The Heavy Water War: Stopping Hitler's Atomic Bomb
You wanted to talk to me?
New orders.
We will rebuild it all.
What do you think? How long will it take?
- It's a damned lot of work. - But not impossible.
What was once here, can be rebuilt.
- Can you get me some coffee? Black. - Yes.
A moment.
Thank you for calling me.
I'm so relieved nothing happened to you.
Astrid says they were Norwegians. They walked over the ravine and the railway.
Nobody would do that unless they know Rjukan like their own back yard.
How does she know that?
She heard it at the grocery store.
That it was Norwegians who had been hiding in the highlands.
- Why would they do that? - Hide on the highlands, or blow up the plant?
Blow up...
You're asking me?
- I should ask you. - All right.
People say that you work with the Germans, and that's the reason.
- Anything else? - No thanks, that's fine.
Did you get rid of the correspondence?
- I think so. - Good.
Want to hear what else people say?
They say the war is at a turning point.
The Germans have lost 200,000 men at Stalingrad.
And that perhaps it's not that smart having close relations with the Germans.
We are occupied. Norway doesn't come to a standstill because of that.
Yes, I'm just relaying what I heard.
Maybe you should not listen to everything people say. Have you thought about that?
Yes, I did think of that. But unfortunately I can't.
Why not?
Because I will be unhappy to be alone.
And my happiness... is my responsibility.
GERMANY SURRENDERS AT STALINGRAD!
- Blown up? - Yes.
- The entire facility? - It looks like it.
What about graphite, can't we use that? The Americans use it, according to rumours.
It's not certain the rumours are true.
These camps, Werner… I've been following it.
No one returns. How big do you think they are?
I don't know.
It's late.
Nothing's happening.
Not because of the materials. Something's not right.
Li.
- Sorry. - There you are.
They don't give the "danger over" signals anymore. The entire city center is burning.
70% of the 16-year-olds have been called upon to serve in the army, I heard.
Fortunately, our children are too young.
I have to leave again, but at least we got to see each other.
I will pack a lunch for you.
- What did you say? - That I will pack you lunch!!
I can't blame you.
You warned me.
You said I would never be jealous of a woman, but of science.
You were right. But what I didn't realize…
When you decided that we should stay in Germany, you did not make your family part of the consideration.
You know that's not true.
I'm…
Sometimes I am not as brave as you think.
I must go.
Congratulations.
Hello.
- What? - Helberg hasn't shown up.
We just got a message from Einar to check in with the others…
He's probably dead.
Yesterday, I saw some children build a…
What's it called? Iglo. I saw how they built an iglo.
They dug up a huge amount of snow.
Four boys built something they imagined was a…
A castle or a palace with many rooms and corridors.
But what they did not think of…
Is that spring is now approaching.
And that everything will melt.
Even the most beautiful castles become just puddles again.
It's all in vain.
"Strategic retreat", That's what they call it now.
It is a new concept. Take note of it.
"Total war"…
And the "strategic retreat".
You need more people, huh?
350 Russian prisoners of war from the battles for Minsk and Smolensk.
- Prisoners of war? - Yes.
We're doubling the heavy water order.
And as long as we have enough manpower, everything is possible.
Isn't it great?
Oh, yes.
Henriksen.
They bombed our factories in Herøya.
American aircrafts, just after twelve. More than 50 dead.
Injured?
Around one hundred. The entire facility has been destroyed.
- American planes? - Yes.
I'm leaving. Cancel all meetings.
I sent the cooks home. You want me to call them back?
I found some leftovers in the kitchen.
Dear, you're living dangerously.
First the plant, and then Herøya.
Next time Rjukan will be bombed.
Is there any butter? I didn't find any.
Nobody has butter now.
No one really has anything, except those with a lot of money.
Such as us.
What do you really sell to the Germans that's so important -
- so that the plant is bombed and sabotaged?
I'm going to bed.
Ask the maid to change the mattress, it's too hard.
Do it yourself! I hope you understand where this is going.
The Germans won't win, no matter how much you produce!
All we want is to operate the factory in peace.
I'm not talking about Hydro, but about you.
What will you do when it's over?
- I got the plant to be fully operational. - You could have declined, like so many.
The whole of Rjukan works there. I can't let people starve to death.
But some have resisted and got arrested!
Astrid's husband, for example.
Which side did you stand on when it happened?
It wasn't me who arrested him.
No, you fired him for something he didn't do.
You must learn to see the bigger picture.
Before the invasion I was a reserve officer.
I have not done anything against my fatherland!
We're going to be ostracized.
No one will talk to us anymore.
That's not going to happen.
I promise.
- We blew the whole room - It was not enough.
What did we do wrong, then?
Not you, I. I thought we'd contain the situation with the basement.
What do we do now, then?
- Yes? - Major Decker is here.
Yes, show him in.
Good morning. You wanted to talk to me?
What happens if we can not deliver?
Because…?
Because Hydro must decide for itself.
Resource utilization. If the resources can be used at the expense of other areas -
- for example, ammonia production and fertilisers.
- Have you discussed this with Aubert? - No.
What do you mean?
Don't be naive. If you refuse to deliver, we will replace you with a new director.
In the worst case we'll take over everything ourselves.
You didn't really expect otherwise, did you?
- The administration… - Which the German IG Farben controls.
- Not the German government. - But this is war.
And Wehrmacht controls Norway.
Our relationship with Hydro is of purely practical nature.
It does not matter if you refuse to deliver us heavy water.
We'll repair the damage and resume production.
And what will happen to me?
Henriksen…
- Weren't you a reserve officer before the war? - Yes.
Reserve officers are arrested and sent to Germany.
Honorary protection. That's what they call it.
Because it is considered an honour to be arrested.
For me, it's just a nice way to ignore the failures of the war.
I just wanted to warn you.
I will leave tomorrow.
I will be sent to Poland.
- What happened? - I said I wouldn't do it anymore.
You can't just quit.
Hydro can get someone else to do the job. Why will you be sent away?
Trust me.
Let me…
- Mrs. Henriksen? - Yes.
Your husband is under arrest.
I understand. Can you please wait until he has finished getting dressed?
Here is everything you need.
The contracts for the next four months.
All contracts and deliveries.
Production details. This will make the transition easier.
Come in.
Thanks, Tone.
Werner…
Alright.
Your district has been bombed. Get Elisabeth and the children out of town.
- I'll go with you. - Stay.
The Americans destroyed the heavy water plant.
Go down and check the inventory.
Elisabeth.
Elisabeth!
Come.
- Are you coming? - I'll come later.
Go!
Go now.
Go!
General Leeb.
The plant in Norway was hit.
The plant was bombed, and parts of the warehouse might also have beeen hit.
But no bomb reached down to the basement, as far as we know.
It seems that the production facility was not destroyed.
Columns, tanks, remnants of potassium hydroxide and heavy water.
Not a single scratch.
That means?
We continue.