MovieChat Forums > Der Untergang (2005) Discussion > Question About The Scene Where the Gener...

Question About The Scene Where the General Gestures to His Iron Cross

posted 8 years ago by micirisi
4 replies | jump to latest

Might be missing something. Early on when a General is summoned to Hitler's bunker to be executed (later disappointed he was promoted), he is offended by comments from some less senior officers. The General points to his iron cross while admonishing the two for their disrespect. The other two officers however wore the same medal making the gesture seem irrelevant.

He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.

[–] Simian_Scrote 8 years ago

General Weidling won his as a frontline officer, the others were staff officers who did not

"you don't argue with children do you? Personally, I just touch them." the_aids_giver

[–] micirisi 8 years ago

Thanks for the response. I guess the General was telling his fellow officers that he earned his Iron Cross. Sorta begs another question, how does one get an Iron Cross working in an office? No need to respond, the question is rhetorical.

He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.

[–] phantom2-2 8 years ago

planning successful major operations could also earn you an iron cross. it wasn't strictly a combat award.

[–] ebhaynz (3688) 6 years ago

One thing to keep in mind is that Hitler's Henchmen were mostly Staff Officers(Goebbels, Himmler, Borman, Hoess), who were great at "office politics", stabbing many people in the back to get as much power and get as close to Hitler as possible.
So yes, there was a great divide between Hitler's brown-nosers and the Generals who earned their rank and medals in the field and on the battlefield.
Note: This wasn't in the movie but after Hitler killed himself fatty Martin Borman tried to flee the Bunker but he was so out of his element witnesses say he looked confused and panicky. He knew what awaited him if he got caught by the Russians so within a very short time he gave up and took a poison pill.