Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel Quotes in Downfall (2004)

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: Your report impressed the Führer. He has appointed you commander of Berlin's defenses.

General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling: I'd rather be shot than have this honor.

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: Even at the risk of repeating myself, the Ninth army must be withdrawn, otherwise it is surrounded and wiped out! We must now...

Adolf Hitler: The Ninth army will not retreat. Tell Busse to fight where he stands.

Generaloberst Alfred Jodl: My Führer, then the Ninth army will be lost.

Adolf Hitler: We will repel the Soviet troops advancing to the North and East, with a relentless and almighty assault.

Generaloberst Alfred Jodl: With what force, my Führer?

Adolf Hitler: Steiner's force will attack from the North and unite with the Ninth army.

General der Infanterie Hans Krebs: The Ninth Army is unable to move North; the enemy army outnumbers us ten to one.

Adolf Hitler: Wenck: he will support them with the Twelfth Army.

Generaloberst Alfred Jodl: But my Führer, the Twelfth Army is heading west to the Elbe.

Adolf Hitler: Then tell the army to turn around!

Generaloberst Alfred Jodl: But we would expose the Western Front!

Adolf Hitler: Are you questioning my orders? I believe I made myself clear!

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: The Führer has lost all sense of reality.

Generaloberst Alfred Jodl: He moves divisions that only exist on his map. Steiner's scattered unit can hardly defend itself and yet, Steiner is ordered to attack! It's pure madness!

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: Then why don't you tell him yourself?

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: He won't listen to reason. You should know that.

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: Something must be done.

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: Are you insane? We'll be thrown out like Rundstedt and Guderian!

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: Yes, and?

Generaloberst Alfred Jodl: [glares at Fegelein] We are soldiers! We pledged our allegiance to the Führer!

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: So that means we are no longer allowed to think?

General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf: All this coming from you? An opportunist? A ruthless careerist?

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: Pardon?

[Burgdorf takes a swig of alcohol]

General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf: [after Hitler realizes that the war is lost and goes to his room] What now?

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: It's time to end this spectacle.

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: [Shocked] What do you mean? Just stop fighting? That's unthinkable! The Führer said we will not surrender. We will not repeat November 1918! Never!

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: You all heard him. He's no longer leading us. 'Do whatever you want.' That's what he said.

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: There is no one who will replace him! The Führer is the Führer!

General der Infanterie Hans Krebs: [to the others] The Führer is just confused. He will pull through.

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: Oh, great! And what will happen afterwards?

General der Infanterie Hans Krebs: [pause] We cannot surrender for the Führer would never approve. We swore to obey his will!

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: Nothing but empty phrases! We must act NOW! Before it's all too late!

General der Infanterie Wilhelm Burgdorf: You just want to save your skin!

SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein: [to Burgdorf] Mind your words.

[the Generals storm off]