Von Stolberg Quotes in The Enemy Below (1957)

[last lines]

Von Stolberg: I should have died many times, Captain, but I continue to survive somehow. This time it was your fault.

Captain Murrell: I didn't know. Next time I won't throw you the rope.

Von Stolberg: I think you will.

Von Stolberg: I am sick of this war. It's not a good war. You don't remember the first one. I was a Fähnrich in the U Boats. How proud I was! We went out in those little sardine tins, and if we submerged we couldn't always be sure we would come up again. Oh it was a good game we played! The Captain would look through his periscope and sight the target... and then he did arithmetic in his head! And said 'torpedo loose!' And you know something? Sometimes the torpedo wouldn't even leave the tube. And if it did, we were most lucky to hit something! And now... now I look in the periscope and it gives me the distance and the speed. I pass this information to the attack table, and machinery turns, and lights flash, and we get the answer. The torpedo runs to it's target, and there is no human error in this. They've taken human error out of war, heini. They've taken the human out of war. War was different then. It put iron in a country's backbone, gave them brave memories. And even in defeat it gave them honour. But there is no honour in this war. The memories will be ugly, even if we win. And if we die... we die without God. Do you know that, Heinie?

'Heinie' Schwaffer: I listen to what you say, Herr Capitain.

Von Stolberg: It's a bad war. It's reason is twisted. It's purpose is dark. It's not for a simple man.

Kunz: He gets more accurate, Herr Kapitan. He will tear us apart the next time.

Von Stolberg: What do you suggest, Kunz?

Kunz: Surface, Herr Kapitan. Surrender.

Von Stolberg: Holem?

Von Holem: I am not concerned, Herr Kapitan.

Von Stolberg: Schwaffer?

'Heinie' Schwaffer: I say go on.

Von Stolberg: Mueller, what is the condition of the ship?

Mueller: We have not yet been hurt.

Kunz: But we cannot escape!

Von Stolberg: It will be your privilege to die for the new Germany.

Kunz: [salutes Von Stolberg for the order] Jahwol, Herr Kapitan.

Von Stolberg: That boy needs to learn we do not salute at sea.

'Heinie' Schwaffer: I don't see how we could have missed at that close range.

Von Stolberg: We shouldn't have. This American captain is no amateur. Well, neither am I.

Von Stolberg: Never think, Heinie. Be a good warrior and never think. You pay penalty for thinking. You cannot rest.

Von Stolberg: [to a temporarily-crazed sailor] Give me the wrench. Give it to me!

[he does]

Von Stolberg: You will come to attention.

[he does]

Von Stolberg: It's part of our work to die. But we are not going to die. Do you believe me? *Do you believe me*?

[he nods, calmed. Von Stolberg returns the wrench]

Von Stolberg: [listening on hydrophone] Now American, turn the right way and I'll give you a pretty present.

Von Stolberg: We build 'em good in Germany, eh Heine?