The Great Escape (1963)

Hannes Messemer: Von Luger 'The Kommandant'

Photos 

Quotes 

• Von Luger : It looks, after all, as if you will see Berlin before I do.

• Von Luger : Are all American officers so ill-mannered?

  Hilts : Yeah, about 99 percent.

  Von Luger : Then perhaps while you are with us you will have a chance to learn some. Ten days isolation, Hilts.

  Hilts : CAPTAIN Hilts.

  Von Luger : Twenty days.

  Hilts : Right. Oh, uh, you'll still be here when I get out?

  Von Luger : [visibly annoyed]  Cooler!

• Von Luger : In the past four years the Reich has been forced to spend an enormous amount of time, energy, manpower and equipment hunting down escaping prisoner-of-war officers.

  Ramsey : Well, at least it's rather nice to know you're wanted.

• Stratwitch : What are you doing over here by the wire?

  Hilts : Well, like I told Max here, I was trying to get my...

  German Soldier : [Voice]  Achtung!

  [Von Luger enters] 

  Von Luger : What were you doing by the wire?

  Hilts : Well, like I told Max... I was trying to cut my way through your wire because I want to get out.

• Von Luger : I have had the pleasure of knowing quite a number of British officers in this war. And I flatter myself that we understand one another.

  [Ives blows a raspberry] 

  Von Luger : You are the first American officer I have met. Hilts, isn't it?

  Hilts : Captain Hilts, actually.

  Von Luger : 17 escape attempts.

  Hilts : 18, sir.

  Von Luger : A tunnel man, engineer.

  Hilts : A flier.

  Von Luger : I suppose what's called in the American army a hotshot pilot.

  Hilts : Mm-hmm.

  Von Luger : Unfortunately, you were shot down anyway. So we are both grounded for the duration of the war.

  Hilts : Well, you speak for yourself, Colonel.

  Von Luger : You have other plans?

• Ramsey : [after hearing complaints about the plethora of escapes]  Colonel, do you expect officers to forget their duty?

  Von Luger : [reluctantly]  No. It is precisely because we expect the opposite that you are here.

• Von Luger : Eleven of your men are being returned today.

  Ramsey : Oh? Who?

  Von Luger : I do not have that information. I... I am directed by higher authority to inform you that... that fifty of your officers were shot while escaping.

  Ramsey : Shot?

  Von Luger : Their... their personal effects will be returned.

  Ramsey : How many of them were wounded?

  Von Luger : Here are the names... of the dead.

  Ramsey : How many of the fifty were wounded?

  Von Luger : None. The... the higher authority only directs me to inform you that fifty men were...

  Ramsey : I see.

• Herr Kuhn : We have reason to believe this prisoner is the mastermind behind numerous criminal escape attempts.

  Von Luger : [sarcastically]  Squadron Leader Bartlett has been three months in your care! And the Gestapo has only "reason to believe"!

• [the German camp commandant explains why so many incorrigible Allied prisoners were placed in the place Stalag] 

  Von Luger : We have in effect put all our rotten eggs in one basket. And we intend to watch this basket carefully.

• Von Luger : You will not be denied the usual facilities. Sports, a library, a recreation hall... and for gardening, we will give you tools. We trust you to use them for gardening. Devote your energies to these things. Give up your hopeless attempts to escape. And with intelligent cooperation, we may all sit out the war...

  [offering Ramsey a cigarette] 

  Von Luger : ...as comfortably as possible.

• Lt. Dietrich : [returning Bartlett to the camp]  If he once more falls into our hands, he will not be so lucky.

  Von Luger : Air Force officer prisoners are the responsibility of the Luftwaffe, not S.S. Or the Gestapo.

  Preissen : At present, yes, Herr Oberst. That is why he's returned for the moment to your care.

  Herr Kuhn : Of course, if the Luftwaffe is not up to the task, the prisoners will find themselves totally in our charge. We regretfully are not so professionally understanding.