contact with the Allies.

Krebs is only empowered

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