Generaloberst Alfred Jodl Quotes in Downfall (2004)

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel: Even at the risk of repeating myself, the Ninth army must be withdrawn, otherwise it is surrounded and wiped out!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 Hans Krebs: The enemy has broken through along a wide front. They've taken Zossen to the south, and are advancing to Stahnsdorf. They're now on the northern outskirts between Frohnau and Pankow. They've reached Lichtenberg, Mahlsdorf and Karlshorst to the east.

Adolf Hitler: Steiner's assault will bring it under control.

General der Infanterie Hans Krebs: My fuhrer, Steiner...

Generaloberst Alfred Jodl: Steiner couldn't mobilize enough men. He was unable to carry out the assault.

Adolf Hitler: [Removes glasses] These men will stay here: Kietel, Jodl, Krebs and Burgdorf.