World War II · Film · 2014
Diplomacy
Diplomatie
On the night before the Allies reach Paris, a Swedish diplomat slips into the German governor's hotel suite to talk him out of blowing up the city's bridges and monuments.
Where it happened
Follow the story across 1 places.
Stop 1: Hotel Le Meurice, Paris
Key location
Through the night Nordling argues, flatters and bargains with Choltitz as charges wait under the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the bridges.
What really happened
In August 1944 Hitler ordered that Paris should not fall into Allied hands except as a field of ruins, and German engineers prepared some bridges and installations for demolition. General Dietrich von Choltitz, the city's commander, did not carry out the order and surrendered to the French on 25 August.
The Swedish consul Raoul Nordling really did negotiate with Choltitz during those days, arranging prisoner releases and a truce. The film, adapted by Volker Schlöndorff from Cyril Gely's stage play, invents their single night-long duel of words and the secret staircase; how much Choltitz saved Paris by choice is still debated by historians.
Where to watch
Checking streaming services…
Full details
- Original title
- Diplomatie
- Directed by
- Volker Schlöndorff
- Countries
- France, Germany
- Languages
- French, German
- Released
- 2014
- Period
- –
- Theaters of war
- Western Europe
- Themes
- Politics
- True story
