to negotiate with the USSR. (Chuikov listens to the Marshal’s instructions.) Yes . . . yes . . . he is empowered by Goebbels, the ReichChancellor, and Bormann remains the Party leader. He says we are the first they have told aboutHitler’s deathand his Testament. You, Party member Marshal, and I. (Pause) You want to ask Moscow? I will wait by the receiver. Understood. Krebs is not empowered, but he can talk aboutit. Good . . . Understood, Party member Marshal! I shall ask. And with the others? Understood, I have understood. (To Krebs) We can only negotiate with you for a total capitulationto the USSR and also to the USA and Britain. K: In order to have an opportunity to discuss your demand I request a temporary ceasefire. (Conversation between Chuikov and Krebs) Ch: (into the telephone) He cannot negotiate a total capitulation while he does not know the overall situation with the new government of Germany . . . he is only empowered to negotiate. Yes. I will ask him. (To Krebs) Do you wish to capitulate immediately? K: I would have to discuss that with my government. It may be that a new government will be set up in the south. Until now there is only the government in Berlin. We request an armistice. Ch: (into the telephone) They are requesting an armistice for negotiations. It may be that there will be a joint government in Germany. (Zhukov’s voice is heard in the receiver) Yes, understood, good . . . I hear you, I understand. How? Good, as ordered! (To Krebs) The question of an armistice can only be decided on the basis of a total capitulation. K: Then you will take over the area in whichthe government has residence and kill all the Germans. Ch: We have not come to annihilate the German people. K: (attempts to argue) The Germans will have no chance to work . . . Ch: The Germans are already working with us. K:(repeats) We request that you recognise the German government until the full capitulation, place yourself in contact with it and give us the chance to have contact to your government . . . Ch: We have a condition - total capitulation. K: But we believe the USSR will consider a new, legal German government. That is advantageous and favourable for both sides. (0440hours. The general makes a fresh request for a temporary armistice.) K: Just a temporary . . . (K speaks in Russian). I cannot enter into other negotiations. It is in your interest to undertake these with the new German government. Gentlemen, I am only a plenipotentiary. I cannot answer in place of my government. Ch: My offer is unequivocal. K: The German government is hypnotisingyou? . . . You are the strong party, that we know and you believe it too. Ch: Naturally we know that, and you must know it. You will keep fighting in vain and lose people. I ask you, what is the point in your fighting on? K: We shall fight to the last man. Ch: I am waiting for the total capitulation. K: No! (The Soviet generals, Krebs, the young German officer and the interpreter in the room are silent. There is a large map of Berlinon the table.) Ch: I, as a military man, am only interested in one thing - to defeat the enemy on the battlefield. We demand total capitulation. K: If the Berlingarrison is destroyed there will be no legal German government. Ch: Rubbish. K: I have acquainted you with my role. I have no other. Ch: I have informed you of the single and final condition: unconditional surrender. (The telephone rings again.) They have no possibility of communicating. They want to keep Hitler’s deathand Will a secret so that Himmler will not use it. Apparently they are also afraidof Dönitz. They want to announce it with our cooperation after an armistice. Himmler talked with them and was expelled from the Party ... Very well! (To Krebs) The best solution for everybody who wants the new government to be recognised is capitulation. K: Unconditional? Ch: Unconditional. K: (stubbornly) I am not authorised to negotiate the capitulation. If I did I would pre- empt the government. (He speaks occasionally in German, occasionally in Russian.) Ch: But bullets do not distinguish between who is a soldier and who a member of the government. K: (in Russian) I am uneasy thinking aboutthis peace agreement.Ch: We insist on the general demand madeby ourselves and our allies - unconditional surrender. (Chuikov informs himself by telephone aboutthe situation on the ground. Army general Sokolovski enters. He is informed of Hitler’s suicide, the Will, about Dönitz and Bormann etc. ‘10 hours15.’ The telephone rings. The Soviet government gives its final answer, a general capitulationor at least the surrender of Berlin. If this is rejected artillery bombardment of the city resumes at 10