The Singing Burgdorf Scene is a scene in Downfall, which is used quite frequently by Untergangers in parodies, due to it being one of the few amusing parts of the film.
Wilhelm Burgdorf, being drunk, starts to sing a German song, accompanied by a version of the sea shanty "Johnny Come Down to Hilo" while Hans Krebs, Martin Bormann and Helmuth Weidling just sit and listen. As Burgdorf sings away, other officers in the hallway look with amusement while Weidling seems irritated. After Burgdorf finishes, Krebs applauds and Bormann congratulates him.
Weidling looks at his watch, saying that he should have been with his troops by now. Bormann tells him that he made a good impression to the Führer. Krebs asks him whether Felix Steiner will attack; Weidling is unsure and tells them that they should know better. Burgdorf says that if Steiner doesn't attack, Berlin would be lost.
At that moment Wilhelm Keitel enters and congratulates Weidling for his report: the Führer has appointed him Commander of Berlin’s Defense. Weidling is visibly displeased with his new post, saying that he would have preferred to be shot than had that honor.
In Downfall Parodies[]
The scene is fairly commonly used in parodies due to its humorous theme. This is also Burgdorf's most famous scene, as it involves him singing. Many parodies show Burgdorf singing for various (usually humorous) things, such as in Hitler and the Burgdorf shooting Fegelein incident, where he sings his success after he thought he killed Fegelein.
Transcript[]
German transcript and English translation
Speaker
German
English
Burgdorf's singing
BURGDORF
Ich lieb' ein Mädchen, ich weiß nicht warum
I love a girl and I don't know why
Mein Mädchen kaut Tabak, mein Mädchen trinkt Rum
My girlfriend's chewing tobacco, my girlfriend drinks rum
When Jackie comes down to Hilo...
When Jackie comes down to Hilo...
Poor old man.
Poor old man.
BORMANN
Komplimenten.
My compliments.
Main part (Weidling in the Bunker)
WEIDLING
Ich sollte längst bei meiner Trupper sein. Sind sie sich sicher, dass der Führer mich noch braucht?
I should be with my squad by now. Are you sure that the Führer still needs me?
KREBS
Austrinken!
Drink!
BURGDORF
Führerbefehl!
Führer's order!
BORMANN
Sie haben heute großen Eindruck gemacht auf den Führer.
You've made a good impression today to the Führer.
KREBS
Aber Sie glauben nicht, dass Steiner morgen angreift, habe ich recht?
But you don't believe that Steiner will attack tomorrow, am I right?
WEIDLING
Ich bezweifle allerdings, dass Steiners Verbände für einen Angriff ausreichend sind, aber was erzähle ich Ihnen das, meine Herren?
I certainly doubt that Steiner's units have sufficient forces for an attack, but why am I telling you this?
Das wissen Sie doch besser als ich.
You know this better than I do.
BURGDORF
Wenn Steiner nicht angreift, ist Berlin verloren.
If Steiner doesn't attack, Berlin is lost.
KEITEL
Ich gratuliere, Ihr Vortrag hat den Führer beeindruckt.
Congratulations, your report has impressed the Führer.
Er ernennt Sie zum Kommandanten der Verteidigung von Berlin.
He has appointed you as the Commander of the Berlin defense.
WEIDLING
Es wäre besser, er hätte befohlen, mich zu erschießen.
I would have been better off if he had ordered me shot.
Dann ginge dieser Kelch an mir vorüber.
Then this chalice would pass over me.
Trivia[]
The first part of the scene, where Burgdorf sings, is included only in the Extended Edition.
The part where Weidling looks at his watch is present in the Theatrical version.
This scene shows Burgdorf can sing.
The singing incident is noted in James P. O'Donnell's book The Bunker, where he tells that the song he sings is a mixture of German and English (as shown in the film) and that it comes from a sailor's song (a version of When Jackie Comes Down to Hilo). A translation has been made by PiretBCNin this video.