"PLAYING FOR HIGH STAKES" ""I know who you are"" "Written by" "Music as lieutenant Kloss" "Starring" "Photography" "Production manager" "Directed by" "Stop!" "Hands up!" "Drop the gun!" "I'll read you now what you have said." ""Stanislaw Kolicki, born 17th December, 1920 in Koscierzyna." "Nationality" " Polish." "Recently a student at Gdansk Polytechnics." "Recently a prisoner of Krolewiec camp." "Yes." "Caught attempting to cross the Russian-German border." "Questioned by the border guards he admitted... he'd escaped from the camp planning to cross the USSR border... and inform the Russians about the concentration of the German army, and about the planned German invasion against the USSR." "That's all." "Sign it." "I also said that if a war broke out I wanted to fight against Russia and Poland's enemy." "All right." "Say all this again at the place you're going to." "Where am I going?" "You'll be told that in due time." "Last time you said, Kloss... that you went on holiday to your friend's cousins' estate." "What's the friend's name?" "Gustav Erling." "I've told you that." "Yes, you have." "Erling is German too, isn't he?" "Yes." "His parents had settled in Lithuania earlier than we did." "And when my father was building a sugar factory... the Erlings helped him by loaning him a big sum of money." "Tell me about the holidays now." "I arrived at the station late at night." "It was ten or eleven o'clock." "The palace cart was waiting for me there." " A two-horse one?" " I don't remember." "Try to recall it." "It's very important." "A one-horse cart." "What about a carter?" "There was none." "Gustav came to meet me." "What was the station like?" "It was small." "There were high poplars growing in front of it." "On the left there was a village, on the right - a forest." "The way through the forest was shorter... but Gustav wanted to show me the lake." "Later on I often used to go there with Edith." "Watch his movements and face expressions." "Your physical likeness isn't enough." "...her mother's brother had a farm near my friend's." "We met very often." "We'll talk about it later." "Let's come back to yourjourney." "So you went through the forest..." " What did they want?" " Always the same." "They were questioning me about the holidays I had 5 years ago." "I'll go off my head!" "What do they need all this for?" "We have to attack near the village of Kamieniuszka." "This is where we'll group all our forces." "We have to break the Bolshevik fortification." "The advanced armoured unit has to force its way ... into the enemy's line of defence near Shepielnikovo." "Taking them by surprise we'll be able to bring up our munitions." "We'll succeed on condition that our attack is totally unexpected." " Is everything clear?" " Has the date of attack been set yet?" "Yes." "It's 4.30, July 7th." "Naturally, the squad officers will receive sealed envelopes... which they'll open after getting the orders." "Our Secret Service says the Bolsheviks have already rallied," "and are trying to form the line of defence near the river." "Thus only an attack with the use of all our forces... will let us perform the task we've been set by our commanders." "That's all as far as the operation plans are concerned." "Now Sturmfurer Stedtke will inform you... on the steps taken to ensure security to the rear." "This morning I ordered... that all the young people should be deported to the Reich for labour." "Couldn't you put it off a little?" "Their radiolocating cars are nosing about day and night." "I'm taking the radio station to Jack's." "I'll come tonight." "Hans!" "Good morning, darling." " Who was that?" " Who?" " That girl." " That girl?" "I don't know." "She was carrying a suitcase so I helped her." " A Pole?" " A Pole or a Russian..." " Pretty?" " Come on, Martha!" "There's a call for you." " Shall we meet tonight?" " Of course." "OK, we can start." "Write:" "From J 23." "The Germans are planning an attack on 7th July, at 4.30 against B3." "They hope to take us by surprise." "It's necessary to forestall them... by attacking them with artillery." "Code and tramsmit it." "The radiolocating cars started nosing about today." "Be cautious!" "You too." " You scared me today, Irena." " Me?" "Ah, yes, I know." "No, you don't." "I don't mean the round-up." "My girl-friend saw me when I was talking to you." " Your girl-friend?" " Are you surprised I have one?" "A few officers envy me Martha Becher." "She's a nice girl, but she's veryjealous." "Couldn't we do away with those radiolocating cars somehow?" "I"I think of it, but it'd be damn risky." "A big action is out of the question." "SS task force is stationed here." "What about setting fire to the garage?" "Do you know how it'd end?" "With a massacre of innocent people." "Stedtke can't wait to have such a pretext." "Yes?" "Yes, sir!" "The concentration is over." "There's been no move on the enemy's side." "Are they insane?" "The attack was to start at 4.30." "What?" "!" "The Bolsheviks?" "half an hour before our attack?" "The Russians forestalled our attack... and regained a few kilometres of the territory." "Our commander won't praise us for that." "He won't be praised either." "Gentlemen..." "It's not a coincidence that you're both here." "Today's events... have brought shame on our division." "We have to efface this blot." "But before we do, we have to find the guilty ones." "My task force is at your disposal, General." "I'm not interested in task force actions." "It's not my business." "You have to do yourjob." "What I'm interested in is the leak of information." "It's obvious that the Bolsheviks' attack in that very place... and half an hour before the attack of our tanks wasn't a coincidence." "What do you think, Kloss?" " I agree with you, General." " That's not enough!" "You and Sturmfurer Stedtke have to tell me... how the information known to only 7 of my officers... found its way to the Bolsheviks." "Of course, I don't suspect any of you." "But the enemy is alert." "Their agents are nearby." " General, may I...?" " Go on." "The plan of the attack was also known to the Corps Headquarters." "I don't mean I suspect them, but..." "I've taken this into consideration too." "But we have to check our people first." "Yes, sir!" "You're a young officer, Kloss." "You graduated from Abwehra School not long ago." "I think that you should be subordinated to Sturmfurer Stedtke, as he's more experienced." "Well?" "Nothing." "They're not transmitting anything." "What about the code?" "The Corps Headquarters people said they failed to break it." "We didn't have enough data." " If we had heard the whole report..." " I see." "Has lieutenant Kloss been here?" "You're leaving?" "Yes, I must go." "Are you on duty today?" "Stedtke didn't tell me about it." "He called me today and organized a kind of hearing." "He asked me if I hadn't noticed anything peculiar in..." "My behaviour?" "No." "He asked me about everyone." "And besides, I guess he has reason for asking about you." "He knows that we love each other, doesn't he?" "Strange!" "He didn't mention to me that he was going to question you." "That's what his job is." "It was a mere formality." "Of course." "If there's something who doesn't trust you..." "I hope it's not you, Martha?" "I wouldn't like to lose you." "There are so many beautiful women..." "What's the news, Sturmfurer Stedtke?" "Sturmbanfurer Muller from the Corps Headquarters says... that there couldn't be any leak on their side." "What a shame!" "It'd make our task easier." "It's very important for me, Sturmfurer Stedtke... that you manage to catch that talkative guy." "Do you think it's just a matter of indiscretion?" "What else could it be?" "After all, I can't suspect seven officers of my attendants, can I?" "You're very lucky then, General." "I have to suspect all of them." "Do you mean eight men, including me?" "Sturmbanfurer Muller has excluded you." "Did you dare to ask his opinion?" "You have forgotten yourself!" "How dare you?" "!" "I'm sorry, General, but it was you who mentioned yourself." "Stop it!" "I want facts!" "I suggest that we organize a briefing, maybe even today." "The same make-up as previously." "It seems that you really suspect my attendants." "I simply don't believe miracles." "If that chatterbox is not one of them..." "You wanted to say "one of us"." "You were at the briefing too." "I exclude myself." "If he's one of them,... that radio station which has been dead for 3 days... will transmit a short report soon after the briefing." "So, gentlemen... the attack will start at 7.30 tomorrow." "This time we'lI have to take the Bolsheviks by surprise." "The officers will open the sealed envelopes at 5 a.m." "Will there be enough time for the concentration, sir?" "The Headquarters chief guarantees this." "Yes, sir!" "All right." "You can go now." "So you think that this briefing was a provocation?" "I'm sure of it." "They want to check if the information was passed on... by one of the officers present at the previous briefing." "Transmit what I've told you about the real arrangement of the forces tomorrow." "Any time you like, provided it's no sooner than 7 a.m." "But today don't say a word to anyone." "What have you got?" "We found nothing in the five houses we searched... but this is what we found here." "That's why I sent for you." "Do you know what it is?" "No." "Maybe you know something about it?" "I think my son used to make such things..." " Where is he now?" " I don't know." "He went away when the war broke out." "We haven't heard from him yet." " Where did you find it?" " In the kitchen." "In the dustbin." "You haven't cleaned the kitchen since the war broke out?" "The thing is a radio station." "You have given shelter to spies." "We haven't!" "Stop playing an idiot!" "They've been keeping the radio station here." "Where are they now?" " There's been nobody here." " Listen, bud!" "You know very well... that if we take you with us now, there'll be little left of you." "We haven't done anything wrong!" "Jesus Christ!" "Save us, God!" "That was just a foretaste." "Make him speak!" "We're just poor people, sir..." "Where are they?" "!" "We won't say anything." "You won't say anything." "So you have something to say after all!" "OK." "We won't do you any harm." "But we'll find this out for sure." "Let's go!" "Are you all right?" "I don't understand." "That was the only trace, wasn't it?" "Fool!" "I know what they're like." "They wouldn't have said a word!" " I'd have squeezed them out." " Or rather killed them." "If they know where the radio station is, one of them will try to warn them." "Stay here, Helmut!" "Keep an eye on them!" "Yes, sir!" "Be discreet!" "They're gone." "Where are you going?" "I'll go." "No, you won't." "It's easier for a woman to avoid being noticed." "We have to warn them." " Put me through to the general." " He's very busy." "He told me to report things regardless of the time." " Have you found a radio station?" " Yes." "Quite by chance." "Schultz!" " What's going on here?" " We're setting out for an action." " For an action?" " We've found that radio station." " Haven't you heard about that?" " I have, but you talk too much." "But I didn't say it to a stranger!" "Stop here, please." "And don't wait for me." "Get out of here!" "They're coming!" " Let's pack up!" " Don't!" "Take this and go downstairs!" "Double-quick!" "The codes!" "What are you doing, Sturmfurer Stedtke?" "Hans is there!" " Hans who?" " Hans Kloss." "He came to see a girl." "Stop the fire!" "Kloss!" "You're surrounded!" "You don't have the ghost of a chance!" "I'm giving you 3 minutes to get out." "Stop!" "I want to have him alive." "We're waiting now for 3 minutes." "Get the smoke candles ready!" "I'll smoke him out like a rat." ""You've won, Stedtke." "I'm glad that I managed to..." "Hans Kloss"." "He killed himself with a hand- grenade." "Ad acta." "We can't be proud of the fact... that the Bolshevik spy settled himself in our division." "It's regrettable, sir, that he settled himself in Abwehra." "We caught him thanks to the Secret Agents' alertness." "Obergruppenfurer Heidlich demanded a special report on this." "Yes..." "I think I can already congratulate you on the promotion." "You suspected him, didn't you?" "He was controlled in the Abwehra School, but I was taught that you mustn't trust anyone." "Very good officers in particular." "You're exaggerating." "This principle has proved to be right." "The spurious Hans Kloss was a Pole, a Soviet agent." "He left a farewell letter for us." "Ad acta." "I want no more to deal with the case of a man... who led us by the nose for so many months." "SD can't be led by the nose too long." "Who would have thought it?" "He was so nice." "The Nordic type." "No doubt, some German blood ran in his veins too." "You must admit, General, it was a well-planned and well-done job." "The Slavs aren't capable of doing things like that." "Yes, Colonel." "He's here, with me." "If you want to back out, this is the right moment." "No." "It's a chance for me." "Now it should be easier." "They've already killed one false Kloss, so they're satisfied." "Now they'lI see the other one." "They should believe me." "And besides, I've learnt a lot recently so I'll be more alert." "If you insist..." "You can always count on us." "Have you made up your mind yet?" "OK." "Here are his clothes." "You can change now." "His fellow-prisoners have spent a few months with him in the cell." "They'll be your alibi." "But take care not to make any wrong move." " What about him?" " Don't worry." "He's been given... warmer clothes." "The place he's been moved to is very cold..." "Now you'lI have to go to the cell... and complain about the hearing which seemed strange to you." " He used to complain about it." " What about you?" "Well..." "The front is only 27 km away from here." "In a few days we'll probably have to give up this town... as well as many others." "But later on we'll come back... and we'll move westwards fast until we get to Berlin." "We'll be passing through Poland." "Poland... your home-country." "Do you hear this?" "They're escaping." "I'm sure our army will march in here in a day or two." "I'm afraid we won't be given the chance to see that." " They'll move us farther eastwards." " In such a mess?" " Do you think we can make it?" " It's our only chance." "But why are they still keeping us here?" "Maybe they're planning to kill us?" "Maybe." "That's why we have to take this risk." "What happened with the ones who were in this cell before us?" "They were taken away last week." "Our army must be quite near." "I haven't had any hearing for a week." "If there's just one man..." "Get out!" "Leave it!" "We mustn't make a noise." "Certainly, sir." "I'll question them in a while." "So you say you got away from a Soviet prison... and you spent 4 days in a cellar." "Yes, sir!" " You're answering me like a soldier." " I am a soldier." " A soldier?" " Yes." "And they sent you to prison, not to a POW camp?" "That's a long story." "I graduated from a secret military college in Lithuania." "When the Bilsheviks marched in, all my family was moved eastwards." "I managed to escape." "But I got caught while I was crossing the border." "I was wearing civilian clothes so they questioned me scrupulously." "We'll talk about it later on." " What's your name?" " Hans Kloss." " Hans Kloss?" " That's right." "I've already heard this name." "Maybe you know someone from my family?" "My father owned an estate in Lithuania." " No." " Maybe my uncle Helmut?" " He was ajudge ." " No." "But I'll try to recall it." "What are your names?" "I can't set you free before I make sure who you are." "When did you meet Kloss for the first time?" "In March or April, I don't remember exactly." " Did you see him every day?" " Yes, during the walks... and sometimes in the baths." "I also saw him several times serving the food." "I see..." " Go on, please." " The Russians... suspected me of co-operating with the Secret Service but they had too..." "little evidence." "They probably didn't manage to catch Hubert, because they..." " didn't confront me with him." " I see..." "Let's talk about Kloss." "Are you sure that Kloss didn't leave the prison... from March or April to December, when our army marched in?" "I can swear he didn't." "So it started with the joke you told at the restaurant, didn't it?" "It wasn't ajoke." "I just said that our army would reach Moscow... in 3 months and 2 hours later I was arrested." "The Russians arrested many Germans with the outbreak of the war." "Just in case..." "Your family is coming from the Reich today." "If the confrontation comes off well..." "I'm sure it will." "I have one more question to you." "But think twice before you answer it." "It's very important." "So you were arrested in July, weren't you?" "Yes, I was." "Did you meet Kloss then?" "Yes, of course." "I even shared the cell with him for a few days." "We all felt sorry for him because he had long hearings every day." "Once he told me he had to talk about his aunt's rheumatism for hours." "Didn't you have the impression that he'd changed after that?" "Do you mean that he might have broken down during the hearing?" "Maybe..." "No, it's out of the question." "Kloss was always so tough..." "His nationalistic and socialistic ideas helped us to live on." "He believed strongly in our Fuhrer and victory." "And besides, it was him who attacked the guard." "You'll be as well-shaven as a groom." "Kloss!" "Follow me upstairs!" "We had to bring this folder from the Berlin archives." "I didn't think we'd ever need it again... and that I'd meet again the man whom that Pole pretended to be." "Unbelievable!" "This is unbelievable!" "I wonder what his reaction will be when he sees me." "Come in!" "Kloss!" "Yes?" "Show me your profile!" "Excuse me, Obersturmfuhrer." "I'm a German officer... and I don't remember meeting this gentleman before." "I'm sorry." "I think we can show Mr Kloss the folder of that Bolshevik agent, whom we caught 5 months ago." "Do you know what that agent's name was?" "How should I know that?" "Do you have a twin-brother?" "Maybe you know someone very much like yourself?" "I think I understand now." "Someone used my surname and tarnished it." "Now I understand why they often questioned me for hours... asking me about all the details from my life." "This is horrible!" "Don't get excited!" "We've known the Bolsheviks' perfidy for a long time." "But you believe me, gentlemen, don't you?" "We do." "We can't be cheated." "We have an excellent device for detecting lies." " It's called SD." " It's my only hope." "As soon as this is cleared up, I'd like to be sent to the front." " The Bolsheviks have to pay me." " Alright, Kloss." "You can leave now." "But before that, sit down here for a while." "Please, write:" ""You've won, Stedtke." "I'm glad I was able to disturb you a little." "I did it for my home country." " I'm a Pole." "Hans Kloss"." " I won't sign it!" "Don't get excited, Kloss!" "It's a mere formality." "Your double left us this card." "Don't worry." "We have excellent graphologists." "You may go now." "In my opinion they're different." "Quite different." "Excuse me, Sturbanfuhrer... but we're not authorities in graphology." "Let our specialists decide... whether they were written by the same man." "One moment, please." "I'm coming." "Doctor Helmut Kloss?" " Yes." "Why?" " Get ready." "You're going to Russia." "This must be some misunderstanding." "I'm ajudge and a party member." "It's an order." "Things are going wrong." "They've taken a sample of my handwriting." "If the Abwehra graphologist finds out that..." "Don't worry." "I'll inform Aunt Susan about it." "This is pure folly!" "Their graphologists are sure to prove his identity." "It was him who wanted to make one more attempt." "The Germans are convinced... that our agent is dead and that this one must be the real Hans Kloss." "What do you suggest?" "Getting in touch with Berlin and using our people there." "The graphologist's report has to confirm that the notes weren't..." " written by the same man." " Don't waste time!" "I'm sorry, Kloss." "We have to do this." "I hope it's going to be the last test." "I trust you." "We all do." "Have a cigarette." "Come in!" "Uncle Helmut!" "Hans!" "Uncle Helmut!" "It's ages since we met last." "Your documents!" "Doctor Walter Wirth, living at 11, Kinkstrasse, 2nd floor." "There's nobody there from eleven to one p.m." "Alright." "Thank you." "For me everything is clear now." "Helmut Kloss's statement was the last link of the chain." "They haven't seen each other for 6 years." "I appreciate your being so cautious, Obersturmfuhrer... but aren't you exaggerating this time?" "What counts is not that Helmut Kloss recognized his nephew... but that Hans recognized his uncle." "But the Soviet Secret Service might have had... the photographs of Hans Kloss's family." "Sure, but I don't think that Bolsheviks are so stupid... as to send us the agent who has already proved to be a failure." "Anyway, the body was identified." "Come in!" "I told you I was busy, Fritz." "Doctor Wirth's report has just been delivered." "Bring in Kloss!" "Well, Kloss... you can't change your handwriting." "It'll always give away your identity." "Congratulations, Kloss!" "Doctor Wirth has finished the examination." "I never had the slightest doubt." "My congratulations!" "We'll apply for restoring you your rank... and you'll be able to go to the East front." "I'll do anything to efface that disgrace." "Actually, the fact that you can speak our enemy's language... and you know the situation in Russia... can be very helpful to us." "You can serve your homeland wherever you are." "Colonel!" "What is it?" "J 23 has started transmitting again!"