"Colonel" " There has been no Polish court martial!" "Sir?" " I will sentence you to 7 days solitary confinement without privileges" " For your involvement in that affair" " We have talked tonight of nothing but the disturbance in the British quarters" " You'll arrest 4 British officers and send them to solitary confinement for 7 days" " In front to the full compliment of prisoners and call an emergency appelle" " Hauptmann" " Padre?" " I believe that was actually he that physically stopped the hanging he was assaulted by the British Padre one man has been sent for treatment" "Hauptmann!" "Was there any resistance?" "Sir And I've sent him to solitary confinement" " And then?" "and in need of care and attention" "I propose to have him sent to a hospital." " Which does not concern you" " That presents me with a dilemma Colonel" " If you've managed to stop the hanging what will you do with him?" " Midnight" " He's betrayed us all" "Father" " Open the door!" " What's happening?" " Let's hope so they mean midnight they'll just string him up when they'll hear the lot coming he has about 15 minutes left For God's sake get him out of there!" " That does not excuse you or the Kommendant from attempting to save his life we couldn't refuse." "Sir." "I'll explain." "The Gestapo put pressure on Solityc before he was transferred here." " It is not a policy of the Wehrmach to use subvertive methods on POW" " I cannot permit you to make accusations of this sort" " Because you and your officers threatened disgusting reprisals against his family!" " Colonel Preston!" " Colonel Preston!" " Lt. Solityc was giving information of his fellow officers" " It isn't just a clause in the Geneva convention It's your duty!" " That man's life is your responsibility." "As the life of every prisoner in this camp" " May I remind you of your obligations as Kommendant" " You are in no position to remind me Colonel!" " That man will be hanged in the attic at midnight unless something is done" " Nor that a man can be executed by his fellow prisoners" "I can't believe that a court martial has been conveined in this caste without my knowledge" "Sir...nothing" " You have searched the British quarters for any escape attempt" " The name of this informer?" " Solticyc as you well know" " There has been a court martial in the Sonderlage?" "will shortly be executed" " Unless some action is taken immediately one of the prisoners who has been court martialed..." "Colonel." "What is it please?" " Keep your mind on God and His mercy Do not be afraid!" " Do not be afraid" " Marek!" " And hope for His mercy and tell God that you're sorry try to get your thoughts clear toward God" "and the Holy Spirit." "Amen" " I shall expect your report at 00:15 hours" " Captain Covall...midnight" "SIR!" "I cannot..." " When you've finished one of my officers will escort you back to your quarters" "Sir it is our law!" "I beg you for the last time" " Please.." " No one else!" " But my orders..." " You may wait outside the door" " A mans confession is between himself and his Maker with the priest as intermediary" " I insist!" " I must be left entirely alone with the prisoner" " That is not possible Father" " Escort the Colonel to the Kommendant!" " I'll explain to the Kommendant" "I'm obliged if I'm taken there under escort" " Why?" " I can only assume that your request to see the Kommendant is valid and urgent." "Colonel when I've determined the real reason behind these tactics." "Wait here!" " I haven't created that diversion for my own amusement you know." "It's imperative that I see the Kommendant" "I must see the Kommendant at once" " That's not possible come!" "you're not in your quarters." "What are you doing here?" " Jolly good!" " Fire!" "Fire!" " Watch that!" "It's my coffee ingredient" " That means that I've to get to the Kommendant" " All he's managed to do is to get in to hear his last confession" " I've been unable to stop the Poles." "The sentence is going to be carried out" " What about the Padre?" " George" " Sometimes I wish it was just a little nearer only the Allmighty" " Padre!" "Who's going to hear your confession?" "I'd like to prepare myself" " And give him communion between 11 and 12" " If given me permission to hear his confession" " Have they also cast a lot for his garments I wonder!" " They've drawn lots as who shall do it" " It's to be carried out at midnight" " So the sentence stands" " Yes" " And I shall have to ask them " Are they truly repentant"?" "they'll ask me to absolve them from their sin" " They're betraying their faith" " That word mercy is foreign to their ears" "Christ have mercy upon them!" " They just wouldn't move." "They're determined to kill him in the name of Polish honour" " I tried to plead for mercy for the man Solityc" " I saw General Rawits and his senior officers" " What happened?" "christians ...more unmerciful than man's so called honour more intractable..." " Will you go and see General Rawits at once!" " I will Colonel" " No appeal is possible unless it is perhaps that from a man of the church" " I've attempted to dissuade Gen. Rawits and I've failed" " Such an action would jeopardize not only my standing but the integrity of the entire Br. contingent." " Of course I will!" " It's quite obvious that I can't go directly to the Kommendant" "I take it that you'll do anything to save this man's life not Ceasar's!" " Unless it'd be a crime a man committs upon his own soul ...especially in a place like this is a crime?" " I have nothing to do with crime" " Told me of his predicament" " Don't you think that treachery ..." " That's...that man told you of his treachery against his fellow officers and you said nothing!" "no matter the circumstances." "You must understand that!" " And you said nothing?" " I'm bound by my priesthood Colonel confessed his sins to me" "I'm the only Catholic priest in Colditz as you know." " Then I too am guilty" " What?" " It's not God's law!" " I don't agree with the sentence more than you do." "Although the man is guilty martial law" " He's to be hanged at midnight." " They cannot do that!" " As a good catholic he could not take his own life without commiting mortal sin" " He would do but he refused" " He's been court martialed and sentenced to death." " The informer has been discovered Padre He's a ..." "Polish officer will you please" " Thank you" " Come in!" " Colonel Sam will you Pat I want to see him in my room at once" " They're using their own quarters for the hanging" " I've found out about Solityc." "They've put him under guard in the end of the corridor" " It looks if you draw a blank" " Yes" " We guard jealously and sovereignty." "That's all we've left." "That little!" " It's a purely Polish matter it's murder!" "I beg you to reconsider that sentence what ever circumstances such action cannot be tolerated!" "you don't understand" " What would you have done?" "Could you've stood by while your family was subjected to torture?" " It was the only possible sentence for a Polish officer confirmed as a traitor and I find it hard to accept your sentence will you find out where they keep Solityc prisoner he usually walks around 5 or 6 times before the Poles collect their food" "any idea where he might be?" " They've closed their ranks but he says " It's a purely Polish matter but they won't listen to reason all they have to do is to tell the Germans that they've found the informer" " The verdict was unanimous there are circumstances beyond question" " The sentence will be carried out tomorrow night at midnight" " And sentence him to death by hanging" " They've found him guilty as charged" " concent...pronounce the sentence" " They'll go out to consider their verdict" " Was that it?" "I don't smoke" "" " What side was the warrior about to save to?" "...here was the mental break of Lt.Solityc ...under the threat of his wife and child ...Lt.Solityc was forced to treason ...were arrested by the Gestapo ...the wife and child of the Lt." "...about his family the Lt. has agreed to collaborate" " After several months in hospital..." "illtreated and worried..." " The Gestapo has threatened him that the wife and child be arrested and tortured" " In the Polish court martial it is not allowed for the accused." "The council must plead for him" " Why doesn't he make his own plea?" "...each time Lt.Solityc refused ...on several occasions ...proposed to him collaboration ...to a German hospital...where Gestapo was heavily wounded...and sent to hospital..." " In 1939 Lt. Solityc..." " In which a senior officer wouldn't behave normally" " Lt.Solityc is not to be taken as a normal traitor." " And the Polish officers..." " We had certain items of equipment with us" " Outside room 27 at the top floor of the Polish quarters and Baldosowic as it been previously arranged" " Please tell the court exactly what happened during the escape attempt and Cpt." "Sigmund Baldosowic" " Were engaged in an escape attempt with two members of the Polish forces" " You and one officer colleague now being held in solitary confinement" " That is on the night of April the 13th" " Twelve nights ago" " Yes but we've never spoken" " No" " Flight Lt. are you aquainted with the defendant?" " Yes" " And is automatically under oath" " Of course." "You understand?" " Flight Lt.Carter is under similar obligations to our own officers" " I respectfully submit that as a serving officer of the Royal Airforce" " And distinctly" " All I ask is that you speak slowly" " The tribunal understand English as does the defendant." " You'll be questioned in English in order that it may be as little misunderstanding as possible sit down" " Flight Lt. Carter" " I'll have a word with the Dutch and French senior officers" "Tell him that the other nationalities are insisting on having observers at the court martial will you?" "I can see it being very thorough and correct the Poles are very concious of their honour and..." " That is pretending it's never happened" " Court martial?" "Here in Colditz they're going to hold a full court martial tonight" " The Poles can be cage and lock when they like to and close ranks and keep it dark" "Sir?" " The informer is a Polish officer can I have a word?" "I'm deeply sorry" " I will inform the French and Dutch senior officers accordingly" " He will be dealt with tonight by court martial" " I have to report to you that we've found a traitor among our junior officers" " I have concluded the investigation into the Polish prisoner personel" "I wish to speak with you if you please" " General Rawitz that Gibb's got in his parcel actually it's made from wood shavings" "I thought it was rather good" " Sir!" "Try this Sir!" "it will look well if we are the first to show that our house is in order" " I had most of the report before apelles." "So far if there is an informer it isn't one of ours" " Enter no body leaves anything ever not for a second." "you dried them yourself." "Was the door locked?" "you're in the washroom" " Yes" " You were all alone" " I'm quite certain no one else touched them" " When were the documents finished?" " On the Friday afternoon about 4 I think" " I have to think about that" " Take your time but try to be accurate" " Then ?" "no one did" "Zackee" " Wilkins...ehmmm..." "Sniffy Harris" " Went for a quick wash" " Who's in the washroom?" "what did you do after apelle?" " Haven't you noticed that no one talks after they've been reading their mail did you speak to anyone?" " No" " I was reading my letters from my wife for about the 400th time but this is necessary" " What were you reading?" " Mind your own damn business!" " Who did you talk to?" " I didn't talk to anyone" " What did you do?" " I was reading" " After last appel on Friday who did you talk to?" " I don't know" " I'm not likely to spill anything involving them" " Merriman is a great reader" " You didn't mention the meeting or the plan" " I'm not stupid we talked about Proust." "Merriman had volumed 9 past on from one of the "Frogs" " How the hell do I know?" "there was no one else there." " What did you talk about?" "...then I gave some of them hand with the foraging." " Who did you speak to?" "and went to the doc for a couple of minutes and..." " What did you do immediately after the meeting on Friday?" " I'm sorry." "Should we get on with it?" " We also put Patric through" " Colonel Preston was the first to submit to screening by myself and the Padre" " Yes" " May one ask who will screen the "screeners"?" " Do I take it that everyone who knew about it has been or will be screened" " Does this mean that I'm under suspicion?" " At the moment we're all under suspicion" " I want to examine every word said and action of yours from 3 pm that day" " Alright?" " I'm sure you realise the purpose of this security check." "It is important and I expect your full cooperation" " Next one... that's it!" "Thanks" " Right... yes" " You're sure of that?" " Yeah..." " And after appel?" "as long as it's peaceful" "I'm afraid there's been a security leak that's just a thought are you?" " No" "Padre?" " Certainly everyone is behaving in a m...." "I haven't been given the blessing of divine knowledge there's something on" " You just cemented my argument" " Hm..." "I've always had a notion that the reformation was a spiritual disaster" " I was brought up as a presbyterian actually" "Padre Not really my denomination" " What exactly is it you wanted?" "I doubt that my heart would stand a confession from you" " It seems that your way to damnation is assured." "Don't touch the ink it's still wet!" "and I'm damned to find out what!" "what's going on?" "Sir but it can't be helped." "Alright?" "I want you and Pat to carry out this inquery" " It must be one of the French or the Poles." " Don't you think that the other nationalities are saying at this moment you're not suggesting that's one of our chaps." "I mean that's ridiculous." "and we'll carry out an investigation through the entire the British contingent" " Except Ulmann knew exactly where we're coming down" " For the 4th time and we can't find anything wrong with it" "Sir" " And the following day Ulmann said nothing more than you've told us?" " No and they didn't find anything we're all back to our beds" " And how long was it before Ulmann and his guards turned up?" " We made our way across the roof" " Straight back to our quarters" " I'd ask you to do the same with your officers gentlemen I'm going to conduct an investigation into the British contingent" " A Polish traitor is not possible only the desire to revenge" " There's hatred and fierce determination in the heart of every Pole violated" " You don't understand a Polish character" " In my opinion we have no choice but to commence an investigation into all our officers but the fact remains that it is possible" "I have no wish to regard one of my own officers as a traitor your implication that he might be Polish is unacceptable" " And nor did I suggest that he would necessarily be British merely that there might be what can we do to help you?" "Colonel that's exactly what I'm suggesting" " You are suggesting Colonel that there's an informer among us thank you" "Sir" "German efficiency" "Lt that he'd been caught attempting to escape" "I wanted to find out what had happened to Lt.Carrington" " Ulmann came up to me and asked me what I was doing but as he did and I began to talk to him" " To see if I could speak to Lt.Carrington. I managed to get his attention" " Just after appel I made my way to the solitary confinement cells what you've told me" " Flight Lt. Carter gentlemen Alright Carter" " Carter" "I'll have Carter come in because Ulmann and the guards knew exactly where it was going to happen in which.." " I therefore want to put before you a report by my officers Flight Lt. Carter" " Ruining all our escape attempts." "It obviously concerns us all" " What I want to talk about is German security which at the moment has an unaprecedated success" "I want to thank you for coming to this meeting" " He's gone to see if we can get Carrington out of solitary" "Sir" " Where is he?" "it's the 2nd time it's happened to him it isn't our security that's at fault he could have been lucky under pretence that it's been routine... because one of the guards know exactly what's going to happen" "Sir the MO patched him up last night." "isnt' it Pat" "Sir" "" " Hey Phil!" "Let's go!" " This time you're on your way." "Where's Carrington?" " He's still studying the maps change them" " Listen..." " Shut up!" " I'm the one going to tramp half way across Europe" " Every German in Colditz will hear you!" "Get them off!" " For the last time Sam... i'm the one that's going out of here." "You aint going as far as the wall" " It's not a better pair in the place" " What's happened?" " It seems I can't wear my own boots!" "you've 3 minutes to change" " What do you mean?" "I paid for them with stuff out of my Red Cross parcel the boots." "I bought them of a Dutchman"