Tom Cruise credited as playing...
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: [translation of letter he is writing] The Führer's promises of peace and prosperity have fallen by the wayside leaving in their wake a path of destruction. The outrages committed by Hitler's SS are a stain on the honor of the German Army. There is widespread disgust in the officer corps toward the crimes committed by the Nazis, the murder of civilians, the torture and starvation of prisoners, the mass execution of Jews. My duty as an officer is no longer to save my country, but to save human lives. I cannot find one general in a position to confront Hitler with the courage to do it.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: This is going to happen. Action is inevitabIe, as are the consequences. When they come for me, I'II do everything I can to hide what you knew and when you knew it, but don't delude yourself. You were involved in a crime against your country Iong before you met me. There may stiII be time to redeem yourseIf. OnIy God can judge us now.
- Werner von Haeften: You're as guilty as any of us.
- General Friedrich Fromm: [scoffing] Spare me, Lieutenant.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: No one will be spared.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: I'm a soldier, I serve my country. But this is not my country. I was lying out there bleeding to death, thinking, if I die now, I leave nothing to my children but shame. I know now there is only one way to serve Germany, and doing so I'll be a traitor - I accept that. Just tell me, can these men see it through?
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: I'm engaged in high treason with all means available to me. Can I count you in?
- Werner von Haeften: For anything, sir. Anything at all.
- [from trailer]
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: If I fail, they'll come for you. They'll come for all of you.
- Nina Von Stauffenberg: I know.
- Erich Fellgiebel: And you think that makes me a sympathizer, hey? Give a man a choice of betraying his fellow officer or his Führer and you think his actions will show you his heart.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: It's not that simple.
- Erich Fellgiebel: Yes. Yes it is. For the last time, don't push me to make a decision.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: I don't have a choice, it's clear now. Without you there is no hope of success.
- Erich Fellgiebel: You're nothing but rats jumping from a sinking ship! What makes you think you'll be any different? What makes you think you're stronger than the people, the Reich? The very momentum of history?
- [from trailer]
- Henning von Tresckow: You scared me half to death.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: You'll be closer than that before we're finished.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: [after being informed Hitler is meeting Benito Mussolini for lunch] Will Mussolini be at the briefing?
- Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel: We should be so lucky. Then some ambitious young officer might do us a favor and shoot the Dago bastard!
- General Friedrich Fromm: What is it you want?
- General Friedrich Olbricht: I wanted to introduce our new man, Colonel Stauffenberg.
- General Friedrich Fromm: Ah! From Africa. Well, I'd offer you my hand, but I might not get it back.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: I'd say the General's lost more important things this morning.
- [pause]
- General Friedrich Fromm: [laughs] It's about time they put somebody with balls into this office.
- General Friedrich Fromm: I'll hear you say it Colonel!
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: [angrily turns and raises false arm] Heil Hitler!
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: Gentlemen, in three hours I want confirmation that the government quarter is ours and SS Command has been cleared of every living soul. You all know what must be done. By nightfall I want to know that Hitler's Germany has seen its last sunrise.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: I'm a soldier, but in serving my country, I have betrayed my conscience.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: There has to be a chance of success.
- General Friedrich Olbricht: That's why you're here.
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: Get the car.
- Werner von Haeften: [dissapointed on not accompanying him] But sir...
- Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: [curtly] I have everything I need. Get the car.