The Night of the Generals (1967)

Charles Gray: General von Seidlitz-Gabler

Photos 

Quotes 

• General von Seidlitz-Gabler : [to Morand]  I've always felt that even in war, gentlemen, though they may be on opposing sides, still have much in common. It was everyone's misfortune that Hitler was not a gentleman.

• General von Seidlitz-Gabler : Patience is one the few virtues that I possess.

• General Kahlenberge : General Tanz, forgive me, but, uh, just as a matter of curiosity - what do you feel is the exact purpose of this exercise?

  General Tanz : You've read the memorandum.

  General Kahlenberge : Oh yes. Yes, I have indeed...

  General Tanz : And what does the memorandum say?

  General Kahlenberge : That Phase One is intended to intimidate the population, to search houses, to find and arrest resistance.

  General Tanz : Then that is the exact purpose of the exercise.

  General von Seidlitz-Gabler : An excellent plan, by the way - much like my own when I first came here, only I was never given the ultimate authority to implement it.

  General Kahlenberge : But, um... am I to understand that if there is resistance during Phase One, you would then go to Phase Two, and even Phase Three, which would mean the destruction of the entire city?

  General Tanz : You are to understand exactly that.

  General Kahlenberge : Well, uh... isn't that somewhat... excessive?

  General Tanz : Excessive.

  [goes to map] 

  General Tanz : You will be aware that we are thirty miles from Moscow. We are moving ahead on a 5,000 mile front. Every available soldier is needed if we are to conquer Russia. Yet here in Warsaw, three divisions are rotting, because of a few thousand criminal Poles and Jews hiding in slums. It is... excessive to permit this state of affairs.