All language subtitles for Kampen om Tungtvannet (1948)

Hero-Film Oslo Presents
In Cooperation With Le Trident Paris

Operation Swallow:
The Battle for Heavy Water

An account of real events which took
place during the last world war.

The men who appear in the film are,
with a few exceptions,

the same who
participated in the battle:

In the past twelve months we have
reported how the Allied air forces

have given the war a new face. Day and
night, the German war machine is

attacked at its weakest points.

Yesterday, a squadron of 80 American
Flying Fortresses made another sortie.

It dropped a bomb load of hundreds of
tons on a factory in Norway,

where they work around the clock
to produce a substance

the Germans believe may play a crucial
role in the outcome of the war.

This is what we told you on
17 November 1943.

What we could not reveal at the time,

is that the bombardment was
only a single episode

of a drama that would
last for five long years.

For the Allies, the most
exciting part of this battle

was fought in Norway, by 11 saboteurs
from the famous Linge Company.

They parachuted onto the
Hardangervidda plain,

where they struggled through
snow and ice for months,

keeping England informed
about the German dispositions.

This modern saga, the battle For
heavy water, started in 1939,

behind the venerable facade
of the Collège de France.

Here, an intense scientific
undertaking took place,

led by the nuclear scientist
prof. Joliot-Curie.

Science, industry and civilization
will take a giant leap forward

once we are able to
control uranium fission.

We still need to do a lot of research,
but one day,

we will be the masters of this
immense energy reserve.

A new era will begin.

It will benefit the whole world.

[Speaks French]

In the laboratory in Paris, the
nuclear research runs its course.

Curie and his closest associates, prof.
Halban and laboratory chief Kowarski,

are facing an important decision.

[Science talk in French]

Like a fortress in steel and concrete,

the factory rises out from the
middle of the mountainside.

But its production is
for peaceful purposes:

Nitrogen fertilizer for agriculture.

The water is led down
through the steep penstock

to one of the largest power
stations in the world.

Deep down in the factory basement,
another kind of production takes place.

Slowly, drop by drop, a precious
liquid is made:

Heavy water.

The process is so slow
that production is limited to

a few grams a day.

In Paris, Joliot-Curie reveals his plans
to the Armaments Minister, Raoul Dautry.

[Speaks French]

His fear is not without reason.

In Oslo, director Aubert
of Norsk Hydro

is visited by an emissary
from the German government.

The Reich's government
would like this business

to be completed as soon as possible.

Once again, I must regretfully decline.

We cannot meet your demands.

Like I said, we accept your terms.

It is not a question of money.

This substance is produced
in such small quantities

that we simply cannot make
a business transaction.

Business transaction?
According to our scientists,

the heavy water can
benefit all of humanity.

I do not doubt it.

And do you accept our sincere regrets?

I must say goodbye.

[Speaks German]

In Paris, Minister Dautry meets
with a certain "Monsieur A".

[Speaks French]

And shortly thereafter, the secret
envoy is on his way to Norway.

But German spies follow Monsieur A on
his journey, and attempt to spoil the plan.

[Speaks French]

But Monsieur A arrives safely in Oslo,

and director Aubert gets
a second visit in his office.

[Speaks French with a
terrible Norwegian accent]

Thank you.

[Speaks French with a
terrible Norwegian accent]

[Speaks actual French]

From the factory at Vemork, the heavy
water is shipped to Oslo.

The French secret agent
goes to Fornebu airport,

where his baggage is
loaded into the airliner.

This is observed with great
interest by two German spies,

who are watching the departure.

When this car slips into the dark,
they have no idea that it is carrying

the heavy water container.

They see the Frenchman
getting onto the plane.

What they do not see, is that he
immediately jumps out on the other side

and sneaks over to another plane.

The airliner is starting, but
the French secret agent

is now getting onto the other plane,
which is carrying the precious cargo

and leaves Fornebu quite unheeded.

The old trick has succeeded once more.

Over the North Sea, the decoy
plane is attacked by the Germans

and is forced to land at an airport
near Hamburg.

Open it, open it!

Simply ordinary granite.

After a journey from Oslo to
Edinburgh and from there to Paris,

the heavy water now rests in the
basement of the Collège de France.

9 April. The German military
invades Norway.

The sea appears to be
burning under the blows

from the most fearsome war
machine the world has ever known.

At this point there is no
force that can stop it.

Black wings cover the sky.

Huge tanks roll along the narrow
Norwegian roads.

Soon, the Germans march into Rjukan
and occupy the factory at Vemork.

Then comes the invasion of France.

The irresistible storm
surge pours into a country

where anything that
grows is trampled down.

Civilians flee in endless rows.

Paris is threatened.

The heavy water containers are taken
from the Collège de France...

...And are temporarily sheltered
in the old prison in the town of Riom.

Meanwhile, the Germans
have reached Paris,

and armored vehicles rumble
along the Champs-Elysees.

Then the motorized Army
continues its onslaught

through a France completely
paralyzed by misfortune.

[Speaks French]

In a villa in Clermont-Ferrand,
Joliot-Curie and his associates

have quickly set up a
makeshift laboratory.

[Speaks French]

Once more, the heavy water is moved.

The ship manages to escape Bordeaux
just before the Germans get there.

It transports the heavy water to
the laboratories in England.

That is how the small original supply
of the precious substance was saved.

Even though the Germans did not get
a hold of the heavy water,

they now control the factory.

But their growing demands are met
with tenacious resistance from within.

Five thousand kilos, sir.

Five thousand.

This year.

Impossible. For that I would need...
- You will get what you need.

I need five thousand kilos.

Goodbye.

Have you got a minute?

It's about these new blueprints.

What did that guy want?

They want us to increase the
heavy water production.

Do you know why?

If that's what I think, we have to
inform the Allies immediately.

Well, what can they do about it?

I think Professor Tronstad should be
informed.

Do you know he just arrived
in London?

London. Devastated and
mutilated by bombing,

the relentless and indomitable London

has become the center for
all resistance in Europe.

Here, people from all occupied
countries have found refuge.

One of these is the Norwegian
scientist Professor Leif Tronstad.

Personally, I think sabotage
is always more effective

against industrial targets
than bombing.

I agree with you, Major Tronstad.
If it's a small target.

Yes. In this case, the target is
particularly difficult.

Look.

And here. A seven-story
steel and concrete building.

And the heavy water room
right at the bottom, there.

It's a bad target for bombing.

Certainly looks like a job for
our new airborne troops.

Noise damned if we can't
ship our gliders in there.

Yes. We've got to get at that heavy
water somehow.

It'll be hard to land them close.

I'm wondering whether British troops
will ever get through those mountains.

We'll send a small advance
party of Norwegians.

They can prepare the landing.
They can guide them right in.

Right you are, then. We'll get some
airborne troops under special training.

You pick your Norwegians.

How about sending Norwegian contact
men over straight away,

to keep us up to date on
German movements?

Good idea. And I know
just the right man.

He is a native of Rjukan who
escaped to England a week ago.

At home they think I'm
on a a mountain trip.

The only one who knows
anything is my brother, Torstein.

No, thanks.

But it's important to be back
as soon as possible.

We can drop you in tonight if
the weather holds.

The difficulty is dropping you in
the right place.

Oh no, it will be fine.

As long as I have a good pair of skis,
I'll be home by dinner time tomorrow.

Good. So: contact
Vemork, contact us.

Good luck.
- Thank you.

Thus the first man, Einar Skinnarland,
is dropped over Norway.

The weather is good, everything goes
as scheduled, and before dark,

Einar reaches Møsvatn where his brother,
Torstein, is a dam keeper at Hydro.

Magnanimity.

Generosity.

Endurance.

And Germans. Indeed!

That Hitler guy needs
a good thrashing.

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

They're scared of him, you see. That's
a mistake.

But if I'd been a few years younger,
I would give him a piece of my mind.

Good morning, Torstein.
- Good morning.

Good morning, Halvor.
- Good morning.

You're here, then?
- Where have you been?

Me? I've been hunting in the mountains.

Young people! Instead of
doing something useful,

they lark about on skis.

You didn't get across?

Torstein?
- Yes?

Do you think you can get
me a job at Hydro?

I think I can get you a job at the dam.

Nice.
- A job, you say?

I think my hearing's getting bad.

I thought I'd do some work
for the Germans, you see.

You scoundrel.
- Oh, it might not be such a bad idea.

Here you go.
- Thank you.

Will you take this with you?
- Yes.

At professor Tronstad's
office in London,

new information on the activity
at Vemork arrives every day.

Reports, micro photographs
and detailed sketches

made by the factory
manager, Engineer Brun,

and other members of the home front,

are smuggled across the
border to London via Sweden.

Day after day, hour after hour,
Professor Tronstad follows the threat

from the heavy water room at
the fortified factory.

Dr. Brun!

If you're not otherwise occupied,

I would like to discuss the blueprints
with you in the morning.

I'm sorry, but I have to go
to Oslo for a couple of days.

Engineer Sørlie will handle it.

Thank you.
- You're welcome.

The microfilm is at the bottom of the
tube. You can still use the toothpaste.

Good.

I wish I could go with you.

We need you here. You will probably
get more missions.

Brun goes to London
via a Swedish airport.

The intelligence is very welcome,

as the War Office already in July 1942
decided to blow up the heavy water plant.

Just one more thing. In this job,
security is more vital than ever.

Don't contact Kjennarland or
any of the other resistance men

except in real emergency.

We won't. Besides, it might lead
to reprisals on the civilians.

[Posh mumbling]

In this case, it will be an
obviously military operation.

British troops in British uniforms.

About those troops. We
can guide them in all right,

but I wish we could see how to get
them out of Norway afterwards.

I'm afraid there's no return ticket
for them. They're volunteers.

They realize it means prison camp...

Well, I don't think there is anything more.

Is everybody happy?

Why shouldn't we be? We get a free
trip home.

Here. Take this with you.

Tronstad says goodbye
to the group leader,

Second Lieutenant Jens Anton
Poulsson, radio operator Knut Haugland,

Sergeants Klaus Hellberg and
second-in-command Arne Kjeldstrup.

The group has been named Swallow. It
will be sent in advance to prepare for

the arrival of the specially trained
British commandos.

After two attempts are
canceled due to bad weather,

they are dropped onto the middle of
Hardangervidda, north of Songadalen,

on a moonlit night in October 1942.

They land safely with twelve
containers of food, clothing,

weapons and ammunition.

The strong wind scatters the supplies
across the mountain,

and it takes the boys two exhausting
days to gather everything together.

Before the hardships begin,

the boys take a moment to feel the
joy over being back on Norwegian soil.

Half of the food supply, and any
equipment not immediately needed,

is left behind as a security depot.

Meanwhile, the leader has determined

that they are more than 150
km away from their target.

This distance must be made
on skis in the freezing cold,

mostly in miserable conditions.

Under such conditions, no man can
carry more than 30 kg on his back.

There are eight such loads in total.

That means they have to make
the same trip three times a day.

During the short stops
each man gets his daily ration,

consisting of a small piece of pemmican,
a handful of oatmeal, a little butter,

cheese and sugar, and four biscuits.

On 21 October a fierce blizzard
breaks out over the mountain.

Swallow must struggle their way in
even more difficult conditions,

in loose, deep snow.

But the march goes on.
It is a long way to go.

They find a sled which makes
transportation easier, and finally...

Finally, the mountain
shows its friendly side.

At regular intervals and at
agreed-upon times,

they attempt to contact London.

But the antennae at Home Station
fail to capture the weak signal.

Every night they feel more lonely, more
abandoned in the great mountain waste.

Once again a storm breaks out over the
plateau, and the hardship begins anew.

The trembling magnetic needle is the
only thing keeping them alive.

After fourteen days on the march
the exhausted men reach Saueslakthytta

near Sandvatn, close enough to the
target to be used as a base of operations.

Well, Jens, isn't that what
I've been saying all along?

If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.
- I wonder if there's any food.

I'm not leaving here until
this war is over.

Thank you.

Ssshhh!

For the first time since
landing in Norway,

they hear the weak
signal from London.

Very weak, until it disappears, like a
candle in the wind.

It's gone.

The accumulator is ruined.

It did not survive the water when
Hellberg went through the ice.

Major Tronstad's instructions
in London were strict:

No contact with civilians.

But the connection with
headquarters in London is vital.

Jens must make a decision.

Claus?

Helberg is sent to the village.

But the German patrols
are guarding the plateau.

Helberg is an accomplished skier.

Within a few minutes, he outruns all
of the German soldiers - except one.

As fate would have it, one of the Germans
is a Middle European skiing champion,

a Bavarian mountain trooper.

For four long hours, the two men
fight a battle of skill and stamina

as if they were in a
sports competition.

But this time, their lives are at stake.

Hellberg thinks he
is safe for now.

Hands up!

Aunt Kjersti sends her regards.

You're here now?
I've been waiting for you.

There is something you
must help us with.

Of the numerous code
messages in every language

making their way through
the airwaves at headquarters,

one has not yet been received.

The small group on
Hardangervidda is silent.

London waits day and night
for the call from Swallow,

but always in vain.

Torstein said he would make
sure to charge it.

Great.

Hurry now. You should
be on the air already.

Hey. There it is.

For the first time, a connection with
London is made.

Soon, 40 British commandos
specially trained

for the operation against
the factory at Vemork

are on their way to
Norway in two gliders.

On the plateau, an airstrip
is marked with flares.

But an impenetrable fog settles over
the lights, blotting them out.

Wish we could see a bit of this
"land of the midnight sun".

You'll see enough of it before
we get through this lot.

They say the sun shines all night.

Cor, I don't think I'd like that.

Why not? Get a better look at those
Norwegian blondes.

Blimey, I'd rather have a bit of dark!

After the aircraft have circled
around all night in vain,

they attempt to get back to England on
what little fuel they have left.

That was the last chance this month.
- Back to waiting, then.

But only one of the planes gets
home to tell of the tragic events.

The Germans apprehend the survivors.

Move along.

Open the door.

Get up.

Come along.

By ransacking the soldiers before the
execution,

the Nazi officers have
found a revealing map.

Rjukan. That means heavy water.

The guard around Vemork is increased,

but in London, the fight is continued

by the chief of the Special
Forces section for Norway,

Colonel Wilson, and Major Tronstad.

This is a most unfortunate business,

and the whole job will have to be
tackled again in quite another way.

I've expressed to Combined Operations
our deep sympathy on the sad disaster

and have suggested that Special Forces
should take the operation over,

using Norwegian officers and
men of the Linge Company.

They have agreed, and the
permission of the War Cabinet

has been obtained for the
transfer of responsibility.

From what Brun tells us, Professor
Tronstad,

I feel sure the job can
be done with six men.

This will necessitate using
one aircraft only.

I've already telephoned to Scotland to
this effect,

and intensive training
will begin tomorrow.

That is grand news, Colonel Wilson.

I'm sure we can manage it
despite the extra precautions

the Germans now are bound to take.

The Germans are becoming anxious.

They arrest all suspicious civilians
at and around Rjukan.

Torstein is one of them.

Einar realizes it's getting warm,
and that it's time to get away.

He joins the Swallow men
in the mountains.

Up here, the cold is even worse.

It is even harder to obtain food.

It seems that all life
has left the Earth.

Swallow finds shelter in a cabin.

A scanty shelter against one of the worst
winters Norway has known in a lifetime.

The storm rages almost uninterrupted.
It tears down the primitive antenna,

their only connection to the world.
It must be repaired again every day.

The firewood is deep below the snow.

Dry wood is a gift from God
in this barren landscape,

where even the animals have
fled from the Fimbulwinter.

I'm so hungry. My belly is screaming.

I'll bet one of my buttons that the first
thing Jens says when he comes in,

is "I have no bloody idea
where the reindeer's gone."

Okay, let's bet.
I need a button.

Well, if they haven't caught
anything today...

Same damned weather and conditions
day in, day out.

I have no bloody idea where
the reindeer's gone.

Hey, stop it!
I'm the winner - he said it!

No, it wasn't the first thing he said.

What are you laughing at?

Arne has some greens for us.

Here.

Reindeer moss?

You're not expecting us
to eat that, are you?

We need something
to fill our bellies with.

Reindeer moss.

I suppose it has some nutrition.
Vitamin C if nothing else.

After all, people used to mix it into
the bread in the bark bread time.

Yeah, and the reindeer survive on it.
- There's a big difference.

Reindeer chew cud.
They have seven stomachs.

Seven? It's got four.

At least it's got
enough of them.

I only have one
and it's pretty empty.

We're not ruminants, so
we'll have to boil it first.

Any news?

The usual. "No operation tonight."

It's starting to boil here, boys.
Go set the table.

Well, set the table, then.
- Yes, yes, yes.

When the war is over, I
won't spend a cent on women.

It'll be food for all the money.

In Scotland, the Norwegian
soldiers are training hard

in preparation for the task.

There is no need to emphasize the
importance of the Gunner side operation

and the need to keep the knowledge of it
restricted to the fewest possible number.

The job must be coordinated
to the highest degree.

Special training, supplies,
up-to-date intelligence, air transport.

I understand, sir.

We are very fortunate in having my friend,
Professor Tronstad, as our colleague.

And he may be regarded as our
specialist adviser in all particulars.

The intensive training of
Gunner side is in progress.

The six men are among the
best of the Linge Company.

It is our job to see that they are
helped in every possible way.

We have a model of the special
plant, built from the sketches

and the photographs brought
from Norway by Mr. Brun.

And now, Colonel Reed, I want
you and Professor Tronstad

to discuss the details and the
possibilities for the operational party.

That's all for the day, gentlemen.

The Swallow group fights on through
hardships and deprivation.

For two days, Jens has been
stalking the reindeer.

On the morning of the third day,
he spots them.

He comes within range in the evening.

It is doubly welcome
because it is Christmas Eve.

Warm reindeer blood gives
the body life and strength.

The same day, Helberg is in
Rjukan to gather information.

He cannot resist the desire to pass
by his home.

["Silent Night" plays on the radio]

However, the instructions are
unchanged: no contact with civilians.

No contact with civilians.

They celebrate Christmas as best they can
in the mountains.

[Whistles along to the radio]

Quite a meal, huh?

Yeah, not bad.

By the way, I wonder if we shouldn't
have the eyes for dessert.

Isn't it strange, guys? When you
look at it philosophically, that is.

That it's possible to be so happy, so
fabulously happy, just from food?

Look a little happy, then.
- No, I can't. I'm stuffed.

It's pretty weird.

Here we're sitting eating reindeer stomach
as a vegetable dish, and loving it.

I would never have thought
that before the war.

You see, the moss is better when
it's been through a reindeer.

How's it going with your
poem, Shakespeare?

Well, I don't know.

I'm about to give you a
taste of myself, guys.

"When a reindeer from afar he sees
He forgets the aching in his knees"

"Across the Store Saura he sped
With eyes that gleamed of murder, red"

"Who cares if Shakespeare's dead?"

Better save the power until London
send us their Christmas greetings.

It'll be the same old story.
- "No operation tonight."

Lucky for the Allies.

They'll come sooner or later.

"They'll be coming 'round the
mountains when they come"

"They'll be coming 'round the
mountains when they come"

"Singing aye, aye, aye yippee
Aye, aye, yippee"

"Aye aye yippee yippee aye"

"I will be drinking Johnnie
Walker when they..."

"We'll be drinking Johnnie
Walker when they come "

"Singing aye, aye, yippee
Aye, aye, yippee"

"Aye aye yippee yippee aye"

"They'll be wearing silk pajamas
when they come"

"They'll be wearing silk pajamas
when they come"

"Singing aye, aye, yippee
Aye, aye, yippee"

"Aye aye yippee yippee aye"

Remember those who went
ahead and sacrificed their lives.

For their sake, ensure
that the operation succeeds.

You may not understand the
full meaning of this today.

But what you are about to do, will be
Norwegian history in a hundred years.

Good luck.

Once again, Tronstad says
goodbye to a small squad

of Norwegian boys
from the Linge Company.

The leader, Second Lieutenant
Joachim Rønneberg,

second-in-command Knut Haukelid,

Second Lieutenant Kasper Idland,

Sergeant Birger Strømsheim,

Sergeant Fredrik Kayser,

and Sergeant Hans Storhaug.

This group is named Gunner side.

They are not dressed in silk pajamas,
but in white camouflage suits.

It is 16 February 1943. On the
plateau, the flares are burning again.

Again, the sound of an engine is heard
over the mountain, but the night passes.

The signal's been weak for a long time.

Then there's no use in waiting any longer.

Heavy-hearted, the Swallow boys return
to the cabin.

We will send the usual message.

"Still no contact with Gunner side."

"The storm has been raging for four days."

"Search impossible."
There's nothing more to say.

If they haven't found shelter by
now, it's looking bad for them.

But is there nothing we can do?
- Not in this weather.

However, the men from Gunner side
have been dropped onto the plateau,

only much further north.

The pilots did not see the
flares through the clouds.

Gunner side tries to find Swallow,

but bad weather forces them back
to a cabin near Skrykenvatnet,

which they were lucky enough
to find on the night of the drop.

On the morning of the sixth day, a
bright sun shines through the snow flurry.

Gunner side starts towards the position
given as Swallow's base.

They spot two skiers on the way.

Is it friend or foe?

Yeah.

We'll wait here.

Where do you think they could be?

They will have to come
through here in any case.

Unless something's happened, that is.

It's Knut!

Hi, Knut!
- Hello!

Where are the others?
- They're just over there.

Finally, Swallow and Gunner side are united.

Together they continue towards
their final outpost:

The Fjøsbudal Lodge, in the mountainside
right above Vemork Canyon.

[Mumbling in Norwegian]

You'll have to wait your turn, Claus.

Oh, there's no hurry.
I'll get my turn.

Are you cutting off my nose?
- Shut up. I've got it.

How long will you make the fuse?

We have one of 80 seconds, but if
necessary we'll cut it down to 30.

If you use 30 you'll
have to bloody run.

Jens, look at this.

Are you sure this information
about the minefields is correct?

Yes, if they haven't been
moved in the past few days.

The railway gate should be safe.
If not, we'll know it for sure.

Listen up. Does everyone
know what they have to do?

Yes.
- Yes.

You know the German guards.

If there's fighting, the
cover team will handle it.

Okay.

The explosives team goes
straight to the target.

By the way, here's an extra
ignition kit for each of you.

If something happens to me, or if the
plan fails, it's every man for himself.

And finally, remember what Tronstad said.
In this war, heavy water is important.

The operation must succeed.

Should anyone be wounded
so he can't get away...

Well, it's up to him to decide what to do.

Personally, I believe the wisest choice is
to take your own life.

Any questions?

Okay. We start in half an hour.

The way between the Fjøsbudal Lodge
and the factory is long and perilous.

First, they must ski
down the steep mountain.

At the white dot, weapons are checked
and the skis are left behind.

The sides of the gorge
must be climbed.

Completely without cover, they must
then follow the railway track,

the only possible access between
machine gun nests and landmines.

The radio operators have stayed
behind to stay in touch with London.

They're on the way now.
- Yes.

Too bad we couldn't come with them.
- Well.

There's the target. It seems close, but the
gorge and the enemy lie between them.

Meter by meter, Helberg has planned
a path between the German sentries.

Before the advance on the factory,

the saboteurs remove the
white camouflage suits.

The assault will be
carried out in full uniform,

so the Germans will not have an
excuse to treat them as francs-tireurs.

Further on. It's too steep here.

They're changing the guard.

We'll wait a bit.

All right guys, let's get started.

Haukelid checks that the chain-
link fence has not been electrified.

Everything must happen fast. The operation
must be completed in four minutes.

Hands up!

Take it easy. If you make any
sign of resistance, I'll shoot.

Up against the wall.

What is the meaning of this?

We've come from England to make
things a little difficult for the Germans.

Take a good look. You will describe
what an English uniform looks like

when you're interrogated later.

Hey, be careful! You mustn't
create a short circuit.

Do you think we're repairmen?

There could be an explosion.

Well, that's the whole point.

It's just me.
- Come in and help me, then.

Where's the key to the front door?
- Well, I think it's...

Keep your hands up. Where is it?

I - I keep it in that drawer.

80 seconds?
- No, I'll cut it down to 30.

Get him out.
- But I need to find...

What?

You see, I can't buy new ones.

Get him out already.
- But my glasses, I need them.

You're wearing them!

Get out now!

Go upstairs. Go!

Let's get out of here.

Have this duct walled shut.
- Yes, General.

An impressive act of sabotage.

Damn it!

Everything must be rebuilt at once.

But we cannot...

At once!

And because of the time
lost through this attack,

the Reich demands a significant
increase in production.

Yes, General.

The saboteurs must still
be in the mountains.

It is essential that those
men are arrested.

Dead or alive doesn't matter.

The saboteurs are already deep in the
mountains as the Germans scour the area.

But the plateau is big.

Out in the waste, the boys part ways.

Five of the men will make the long
trek to Sweden in full uniform.

Two of them head towards
Oslo to carry out other missions.

While the last two stay in
the mountains of Telemark,

where they maintain contact with the
local home front and with London.

London, where Churchill's courage and
tenacity begins to bear fruit.

Aside from the Vemork sabotage,
which is reported directly to him,

the British Prime Minister has also
received other good news.

The Soviet Army begins its offensive.

In Africa, the British 8th Army forces
Rommel's troops into retreat.

The Americans occupy
Morocco, Algeria and Tunis.

Each night, the Allied air forces
hammer the German cities,

where people bitterly remember
Göring's promise:

"No enemy aircraft will ever enter
German airspace."

Cemeteries in the sand.

Cemeteries in the snow.

A whole generation is sacrificed
to satisfy this grim man

inspecting his armaments
factories in his field gray coat.

Goebbels is busy explaining
the Army's flexible retreats

to the masses in Nazi Germany.

At the same time he threatens
the world with total war,

and with secret weapons.

Secret weapons.

At the factory in Telemark,
German engineers

have completed the reconstruction
of the heavy water plant.

The German scientists
have not given up hope

of penetrating the
secrets of nuclear power,

and under guard by SS soldiers, the
production continues around the clock.

The heavy water droplets fall ever faster.

Along the European coast, the Germans
build their Atlantic Wall.

The German propaganda
hurls its threats.

London will be destroyed
just as Carthage was.

It almost looks as if the threat will
come true, because at this moment,

when the scales are
clearly beginning to tip,

the V-1 projectiles
soar across the Channel.

But the turmoil of war does not break
the silence in the Norwegian mountains.

Knut and Einar still live here,

keeping London informed
about German activity.

They sustain themselves
by hunting and fishing,

together with a new friend
they have named Bamse ("Teddy").

They have built a stone
lodge called Bamsebu.

You see, women have no idea how to
cook reindeer.

Right. It should be raw, like roast beef.
- Yeah.

Isn't it strange that
when all this is over,

we'll tell everyone about how
fabulously great we had it up here?

And now it looks like the Germans
have given up on the raids.

Yeah. But the plateau is still blocked.

Yes, but that's an advantage to us.

We won't have tourists
hanging around all the time.

They try to fence us in,
but they won't get rid of us.

Oh, Bamse!

Oh, Bamse!

Bamse, are you eating my shopping list?

The poor thing is hungry.

Next time we write a list for London
I'll ask for four drops of dog biscuits.

London eventually gets word that
a large supply of heavy water

is being gathered at Vemork.

Some of the messages are
intercepted by the Germans,

who are using direction finders
to locate the secret transmitter.

They also use scout planes.

They even have a search party of
14,000 men searching Hardangervidda.

Knut and Einar must move from place to
place.

They are experienced mountaineers
who know every path and every rock

better than the enemy.

It's beginning to wear me out, living
as an outlaw in the mountains.

I think it's high time that Eisenhower
conducts a little invasion.

You should send him a telegram, then.
- Don't be silly.

But Knut, seriously.
England is full of soldiers.

And the Atlantic Wall
is just a big hoax.

You're in over your head.

Nope. He can let loose on France,
Belgium, the Netherlands,

even Norway for that matter.
So if I were Eisenhower...

...You'd do exactly what he does.

Assessing and speculating
and calculating.

No. That's the difference between
Eisenhower and me, you see.

I wouldn't waste any time speculating,
while others might get the whole cake.

I still think Eisenhower
knows that better than you.

I would strike here. Here.

I doubt Eisenhower will let such
a chance slip away from him.

Not Bamse either, I see.
- What?

But the progress of the war shows
that Eisenhower wastes no time.

And not the Allied
political leaders either.

A new winter has settled
over the mountain.

Knut, Einar and Bamse
are always on the move,

as the manhunt continues ceaselessly.

The Germans continue their search, and
the net closes more with each passing day.

But the patrols still cannot detect them.
The boys always find new hiding places.

They are circled in once more,
and the patrols are dispatched.

Not a soul.

Move out!

We've found ourselves a cosy spot here.

Yeah.

Bamse!

Good night, then.

G'night.

What a dog's life this is.
Right, Bamse?

America becomes more active in the war.

When the huge heavy water supply being
prepared at Vemork becomes known,

80 bombers are sent to Norway.

Berlin feels the defeats. Hitler raises
his voice even more and screams:

"May God forgive me for the
final eight days of the war."

And once more he is able to awaken
the enthusiasm of the masses.

Engineer Sørlie, the contact man,
brings news from Rjukan.

The destruction from the
bombing was not complete,

and Sørlie has learned that
the Germans have a new plan.

I just got wind that the Germans have given
up the heavy water production at Vemork.

They're going to move the supply
and the equipment to Germany.

I reckon it's about
ten thousand liters.

That's two years' work
for the Germans.

The process involves several stages,
with a gradually increasing concentration.

By the way, do you know why the
heavy water is so terribly important?

The chemists at Hydro are talking
about nuclear power.

Do you know how they will transport it?

Yes. A train from Vemork.

The Germans have already dispatched
some SS soldiers to protect it.

Then there's a ferry
from Mæl to Tinnoset.

And from there, a
special train to the port.

Do you know when?

No. But it will not be long.

We have London on the air in about
half an hour. Get some messages ready.

Tronstad will get something
to think about.

It's getting serious.

"Heavy water plant and complete stock
to be evacuated Germany next week."

"Train Mel ferryboat Tinnoset
embarcation harbor Skien."

"Ferryboat only weak link but
sinking will cost Norwegian lives."

"Please give definite instructions."

Please mail these immediately.
- Okay.

Thank you.

Tronstad?
- Yes?

[Posh English mumbling]

Major Tronstad is instructed
to ensure that the heavy water

does not reach
the German laboratories.

Through the airwaves, the order
reaches the small station at Bamsebu.

"Sinking of ferryboat must
be carried out at all costs"

"even if loss of civilian lives
unavoidable. Success imperative."

Once again, two figures glide down
the mountainside.

They are about to fight an unequal battle.

The driver's okay?
- Yes.

I don't like this job.
Lives could be lost.

If the Germans get the heavy water,
even more could be lost.

Is that clock on time?
- Yes.

Let's get going.

Do you have enough now?
- Yes, I have some petrol, too.

It's strangely quiet here.

Yes. Let's work quickly now.

Keep the engine running. If you hear
shots, leave without us.

Everything seems dead
and quiet on the ferry,

where the cargo will be
loaded in the early morning.

Wait here.

The fuse.

Tar tape.

Give me the clock.

Tar tape.

It's ready.

What the...

What are you doing here, then?

Gestapo are at Rjukan,
and we have to get away.

You're that kind of people?
You have to hide now, right?

Yes.

Really? Well, we have a place here on
the ferry which I think is...

Get in here.
- No. We need to get some food first.

I'll get food. Hurry now.
- No. We have to get some things in Rjukan.

I will send for it.
- No, we have to get it ourselves.

We'll be back tomorrow morning before
the ferry leaves.

All right then. But you're on your
own. I'm not working tomorrow.

You're not coming along tomorrow?
- No, not tomorrow.

That's great!

[Speaking in German]

The German plan is to ship the heavy
water across Tinnsjøen,

then by train to the shipping docks,
then by boat to Hamburg.

But the English have taken
countermeasures.

The submarines are
in position as scheduled.

There lies the ship that
will take over the cargo.

And in London,
Tronstad waits once more.

Yes, I'm certain this is our best bet.
- I think so, too.

Halt! Get on board.

The rest of you, up front.

The aircraft take off
and take over the watch.

Move up front!

[Mumbling in German]

The three saboteurs are already
on their way back to Bamsebu.

Three minutes left.

On 20 February 1944,
as the Tinnsjø ferry sinks,

the Third Reich loses its last chance
in the battle for heavy water.

The battle was won by a handful
of men. They all did their utmost,

also during new missions,
until the day that the war was won.

Their hearts keep the memory
of the man who was the very soul

of their work, Major Professor Leif
Tronstad, who himself was killed

in these mountains during the
battle for Norway's freedom.