Scotland
The operation goes under the name of Freshman.
41 specially trained commandos sent into the mountains
in two gliders,
each pulled by a Halifax bomber. 21 men in one glider, 20 in the other.
Now, the Halifaxes take them as far as the Norwegian coast,
then the gliders swoop down, unnoticed, and land on high ground.
After that, our chaps slip down to the factory
- and blow the damn thing to pieces. - It's quite a big area.
Yes, we'll need people who can establish depots,
do reconnaissance,
men who know the area and of course speak the language.
A welcoming committee of Norwegians sent out ahead.
- What do you want me to do? - Find them. Create an operations unit.
Captain.
Peggy. Thank you.
Wilson's office.
Front office.
- Meeting room. - Ma'am.
- George. - Yes, ma'am?
Um, my office.
Radio room, tea room, your office.
The Germans have apparently searched both your office and your home.
It appears you didn't leave a moment too soon.
Your wife and children are safe, they're with the in-laws.
Maybe it would be a better solution if my family came here.
- That's not an option. - They won't be any trouble.
Do you see any children here, Mr Tronstad?
They've been evacuated so they don't get bombed.
Norway may have been invaded
but it's still a far safer place than England.
You obviously don't have children.
So how long have you known about the Germans' atomic programme?
Well, that depends on what you mean by "known".
Since Poland there's been no information on anything that
smells of Wissenschaft which is strange
but I suppose that no information at least leaves room for speculation.
DISTANT GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSION
Poulsson, how would you like a trip to Rjukan?
A group of five, drop over the plateau to set up a base-
-which I want you to lead.
Alright. When do we leave?
When we have found the rest.
Welcome to Vemork, Mr Director.
Good morning. Could I speak to you in my office, Brun?
- Tone Jargensen. Welcome. -Pleased to meet you.
Close the door, please.
When it comes to the heavy water... I read through the reports.
What do you mean by "foam formation"?
Problems with the intake water.
People in Oslo talk about sabotage.
We'll double the guards and register everyone.
And I would like to fire...
Danielsen.
There was a lot of foam yesterday. Danielsen was alone.
Will you let him know?
- It might not be him. -No?
I found a bottle in the bin by the stairs yesterday.
Castor oil. It could be people-
-from the day shift, the night shift or the day before.
Foam formation doesn't happen straight away.
Good. That's all.
I still want Danielsen to leave. As a warning to the guilty.
We are weeks behind on the delivery.
You travel to Berlin tomorrow with the heavy water.
It's important we please the Germans.
- Could you increase the production? -Yes, we can.
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute Berlin -It would be more expensive. -No problem.
We need everything we can get.
Professor Heisenberg. Engineer Brun.
He's here with the heavy water.
Nice to meet you. Thank you. It's of great help.
It would be interesting to see how it's used.
Of course, but we must keep some things secret.
Follow me, please. Mr Heisenberg.
- Did you have a nice journey? -Yes.
Slowly.
Stop '
Have you seen this? Norway sent more than we ordered.
That's fantastic.
What would he say if he saw us here?
He would tell us what we have forgotten.
- Have we forgotten anything? -No.
Still, many of the best are gone.
We have been weakened.
Have you decided about the invitation?
- Copenhagen? -Yes. Bohr is still at his institute.
- I will go there for the lecture. -Good.
"In support of the Germany-Denmark cooperation and relations."
- Aren't you busy with the reactor? -It's a lecture.
We must maintain the relations to other countries.
We must?
Or is it more important for you to meet Bohr?
- We weren't to mention him. -What do you want to discuss?
If it were to happen, the good old days.
Science, music, families...
- Life. -Mr Heisenberg...
You signed a confidentiality clause.
You can't talk about what we do here.
Denmark is occupied by Germany.
Don't pretend to be stupid!
Everyone knows Bohr cooperates with the Brits.
I'll get you a passport.
Afterwards you must tell me how far-
-the allies' nuclear research has come.
Espionage?
No. It falls under the category "good old days".
Music, life, family and science.
And while you are there, bring back some good bacon.
Have a nice day.
Yes...
So, these are all Norwegian volunteers?
They keep coming. Hundreds of them.
They sign in there and we put them straight to work.
- Who's that? - Hm?
The redhead.
Skinnarland. Eenar.
Einar.
He came in this morning. Hijacked a boat with some other lads.
- I've seen him at the factory. - You have indeed.
Finer Skinnarland?
Leif Tronstad. Please sit.
- You live at Rjukan? -Yes.
And work at Vemork?
I want you to go back again. We need people to report back.
You work there, know the people, shifts and routines.
- What for? -lntelligence for us and the Brits.
Everything you can get. You'll get a radio to communicate with us.
I just arrived here.
- What did you tell the foreman? -That I look a week's holiday.
Then let's say you'll be back on Monday.
I won't make it.
Have you parachuted before?
You must go!
- No! - No! Jump!
AIRCRAFT BLADES WHIR
WIND WHISTLES
Niels Bohr's residence Copenhagen
BELLS TOLL
A-hem!
I don't believe it...
Danish for, "Nice to see you"?
THEY CHUCKLE
It's so good to be here.
- I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the conference. - No-one did.
There wasn't a single scientist worth mentioning in the room.
- I was expecting at least... - Not because of you.
Everybody wanted to see you.
You know, let's go for a walk.
You are being bugged?
Oh, yeah. We discovered it a couple of months ago. But it's all right.
- All right? It's awful. - Well, you just have to think before you talk.
Which, actually, isn't such a bad idea.
- The Institute, as well? - Yes, everywhere. But it's...
I mean, out here, it's OK.
What?
I don't know...
.. I don't know how much you know.
Times are changing, your regime.
Yes, I've noticed.
Don't you miss the old days working at the Institute together?
Oh, yes, I certainly do.
Copenhagen is not so far from Berlin.
The thing is, I'm... I'm not allowed to say anything.
I was even asked to find out about your position with the Brits!
I don't care about those things.
Politicians come and go, majorities change,
but science only moves forward.
One discovery leads to the next.
I'm not trying to sway you in any one way.
But the project I'm working on is just, everybody's winning.
With money. Resources.
It's not just a little department or an institute, it's bigger than that.
I want this to happen.
Finally, it's under my control.
As long as we let the war serve the science, there is no danger.
Imagine everything we can do.
- Pull out of it. - Huh!
What?
Pull out of the whole damn thing.
- Is it the Brits? - What?
Have you been briefed by the Brits?
No, no, no, no, no.
They have absolutely nothing to do with this whatsoever.
I'm the one who's telling you.
You work for them.
I thought I came to see a friend.
Well, I'm still your friend.
- You don't understand what I'm talking about. - I don't understand?
No.
Now, do you get it?
Yes.
I get it.
You've always asked me which moral obligations we have.
Well, here's my answer.
Our obligations have never been bigger.
- Yes, but as scientists... - Cut the crap.
- Crap? - Yes, crap. You know exactly what I'm talking about!
You're working for the German army.
Come on, which planet are you on?! They've hired you. Why?
To front German culture?
To see you make some interesting calculations on a blackboard?
No, they've hired you because they want something in return.
They want value for their money. Results.
And ideally, something that explodes.
Listen.
We are working with creating energy.
Our moral obligations have never been bigger than they are now.
And if you don't understand that...
.. then you are either stupid, or very naive.
And right now, both of them are equally dangerous.
Let me give you one last piece of advice.
As your friend.
Don't ever tell anyone that you asked me
to be a part of your programme.
Now, would you care to join me for dinner?
My wife would be happy to see you
and she's longing to hear you playing the piano.
I will sit there and I will eat and, of course, I'll applaud.
The mission has three parts.
Find a landing spot, prepare it, lead the Brits to the target.
In addition feed weather forecasts to London,-
- German movements, transport routes and the factory security.
- We'll need weapons. -You'll get pistols.
Stengun and Handy Gun. The rest we leave to the Brits.
The group will be called Grouse and is strictly confidential.
We'll be called "grouse"? Why not something more masculine?
Falcon or something.
- Moose. -Shark.
You'll be called Grouse.
Is it just the four of us?
- What? -Nothing.
We were just talking about you. Knut Haukelid, as you all know.
- To the war. -Cheers.
THEY SING
- Cheers. -Cheers.
THEY SING
They leave in three weeks, first full moon.
They're not ready.
They're ready.
Being enthusiastic is not the same as being ready.
Wanting to do something is not the same as being able to do something.
And being hungover is not being fit to fight.
Takes a lot to convince her.
I pity the husband.
Her husband went down with HMS Prince of Wales last December.
Sunk with the Japanese.
He's still missing.
She works a lot.
A-hem!
They'll be all right.
- Absolutely. - Sooner or later.
One hopes sooner.
HE PLAYS THE PIANO
- How long have you been here? -I just arrived.
- How are the children? -Good.
Asleep I hope. The nanny went-
-to listen to Hitler's speech.
- How was it? -Nice.
People in Denmark seem happy. They go for strolls and go dancing.
- Did you meet Bohr? -Yes.
He has his own little park.
Yes... And he maintains it well.
For dinner we had roast pork. He read, and I played the piano.
Did you get a chance to talk?
He said I should quit.
- He doesn't understand. -What do you mean?
He thinks I'm on the wrong side in the war. He doesn't understand.
When Germany wins, this will blow over, right?
But will it then be our Germany?
I thought it was only something children did.
Ending a friendship like that.
Okay, Claus. Ready for a new record?
HE LAUGHS
Now.
Two, four, five...
Six seconds.
- O-ho-ho! - Ho-ho-ho!
Two seconds better than last time.
The Skoland marshes by the road from the Møsvatn dam to Rauland.
- There's a stretch of 1200 metres. -That should be enough for a glider.
- GUNSHOT - Argh!
HE GRUNTS
HE STRUGGLES
Get help!
OTHERS GRUNT
DOOR SHUTS
DOOR SLAMS
Bloody amateurs!
- So... what do we do now? - I can step in!
Yes, and who's going to do your job? The bloody footless one?
These men can be replaced. You can't, Tronstad.
OK, they can go without him.
All right. It's your decision.
Why did you fire Danielsen?
That's Astrid's husband.
She serves our food.
We played cards today and almost had a conversation.
Well, I spoke, and she said "yes, ma'am, "no ma'am".
"King beats queen, ma'am." Until Brun showed up and said-
-that her husband had been fired.
- Why did you do that? -That's none of your business.
All right then.
BELL RINGS
DOOR OPENS
We are finished eating, thank you.
Was something wrong? Would you like something else?
No, we just want more people to go to bed on full stomachs.
Take the rest with you.
Am I right, dear?
HE SIGHS
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
HE SIGHS
It takes more than that to buy off a fired employee.
I never said I was important.
Ellen?
Come.
SONG: The Way You Look Tonight
♪ Someday
♪ When I'm awfully low
♪ When the world is cold
♪ I will feel a glow
♪ Just thinking of you
♪ And the way you look tonight ♪
SHE LAUGHS
♪ Oh, but you're lovely
♪ With your smile... ♪
ENGINE WHIRS
CLATTERING
BELL RINGS
Find a good landing spot not too far from the road.
If not, we'll just carry them.
THEY LAUGH
No more mishaps with pistols.
I want to hear only of success.
May God bless you all.
- Good luck, chaps. - Thank you.
- King and country. - King and country.
Are you afraid?
We'll be fine.
Action stations, chaps.
The weather in the area's getting bad.
We have to drop you off far west of the original drop point.
- Number one, ready? - Yes, sir!
- Two, ready? - Yes, sir! - Three, ready? - Yes, sir!
- Four? - Yes, sir! - Number one?
Go!
Easy, lad. Easy.
Go!
Hardangervidda 80 km west of planned drop spot
WIND HOWLS
CANVAS FLAPS
TYPEWRITER KEYS CLACK
KNOCKING
It started snowing during the night.
Bad weather's coming in from the west.
MAN GROANS
Where are we?
I don't know.
We're supposed to go east.
Departure is set for the 19th.
Landing area is ten miles from the target
in forest marshland just outside Meuspath.
You'll be met by four members
of the Norwegian resistance, codenamed Grouse,
moving quickly along the service road and probably in snow.
- How many containers are missing? -Two.
We need both of them.
WIND HOWLS
MAN GROANS
Arrival from the north.
Down into Vaaer, then across the bridge.
You'll find two German guards. Disable them.
Along the railway line.
Then three more sets of guards.
Attack here, here and here.
There are usually no employees present during the night.
Stairs on the east side of the building.
40-inch thick reinforced concrete walls.
Carry on along the corridor, on to the principal room.
18 high-concentration cells. That's where you place the explosive.
These containers...
If the weather is good, we'll pull them a couple of kilometres,
If the weather is bad, we'll do shorter stretches.
It'll be hard, but we'll manage.
- How will they get out? -Who? The Englishmen?
If they get in, they need to get out.
- They are walking to Sweden. -Exactly.
41 uniformed soldiers will be walking 300 kilometres in deep snow-
-without skis and with the Germans behind them.
The plan is not for them to make it.
This is a cyanide pill.
You will each be given one.
Keep it in your mouth for the last stages of the operation.
In case of German capture, bite hard.
It will ensure certain death within three minutes.
WIND HOWLS
The landing spot.
In from the south, torches 100 metres apart,-
The tracker there.
They are on their way. They took off two minutes ago.
- Time? -They'll be here in two hours.
- What about the weather? -Visibility of 700 metres.
WIND HOWLS
Let's go. You keep them informed. We'll take the torches. Come on.
What does this look like to you?
- A reactor? - Hmm.
It's just arrived. Werner Heisenberg gave it to Niels Bohr.
Bohr believes they're building a bomb.
WOMAN SPEAKS GERMAN
What is this?
I wanted to find out how far the allies' nuclear programme had come.
By showing them everything we have?
This is just a small part.
Don't you think they know nuclear physicists-
-are gathered here and paid by the Heereswaffenamt?
Diebner will take over the uranium programme.
- Diebner? -Yes.
Then there will be no results. As simple as that.
America has Einstein and Oppenheimer, to name a few.
England has Schrödinger and maybe Bohr.
Germany has Heisenberg. We are all working on the same thing.
Only Germany prefers mediocrity-
-because the average scientist Diebner,-
-a pragmatist without an in-depth knowledge of theory,-
-assumes a leading position.
This will make Germany a desert, quite literally.
We can't afford any more mistakes.
I know.
ENGINES RUMBLE
THUNDER
Low pressure coming from the west, stronger winds expected.
Can you hear something?
WIND HOWLS
What's happening?
- There's no contact. -None?
They should have been here by now.
THUNDER
MAN SPEAKS GERMAN
MAN SCREAMS
SOLDIER SHOUTS IN GERMAN
SOLDIER SPEAKS GERMAN
Major Decker.
What is the Gestapo doing here?
We heard another glider had crashed.
A few kilometres northeast of here.
We want to know what their mission was.
- What have you got to report? -Englishmen.
Four dead, twelve survivors.
What do you want us to do with them?
Shoot them.
Orders from the fuhrer. All soldiers on special missions are to be shot.
We can't just execute them.
All right.
Who should report that you didn't follow the Führer's orders? You or me?
GUN COCKS
MAN SHOUTS IN GERMAN
GUNSHOT
CRACKING
GUNSHOT