Battle of the Bulge (1965)

Werner Peters: Gen. Kohler

Photos 

Quotes 

• Gen. Kohler : [reading an incoming message]  "From the American commander of Bastogne to the German commander: Nuts." Nuts?

• Col. Martin Hessler : General, before you go, may I show you something?

  Col. Martin Hessler : What is it?

  Col. Martin Hessler : A chocolate cake.

  Gen. Kohler : Well?

  Col. Martin Hessler : It was taken from a captured American private. It's still fresh. If you will look at the wrapping, general, you will see it comes from Boston.

  Gen. Kohler : And?

  Col. Martin Hessler : General, do you realize what this means? It means that the Americans have fuel and planes to fly cake across the Atlantic Ocean. They have no conception of defeat.

• Col. Martin Hessler : The Germans are still the world's *best* toy makers.

  Gen. Kohler : The toys we are making these days are not for children.

• Gen. Kohler : Well, Hessler. It has been a long time. How good it is to see you again. You look the same. A little - little leaner perhaps.

  Col. Martin Hessler : The Russian Front does not put meat on a man's bones, General.

• Gen. Kohler : War is hard on all of us.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Central heating. Crystal chandeliers. You have a nice cellar.

  Gen. Kohler : Field Marshall Göring himself gave me that painting. Lovely, isn't it?

  Col. Martin Hessler : I imagine he found a bargain in Paris last year.

• Gen. Kohler : Sit down, Hessler. You have too little faith in the genius of the German people. A few stones have been knocked down but our country's strong, united, determined, and more productive than ever. The Allies think that their constant air raids have undermined our morale. This they shall never do.

• Gen. Kohler : You are our finest panzer commander, Hessler. You will lead us to victory. Our Germany is now like an iceberg. Only a fraction of it can be seen on the surface.

• Col. Martin Hessler : Boys. Too many boys.

  Gen. Kohler : The first battle will turn them into men.

  Col. Martin Hessler : In the old days, I lived six months with my men before going into action. I knew them, they knew me. These are strangers. Too many boys.

  Gen. Kohler : They have never tasted defeat.

  Col. Martin Hessler : Do they know what is expected of them?

  Gen. Kohler : They are ready to *die* for you. Can you ask more?

• Gen. Kohler : Why have you stopped?

  Col. Martin Hessler : They have dug in. It's a very strong defense.

  Gen. Kohler : Bypass it.

  Col. Martin Hessler : I have considered that.

  Gen. Kohler : There's nothing to consider.

  Col. Martin Hessler : We must measure what we might gain by what we might lose.

• Col. Martin Hessler : We have the opportunity here to break their morale, to destroy their will to fight. That is why you must permit me to reduce Ambleve to ashes.

  Gen. Kohler : You have until 0400. That is all.