have it in writing.

You're quite right, sir.

I shouldn't ask my men
to do something
I'm not prepared to do myself.

I consider it a symbolic necessity.

You're a fine officer, Kappler.

I will mention you in my report
to the Fuhrer.

This could
be very important for you.

Five times I volunteered for
the Eastern Front. Five times.

Five times I was refused.

They told me
I'd have an important part to play...

..important part to play in Rome.

Gentlemen, you all know why
we're here, so I won't waste
what little time we have left.

Captain Priebke to whom I've already
spoken is briefing the men.

I would like to say two
preliminary things, however.

First, there is no question
of moral guilt on our part.

We are soldiers obeying
precise orders.

Secondly, all 74 of us, officers
and men, all of German nationality
will take part in this operation.

Anyone refusing to do so
will face a military tribunal.

I don't need to tell
you what that means.

Like many of you here,

I've never killed a man.

I will fire the first bullet.

I'm certain I speak for all
of us here, Colonel,
when I say we will all do our duty.

Thank you gentlemen.

This is the operation site.

A series of abandoned man-made caves
about three and a half kilometres
southwest of where we are now.

And at the Via Ardeatina
which is there.

The tunnels are made of limestone.

When sealed, they will make
a natural death chamber

and the limestone will accelerate
the decomposition of the remains.

The tunnels are already being mined
and will be blown shut
on completion of the operation.

The prisoners will be led in here.

The executions will take place
by pistol fire, the Mauser.

The prisoners will be shot in
batches of five by platoons of five.

It therefore follows that each of
us here will kill four or five men.

I will now demonstrate
the procedure to be followed.

The prisoner will kneel,
head pushed slightly forward.

The muzzle of the gun will be
placed in the nape of the neck.

Close, but contact is unnecessary.

The bullet will pass from low to
high through the centre of the brain
causing instant and painless death.

Thank you. I calculate three
hours to round up the prisoners.

One hour for transportation to the
caves, one minute for each execution.

We should be finished by sundown,
a couple of hours ahead of time,
if all goes...if all goes as planned.

I have already ordered 40 trucks
from the motor pool, but Colonel,
they're making difficulties.

What difficulties?
18 of the trucks are normally
used to transport meat supplies.

And the officer in charge objects
that if men are carried in them,

they'll need to be
sterilised afterwards.

Get the trucks!
I will answer to the objections.

Gentlemen, we must not
attract attention at all costs.

Our best safety is speed.

The hospital just telephoned,
Colonel. Another man has died.

Very well. I shall add ten more names
to the list making it 330 in all.

Modify your plans accordingly.

That'll be all.

Priebke, the other evening you were
telling me about ten Jews
living in Arian households.

I ordered you to arrest them.
Are they in custody?

At Regina Coeli prison, sir.

Add them to the list.

Send over a few cases
of Cognac to the caves.

Our men will not find it easy.

Yes, sir.

Please sit down.

I am sorry you've
had to wait so long.

Father, please, tell
me what has been done.

All that was humanly possible,
my son.

Then it wasn't stopped?

The Holy Father has given
serious consideration

to the possibility
of his intervention,
but the Germans have threatened

to re-examine their attitude
towards the present negotiations
for the salvation of Rome.

Salvation of Rome? What salvation,
Father? Whose salvation?

Father Antonelli, even at a moment
like this, we must never forget

that the Germans are our last
hope against atheist Communism.

Do you mean to tell me the Pope
refused to intervene?

That he has forgotten
he is the Parish Priest of Rome?

How dare you pass judgement?

The Holy Father
is a prisoner of history.

He must think and act in
terms that are universal.

So the church renounces her mission?

The Holy Father's
chosen to do nothing.
We have all chosen to do nothing!

Please keep calm, Father Antonelli.

These hours have not passed in vain.

We have drawn up a statement
that will appear on the front page
of the Romano tomorrow. Tomorrow?

Let me read it to you, my son
and then you can judge for yourself.

"In these anxious hours,
we turn our thoughts particularly

"to the city of Rome, so often
tortured by anguish and tribulation.

"Our appeal is made directly to
the conscience of the population
who have so admirably demonstrated

"their spirit of sacrifice
and profound sense of dignity.

"Do not with violent urges, shatter
this attitude which is so worthy
of the virtues of our people.

"Every ill-considered act
would have no other result

"than to end by injuring many
innocent people,
already tried by anguish.

"Maintain public order..."

Colonel Kappler.

Oh, thank you.

I must see him.

They didn't want to let me in.
You're in. What do you want?
I've just come from the Vatican.

The Holy Father is taking the
necessary steps. You must postpone.

We've already been informed of the
necessary steps the Holy Father
is prepared to take.

This will appear
in the Vatican newspaper tomorrow.

"Maintain public order.

"See that is it not disturbed by
any attitude whatsoever that
gives rise to painful conflicts.

"And those who know how to
influence the minds of the citizenry,
above all, the priests,

"have the high mission of persuasion,
pacification and giving comfort."

So you see, Father, there was no
point in your coming here.

Colonel, you have a soul.

Give it whatever name you like,
but one day, regardless of what

happens now, you will be called to
account before the tribunal of God.

Do something. There is still time.

There is no time, Father.

It was always too late.
I realise that now.

Man acts the way he does,
so does the Pope.

Any man who believes that he
can control his own destiny
is dreaming an ancient dream.

An ancient dream of fools.

Fools?

You call us fools. Dreamers.

You call a massacre a reprisal.

You call a living, feeling boy a
partisan. A sick old man, hostage.

You call a woman full of love,
a Communist.

Hangmen wear masks, Colonel, and
you mask yourself with empty words.

You blind yourself in
order to destroy.

But we are a man, humanity.

God's creation on Earth,
not the cogs of a machine.

Men can choose.

Choose, Colonel!

It's time to go, sir.

I'm going to do my duty.

I've told you
what is expected of you.

Go and do yours.

There's no time, Father.

There's nothing more you can do.
There is more I can do.

No, Father.

Heil Hitler.

I need this bicycle.

This is the complete list.

Take it to Regina Coeli Prison
at once and hand it personally...

Sir, they just telephoned
from Regina Coeli.

They've already taken them away.

That's impossible.

I have the list here.

This is the only copy.

Kappler's men arrived
and said if they didn't get the men,
they'd take the guards away instead.

They took 55 prisoners.

That's too many.

It's too many.

Too many, too many, too many.

They took five too many.

REPEATED GUNSHOTS

GUNSHOTS ECHO

REPEATED GUNSHOTS

GUNSHOTS CONTINUE

REPEATED GUNSHOTS

Guiseppe, Andrea, Mario....

GUARD READS OUT ITALIAN NAMES

REPEATED GUNSHOTS, MAN PRAYS

REPEATED GUNSHOTS

GUARD READS OUT ITALIAN NAMES

Get away! Let me pass.

DISTANT SHOUTING

RAPID GUNSHOTS

GUNSHOTS CONTINUE

GUNSHOTS

GUNSHOTS CONTINUE

INAUDIBLE

TRUCK ENGINE ROARS
I can't do it.

GUNSHOTS ECHO

REPEATED GUNSHOTS

GUNSHOTS CONTINUE

< REPEATED GUNSHOTS

< GUNSHOTS ECHO

Ten weeks later
the Allies liberated Rome.

Police chief Pietro Caruso
was tried by an Italian court,
sentenced to death and executed.

General Kurt Maelzer was tried
and sentenced to death in 1946.

The sentence was not carried out.

He died in prison.

Field Marshal Albert Kesselring

was tried by a British
Military Tribunal in 1947.

He was sentenced to death.

The sentence was not carried out.

He was released in 1952.

Colonel Herbert Kappler was tried
in Rome in 1948 and found guilty.

He was sentenced
to life imprisonment.

He is serving his sentence in
the Italian Penitentiary at Gaeta.