Lt. Werner Quotes in Das Boot (1981)

Lt. Werner: Captain?

Captain: I'm sorry.

Lt. Werner: You think it's hopeless now?

Captain: It's been 15 hours. He'll never do it. I'm sorry.

Lt. Werner: They made us all train for this day. "To be fearless and proud and alone. To need no one, just sacrifice. All for the Fatherland." Oh God, all just empty words. It's not the way they said it was, is it? I just want someone to be with. The only thing I feel is afraid.

[Werner takes pictures of the watch officers on the conning tower]

Captain: Take pictures of the crew returning, not putting out to sea.

Lt. Werner: Why?

Captain: They'll have grown beards by then. It would shame the Tommies to see mere boys give them Hell. Baby faces. Ones that should still suck mama's breast.

[pause]

Captain: I feel ancient around these kids, like I'm on some Children's Crusade.

2nd Lieutenant: First time on U-boat?

Lt. Werner: Yeah. First time. It's gonna be exciting.

2nd Lieutenant: Do you have a will?

Lt. Werner: Excuse Me?

2nd Lieutenant: 13 boats down last moth. Sank with men and mice. Exciting, huh?

Captain: I'm sorry.

Lt. Werner: Is it hopeless?

Captain: It's been 15 hours. He's not going to pull it off. I'm sorry.

Lt. Werner: I asked for it. 'To be heading into the inexorable... where no mother will care for us... no woman crosses our path... where only reality reigns... with cruelty and grandeur.' I was drunk with those words. Well, this is reality.

[Johann climbs up to the bridge, places himself between Kriechbaum and Lt. Werner. Sniffs the air]

Lt. Werner: It's good for you, fresh air, right Johann?

Johann: [Spits] Nah.

[Johann climbs back down in the ship]

Kriechbaum: They're strange, these engine-room people.

Lt. Werner: What's going on? Why are we diving?

2nd Lieutenant: Hydrophone check. At sea, even in a storm you can hear more down here than you can see up there.

Captain: Do you have a sense of romantic?

Lt. Werner: Excuse me?

Captain: There, the empty house next to the warehouse. is that for you?

Lt. Werner: Not that I would know, isn't that area out of bounds?

Captain: Oh yes.