A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Maximilian Schell: Lt. Gen. Bittrich

Photos 

Quotes 

• [an SS officer is approaching under a white flag] 

  Major Harry Carlyle : Rather interesting development, sir.

  [to the German] 

  Major Harry Carlyle : That's far enough! We can hear you from there!

  SS Panzer Officer : My general says there is no point in continuing this fighting! He wishes to discuss terms of a surrender!

  Major Harry Carlyle : Shall I answer him, sir?

  Lt. Col. John Frost : Tell him to go to hell.

  Major Harry Carlyle : We haven't the proper facilities to take you all prisoner! Sorry!

  SS Panzer Officer : [confused]  What?

  Major Harry Carlyle : We'd like to, but we can't accept your surrender! Was there anything else?

  [German officer walks off] 

  Lt. Col. John Frost : Well, that's that.

  [the officer returns to General Bittrich, and they converse in German] 

  SS Panzer Officer : They rejected our surrender offer. What are your orders, Herr General?

  Lt. General Bittrich : Flatten Arnhem.

• [Bittrich listens in amazement as Frost's troops relentlessly storm the Arnhem bridge] 

  Lt. Gen. Wilhelm Bittrich : [in German]  Fool's courage...

• Field Marshal Model : No reinforcements to Arnhem. Von Runstedt says we will need them for our counter attack.

  Lt. General Bittrich : Counterattack! With what?

  Field Marshal Model : Paratroopers are lightly armed and equipped. They cannot hold out for long. If we can hold up their infantry on the road to Arnhem, they will be forced to surrender.

• Lt. General Bittrich : Yes, thousands of paratroopers have landed in Nijmegen... right on top of Field Marshal Model.

  General Ludwig : I'll bet they landed in his soup!

  Lt. General Bittrich : You'd like that, wouldn't you?

• [after the fighting is over, Bittrich rides in to meet the English captives. He sees Frost, who is sitting on the ground with a leg injury. He offers a bar of chocolate and says something in German] 

  Bittrich's Aide : My general says, please take it. It's very good chocolate. Your planes dropped it to us yesterday.

  [Frost waits a few moments, then takes the chocolate] 

  Lt. Gen. Wilhelm Bittrich : English?

  [Frost nods]