"I deliver perfection..." "and don't brag about it!" ":" "D" "The accused is aware of the seriousness of his crime." "By stealing from our stores he has stolen from his comrades." "I request the highest form of punishment." "He recognises the facts." "He has shown regret and has apologised." "The war is almost over." "I ask the court martial to show mercy." "Hang him!" "Execution!" "This true story began on 2 May 1945 in neutral Liechtenstein, a few days before the end of WW2." "Kurt!" "Don't shoot!" "It's a Russian general!" "Drive on!" "WIND FROM THE EAST" "Commander..." "Troops are coming in at Schellenberg." "At the frontier post." "5 minutes ago." "I'm not sure, maybe a regiment." "They're Russians in German uniforms." "No, it's not the Red Army." "It's Russians dressed as Germans." "What is it, Father?" "A state secret?" "Keep your pose!" "How can I paint you if you're moving all the time?" "If you want me, Anton, just ask." "Do you want me?" "Wash your hands first." "You still haven't answered my question." "These damn Russians caught us unawares!" "There were only two guards." "They fired, but the bastards kept coming and they got through." "A whole army with guns and kit." "And their women!" "Can you believe it?" "They even brought their women." "What have you got against women..." "Herr Ziegler?" "I don't take that, and we're full!" "You don't take it?" "Do you take gold?" "You have to take them." "Ministers' orders!" "The officers and their families must be lodged." " Who's paying?" " No idea." "It's that or requisition." "As Prince of Liechtenstein, you can't send them back, Franz." "They'll be executed." "And Ziegler is well aware of it." "He knows about the Bolsheviks." "And Tito." "It's his duty as a priest to protect them." "As head of the Parliament he has other duties." "These men are asking for our help." "Their lives are at stake." "Ziegler is worried about our own citizens." "How can we feed the Russians?" "We have the Red Cross supplies." "But there are more than 500 of them!" "We are 12,000." "I believe I screamed at you." "Excuse me, darling." "Really?" "I didn't notice." "No?" "What did Ziegler say exactly?" "That the Germans could come and swallow us up tomorrow." "It is what Ziegler fears most." "And to be honest, so do I." "At Yalta they decided to return all the Russian, civil and military, to the USSR." "They don't want to upset Stalin." "So we are in danger?" "Yes..." "It's a possibility." "Protect us, Father, and bless me." "Thank you." "Madam, this is the best bread I've ever tasted." "And your coffee is on a par with your bread!" "Excuse me." "Good day, Father." "Well..." "I suppose... we had to meet sooner or later." "Indeed, if you are in charge of these men." "Holmston-Smyslovsky." "General of the 1st National Russian Army." "But wearing a German uniform." "We fought with the Germans against the Bolsheviks." "I mean, the Soviet army." "And only against them." "I must offer my apologies for barging into your country, but it was for a good cause:" "to save my 500 men whose lives are threatened." "Must I beg for your pity?" "Or beg for you mercy to receive your pardon, Father?" "Let's speak outside." "Move the barriers!" "Good luck!" "Don't worry." "See you tonight." "All these refugees." "It's terrible." "What more can we do?" "Oh, yes... they'll die too!" "And all the others, if you send us back to Feldkirch." "The English, the French... even the Americans would hand us over to Stalin and his butchers." "That's untrue." "I'll give you a letter of safe conduct." "Excuse me, Father, but the Bolsheviks would wipe their arses with it." "It's their speciality." "Your remarks are offensive, General." "Do you find them more offensive than 500 corpses rotting in a ditch just across your border?" "Such an atrocity is impossible!" "I'm sure of it!" "If that were true I wouldn't be here." "All these people are catholic, children of our Church." "The bastards you want to hand us to do not believe in God." "They spoil everything" "God taught us to love." "Remember what the Red Army did to our nuns, raping them like savages on the altars of our churches?" "And how they ripped out the tongues of priests, to stop them from spreading the word?" "You dare preach to me?" "You think I don't know who those Ukrainians are out there?" "It was they who cleaned out the Warsaw ghetto!" "They sent the Jews in cattle trucks to Auschwitz!" " Those are your soldiers!" " No, not my men!" "My men did not do that!" "There is scum everywhere!" "Here like elsewhere!" "The heads of killers are like fruit." "Only when they are cut do we see the rotten inside." "You seem excited this morning." "Everything okay?" "He doesn't want to leave." "Are you surprised?" "In his place, I'd feel the same." "Maybe you should introduce us." "Dr Joseph Hoop, Prime Minister of our government." "General..." "Smyslovsky." "Doctor Hoop..." "Smyslovsky, is that a Russian name?" "No, sir, Finnish." "But for the Russians that's the same." "I don't wish to appear rude, but please excuse us a few minutes." "I shall go and finish my breakfast." "I am at your disposal." "Gentlemen..." "Well?" "He has 500 well trained, armed men." "It's a threat to our security." "In one day, he could take over the country." " That's correct." "And if he does, the Allies will attack them, and our country will be left in ruins." " That's correct." " So... if you agree," "I suggest we contact the French or Americans, through the Swiss, and leave the problem to them." "And we..." "just wash our hands of them." "We have no choice." "We have nowhere to lock them up." "There are the elections soon." "You haven't forgotten?" "And then..." "there's no proof they will be killed." "The very possibility makes me want to help them." "Very well, I shall see His Highness." "No point." "His Highness has already made his decision." "Don't get up, gentlemen." "May I present Doctor Hoop, Prime Minister of Liechtenstein." "My wife, the countess Irena." "I understand you are Polish, madam." "Your brave country has suffered a great deal." "Thank you." "I shall excuse you from the barbarian names of my officers." "You must understand that here in Liechtenstein, we are in a delicate situation." "There are many possible dangers." "General... can you swear on your honour that both you and your men have done nothing that the Allies could consider a war crime." "Yes, sir." "On my honour." "Thank you." "So if you feel disposed to submit to the clauses of the Geneva Convention concerning the status of prisoners of war, our prince, Franz Joseph, is ready to grant political asylum to you and your men." "With some conditions." "These people have come to our land with no invitation." "But our beloved prince has been kind enough to grant them political asylum for a limited time." "These poor people may soon be able to return to their own land." "But until the war is over we are to share with them our daily bread and our homes." "In return, they will work on your farms and on your land." "Brethren, I ask for your understanding." "No provocation." "And no fraternising either." "Be vigilant." "And above all, no relations between these men and the women of our land." "These are our last hours as soldiers." "From now on we will be civilians." "We must look like civilians." "The men will be dispersed to work around the country." "I don't know how long this situation will last, but be certain that I will do all I can to ensure our evacuation to a country where we will be safe." "I have personally promised to be responsible for discipline." "They have my word." "Relations between our men and local women are strictly forbidden." "Good." "Drunkenness and damage to the locals will result in imprisonment." "The guilty shall be handed over to the Allies." "Ensure the men understand my orders." "Their lives depend on it." "Excuse me." "You're needed, General." "Thank you, Lisa." "Gentlemen..." "We'll speak again later." "Push!" "I've told the girl we're not to be disturbed." "I'm afraid I am at a disadvantage." "I beg your pardon?" "You apparently know my name." "But I have no idea of yours or your friends'." "Excuse me, I'm always forgetting." "Dulles..." "American Secret Service." "We'd like to talk to you." "Sit down." " You've had an amazing war." " Really?" "Yes, General." "We've been following your 1st Army very closely." "And I never saw you..." "How careless of me." "The Eastern Front does not concern us." "We do not want to meddle in Soviet affairs." "That's a pity." "Really?" "You, in the West, must understand that I fought the war with honour, for a cause." "That's debatable." "The problem is not the cause, it's the timing." " And when is the right time?" " One must never be right too early." "Whether it concerns Galileo or even crusades against the Bolsheviks." "We would like your help." "And in return, we could perhaps offer you ours." "Admiral Wilhelm Canaris." "Head of German Intelligence, the Abwehr." " You're his friend." " And I am honoured to be so." "Can you tell me more?" "You know that he was involved in the attempt on Hitler's life." "They arrested him last summer." "I don't know what has become of him." "He was sent to a camp and was hanged last month." "One month..." "One month before the end." "Are you surprised?" "No." "Canaris used his networks to defend the Reich, but also for political reasons." "He was already thinking about after the war." "It's almost over." "Go on." "Very well." "But this must remain confidential." "In private, Canaris was convinced that the alliance between the Americans and the Soviets was unnatural, and that it would not survive after the war." " He had made provisions." " These provisions are of the utmost importance for the safeguard of the free world." "It's for a similar reason we frequent Russian émigrés." "Canaris and I shared the same hunting ground." "I wanted soldiers, and he wanted spies:" "men to be trained by the Abwehr capable of operating in the provinces taken over by the Bolsheviks." "Top class spies in the field, ready for everything." "Any power hostile to the Soviet regime would covet such men." "I represent the United States, not just any power." "I need the men that you and Canaris know." "Yuri Nikolskoy." " That's the Brandt farm." " But..." "Alexander?" "We retreated together." "Hello, I'm Yuri Nikolskoy." "I've come to work for Mr Brandt." " I'm Frieda." " Let me do it." "I have the feeling we've come home." "But you said you wanted to return." "Not now." "Neither to your home nor to mine." "Our son will be born here." "You must be the Russians." "Yes." "Good day, madam." "Come in and make yourselves at home." "Come on, there's some hot tea." "You work too hard." "Yes, but what else can I do?" "Thank you, darling." "Here, what do you think?" " Can it wait till tomorrow?" " Of course." "So... what's the situation?" "With the French and the English it's the same old song:" "Hand them over to the Soviets when they show up." "The Americans are a mystery." "A certain..." "Allen Dulles met Smyslovsky." "A courteous meeting according to him." "He's not very forthcoming." "Two of his officers might be working for allied intelligence." "That may be how Dulles found him." "According to Red Cross, English troops in southern Austria shot Cossacks not returning to the Red Army." "There has even been talk of mass suicides." "One thing is clear:" "we are alone." "Our Swiss neighbours have let us know that." "But they can't just abandon us!" "They must protect themselves." "As anyone else would." "Except us." "True." "Except us." "God knows why Ziegler insists on victory bells in a neutral country?" "Maybe because they're bells of peace." "The war is over!" "Who are those people?" "Frenchmen from the camp at Dachau." "They're going home." "Yes, as head of Parliament, I am overjoyed." "It's the best place for them." "The only place." "Very well..." "I shall send the notifications to Your Highness." "You seem happy, Father." "Are the Soviets coming?" "Not yet." "There's a commission first." "Now we'll find out who is right." "No." "Good day, gentlemen." "Have you opened the meeting on the pavement?" "Just waiting for you outside." "It's such a fine day." "Well, here I am." "Let's go." "We don't feel you will go back on your decision but..." ""We"?" "Who are "we"?" " Are you their spokesman?" " We are unanimous." "I do believe that it's inside Parliament that decisions are made." "Unanimity is rarely achieved in the streets." "Long live our Soviet comrades!" "Long live Stalin!" "Shut up, communists!" "This isn't the Resistance, you're soldiers!" "You put the lives of 12,000 countrymen at risk to save 500 foreigners who only know how to fight, butcher and kill!" "So they are guilty?" "With no hearing and no trial?" "They are guilty and we can now send them to the firing squad?" "Because they thought, rightly or wrongly, that the German army was the only way to get rid of their own dictator." "At least they had a valid reason." "Tell me, Klaus... your cousin was an SS officer." "Do we vote for his death?" "And the two Russians working in your stables... are they blood-thirsty killers with knives between their teeth?" "Are they?" "No, these are brave men." "Hard workers." "And you wish them dead?" "No." "Of course not." "Fit a face to it and it's more difficult, isn't it?" "This is about the lives of our fellow countrymen." "Not about names and faces." "Actually, it's about fear." "Yours and mine." "But I won't turn my back on the truth." "That's enough, Hoop!" "It's a matter for our prince." "He will listen." "As always," "Father Ziegler, with great interest." "Sit down, gentlemen." "Well, Father... what am I supposed to understand?" "Well, we are convinced that... our Prime Minister lacks foresight... in not giving in to the Allies' demands and that... he is putting the future of our country at risk." "Gentlemen... we have survived for two and a half centuries." "And I firmly believe one can only survive by being oneself, not by trying to please." "I don't wish to please the Allies or Stalin." "Dr Hoop and I have discussed it several times." "We think it is just, and therefore good for Liechtenstein... to remain in the eyes of the world a small nation, but an honest one." "I hope I have persuaded you." "Thank you." "When the Soviet Commission for Repatriation arrives," "I would like Dr Hoop to lead the negotiations." "I'd prefer it if neither you nor he paid particular attention to me." "Thank you, Lisa." " Are you laughing at my suit?" " No!" "I was just smiling." "Don't you like my smile?" "On a day like this, I miss my uniform." "When do they arrive?" "At two o'clock." "Will you be summoned?" "No, today they'll establish... what Hoop calls..." "the basis of an agreement." "That I'd love to see:" "Bolsheviks and agreements!" "Don't turn round!" "Gentlemen, shall we sit?" "I'm Joseph Hoop, Prime Minister, and these are the members of Parliament." "I know who you are, Dr Hoop." "I am..." "Your credentials?" "Thank you." "Very well," "Colonel Cheko and Captain Climenko..." "You are both welcome." "I hope we share the desire for these negotiations to succeed." " I won't negotiate." "I am here to organise the return of our citizens to the homeland." "Then there should be no problem." "The trucks will be here in two days." "Perfect." "Two days." "Colonel..." "May I see your list?" "List?" "What list is that?" "The list of Soviet citizens asking to be repatriated." "Excluding those from the Baltic States that you annexed in 1939." "It is not internationally recognised." "They all go." "I'll say it again." "All." "I just have to register the names on your list and everything is fine." "Just bureaucracy." "There is no list." "That's annoying." "Never mind, we have one." "Then, give it to me." "An official request will obtain a prompt and affirmative reply." "Please bring us your request." "But excuse us for now." "Come, gentlemen." "What is it, boy?" "Afraid of the Bolsheviks?" "They killed all my family." "Mere peasants!" "The German advance saved me." "Now they're back." "It's over, boy." "You're in Liechtenstein now." "A democracy." "Now you live with me." "And you can stay." "You're part of my family." "What's the doll for?" " Your daughter's birthday." " Maria?" "God, it's true!" "Martha could have reminded me." "I am the father!" "No more noise." "Okay, Maria?" "You, too, Eric." " It looks easy." " It is." "As long as you respect the wood." "Can I try?" "Try what?" "It's beautiful." "Maria will be so happy." "In six months you'll do the same for me." "You're staying?" "It's decided?" "We're refugees." "We'll go where they tell us." "We have something to say." "Stop a moment and listen, Natalya." "It's Martha's idea." "A good one then." "Since Martha's mother died, her father has been ill." "He is bored." "He will rent you his farm and go to live in Vaduz." "There he can play cards all day." "His land is next to ours." "If we work together, it could be a big business." "It sounds wonderful." "Thank you." "And thank your father, Martha." " But..." " But what?" "No buts..." "In fact, there are." "What if we make plans now, all kinds of beautiful plans, and are ordered to Russia?" "It would be too cruel." "Do you see?" "No plans." "Not yet." "But you promised me, Gregory." "Remember the life you promised me?" "It's here, with Martha and Peter." "Speak to him." "I'll look after the herd." "The bandit Smyslovsky does not deign to come and answer to his charges." "Worse, he's represented by a minion." "Nevertheless, in reply to your request, here is the list of our prisoners." "This is indeed a complete list of your so-called prisoners." " But I refuse this denomination." " For Liechtenstein, they are prisoners." "So we can proceed, I will accept another term." "Any suggestions?" "Deserter." "Deserter, how's that?" "Unacceptable." "They are members of the 1st National Russian Army, officially serving under the German High Command." "That scum is no Russian Army!" "It's a gang of criminals!" "So how about... prisoners of war?" "If you had surrendered in Germany, you would be prisoners of war." "Is that acceptable?" "Agreed." "The... prisoners of war must be returned to the USSR without delay." "First they will go to Feldkirch, to the French authorities, who will take them to Vienna where they will be handed over to the Soviets." "That's it." "One moment, Colonel." ""The Soviet Commission for Repatriation..."" "Here it is..." ""...is to negotiate the return of Russian citizens."" "Are the negotiations over?" "There is nothing more to add." "I must misunderstand the word 'negotiation'." "There is nothing to add." "Except that... the prisoners will not be handed over." "You should read this." "Now?" "Just the signatures on the last page." "Roosevelt." "Churchill, Stalin..." "Impressive!" "This document was signed at Yalta." "It allows us to repatriate all" "I repeat, all Russians, free or prisoners in Europe." " Interesting." "Just one problem." "I can't see the signature of our prince, Franz Joseph." "They must have forgotten to invite him." "It's the only answer!" "Funny, isn't it?" "But you are wrong to mock our prince." "I shall explain something once and for all." "This is a small country, but it upholds rights." "Your threats won't stop us from respecting the law or from making you respect it." "It wasn't our war." "Yalta is not our concern." "And if Eisenhower says that Russians freed in the allied zone will be handed to the Soviets, again we are not concerned." "Because Liechtenstein is not a zone." " It is neutral and independent." " This is ridiculous!" "If democracy is ridiculous, go home!" "But remember this:" "any man in the 1st National" "Russian Army who wants to return to the USSR can do so, and you will ask each one of them!" "No one will leave here by force!" "Or against his will!" "No one!" "No one will go with you, you bastard!" "Lieutenant Zolchin!" "Really?" "Remind me of his name," "Prime Minister." " Lieutenant..." "Mikhail Zolchin." "Remember that name..." "Cheko!" " I will remember." "Count on it!" "Cheko put an end to any doubts." "Total hatred poured out of him." "And the others?" "And Anton?" "The others are worried about reprisals." "When the Russians left, Anton wouldn't speak." "But... is there a danger?" "Really?" "In principle, no." "But we all make mistakes." "Six tanks and an infantry battalion are enough to flatten Liechtenstein." "They would make their excuses and offer to stay in order to rebuild everything." "And what do they care..." "Truman, Churchill and De Gaulle?" "I suppose there is danger." "I'm afraid." "Lunch!" "Go help Frieda, my boy." " What was your father like?" " He was the strongest on the kolkhoz." "What's that?" "A kolkhoz, what is it?" " A farm." " Like ours?" "No, much bigger." "So your father was rich?" "He was very poor." "But if the farm was so big..." "It wasn't our farm." "I don't get it." "Whose was it?" "The state's." "Everybody's." "Well... that's what they said." "My information was correct." "Your correspondent is Swiss, and I trust him." "The editor confirmed it." "You must warn your men." "It won't be easy." "Dr Hoop will do all he can but he's being watched." "The NKVD must have agents among my men." "How about Argentina?" "Our friends are working on it." "I'm hopeful." "Thank you for everything." "What did he say?" "Vlassov was captured." "And 10,000 of his men executed." "10,000 men!" "We can't help them now." "I'll be damned before they touch one of my men!" "Zolchin!" "Do what you like, but ensure they know what Cheko and his cronies can do!" "They'll have no mercy." "Inform all the men." "But don't compromise Dr Hoop." "Do it quickly." "Now!" "Yes, sir." "Let them know... that the negotiations for Argentina are going well." "Yes, sir." "Is it true?" "A hypothesis." "An optimistic one." "What is it?" "Dr Hoop sent it." "He said it's urgent." "Read it while I change." ""Dear Anton..." ""The Soviet commission" ""is preparing to meet" ""Smyslovsky's men" ""to see who wants to return to the USSR." ""They should be accompanied by an observer" ""with integrity and objectivity." ""Yours is the first name to spring to mind." ""Mopel can second you." "Send your reply" ""to the Parliament." "Your friend, Joseph."" "If you go you can evangelise those damned Bolsheviks!" "You'll break new ground." "New ground is not my vocation." "Excuse me." " Sorry, all has changed." " This whole thing is a mess." "You're right." " Why did you pick me?" " You're an important person." "They won't pressurise the men before you." "I'm honoured." "When will they come?" "It's postponed today." "With everything not quite as it seems," "I think they're stalling." "Like the general?" "Right!" "But for different reasons." "Did you find anything interesting?" "There wasn't enough time." "I thought you'd speak more." "I expected a Soviet to respect the rules of politeness." "Quite a mistake!" "The mistake, Dr Hoop, is the stupidity of you and your prince risking your country to protect criminals." "It could be a mistake, and it's quite possible that I'm stupid." "But risk?" "I don't quite follow." "Do you expect us to give in to your threats?" "You are intelligent enough to answer that yourself." "By the way, Captain Barinkova, you must have woken early to bring me a message that your superiors could have given by telephone or to a driver." "It must be one of the disadvantages of being a woman officer in the Red Army." "I understand your bad mood." "Wrong, Dr Hoop." "What puts me in a bad mood is dealing with little men who are blind and deaf, in their little country." "Little men who have never seen blood spilt or shot guns." "You're right, we don't have your experience." "Before Hitler, your old ally, attacked you, you had already attacked" "Finland, the Baltic States and Poland." "What is certain is we didn't win this war to have to deal with people like you." "Make a call and ask the Americans what they did to the Cossacks." "And how the English forced people into convoys, to send back our traitors." "If a few thousand people from here end up in cattle trucks bound for the East, who will ever know?" "How many are you?" "12,000?" "It would only take a few trains." "You must have suffered badly to speak like that." "Goodbye, Captain." "20 million of my countrymen died." "Never forget that." "It's a lot." "In Leningrad we ate rats... and even human flesh, to survive." "I could understand you if I wasn't Russian." "But I am Russian." "The Nazis killed my parents, hanged my husband..." "So the war is not over for me." "It will be one day, perhaps." "I hope so, madam." "You pig!" "Was this war fought for silk stockings for your Austrian whores?" "You're off to Siberia!" "It's for the general." "His orders." "That's even more serious." "General or not, I'll file a report." "He'll be sent to fight the Japanese!" "Captain Barinkova is in charge." "Cheko can't act without her consent." "I take it you noticed?" "I completely agree." "She is elegant, subtle, wounded deeply by her loss, and the more dangerous for it!" "Can we rest a while?" "I haven't had your training." "Still no news about the Bolsheviks?" "Nothing." "Yes, that's him." "I'm not in the least surprised." "He only sees things in the worse case." "But this time, he may be right." "What do they have in store?" "They are twisted." "This is the calm before the storm." "They are looking for weaknesses, studying files..." "They are very thorough." "More than you imagine." "I have news from a trustworthy source." "Armed groups of communists from Yugoslavia and Italy are making reprisals in southern Austria." "I shall keep on my guard." "Thank you, Dr Hoop." "I shall also warn my men." "Are you still in touch with Dulles?" "Yes, he comes to see me now and again." "You wouldn't listen!" "Now look!" "Enough!" "Put your trousers on, boy." "You look stupid." "Go and make yourself decent, girl." "Make some coffee." "Don't put that on." "It needs dressing." "Ask Frieda to clean it." "Go on!" "Quite a scene this morning!" "Eight policemen!" "That's 2/3 of our armed forces." "Have you mobilised the troops?" "We'll get their statements, and the French will take them." "The French?" "Why, Anton?" "They did not respect the rules." "Your rules, Joseph." "They will be expelled and the French will take them away." "That's it!" "What happens after is not our concern." " And it will appease the Soviets." " So it will!" "Bravo, Anton." "Well done!" "I want to see the witness statements." "I don't want an investigation, but let's stay within the law." "Our law." "We don't need written statements." "The witnesses are upstanding citizens." "That makes our position all the stronger." " When do the French get here?" " At 4 o'clock." "We have only six hours." " We'll have to be quick." " Impossible!" "We would need at least 24 hours to gather all the witnesses." "Then we'll have to tell the French... that certain facts need to be checked... that there are formalities..." "They'll understand." "The French love bureaucracy." "I need your help." "Can I count on you?" "We must establish perfectly each man's guilt." "Guilt?" "There was a rape!" "Well, attempted rape." " Have you told the general?" " Not yet." "You should have." "Hide, quick!" "Tell me where the general is, bitch!" "Spit it out!" " Lisa!" " Don't move!" "Is he upstairs?" "Take me to his room!" "Move!" "Leave it, that's an order!" "To the Jeep!" "It's not too bad?" "Is she okay?" "Nothing serious." "I didn't tell them." "Good, Lisa you're very brave." "I'll take care of your sweet face." "Come with me." " Everything okay?" " Thank God!" "I was afraid!" "Dr Hoop, you are very well informed." "I know nothing." "I came to tell you Ziegler has had 3 of your men arrested." " Is it serious?" " Yes." "I need you now." "Anyway, you can't stay here." "We'll move you to Vaduz." "Nikolskoy..." "Private." "The charges from Mme Brandt and the farm boy against Yuri Nikolskoy have been dropped." "Let him go." "Get back to the Brandt farm on the double." "Move." "Effeniev..." "Private." "He's in bad shape." "Your police are very enthusiastic, Dr Hoop." "No, it was his comrades putting a stop to the rape." "You bastard!" "After what happened to you!" "What was that?" "He was forced to watch the Bolsheviks rape his mother and sister." "Ziegler would do well to hear the rest." "His father was a priest." "They cut his tongue out for preaching anticommunist sermons." "In that case, General, one could plead extenuating circumstances." "I'm sorry, Joseph, but he raped a teenager." "We can't treat it lightly." "And it could happen again if we don't set an example." "I agree wholeheartedly." "Hang him!" "The war is over, General, and with it martial law." "Our court will decide." "He'll be tried under Liechtenstein law." "Autumn 1945" " Leave it!" " What's going on?" "Clear off!" " Your lawyer has already lost!" " Shut up!" "I'm sorry to call you at such short notice." "Don't mention it." "Have all my men been warned?" "No idea." "Ziegler will quickly hear of any absentees." "Two are certain to miss the call." "That's another problem." "But I didn't ask you here for that, Boris." "It's been made official." "They want to question you here tomorrow at three." "I can't do much tomorrow, but if, as a lawyer, I can help you today..." "My dear friend..." "Where shall I begin?" "If I had any idea what my crimes were" "I would ask your advice." "I fought this war as I did the last." "Like 7 generations before me, I have fought with honour." "As my illustrious and bellicose family has always done." "My conscience is clear." "Fall in!" "Get in line!" "Move yourselves!" "A Russian explaining to the Soviet police why he is in the German Army seems completely surreal." "Quiet!" "Why are you here?" "You are Russian soldiers." "You have nothing to do with the people of this little country." "And the people of this little country don't want you here." "True," "Father Ziegler?" "True?" "True, I suppose." "There, you see?" "So, who are you?" "Most of you are captured Soviet soldiers or prisoners of war forced to join the German Army to fight with scum against your own comrades." "Oh, I know..." "I know some people back home think that a bullet in the head is all you deserve." "But not me." "I understand you." "Because I am a soldier." "But... there are others here who were not captured, who are not prisoners of war, who simply ran away." "We could call them deserters." "Not me." "I call them little pieces of shit!" "You're one!" "Are you a little piece of shit?" " Answer." " Yes, Colonel." "Yes, what?" "I didn't hear." "I am one of those little pieces of shit, Colonel." "About time!" "Do you have a name?" "Krassov." "Is that all?" "Alexander Victorovitch Krassov." "Alexander Victorovitch Krassov." "Men like this Alexander Victorovitch Krassov deserted because they were cold and hungry." "Or because they had lost their regiment." "These things happen." "Not to me, but to those like Alexander Victorovitch Krassov." "There are others among you who may have made the same mistake." "That is why you are here today in this little country." "Because you know you made a mistake." "I know it was only a mistake." "Alexander Victorovitch Krassov, your mother misses you." "She hasn't seen you since May 1941." "Remember the 2 weeks leave you spent mostly with Alexandra?" "Alexandra, Alexander..." "Your names are almost the same." "Remember how beautiful she was?" "She's even more beautiful now." "Look." "Turn it over, there's a message." "She wants you to go home." "She still loves you." "Your mother wants you back." "Only you are left." "You father died." "Asthma..." "I'm sorry, Alexander." "It was only three months ago." "We have news for each of you." "Frieda." "Petrov Gregory lvanovitch?" "Here." "Comrade Petrov..." "I am happy to meet you at last." "You were taken prisoner in 1942." "But you have quite a reputation, I see." "Estonian family, both parents teachers, only son..." "You're a brave man, Petrov." "Two medals from the Soviet Army." "It seems your studies helped you in the army." "One more year of studies." "Just one." "And you will be a doctor." "The USSR needs men like you." "But I am in the National Russian Army." "Can you forget that?" "You are quicker than me." "But then, you are an intelligent man." "You deserve a reply." "Your comrades, too." "Listen very carefully to this reply." "Come!" "Now you know what we have tried to do for you with the little time we have had." "Now you know that in Russia we haven't forgotten you and that people can't wait for your return." "But nonetheless... you did take up arms against your own brothers." "This can't go unpunished." "Stalin, our father, our beloved leader, has decided that your punishment will be a rebirth." "Forget the camps!" "Forget prison!" "You will pay your debt to your country in the noblest way." "You will spend two years rebuilding our ruined cities." "Your officers will undergo political re-education." "Then, you can go back to the ones you love." "Free at last to live your own lives in your houses, in the land of your birth." "We'll be back in seven days." "You can bring your wives, if you have one." "We'll find a place for them." "You were perfect, Cheko." "Gregory Petrov would be a good recruit for the NKVD." "I'm sorry." "I'm glad you started." "The view is great up there." "I heard that woman." "Medical studies..." "both parents teachers..." "I didn't know that." "You said they worked in a factory." "It's true." " And now they're teachers?" " Before the war, they were." "They were sent to the factory." "I was..." "I am a medical student." "Did you hear her?" "I can go to medical school." "So you've decided without asking me?" "Decided for me and the baby?" "Do you know why the general brought us here?" "He thought they would shoot us all." "It's not true." "You heard them." "Do you want to risk that?" " It's not our business." " Yes, it is." "You're our only friends." "I always felt... you were a clever man." "I'm not educated, but we're friends." "I didn't know you wanted to be a doctor." "Nor did Natalya." "You're clever enough to start over, here." "And there is a chance your general is right." "Would you risk all your lives just to be a doctor?" "No, to keep my promises to Natalya." "I don't care about your promises!" "We dreamt of cars, caviar and furs when we lived in a tent!" "In the snow, being bombed!" "All I want now is to live." "I want to live here and now." "That's all!" "It's Ziegler." "Sorry Joseph, I can't sleep." "Me neither." "Go on up." "Sit down." " Excuse me, Emily." " Good evening." " Cognac?" " With pleasure." "I've been thinking." "Their manipulation is plain to see." "Cheko and the captain tell terrible lies." "Are you sure?" "They are evil incarnate." "I was horrified." "In the end, I almost believed him myself." "He was almost human." "She was almost motherly." "Most of those poor boys believe everything they are told." "I'm sure they wish to return to Russia." "I'm quite sure." "Boris must talk to his men." "Only he can convince them." " You must intervene, Joseph." " I can't, it's too dangerous." "Europe is a time bomb." "The armies make and unmake laws." "We could disappear." "If the Soviets learnt of the palace treasure, it would be a certainty." "You must warn them." "You have risked so much." "Even against Anton." "Whatever happens, you have the full support of the Parliament." "You must do something." "Where is the war criminal Smyslovsky?" "General Smyslovsky is waiting." "Bring him in." "Prime Minister..." "Gentlemen." "Who are you?" "I said, who are you?" "Why is this poor man shouting?" "Do you understand him?" "I don't." "I speak a little." "Perhaps you could interpret for me?" "Dr Hoop, forgive me, but... this man speaks a language which is foreign to me." "But luckily, Lieutenant Zolchin knows the basics and can act as my interpreter." "If you would ask this man to speak directly to the lieutenant we might be able to start." "We have a problem of communication." "The lieutenant will pass on what you say." "Before we begin, this man must identify himself." "Who are you?" "He wants to know who you are." "If they don't know who I am, then we are clearly wasting our time here." "Just a formality." "Of course, Dr Hoop." "Count Arthur Boris Holmston-Smyslovsky." "General of the 1st National Russian Army of the Wehrmacht." "In my file it only says Smyslovsky, Boris." "Arthur and Holmston were added in 1920 to confuse the Bolshevik secret service and its hideous, twisted, evil-doing gnomes, better known as the Cheka." "You are Finnish, Boris Smyslovsky." "You were born in Terioki on 3 December 1897." "What did he say?" "If he wants my biography," "I prefer to do it myself." "It will be quicker, and also, I am the best qualified." "I left the Mikhailovska Artillery School in St Petersburg, was given the rank of Lieutenant in 1915 and sent to the front at eighteen." "I went to Austria during the Bolshevik revolution." "My father and most of my family were killed in a concentration camp by that lot!" "I joined the White Army in 1918." "And I fought against the revolutionary army for 3 years until my unit was imprisoned in Poland." "Then I fled to Germany where I joined its army." "I was a German Major in 1940, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in '42 and General in '44." "I organised the 1st National Russian Army, with which I fought, for Greater Russia, against the Bolsheviks." "We fought only on the Eastern Front against the Red Army." "And we served with honour." "The 500 men that are here are all that is left of my 3,000 soldiers." "Thank you." "Colonel Cheko... you bring charges against General Smyslovsky for war crimes." "The burden of proof for these crimes rests with you." "He has admitted our first accusation." "That is enough." "Can you be more precise, Captain?" "Being in the White Army between 1918 and 1920, he admits to the murder of Soviet citizens." "Do you have statements?" "After his court martial, you will have the statements." "I'm sorry, we need them here and now." "Do you have anything to add?" "Yes," "I do." "They speak of the murder of Russian citizens." "They seem confused." "If these representatives of the political police could understand," "I would remind them of the military code." "But... they are butchers." "Butchers representing butchers!" "The only law they know is the law of the slaughter house!" "They have enslaved Russia with murder!" "And with murder, they keep power!" "Smyslovsky, you are dead!" "You are dead!" "Yes, like General Vlassov is dead." "You are as dead as a dead pig!" "Like Vlassov!" "And we pissed on his stinking corpse!" "And his 10,000 dead men!" "Shot like rabbits!" "Well... everything is clear." "There is no Commission for Repatriation." "These Bolsheviks are murderers." "They just admitted to killing Vlassov and wiping out his army." "10,000 men slaughtered." "Lies and death, that's what this commission is." "You have all heard this Mr Cheko." "Colonel Cheko, Captain Barinkova, once again, can you give me any proof against General Smyslovsky?" "Smyslovsky, you will need to run fast and hide your whole life." "You won't be safe anywhere." "What are you doing?" " I'm taking notes." " You will see us again." "Very soon." "Remember, the USSR is powerful." " And we won the war." " I'll make a note." "Gentlemen, the session is closed." "General, were the 10,000 men a supposition?" "No, Father." "Unfortunately it was an underestimate." "I hope it helps your men understand." "Let's pray they do." "Death to Stalin!" "My poor Cheko, the commissioner will want to congratulate you personally." "Thank you." "There's no hurry now." "Ziegler and his followers will probably win the election, and as they now adhere to your cause, they'll soon make you a hero." "Our prince won't oppose your staying." "Thanks, but no." "We will cause you problems." "The USSR has no influence in Argentina, we'll be of no trouble to our hosts." "The only thing that bothers me is learning Spanish." "Which my wife speaks fluently." "Do your men know about Argentina?" "Zolchin has seen to it." "Unfortunately, we heard late this afternoon." "We were just wondering..." "What will happen to the two lovers?" "It takes a long time to set up an investigation." "If you and your men leave soon we can let them go for..." "good behaviour." "They may even flee the country..." "Our police don't have the means to chase lovers as far as Argentina." "I think you're becoming less rigid." "More optimistic." "You know what Napoleon said?" ""What I admire most in the world is that the mind is mightier than the sword."" "Come here, it's important!" "Lieutenant Zolchin sent me!" "Remember Vlassov's men?" "Well, now it's possible to go to Argentina." "Where's that?" "Olga will show you." "It's far away." "We'll be safe there." "The general wants to take us there." " There?" " Yes, there." " Oh, no." " No, it's too far" "Are you coming to Argentina?" "How do we know?" "Who's telling the truth?" "You didn't tell the truth." "I've never hidden anything." "I told you everything about me and all my family." "You knew I worked in a factory." "You knew we were poor, everything." "I believed we were from the same world." "But I loved you." "I love you so much that..." "I wanted to ignore anything that came between us." "You'd have distrusted me as a student doctor." " And then..." " Then what?" "The men I was with..." "You mean poor, uneducated people like me?" "I mean people who could have become hostile." "Aggressive." "Because I was different." "Not better." "Just different." "It's like that everywhere." "Worse in a closed world like the army." "Even the other women would have hated you." "Gregory, my darling." "Let's do it." "Let's do what you want." "Please." "Then we're going home." "Watches!" "Who wants a watch?" "You'll all have a watch." "There's one for everyone back home." "Smile." "Dr Petrov!" "Want to be in the photo?" "Gregory!" " Natalya?" "Let her go!" "Calm down, comrade." "Get in line." "Those who chose to return only went as far as Hungary..." "General Smyslovsky took the rest of his men to Argentina." "Much later, he returned to Liechtenstein where he died on 8 September 1988." "I deliver perfection..." "and don't brag about it!" ":" "D" "The accused is aware of the seriousness of his crime." "By stealing from our stores he has stolen from his comrades." "I request the highest form of punishment." "He recognises the facts." "He has shown regret and has apologised." "The war is almost over." "I ask the court martial to show mercy." "Hang him!" "Execution!" "This true story began on 2 May 1945 in neutral Liechtenstein, a few days before the end of WW2." "Kurt!" "Don't shoot!" "It's a Russian general!" "Drive on!" "WIND FROM THE EAST" "Commander..." "Troops are coming in at Schellenberg." "At the frontier post." "5 minutes ago." "I'm not sure, maybe a regiment." "They're Russians in German uniforms." "No, it's not the Red Army." "It's Russians dressed as Germans." "What is it, Father?" "A state secret?" "Keep your pose!" "How can I paint you if you're moving all the time?" "If you want me, Anton, just ask." "Do you want me?" "Wash your hands first." "You still haven't answered my question." "These damn Russians caught us unawares!" "There were only two guards." "They fired, but the bastards kept coming and they got through." "A whole army with guns and kit." "And their women!" "Can you believe it?" "They even brought their women." "What have you got against women..." "Herr Ziegler?" "I don't take that, and we're full!" "You don't take it?" "Do you take gold?" "You have to take them." "Ministers' orders!" "The officers and their families must be lodged." " Who's paying?" " No idea." "It's that or requisition." "As Prince of Liechtenstein, you can't send them back, Franz." "They'll be executed." "And Ziegler is well aware of it." "He knows about the Bolsheviks." "And Tito." "It's his duty as a priest to protect them." "As head of the Parliament he has other duties." "These men are asking for our help." "Their lives are at stake." "Ziegler is worried about our own citizens." "How can we feed the Russians?" "We have the Red Cross supplies." "But there are more than 500 of them!" "We are 12,000." "I believe I screamed at you." "Excuse me, darling." "Really?" "I didn't notice." "No?" "What did Ziegler say exactly?" "That the Germans could come and swallow us up tomorrow." "It is what Ziegler fears most." "And to be honest, so do I." "At Yalta they decided to return all the Russian, civil and military, to the USSR." "They don't want to upset Stalin." "So we are in danger?" "Yes..." "It's a possibility." "Protect us, Father, and bless me." "Thank you." "Madam, this is the best bread I've ever tasted." "And your coffee is on a par with your bread!" "Excuse me." "Good day, Father." "Well..." "I suppose... we had to meet sooner or later." "Indeed, if you are in charge of these men." "Holmston-Smyslovsky." "General of the 1st National Russian Army." "But wearing a German uniform." "We fought with the Germans against the Bolsheviks." "I mean, the Soviet army." "And only against them." "I must offer my apologies for barging into your country, but it was for a good cause:" "to save my 500 men whose lives are threatened." "Must I beg for your pity?" "Or beg for you mercy to receive your pardon, Father?" "Let's speak outside." "Move the barriers!" "Good luck!" "Don't worry." "See you tonight." "All these refugees." "It's terrible." "What more can we do?" "Oh, yes... they'll die too!" "And all the others, if you send us back to Feldkirch." "The English, the French... even the Americans would hand us over to Stalin and his butchers." "That's untrue." "I'll give you a letter of safe conduct." "Excuse me, Father, but the Bolsheviks would wipe their arses with it." "It's their speciality." "Your remarks are offensive, General." "Do you find them more offensive than 500 corpses rotting in a ditch just across your border?" "Such an atrocity is impossible!" "I'm sure of it!" "If that were true I wouldn't be here." "All these people are catholic, children of our Church." "The bastards you want to hand us to do not believe in God." "They spoil everything" "God taught us to love." "Remember what the Red Army did to our nuns, raping them like savages on the altars of our churches?" "And how they ripped out the tongues of priests, to stop them from spreading the word?" "You dare preach to me?" "You think I don't know who those Ukrainians are out there?" "It was they who cleaned out the Warsaw ghetto!" "They sent the Jews in cattle trucks to Auschwitz!" " Those are your soldiers!" " No, not my men!" "My men did not do that!" "There is scum everywhere!" "Here like elsewhere!" "The heads of killers are like fruit." "Only when they are cut do we see the rotten inside." "You seem excited this morning." "Everything okay?" "He doesn't want to leave." "Are you surprised?" "In his place, I'd feel the same." "Maybe you should introduce us." "Dr Joseph Hoop, Prime Minister of our government." "General..." "Smyslovsky." "Doctor Hoop..." "Smyslovsky, is that a Russian name?" "No, sir, Finnish." "But for the Russians that's the same." "I don't wish to appear rude, but please excuse us a few minutes." "I shall go and finish my breakfast." "I am at your disposal." "Gentlemen..." "Well?" "He has 500 well trained, armed men." "It's a threat to our security." "In one day, he could take over the country." " That's correct." "And if he does, the Allies will attack them, and our country will be left in ruins." " That's correct." " So... if you agree," "I suggest we contact the French or Americans, through the Swiss, and leave the problem to them." "And we..." "just wash our hands of them." "We have no choice." "We have nowhere to lock them up." "There are the elections soon." "You haven't forgotten?" "And then..." "there's no proof they will be killed." "The very possibility makes me want to help them." "Very well, I shall see His Highness." "No point." "His Highness has already made his decision." "Don't get up, gentlemen." "May I present Doctor Hoop, Prime Minister of Liechtenstein." "My wife, the countess Irena." "I understand you are Polish, madam." "Your brave country has suffered a great deal." "Thank you." "I shall excuse you from the barbarian names of my officers." "You must understand that here in Liechtenstein, we are in a delicate situation." "There are many possible dangers." "General... can you swear on your honour that both you and your men have done nothing that the Allies could consider a war crime." "Yes, sir." "On my honour." "Thank you." "So if you feel disposed to submit to the clauses of the Geneva Convention concerning the status of prisoners of war, our prince, Franz Joseph, is ready to grant political asylum to you and your men." "With some conditions." "These people have come to our land with no invitation." "But our beloved prince has been kind enough to grant them political asylum for a limited time." "These poor people may soon be able to return to their own land." "But until the war is over we are to share with them our daily bread and our homes." "In return, they will work on your farms and on your land." "Brethren, I ask for your understanding." "No provocation." "And no fraternising either." "Be vigilant." "And above all, no relations between these men and the women of our land." "These are our last hours as soldiers." "From now on we will be civilians." "We must look like civilians." "The men will be dispersed to work around the country." "I don't know how long this situation will last, but be certain that I will do all I can to ensure our evacuation to a country where we will be safe." "I have personally promised to be responsible for discipline." "They have my word." "Relations between our men and local women are strictly forbidden." "Good." "Drunkenness and damage to the locals will result in imprisonment." "The guilty shall be handed over to the Allies." "Ensure the men understand my orders." "Their lives depend on it." "Excuse me." "You're needed, General." "Thank you, Lisa." "Gentlemen..." "We'll speak again later." "Push!" "I've told the girl we're not to be disturbed." "I'm afraid I am at a disadvantage." "I beg your pardon?" "You apparently know my name." "But I have no idea of yours or your friends'." "Excuse me, I'm always forgetting." "Dulles..." "American Secret Service." "We'd like to talk to you." "Sit down." " You've had an amazing war." " Really?" "Yes, General." "We've been following your 1st Army very closely." "And I never saw you..." "How careless of me." "The Eastern Front does not concern us." "We do not want to meddle in Soviet affairs." "That's a pity." "Really?" "You, in the West, must understand that I fought the war with honour, for a cause." "That's debatable." "The problem is not the cause, it's the timing." " And when is the right time?" " One must never be right too early." "Whether it concerns Galileo or even crusades against the Bolsheviks." "We would like your help." "And in return, we could perhaps offer you ours." "Admiral Wilhelm Canaris." "Head of German Intelligence, the Abwehr." " You're his friend." " And I am honoured to be so." "Can you tell me more?" "You know that he was involved in the attempt on Hitler's life." "They arrested him last summer." "I don't know what has become of him." "He was sent to a camp and was hanged last month." "One month..." "One month before the end." "Are you surprised?" "No." "Canaris used his networks to defend the Reich, but also for political reasons." "He was already thinking about after the war." "It's almost over." "Go on." "Very well." "But this must remain confidential." "In private, Canaris was convinced that the alliance between the Americans and the Soviets was unnatural, and that it would not survive after the war." " He had made provisions." " These provisions are of the utmost importance for the safeguard of the free world." "It's for a similar reason we frequent Russian émigrés." "Canaris and I shared the same hunting ground." "I wanted soldiers, and he wanted spies:" "men to be trained by the Abwehr capable of operating in the provinces taken over by the Bolsheviks." "Top class spies in the field, ready for everything." "Any power hostile to the Soviet regime would covet such men." "I represent the United States, not just any power." "I need the men that you and Canaris know." "Yuri Nikolskoy." " That's the Brandt farm." " But..." "Alexander?" "We retreated together." "Hello, I'm Yuri Nikolskoy." "I've come to work for Mr Brandt." " I'm Frieda." " Let me do it." "I have the feeling we've come home." "But you said you wanted to return." "Not now." "Neither to your home nor to mine." "Our son will be born here." "You must be the Russians." "Yes." "Good day, madam." "Come in and make yourselves at home." "Come on, there's some hot tea." "You work too hard." "Yes, but what else can I do?" "Thank you, darling." "Here, what do you think?" " Can it wait till tomorrow?" " Of course." "So... what's the situation?" "With the French and the English it's the same old song:" "Hand them over to the Soviets when they show up." "The Americans are a mystery." "A certain..." "Allen Dulles met Smyslovsky." "A courteous meeting according to him." "He's not very forthcoming." "Two of his officers might be working for allied intelligence." "That may be how Dulles found him." "According to Red Cross, English troops in southern Austria shot Cossacks not returning to the Red Army." "There has even been talk of mass suicides." "One thing is clear:" "we are alone." "Our Swiss neighbours have let us know that." "But they can't just abandon us!" "They must protect themselves." "As anyone else would." "Except us." "True." "Except us." "God knows why Ziegler insists on victory bells in a neutral country?" "Maybe because they're bells of peace." "The war is over!" "Who are those people?" "Frenchmen from the camp at Dachau." "They're going home." "Yes, as head of Parliament, I am overjoyed." "It's the best place for them." "The only place." "Very well..." "I shall send the notifications to Your Highness." "You seem happy, Father." "Are the Soviets coming?" "Not yet." "There's a commission first." "Now we'll find out who is right." "No." "Good day, gentlemen." "Have you opened the meeting on the pavement?" "Just waiting for you outside." "It's such a fine day." "Well, here I am." "Let's go." "We don't feel you will go back on your decision but..." ""We"?" "Who are "we"?" " Are you their spokesman?" " We are unanimous." "I do believe that it's inside Parliament that decisions are made." "Unanimity is rarely achieved in the streets." "Long live our Soviet comrades!" "Long live Stalin!" "Shut up, communists!" "This isn't the Resistance, you're soldiers!" "You put the lives of 12,000 countrymen at risk to save 500 foreigners who only know how to fight, butcher and kill!" "So they are guilty?" "With no hearing and no trial?" "They are guilty and we can now send them to the firing squad?" "Because they thought, rightly or wrongly, that the German army was the only way to get rid of their own dictator." "At least they had a valid reason." "Tell me, Klaus... your cousin was an SS officer." "Do we vote for his death?" "And the two Russians working in your stables... are they blood-thirsty killers with knives between their teeth?" "Are they?" "No, these are brave men." "Hard workers." "And you wish them dead?" "No." "Of course not." "Fit a face to it and it's more difficult, isn't it?" "This is about the lives of our fellow countrymen." "Not about names and faces." "Actually, it's about fear." "Yours and mine." "But I won't turn my back on the truth." "That's enough, Hoop!" "It's a matter for our prince." "He will listen." "As always," "Father Ziegler, with great interest." "Sit down, gentlemen." "Well, Father... what am I supposed to understand?" "Well, we are convinced that... our Prime Minister lacks foresight... in not giving in to the Allies' demands and that... he is putting the future of our country at risk." "Gentlemen... we have survived for two and a half centuries." "And I firmly believe one can only survive by being oneself, not by trying to please." "I don't wish to please the Allies or Stalin." "Dr Hoop and I have discussed it several times." "We think it is just, and therefore good for Liechtenstein... to remain in the eyes of the world a small nation, but an honest one." "I hope I have persuaded you." "Thank you." "When the Soviet Commission for Repatriation arrives," "I would like Dr Hoop to lead the negotiations." "I'd prefer it if neither you nor he paid particular attention to me." "Thank you, Lisa." " Are you laughing at my suit?" " No!" "I was just smiling." "Don't you like my smile?" "On a day like this, I miss my uniform." "When do they arrive?" "At two o'clock." "Will you be summoned?" "No, today they'll establish... what Hoop calls..." "the basis of an agreement." "That I'd love to see:" "Bolsheviks and agreements!" "Don't turn round!" "Gentlemen, shall we sit?" "I'm Joseph Hoop, Prime Minister, and these are the members of Parliament." "I know who you are, Dr Hoop." "I am..." "Your credentials?" "Thank you." "Very well," "Colonel Cheko and Captain Climenko..." "You are both welcome." "I hope we share the desire for these negotiations to succeed." " I won't negotiate." "I am here to organise the return of our citizens to the homeland." "Then there should be no problem." "The trucks will be here in two days." "Perfect." "Two days." "Colonel..." "May I see your list?" "List?" "What list is that?" "The list of Soviet citizens asking to be repatriated." "Excluding those from the Baltic States that you annexed in 1939." "It is not internationally recognised." "They all go." "I'll say it again." "All." "I just have to register the names on your list and everything is fine." "Just bureaucracy." "There is no list." "That's annoying." "Never mind, we have one." "Then, give it to me." "An official request will obtain a prompt and affirmative reply." "Please bring us your request." "But excuse us for now." "Come, gentlemen." "What is it, boy?" "Afraid of the Bolsheviks?" "They killed all my family." "Mere peasants!" "The German advance saved me." "Now they're back." "It's over, boy." "You're in Liechtenstein now." "A democracy." "Now you live with me." "And you can stay." "You're part of my family." "What's the doll for?" " Your daughter's birthday." " Maria?" "God, it's true!" "Martha could have reminded me." "I am the father!" "No more noise." "Okay, Maria?" "You, too, Eric." " It looks easy." " It is." "As long as you respect the wood." "Can I try?" "Try what?" "It's beautiful." "Maria will be so happy." "In six months you'll do the same for me." "You're staying?" "It's decided?" "We're refugees." "We'll go where they tell us." "We have something to say." "Stop a moment and listen, Natalya." "It's Martha's idea." "A good one then." "Since Martha's mother died, her father has been ill." "He is bored." "He will rent you his farm and go to live in Vaduz." "There he can play cards all day." "His land is next to ours." "If we work together, it could be a big business." "It sounds wonderful." "Thank you." "And thank your father, Martha." " But..." " But what?" "No buts..." "In fact, there are." "What if we make plans now, all kinds of beautiful plans, and are ordered to Russia?" "It would be too cruel." "Do you see?" "No plans." "Not yet." "But you promised me, Gregory." "Remember the life you promised me?" "It's here, with Martha and Peter." "Speak to him." "I'll look after the herd." "The bandit Smyslovsky does not deign to come and answer to his charges." "Worse, he's represented by a minion." "Nevertheless, in reply to your request, here is the list of our prisoners." "This is indeed a complete list of your so-called prisoners." " But I refuse this denomination." " For Liechtenstein, they are prisoners." "So we can proceed, I will accept another term." "Any suggestions?" "Deserter." "Deserter, how's that?" "Unacceptable." "They are members of the 1st National Russian Army, officially serving under the German High Command." "That scum is no Russian Army!" "It's a gang of criminals!" "So how about... prisoners of war?" "If you had surrendered in Germany, you would be prisoners of war." "Is that acceptable?" "Agreed." "The... prisoners of war must be returned to the USSR without delay." "First they will go to Feldkirch, to the French authorities, who will take them to Vienna where they will be handed over to the Soviets." "That's it." "One moment, Colonel." ""The Soviet Commission for Repatriation..."" "Here it is..." ""...is to negotiate the return of Russian citizens."" "Are the negotiations over?" "There is nothing more to add." "I must misunderstand the word 'negotiation'." "There is nothing to add." "Except that... the prisoners will not be handed over." "You should read this." "Now?" "Just the signatures on the last page." "Roosevelt." "Churchill, Stalin..." "Impressive!" "This document was signed at Yalta." "It allows us to repatriate all" "I repeat, all Russians, free or prisoners in Europe." " Interesting." "Just one problem." "I can't see the signature of our prince, Franz Joseph." "They must have forgotten to invite him." "It's the only answer!" "Funny, isn't it?" "But you are wrong to mock our prince." "I shall explain something once and for all." "This is a small country, but it upholds rights." "Your threats won't stop us from respecting the law or from making you respect it." "It wasn't our war." "Yalta is not our concern." "And if Eisenhower says that Russians freed in the allied zone will be handed to the Soviets, again we are not concerned." "Because Liechtenstein is not a zone." " It is neutral and independent." " This is ridiculous!" "If democracy is ridiculous, go home!" "But remember this:" "any man in the 1st National" "Russian Army who wants to return to the USSR can do so, and you will ask each one of them!" "No one will leave here by force!" "Or against his will!" "No one!" "No one will go with you, you bastard!" "Lieutenant Zolchin!" "Really?" "Remind me of his name," "Prime Minister." " Lieutenant..." "Mikhail Zolchin." "Remember that name..." "Cheko!" " I will remember." "Count on it!" "Cheko put an end to any doubts." "Total hatred poured out of him." "And the others?" "And Anton?" "The others are worried about reprisals." "When the Russians left, Anton wouldn't speak." "But... is there a danger?" "Really?" "In principle, no." "But we all make mistakes." "Six tanks and an infantry battalion are enough to flatten Liechtenstein." "They would make their excuses and offer to stay in order to rebuild everything." "And what do they care..." "Truman, Churchill and De Gaulle?" "I suppose there is danger." "I'm afraid." "Lunch!" "Go help Frieda, my boy." " What was your father like?" " He was the strongest on the kolkhoz." "What's that?" "A kolkhoz, what is it?" " A farm." " Like ours?" "No, much bigger." "So your father was rich?" "He was very poor." "But if the farm was so big..." "It wasn't our farm." "I don't get it." "Whose was it?" "The state's." "Everybody's." "Well... that's what they said." "My information was correct." "Your correspondent is Swiss, and I trust him." "The editor confirmed it." "You must warn your men." "It won't be easy." "Dr Hoop will do all he can but he's being watched." "The NKVD must have agents among my men." "How about Argentina?" "Our friends are working on it." "I'm hopeful." "Thank you for everything." "What did he say?" "Vlassov was captured." "And 10,000 of his men executed." "10,000 men!" "We can't help them now." "I'll be damned before they touch one of my men!" "Zolchin!" "Do what you like, but ensure they know what Cheko and his cronies can do!" "They'll have no mercy." "Inform all the men." "But don't compromise Dr Hoop." "Do it quickly." "Now!" "Yes, sir." "Let them know... that the negotiations for Argentina are going well." "Yes, sir." "Is it true?" "A hypothesis." "An optimistic one." "The Orthodox Church is involved." "What is it?" "Dr Hoop sent it." "He said it's urgent." "Read it while I change." ""Dear Anton..." ""The Soviet commission" ""is preparing to meet" ""Smyslovsky's men" ""to see who wants to return to the USSR." ""They should be accompanied by an observer" ""with integrity and objectivity." ""Yours is the first name to spring to mind." ""Mopel can second you." "Send your reply" ""to the Parliament." "Your friend, Joseph."" "If you go you can evangelise those damned Bolsheviks!" "You'll break new ground." "New ground is not my vocation." "Excuse me." " Sorry, all has changed." " This whole thing is a mess." "You're right." " Why did you pick me?" " You're an important person." "They won't pressurise the men before you." "I'm honoured." "When will they come?" "It's postponed today." "With everything not quite as it seems," "I think they're stalling." "Like the general?" "Right!" "But for different reasons." "Did you find anything interesting?" "There wasn't enough time." "I thought you'd speak more." "I expected a Soviet to respect the rules of politeness." "Quite a mistake!" "The mistake, Dr Hoop, is the stupidity of you and your prince risking your country to protect criminals." "It could be a mistake, and it's quite possible that I'm stupid." "But risk?" "I don't quite follow." "Do you expect us to give in to your threats?" "You are intelligent enough to answer that yourself." "By the way, Captain Barinkova, you must have woken early to bring me a message that your superiors could have given by telephone or to a driver." "It must be one of the disadvantages of being a woman officer in the Red Army." "I understand your bad mood." "Wrong, Dr Hoop." "What puts me in a bad mood is dealing with little men who are blind and deaf, in their little country." "Little men who have never seen blood spilt or shot guns." "You're right, we don't have your experience." "Before Hitler, your old ally, attacked you, you had already attacked" "Finland, the Baltic States and Poland." "What is certain is we didn't win this war to have to deal with people like you." "Make a call and ask the Americans what they did to the Cossacks." "And how the English forced people into convoys, to send back our traitors." "If a few thousand people from here end up in cattle trucks bound for the East, who will ever know?" "How many are you?" "12,000?" "It would only take a few trains." "You must have suffered badly to speak like that." "Goodbye, Captain." "20 million of my countrymen died." "Never forget that." "It's a lot." "In Leningrad we ate rats... and even human flesh, to survive." "I could understand you if I wasn't Russian." "But I am Russian." "The Nazis killed my parents, hanged my husband..." "So the war is not over for me." "It will be one day, perhaps." "I hope so, madam." "You pig!" "Was this war fought for silk stockings for your Austrian whores?" "You're off to Siberia!" "It's for the general." "His orders." "That's even more serious." "General or not, I'll file a report." "He'll be sent to fight the Japanese!" "Captain Barinkova is in charge." "Cheko can't act without her consent." "I take it you noticed?" "I completely agree." "She is elegant, subtle, wounded deeply by her loss, and the more dangerous for it!" "Can we rest a while?" "I haven't had your training." "Still no news about the Bolsheviks?" "Nothing." "Yes, that's him." "I'm not in the least surprised." "He only sees things in the worse case." "But this time, he may be right." "What do they have in store?" "They are twisted." "This is the calm before the storm." "They are looking for weaknesses, studying files..." "They are very thorough." "More than you imagine." "I have news from a trustworthy source." "Armed groups of communists from Yugoslavia and Italy are making reprisals in southern Austria." "I shall keep on my guard." "Thank you, Dr Hoop." "I shall also warn my men." "Are you still in touch with Dulles?" "Yes, he comes to see me now and again." "You wouldn't listen!" "Now look!" "Enough!" "Put your trousers on, boy." "You look stupid." "Go and make yourself decent, girl." "Make some coffee." "Don't put that on." "It needs dressing." "Ask Frieda to clean it." "Go on!" "Quite a scene this morning!" "Eight policemen!" "That's 2/3 of our armed forces." "Have you mobilised the troops?" "We'll get their statements, and the French will take them." "The French?" "Why, Anton?" "They did not respect the rules." "Your rules, Joseph." "They will be expelled and the French will take them away." "That's it!" "What happens after is not our concern." " And it will appease the Soviets." " So it will!" "Bravo, Anton." "Well done!" "I want to see the witness statements." "I don't want an investigation, but let's stay within the law." "Our law." "We don't need written statements." "The witnesses are upstanding citizens." "That makes our position all the stronger." " When do the French get here?" " At 4 o'clock." "We have only six hours." " We'll have to be quick." " Impossible!" "We would need at least 24 hours to gather all the witnesses." "Then we'll have to tell the French... that certain facts need to be checked... that there are formalities..." "They'll understand." "The French love bureaucracy." "I need your help." "Can I count on you?" "We must establish perfectly each man's guilt." "Guilt?" "There was a rape!" "Well, attempted rape." " Have you told the general?" " Not yet." "You should have." "Hide, quick!" "Tell me where the general is, bitch!" "Spit it out!" " Lisa!" " Don't move!" "Is he upstairs?" "Take me to his room!" "Move!" "Leave it, that's an order!" "To the Jeep!" "It's not too bad?" "Is she okay?" "Nothing serious." "I didn't tell them." "Good, Lisa you're very brave." "I'll take care of your sweet face." "Come with me." " Everything okay?" " Thank God!" "I was afraid!" "Dr Hoop, you are very well informed." "I know nothing." "I came to tell you Ziegler has had 3 of your men arrested." " Is it serious?" " Yes." "I need you now." "Anyway, you can't stay here." "We'll move you to Vaduz." "Nikolskoy..." "Private." "The charges from Mme Brandt and the farm boy against Yuri Nikolskoy have been dropped." "Let him go." "Get back to the Brandt farm on the double." "Move." "Effeniev..." "Private." "He's in bad shape." "Your police are very enthusiastic, Dr Hoop." "No, it was his comrades putting a stop to the rape." "You bastard!" "After what happened to you!" "What was that?" "He was forced to watch the Bolsheviks rape his mother and sister." "Ziegler would do well to hear the rest." "His father was a priest." "They cut his tongue out for preaching anticommunist sermons." "In that case, General, one could plead extenuating circumstances." "I'm sorry, Joseph, but he raped a teenager." "We can't treat it lightly." "And it could happen again if we don't set an example." "I agree wholeheartedly." "Hang him!" "The war is over, General, and with it martial law." "Our court will decide." "He'll be tried under Liechtenstein law." "Autumn 1945" " Leave it!" " What's going on?" "Clear off!" " Your lawyer has already lost!" " Shut up!" "I'm sorry to call you at such short notice." "Don't mention it." "Have all my men been warned?" "No idea." "Ziegler will quickly hear of any absentees." "Two are certain to miss the call." "That's another problem." "But I didn't ask you here for that, Boris." "It's been made official." "They want to question you here tomorrow at three." "I can't do much tomorrow, but if, as a lawyer, I can help you today..." "My dear friend..." "Where shall I begin?" "If I had any idea what my crimes were" "I would ask your advice." "I fought this war as I did the last." "Like 7 generations before me, I have fought with honour." "As my illustrious and bellicose family has always done." "My conscience is clear." "Fall in!" "Get in line!" "Move yourselves!" "A Russian explaining to the Soviet police why he is in the German Army seems completely surreal." "Quiet!" "Why are you here?" "You are Russian soldiers." "You have nothing to do with the people of this little country." "And the people of this little country don't want you here." "True," "Father Ziegler?" "True?" "True, I suppose." "There, you see?" "So, who are you?" "Most of you are captured Soviet soldiers or prisoners of war forced to join the German Army to fight with scum against your own comrades." "Oh, I know..." "I know some people back home think that a bullet in the head is all you deserve." "But not me." "I understand you." "Because I am a soldier." "But... there are others here who were not captured, who are not prisoners of war, who simply ran away." "We could call them deserters." "Not me." "I call them little pieces of shit!" "You're one!" "Are you a little piece of shit?" " Answer." " Yes, Colonel." "Yes, what?" "I didn't hear." "I am one of those little pieces of shit, Colonel." "About time!" "Do you have a name?" "Krassov." "Is that all?" "Alexander Victorovitch Krassov." "Alexander Victorovitch Krassov." "Men like this Alexander Victorovitch Krassov deserted because they were cold and hungry." "Or because they had lost their regiment." "These things happen." "Not to me, but to those like Alexander Victorovitch Krassov." "There are others among you who may have made the same mistake." "That is why you are here today in this little country." "Because you know you made a mistake." "I know it was only a mistake." "Alexander Victorovitch Krassov, your mother misses you." "She hasn't seen you since May 1941." "Remember the 2 weeks leave you spent mostly with Alexandra?" "Alexandra, Alexander..." "Your names are almost the same." "Remember how beautiful she was?" "She's even more beautiful now." "Look." "Turn it over, there's a message." "She wants you to go home." "She still loves you." "Your mother wants you back." "Only you are left." "You father died." "Asthma..." "I'm sorry, Alexander." "It was only three months ago." "We have news for each of you." "Frieda." "Petrov Gregory lvanovitch?" "Here." "Comrade Petrov..." "I am happy to meet you at last." "You were taken prisoner in 1942." "But you have quite a reputation, I see." "Estonian family, both parents teachers, only son..." "You're a brave man, Petrov." "Two medals from the Soviet Army." "It seems your studies helped you in the army." "One more year of studies." "Just one." "And you will be a doctor." "The USSR needs men like you." "But I am in the National Russian Army." "Can you forget that?" "You are quicker than me." "But then, you are an intelligent man." "You deserve a reply." "Your comrades, too." "Listen very carefully to this reply." "Come!" "Now you know what we have tried to do for you with the little time we have had." "Now you know that in Russia we haven't forgotten you and that people can't wait for your return." "But nonetheless... you did take up arms against your own brothers." "This can't go unpunished." "Stalin, our father, our beloved leader, has decided that your punishment will be a rebirth." "Forget the camps!" "Forget prison!" "You will pay your debt to your country in the noblest way." "You will spend two years rebuilding our ruined cities." "Your officers will undergo political re-education." "Then, you can go back to the ones you love." "Free at last to live your own lives in your houses, in the land of your birth." "We'll be back in seven days." "You can bring your wives, if you have one." "We'll find a place for them." "You were perfect, Cheko." "Gregory Petrov would be a good recruit for the NKVD." "I'm sorry." "I'm glad you started." "The view is great up there." "I heard that woman." "Medical studies..." "both parents teachers..." "I didn't know that." "You said they worked in a factory." "It's true." " And now they're teachers?" " Before the war, they were." "They were sent to the factory." "I was..." "I am a medical student." "Did you hear her?" "I can go to medical school." "So you've decided without asking me?" "Decided for me and the baby?" "Do you know why the general brought us here?" "He thought they would shoot us all." "It's not true." "You heard them." "Do you want to risk that?" " It's not our business." " Yes, it is." "You're our only friends." "I always felt... you were a clever man." "I'm not educated, but we're friends." "I didn't know you wanted to be a doctor." "Nor did Natalya." "You're clever enough to start over, here." "And there is a chance your general is right." "Would you risk all your lives just to be a doctor?" "No, to keep my promises to Natalya." "I don't care about your promises!" "We dreamt of cars, caviar and furs when we lived in a tent!" "In the snow, being bombed!" "All I want now is to live." "I want to live here and now." "That's all!" "It's Ziegler." "Sorry Joseph, I can't sleep." "Me neither." "Go on up." "Sit down." " Excuse me, Emily." " Good evening." " Cognac?" " With pleasure." "I've been thinking." "Their manipulation is plain to see." "Cheko and the captain tell terrible lies." "Are you sure?" "They are evil incarnate." "I was horrified." "In the end, I almost believed him myself." "He was almost human." "She was almost motherly." "Most of those poor boys believe everything they are told." "I'm sure they wish to return to Russia." "I'm quite sure." "Boris must talk to his men." "Only he can convince them." " You must intervene, Joseph." " I can't, it's too dangerous." "Europe is a time bomb." "The armies make and unmake laws." "We could disappear." "If the Soviets learnt of the palace treasure, it would be a certainty." "You must warn them." "You have risked so much." "Even against Anton." "Whatever happens, you have the full support of the Parliament." "You must do something." "Where is the war criminal Smyslovsky?" "General Smyslovsky is waiting." "Bring him in." "Prime Minister..." "Gentlemen." "Who are you?" "I said, who are you?" "Why is this poor man shouting?" "Do you understand him?" "I don't." "I speak a little." "Perhaps you could interpret for me?" "Dr Hoop, forgive me, but... this man speaks a language which is foreign to me." "But luckily, Lieutenant Zolchin knows the basics and can act as my interpreter." "If you would ask this man to speak directly to the lieutenant we might be able to start." "We have a problem of communication." "The lieutenant will pass on what you say." "Before we begin, this man must identify himself." "Who are you?" "He wants to know who you are." "If they don't know who I am, then we are clearly wasting our time here." "Just a formality." "Of course, Dr Hoop." "Count Arthur Boris Holmston-Smyslovsky." "General of the 1st National Russian Army of the Wehrmacht." "In my file it only says Smyslovsky, Boris." "Arthur and Holmston were added in 1920 to confuse the Bolshevik secret service and its hideous, twisted, evil-doing gnomes, better known as the Cheka." "You are Finnish, Boris Smyslovsky." "You were born in Terioki on 3 December 1897." "What did he say?" "If he wants my biography," "I prefer to do it myself." "It will be quicker, and also, I am the best qualified." "I left the Mikhailovska Artillery School in St Petersburg, was given the rank of Lieutenant in 1915 and sent to the front at eighteen." "I went to Austria during the Bolshevik revolution." "My father and most of my family were killed in a concentration camp by that lot!" "I joined the White Army in 1918." "And I fought against the revolutionary army for 3 years until my unit was imprisoned in Poland." "Then I fled to Germany where I joined its army." "I was a German Major in 1940, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in '42 and General in '44." "I organised the 1st National Russian Army, with which I fought, for Greater Russia, against the Bolsheviks." "We fought only on the Eastern Front against the Red Army." "And we served with honour." "The 500 men that are here are all that is left of my 3,000 soldiers." "Thank you." "Colonel Cheko... you bring charges against General Smyslovsky for war crimes." "The burden of proof for these crimes rests with you." "He has admitted our first accusation." "That is enough." "Can you be more precise, Captain?" "Being in the White Army between 1918 and 1920, he admits to the murder of Soviet citizens." "Do you have statements?" "After his court martial, you will have the statements." "I'm sorry, we need them here and now." "Do you have anything to add?" "Yes," "I do." "They speak of the murder of Russian citizens." "They seem confused." "If these representatives of the political police could understand," "I would remind them of the military code." "But... they are butchers." "Butchers representing butchers!" "The only law they know is the law of the slaughter house!" "They have enslaved Russia with murder!" "And with murder, they keep power!" "Smyslovsky, you are dead!" "You are dead!" "Yes, like General Vlassov is dead." "You are as dead as a dead pig!" "Like Vlassov!" "And we pissed on his stinking corpse!" "And his 10,000 dead men!" "Shot like rabbits!" "Well... everything is clear." "There is no Commission for Repatriation." "These Bolsheviks are murderers." "They just admitted to killing Vlassov and wiping out his army." "10,000 men slaughtered." "Lies and death, that's what this commission is." "You have all heard this Mr Cheko." "Colonel Cheko, Captain Barinkova, once again, can you give me any proof against General Smyslovsky?" "Smyslovsky, you will need to run fast and hide your whole life." "You won't be safe anywhere." "What are you doing?" " I'm taking notes." " You will see us again." "Very soon." "Remember, the USSR is powerful." " And we won the war." " I'll make a note." "Gentlemen, the session is closed." "General, were the 10,000 men a supposition?" "No, Father." "Unfortunately it was an underestimate." "I hope it helps your men understand." "Let's pray they do." "Death to Stalin!" "My poor Cheko, the commissioner will want to congratulate you personally." "Thank you." "There's no hurry now." "Ziegler and his followers will probably win the election, and as they now adhere to your cause, they'll soon make you a hero." "Our prince won't oppose your staying." "Thanks, but no." "We will cause you problems." "The USSR has no influence in Argentina, we'll be of no trouble to our hosts." "The only thing that bothers me is learning Spanish." "Which my wife speaks fluently." "Do your men know about Argentina?" "Zolchin has seen to it." "Unfortunately, we heard late this afternoon." "We were just wondering..." "What will happen to the two lovers?" "It takes a long time to set up an investigation." "If you and your men leave soon we can let them go for..." "good behaviour." "They may even flee the country..." "Our police don't have the means to chase lovers as far as Argentina." "I think you're becoming less rigid." "More optimistic." "You know what Napoleon said?" ""What I admire most in the world is that the mind is mightier than the sword."" "Come here, it's important!" "Lieutenant Zolchin sent me!" "Remember Vlassov's men?" "Well, now it's possible to go to Argentina." "Where's that?" "Olga will show you." "It's far away." "We'll be safe there." "The general wants to take us there." " There?" " Yes, there." " Oh, no." " No, it's too far" "Are you coming to Argentina?" "How do we know?" "Who's telling the truth?" "You didn't tell the truth." "I've never hidden anything." "I told you everything about me and all my family." "You knew I worked in a factory." "You knew we were poor, everything." "I believed we were from the same world." "But I loved you." "I love you so much that..." "I wanted to ignore anything that came between us." "You'd have distrusted me as a student doctor." " And then..." " Then what?" "The men I was with..." "You mean poor, uneducated people like me?" "I mean people who could have become hostile." "Aggressive." "Because I was different." "Not better." "Just different." "It's like that everywhere." "Worse in a closed world like the army." "Even the other women would have hated you." "Gregory, my darling." "Let's do it." "Let's do what you want." "Please." "Then we're going home." "Watches!" "Who wants a watch?" "You'll all have a watch." "There's one for everyone back home." "Smile." "Dr Petrov!" "Want to be in the photo?" "Gregory!" " Natalya?" "Let her go!" "Calm down, comrade." "Get in line." "Those who chose to return only went as far as Hungary..." "General Smyslovsky took the rest of his men to Argentina." "Much later, he returned to Liechtenstein where he died on 8 September 1988."