Los! Runter, runter vom Wagen!
Los, los!
Major Frick!
Tell the commandant of Rjukan
that an attempt has been made on the Reich-Comissar's life!
Arrange for 15 civilian hostages from the district of Telemark
to be shot in reprisal!
Like the look of it, gentlemen?
Most interesting.
We're well informed of what you do here, Herr Nilssen.
A little experimentation with heavy water, that's all.
- With deuterium oxide. - Yes, yes we know.
Nilssen, I must tell you
the time has come to make a decisive transition from theory to practice.
You've done enough experimentation, my dear fellow.
This room has more signifiance for us than you can possibly realize.
One day perhaps he will realize.
Don't you think, gentlemen?
Forget about fertilizers.
This factory is required by the Reich to increse its production of heavy water by 400%.
We want 10,000 pounds of heavy water by Easter next year.
That's impossible.
It's not at all impossible, Herr Nilssen.
What is necessary will always be accomplished.
All the more so when the whole future of the Reich is at stake.
All the technical details have been worked out in Berlin.
Here, take a look.
Notice also our modification of the deuterium formula.
But, what is the reason? I don't understand.
That was a firing squad, my dear Nilssen.
Let it be a warning.
Major Frick here will be in charge of security.
And it will be the maximum.
Halt!
Papiere.
Ja.
Stupid fool!
Doctor Pedersen?
No, I'm sorry. He is busy. He's working in the dark room.
Hey, you can't go barging in on Prof. Pedersen, you know.
How long is he like to be there?
Could be there all afternoon.
I'll wait for him.
Shut that door!
What the hell do you think you're doing? Can't you see the red light's on?
I'm sorry. I'd like to speak to you.
Don't you know the damage you can do barging into a dark room
when the signal light's on?
I've got to give you a message.
Alright, I'll be in touch.
Now, what do you want?
I'm from Telemark, near the Norsk hydro-factory.
I didn't ask where you were born.
I come from Chief Engineer Nilssen.
He wants your opinion on something.
He says only you would understand it.
Understand whatär
The message.
It's in here.
What this, some sort of student joke?
It's not a joke. And I'm no student.
lt contains an undeveloped photographic negative.
Open it!
Who are you?
Knut Straud.
I used to work on the sawmills, but now I fight Nazis.
One of those.
Get back to your sawmill.
I'm not interested in your messages.
My work is here.
You understand?
I've just seen you at your work.
I'd rather embrace one Norwegian than kill a dozen a day, friend.
Look at this.
Everytime your people play boy scouts and blow up a few Nazi trucks,
12 hostages are shot.
That's your great work?
Keep it.
Get out of here and take your toothpaste with you.
A lot of boy scouts risked their lives to get this to you.
I must get to England.
Moment!
Reiseausweis!
- Name? - Jan Christensen.
- Adresse? - 640 Koenig Strasse, Trondheim.
Also Sie fahren jetzt nach Trondheim?
Ja.
We've contacted London. They're expecting us.
How are we for fuel?
I'm sorry. My wife is a little clumsy.
No, no, it's my fault.
How far are you going, Kristiansand, Karup?
As far up as she'll go.
How far will she go?
We'll make it.
I counted 12 crew and 8 passagers plus the quisling.
All we need now is a little fog and the trolls on our side.
Don't tell me, a big boy like you believes in trolls.
You all know what to do.
Well, doctor.
Press this little thing here, and the bullets come out there.
Get off the bridge!
We're taking over the ship in the name of Royal Norwegian Government.
- This ship is going to England. - Like hell it is!
You got a choice.
Sail under the King as free men, or be prisoners for the rest of the war.
Good evening?
Stay where you are!
Taking over the ship in the name of the King.
Look out!
- Quisling bastard. - Serves him right.
What can we do for you?
Give us a hand.
Ladies and gentlemen, there's nothing to be alarmed about.
There's just been a slight change in our itinerary.
Now, instead of going up the caust to Kristiansand,
- we'are going to England. - England?
Don't be alarmed.
Now or never, captain.
Fools!
You'll never never get across the North Sea alive.
Enemy planes will spot you.
That's the chance we're going to take.
A lot of mines, thousand of them.
And neither the British nor the Germans happen to given us a map.
- You believe in trolls? - Oh, yes, he does.
So do I, providing we've a sharp lookout.
England, captin?
South, Southwest.
South, Southwest, sir.
Thank you, captain.
Mines!
- Full astern! - Full astern, sir!
Hard aport!
- What's all the commotion? - There's a mine.
- Stop engines! - Stop engines, sir!
- Go ahead both! - Go ahead both!
Too close. Trying to blow us up?
Get that pole!
- Full astern! - Full astern, sir.
Hang on this line.
Next time you want to play billiards with a mine,
remember my job is to get you safely to London!
Passes, sir.
What the devil is heavy water?
It's a liquid with a heavier hydrogen structure than ordinary water.
It also posesses properties useful in the study of atomic energy.
Yes, but, what's the significance of the Germans ordering this vast increasing the stuff?
In the formula that Nilssen sent me,
the Germans have added a new component to the accepted equation.
I rather wait for that formula has been examined by...
Prof. Einstein or Dr. Oppenheimer in New York.
But, professor, surely it's something more than just a doubt
that brought you all the way to England.
It is. It's the very great fear.
And if it's justified, we'll know about it soon enough.
Thank you.
I'll introduce you, shall I?
Morning, George, Charlie?
A moment, gentlemen, would you mind?
Thank you so much.
This is the professor Sir Rodrick Logan, gentlemen.
Gentlemen,
perhaps I should tell you, or perhaps I should not tell you
that we've just come from a very brief and equaly a very painful session
with the Prime Minister, on this.
At any rate, here's a report that came from Washington this morning.
Following their initial reading of the data brought by Dr. Pedersen from Norway,
plus certain other indicators,
incidentally, professors Einstein, Fermi, Oppenheimer
conquering the scientific and military consensus in America is...
that the Germans may be ahead of us
in the race to achieve controlled atomic fission.
If they are ahead and they get the atomic bomb,
they've won the war.
Ah, there you are, Knut. How are you?
Come in.
Come on in, Mr. Straud.
Thank you.
Come on in. Take a chair.
Thank you.
We examined the situation very carefully
and it's been agreed in London and Washington
that the factory making heavy water must be destroyed without delay.
Personally, I agree with you, Bill,
the bombing is, in this incidence, the most obvoius method.
Right.
At the same time, we wish, if we can,
to avoid the large scale civilian death,
which is also the clear wish of the Norwegian government.
I suggest, gentlemen, that Dr. Pedersen who knows what's at stake,
and Mr. Straud who knows his coutry backwoods,
be asked to return immediately to Telemark in order to resolve this question.
That is to determine with objectivity
whether a ground attack by commandos is practical or not.
Agreed?
Agreed.
How do we get back to Norway?
The simpliest way. By parashute.
We're miles off course.
But I know where we are.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
Yes, if you're a reindeer.
Where will we go from here?
I'm taking you to one of my radio operaters.
He's our contact with London.
Now what?
Over that mountain. Farmhouse.
Another one of my operaters.
I know this place.
Oh, Knut Straud!
Come in.
- How are you? - Fine.
Wonderful to see you.
Hello, Anna.
Good God! What are you doing here?
Well, just dropped in for a cup of coffee.
Uncle!
Uncle?
- What is it? - Rolf is here.
Oh, damn!
Hello, uncle?
Oh, Rolf, what on earth are you doing here?
Oh, Mr. Straud, it's always good to see you.
- You know each other too? - Yes, we've met.
Surprise! I'd no idea you were all such good friends.
Hadn't you?
Listen, I think you'd better know that we've put you in some danger by coming here.
What?
We're working for the resistance.
You? You are not serious!
- He got me into it. - Was that wise, Knut?
You seem to know each other quite well.
Oh, everybody knows everybody here.
Let me introduce you to my ex-wife.
We have some coffee now, Anna?
I've no time for coffee. I'm working for the resistance.
We both can't be working for the resistance. Ridiculous!
You look terrible.
Dragging me around the lead of two days.
Threre's some pajamas and hot water upstairs.
You two are about to go along up to bedroom.
I um... I take it. You know the way?
Yeah, I know the way.
- Follow me. - Thank you.
It's odd to have him in the house again.
What's odd about it?
You and he shared the same bed for two years.
As far as I remember, you damn seldom got out of it.
You should be asleeped.
Oh, I just thought I dropped in, on the line of duty
to discuss resistance tactics with a fellow fighter.
By the way, how's your resistance these days?
Fine.
How's yours?
Mine?
Well, it was great until I met that boy scout Knut Straud.
l was content, l had a good life and...
Now, look where I am.
Yes, it's exhausting to commit yourself to others.
You still commit yourself beautifully.
Like you always did.
I'm not your wife now, Rolf.
I know.
You're not anybody's wife, are you?
Go to bed.
Sure.
Yes, you'd like that, wouldn't you?
You mean you would?
You know what you were born for.
No.
Yes, you know what you were born for. Tell me.
Say those things to me.
Your voice...
never out of my head.
You are the same. You're my love.
Yes, you are.
You've got the words wrong, Rolf.
You see, it's not so easy seducing your ex-wife.
Students are much easier, aren't they?
I just don't believe in you anymore.
- Anna. - Don't. Please, go.
Please.
Sleep well.
We'll make this our main transmitter hut.
Can't risk the farm. It's getting too dangerous.
I'll make sure that Nilssen is at the church this morning.
Good.
Uncle, be careful! The town is full of Germans.
Merry Christmas, uncle! See you in church.
Merry Christmas!
Sigrid.
Oh, that's... Arne's wife?
I've got a message for you from Arne.
He's in England.
- He is fine. - Will you see him again?
Tell him I've a message for him too.
He will be a father in the spring.
They'll have their 10,000 pounds of heavy water by Easter.
The marker. Microfilm of the factory, exact details.
Ammonia and hydrogen pipes.
Don't you see how close it is to the village?
Look how near the factory's to their homes.
Off Limits
Look at the rabbit!
Land mines.
Come on.
Oh, excuse me.
I don't think I've seen you in Rjukan before.
Who are you?
Oh, I've come to visit my fiance for Christmas.
I see, your fiance!
How very charming indeed.
And what is your name?
- Oh, my name... - I'm asking her.
Jan Christensen.
Then, let me see your identity card, please?
Certainly.
Excuse me.
Here it is.
Your text, I believe?
Yes, sir.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Auf widersehen.
Oh, and the compliment of the season to huh... both of you.
- How did you like our town, Rolf? - Oh, I liked it.
You should have seen the torch-light parades we used to have.
Every november.
It was wonderful.
Flaming torches. You could see it from miles away in the mountain.
Snow was whiter then.
Yes, it was all the lights on the snow.
Then we made snowballs and threw them at the torches. Remember, Knut?
This is the detail layout of the factory.
They've got 3,000 pounds of heavy water in there right now
ready to be shipped to Germany.
Let's decide on what message we send to London.
There is only one message.
We examined the area.
Consider the ground attack totally impractical.
Recommend alternate method.
You mean to bomb it?
Yes.
It would destory Rjukan and everybody in it.
Possibly.
Bombing is impossible!
And the factory is deeply embedded in the gorge.
The one way we across that gorge is a narrow bridge 75 feet long.
Two men with machine guns could hold off a battalion.
I can get inside that factory with 10 men.
10 men! And blow it sky high!
They've got 88mm guns on every hill.
And without destroying an entire village in the process.
Barbed wire, land mines.
- 6,000 lives! Do you realize it? - I keep out of this!
I'm talking about something that affects the world.
I don't give a damn about the world.
I'm talking about my town, her town, his town! We live there!
I'm talking about people. Do you understand that?
People!
You weren't so squeamish when hostages were being shot. They're people.
Is there the hell out of more important than blowing up a few Nazi trucks?
- Fighting the war, doctor, doing my job. - And I'm doing mine!
I don't like it. And I didn't ask for it.
Anna...
You live here,
naturally, wanna save your own people's lives, but...
this is something that has to be done.
It's important.
Important enough to kill 6,000 people?
Yes.
Look!
I want to know what's so important about heavy water.
I don't make the rules. I can't tell you.
I want to know, doctor, and you're going to tell me.
I'm telling you nothing.
Do you think that I'm gonna sacrifice the lives of 6,000 people
on the opinion of a playboy scientist?
For what?
I want to know, doctor, and you're going to tell me.
You wanna know what it's all about.
All right.
I'll tell you.
That's what it's all about. D2O
You understand?
- Of course you don't. - Stupid, why you...
Stop it!
I thought you boys were here to fight the Nazis.
Why don't you both send in the reports and let London decide?
Alright.
Fine.
See, Anna?
Knut and I fighted but we still managed to live with each other.
I know you fellas are anxious to get back to Norway.
Knut Straud and Rolf Pedersen are on the mountains of Telemark waiting for you.
The main assault group, the Royal Engineers Commando,
will come in two or three days, weather permitting.
We're counting on you to get the glider landing strip
on the lake ready for them.
Well, happy landings, best luck!
Thanks.
Good God! Where have you been?
We've been looking for you the half round of the Arctic circle!
What are you talking about? We've been waiting for your message
for the past 5 weeks. It still hasn't come.
I'm starving!
- We're expecting more company tomorrow. - Yeah, 50 British commandos.
And the Royal Engineers, they'll land tomorrow night.
I've got a message for you from Sigrid.
You gonna have a baby in the spring!
How is she?
She's pregnant!
Rolf!
Who are you?
My name is Jensen.
- What do you want? - I'm on a hunting trip.
Hunting for what?
You'd better come with us.
I won't say a word.
Ever, on my honor.
Look, my village is Haukeli.
Anyone there will tell you who I am?
Listen, I hate the Nazis. Believe me!
My wife is in the Gestapo prison.
Listen, her father's name is John Trend.
- That's why she is in the prison. - Trend?
The resistance leader?
Yes.
It fits.
Shoot him!
No, we'll keep him.
We can't risk the whole organization because of one man.
- I'm with Knut. - And me.
- I think Rolf is right. - So do I.
We'll have a show of hands. Those against shooting him.
We'll have your skis. Take them off.
Listen!
I still can't belive it.
- They weren't even Norwegian. - 50 British commandos.
In a flash, the whole operation is over.
Waste! That's what I can't get out of my head.
They're are not going to be wasted.
We're going ahead tonight, now.
As if they were with us.
It's the same plan. We all know it.
What are you talking about?
We'll get into the factory and complete the mission ourselves.
- Knut, I'm sorry, but you are mad! - There's only nine of us left.
- We'd better wait. - We can't wait.
It'll be a month before they can mount an assault on the same scale.
- Knut, if we... - It's our only chance.
If we win, those men won't have died for nothing tonight.
There were 50 of them, only 9 of us.
You won't even mean 9.
What do you mean?
I'm sorry, but I'm not going on such an impossible mission.
Oh, yes, you are, Rolf.
You are coming with us.
You are the only one who knows exactly where that dynamite must be placed.
Look, Knut, after what happened tonight, that factory is gonna be jumping with the guards!
- He's right. - Now listen! Listen to me.
They have completely wiped out our entire assault force, right?
Now they'll be feeling completely safe.
You don't have the chance in the world.
50 men died tonight.
They came here to help us. They weren't even Norwegian.
Now, who's coming with me tonight?
It's 10 to 12.
This is the military operation launched by the British.
With the British uniforms, so the Germans won't shoot Norwegian hostages afterwards.
The attack will take place at 03:15.
Arne, you, Henrik will be our cover party.
You move forward and cut a hole in the fence.
The demolition party will consist of...
Demolition party will consist of Knut, Oli and myself.
Jensen, inside!
- Gute Nacht. - Draussen ist es kalt.
Gut, ich bin warm angezogen.