Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Peter Silbereisen: Sweating Officer

Quotes 

• [Emerging from his conference with the disgraced Red Army General, Khruschev calmly waits for the sound of a gunshot, then addresses the roomful of commissars] 

  Nikita Khrushchev : My name is Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev. I've come to take things in hand here. This city is not Kursk, nor is it Kiev, nor Minsk. This city... is Stalingrad. *Stalingrad*! This city bears the name of the Boss. It's more than a city, it's a symbol. If the Germans capture this city, the entire country will collapse. Now, I want our boys to raise their heads. I want them to act like they have *balls*! I want them to stop *shitting their pants*! That's your job. As political officers, I'm counting on you.

  [he looks at one man] 

  Nikita Khrushchev : You. What's your suggestion?

  Sweating Officer : [visibly nervous]  Sh-shoot all the other generals who have retreated, and their chiefs of staff, too.

  [Khrushchev moves down the line to another man] 

  Stammering Officer : M-m-m-make some examples. D-d-d-d-d-d-deport the families of the d-d-d-deserters...

  Nikita Khrushchev : [turning away]  Yes, yes, that's all been done.

  Danilov : [from the back of the room]  Give them hope!

  [Khrushchev turns around and strides down the line to Danilov] 

  Danilov : Here, the men's only choice is between German bullets and ours. But there's another way. The way of courage. The way of love of the Motherland. We must publish the army newspaper again. We must tell magnificent stories, stories that extol sacrifice, bravery. We must make them believe in the victory. We must give them hope, pride, a desire to fight. Yes, we need to make examples. But examples to *follow*. What we need... are heroes.

  [Khrushchev glances around the room, then leans in closer to Danilov] 

  Nikita Khrushchev : [wryly]  Do you know any heroes around here?

  Danilov : Yes, comrade. I know one.