Battle of the Bulge (1965)

Robert Shaw: Col. Hessler

Photos 

Quotes 

• Cpl. Conrad : This new command is an illusion. Give it up.

  Col. Martin Hessler : I am Martin Hessler. Four years ago, my panzers overran Poland in one week, that was no illusion. In 39 days, my tanks smashed all the way to Paris, that was no illusion. I conquered the Crimea, that was no illusion. Today, I was given a brigade of Tiger tanks. When I have a brigade of tanks, THAT is reality.

• Col. Martin Hessler : I do not kill prisoners, but I would have no compunction at shooting you myself for your last remark.

  Maj. Wolenski : Then do it!

• Col. Martin Hessler : General, before you go, may I show you something?

  Col. Martin Hessler : What is it?

  Col. Martin Hessler : A chocolate cake.

  Gen. Kohler : Well?

  Col. Martin Hessler : It was taken from a captured American private. It's still fresh. If you will look at the wrapping, general, you will see it comes from Boston.

  Gen. Kohler : And?

  Col. Martin Hessler : General, do you realize what this means? It means that the Americans have fuel and planes to fly cake across the Atlantic Ocean. They have no conception of defeat.

• Col. Martin Hessler : Release the boy... Shoot the father!

• Col. Martin Hessler : The Germans are still the world's *best* toy makers.

  Gen. Kohler : The toys we are making these days are not for children.

• Col. Martin Hessler : Our column has made the farthest advance! We have outrun the other Panzers! The eyes of Germany are on us! The Fuhrer himself will decorate me. We have done it Conrad! We have done it!

  Cpl. Conrad : Then I was wrong. We have won the war.

  Col. Martin Hessler : No.

  Cpl. Conrad : You mean we have lost?

  Col. Martin Hessler : No.

  Cpl. Conrad : I don't understand. If we have not won, and we have not lost, than what is happening?

  Col. Martin Hessler : The best thing possible is happening - the war will go on.

  Cpl. Conrad : For how long?

  Col. Martin Hessler : Indefinitely. On, and on, and on!

  Cpl. Conrad : But it must come to an end.

  Col. Martin Hessler : You're a fool Conrad. Those of us who understood knew in 1941 that we could never win.

  Cpl. Conrad : You mean Colonel for three years we have been fighting without any hope of victory?

  Col. Martin Hessler : There are many kinds of victory. For the German Army to survive, for us to remain in uniform - that is our victory. Conrad, the world is not going to get rid of us after all.

  Cpl. Conrad : But, when do we go home?

  Col. Martin Hessler : This is our home.

  Cpl. Conrad : And my sons? When do I see them? What will become of them?

  Col. Martin Hessler : They will become German soldiers, and you will be proud of them.

  [pause] 

  Col. Martin Hessler : Conrad, do you still have any of those delicacies left you offered me at Ambleve?

  Cpl. Conrad : Yes, sir.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Prepare them for me. I'm in very good appetite!

  [Music] 

• Gen. Kohler : Well, Hessler. It has been a long time. How good it is to see you again. You look the same. A little - little leaner perhaps.

  Col. Martin Hessler : The Russian Front does not put meat on a man's bones, General.

• Von Diepel : General Kohler says we are behind schedule. He wants to know what's holding us up.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Tell the general the Americans are learning how to retreat.

• Gen. Kohler : War is hard on all of us.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Central heating. Crystal chandeliers. You have a nice cellar.

  Gen. Kohler : Field Marshall Göring himself gave me that painting. Lovely, isn't it?

  Col. Martin Hessler : I imagine he found a bargain in Paris last year.

• Cpl. Conrad : The truth... is that I'm a fool. I believed in you, but all that you believe in, is the war. You have the war, you like the war. And all I have are my sons and I don't want to lose them.

  Col. Martin Hessler : I am not responsible for your children.

  Cpl. Conrad : You are. You would make them soldiers.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Yes, and they will fight.

  Cpl. Conrad : And they will die?

  Col. Martin Hessler : If necessary.

  Cpl. Conrad : Necessary for who? For you?

  Col. Martin Hessler : You are not only a fool, you are a traitor.

  Cpl. Conrad : And you are a murderer! You would murder my sons. You would murder my country. You would murder the whole world, to stay in that uniform.

• Col. Martin Hessler : I did not lose a war to die in the back seat of a car.

• Col. Martin Hessler : Pick up your cap! Put it on. Try to look like a soldier!

  Cpl. Conrad : What good is a soldier anyhow? He wins, he loses. What's he good for anyhow?

• Col. Martin Hessler : Conrad, I've told you before never leave the motor running. Petrol is blood!

• Col. Martin Hessler : Boys. Too many boys.

  Gen. Kohler : The first battle will turn them into men.

  Col. Martin Hessler : In the old days, I lived six months with my men before going into action. I knew them, they knew me. These are strangers. Too many boys.

  Gen. Kohler : They have never tasted defeat.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Do they know what is expected of them?

  Gen. Kohler : They are ready to *die* for you. Can you ask more?

• Elena : General Kohler did not tell me you were so handsome.

  Col. Martin Hessler : What did General Kohler tell you about me?

  Elena : Nothing. Whatever I want to know, I'll find out for myself. I'm very good at that.

• Elena : I am told I'm an attractive woman. You are not paying much attention to me.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Very little has escaped my attention.

  Elena : [leans in wearing a low cut evening dress]  General Kohler did tell me one thing. What he admires most about you is your reputation with the ladies.

• Col. Martin Hessler : Who are you? How did you get in here?

  Elena : General Kohler's signature is magic.

  [to Von Diepel] 

  Elena : You will excuse us, Major.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Before you give orders, may I ask your rank?

  Elena : Courtesan, first class. Compliments of General Kohler.

• Col. Martin Hessler : We did not have time to get better acquainted; but, all of you know my reputation. My command always suffers the highest casualties. The price of victory is never cheap. In this battle, we will be as hard as our tanks. I will reach the objectives assigned to me - no matter what the cost.

• Gen. Kohler : Why have you stopped?

  Col. Martin Hessler : They have dug in. It's a very strong defense.

  Gen. Kohler : Bypass it.

  Col. Martin Hessler : I have considered that.

  Gen. Kohler : There's nothing to consider.

  Col. Martin Hessler : We must measure what we might gain by what we might lose.

• Col. Martin Hessler : We have the opportunity here to break their morale, to destroy their will to fight. That is why you must permit me to reduce Ambleve to ashes.

  Gen. Kohler : You have until 0400. That is all.

• Maj. Wolenski : Colonel, there are survivors in all massacres. I warn you, if any of my men are harmed you will be held responsible. There will be no place on earth that you can hide. And when you're found, I hope I'm the man that ties the rope around your neck.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Major, I have never liked threats. I do not kill prisoners. But I will have no compunction at shooting you myself for your last remark.

  Maj. Wolenski : Then do it.

• Col. Martin Hessler : What is this food?

  Cpl. Conrad : It's the best this town has to offer.

  Col. Martin Hessler : I told you, tanks run on petrol and soldiers run on rations. I must eat as my men do so I know how far they can go. Take it away.

• Col. Martin Hessler : Tiger to all units. Close hatches. Forward.

• Col. Martin Hessler : Tiger to Panther, spread out to left. Tiger to Lion, spread out to right. We will try to encircle. Sherman damaged. We'll finish it off. Fire! It's a hit. The next, 11 o'clock, 900.