Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:22,065 --> 00:00:24,415
[gentle music]
2
00:00:25,982 --> 00:00:26,983
- [Narrator] On the
cold winter evening
3
00:00:26,983 --> 00:00:30,291
of February 27th, 1943.
4
00:00:30,291 --> 00:00:32,380
A team of nine
Norwegian commandos
5
00:00:32,380 --> 00:00:34,860
arrive at the Norsk
Hydroelectric Plant.
6
00:00:34,860 --> 00:00:38,038
[gentle music]
7
00:00:38,038 --> 00:00:42,259
Their mission, sabotage the
Nazi's heavy water production,
8
00:00:42,259 --> 00:00:44,348
which is vital to
Hitler and his Nazis
9
00:00:44,348 --> 00:00:45,523
creating an atomic bomb.
10
00:00:46,785 --> 00:00:49,049
[gentle music]
11
00:00:49,049 --> 00:00:53,314
- Gunnerside is a story
that shows the dedication
12
00:00:53,314 --> 00:00:57,535
that people during the Second
World War had to the cause.
13
00:00:57,535 --> 00:01:00,538
- We weren't talking about a
weapon off the ordinary sort.
14
00:01:00,538 --> 00:01:02,149
This was something
which was extraordinary.
15
00:01:02,149 --> 00:01:03,498
This was something
which would change
16
00:01:03,498 --> 00:01:04,499
the direction of history.
17
00:01:06,501 --> 00:01:08,242
- This is one of
the most important
18
00:01:08,242 --> 00:01:10,070
weapon production facilities
19
00:01:10,070 --> 00:01:11,549
in the entirety of Nazi Germany.
20
00:01:13,551 --> 00:01:15,814
- Germany, gaining
access to this heavy water
21
00:01:15,814 --> 00:01:18,469
or to the technology of
the heavy water plant.
22
00:01:18,469 --> 00:01:19,992
Would've been a disaster.
23
00:01:19,992 --> 00:01:24,649
[bomb explodes] [upbeat music]
24
00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,499
- [Narrator] In 1911 and
Norway, they built the
25
00:01:48,499 --> 00:01:54,026
Vemork Hydroelectric Plant
which was a massive facility.
26
00:01:54,026 --> 00:01:56,855
- Initially we know it's
there as a fertilization factor
27
00:01:56,855 --> 00:01:59,467
{\an8}as a hydroelectric facility,
28
00:01:59,467 --> 00:02:01,556
{\an8}but the by-product
of which heavy water,
29
00:02:01,556 --> 00:02:04,646
has become the
raison d'etre of the plant
30
00:02:04,646 --> 00:02:07,866
and this scientific
gold mine really,
31
00:02:07,866 --> 00:02:09,651
for want of a better expression,
32
00:02:09,651 --> 00:02:13,350
is of course, courtesy
of the know how
33
00:02:13,350 --> 00:02:16,440
of several Norwegian scientists.
34
00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,834
- [Narrator] Scientists
in the early 1930s
35
00:02:18,834 --> 00:02:20,357
discovered that from
Vemork's facilities,
36
00:02:20,357 --> 00:02:23,012
by-product is heavy water,
37
00:02:23,012 --> 00:02:25,449
a form of water with a
unique atomic structure
38
00:02:25,449 --> 00:02:27,756
and properties which can
be used in the production
39
00:02:27,756 --> 00:02:29,366
of nuclear power and weapons.
40
00:02:31,063 --> 00:02:32,587
{\an8}- It's really another route
41
00:02:32,587 --> 00:02:35,807
{\an8}to it instead of using graphite
as a monitoring element
42
00:02:35,807 --> 00:02:38,506
that involves deuterium
oxide, or heavy water,
43
00:02:38,506 --> 00:02:39,724
and the whole design
44
00:02:39,724 --> 00:02:41,291
there is to control
the process of fission
45
00:02:41,291 --> 00:02:43,293
so that it doesn't go boom.
46
00:02:43,293 --> 00:02:46,427
- Harnessing something
that's potentially fatal
47
00:02:46,427 --> 00:02:49,604
on a macro scale,
with this heavy water,
48
00:02:49,604 --> 00:02:51,780
being the catalyst for that,
49
00:02:51,780 --> 00:02:55,305
this alternative
isotope of hydrogen.
50
00:02:55,305 --> 00:02:57,786
- Leif Tronstad, a
Norwegian scientist,
51
00:02:57,786 --> 00:02:59,614
{\an8}is a celebrated scientist.
52
00:02:59,614 --> 00:03:02,007
{\an8}And he's the brilliant
mind behind the idea
53
00:03:02,007 --> 00:03:05,533
{\an8}of the heavy water process.
54
00:03:05,533 --> 00:03:07,883
- [Narrator] The head of
Norsk Hydro enlist Tronstad,
55
00:03:07,883 --> 00:03:10,886
to design a new building
at the Vemork Plant
56
00:03:10,886 --> 00:03:13,758
dedicated to producing heavy
water on an industrial scale.
57
00:03:15,369 --> 00:03:17,588
[gentle music]
58
00:03:17,588 --> 00:03:20,330
Around the same time,
a seismic shift in Europe
59
00:03:20,330 --> 00:03:21,723
is about to happen.
60
00:03:21,723 --> 00:03:24,247
As Germany elects a new leader.
61
00:03:24,247 --> 00:03:27,032
[soldiers marching]
62
00:03:28,382 --> 00:03:30,210
- Hitler assumes power in 1933.
63
00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,910
[gentle music]
64
00:03:37,739 --> 00:03:39,480
- [Narrator] Hitler's
Nazi regime is brutal.
65
00:03:41,090 --> 00:03:43,962
- Almost immediately,
they begin to root out
66
00:03:43,962 --> 00:03:46,356
any kind of opposition
that they feel
67
00:03:46,356 --> 00:03:49,054
is political or social.
68
00:03:49,054 --> 00:03:51,970
[gentle music]
69
00:03:51,970 --> 00:03:54,059
- [Narrator] As the grip
of the regime tightens,
70
00:03:54,059 --> 00:03:56,671
many scientists
particularly Jewish,
71
00:03:56,671 --> 00:03:58,499
flee the country to
pursue their work
72
00:03:58,499 --> 00:03:59,717
beyond the Nazi grasp.
73
00:04:01,241 --> 00:04:04,200
[bomb explodes]
74
00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,028
{\an8}- Scientific minds when
they leave a country,
75
00:04:06,028 --> 00:04:07,812
{\an8}it's often considered
a brain drain.
76
00:04:07,812 --> 00:04:10,511
So the country is
losing, their brain
77
00:04:10,511 --> 00:04:12,077
or their ability to innovate
78
00:04:12,077 --> 00:04:17,082
or advance technology,
science, research.
79
00:04:17,082 --> 00:04:20,825
- Germany becomes
inhospitable for so many scientists,
80
00:04:20,825 --> 00:04:22,349
{\an8}particularly these
Jewish scientists
81
00:04:22,349 --> 00:04:24,612
{\an8}and somebody
like Albert Einstein ,
82
00:04:24,612 --> 00:04:26,788
does have to leave
so that he can continue
83
00:04:26,788 --> 00:04:29,834
to not only be a scientist,
but just live his life.
84
00:04:30,966 --> 00:04:32,707
[gentle music]
85
00:04:32,707 --> 00:04:34,796
- [Narrator] Despite many
bright minds fleeing the country,
86
00:04:34,796 --> 00:04:36,667
those loyal to the Nazi regime
87
00:04:36,667 --> 00:04:40,367
stay behind to
continue their work.
88
00:04:40,367 --> 00:04:42,325
A number of scientists
working on the development
89
00:04:42,325 --> 00:04:45,372
of nuclear energy
make a revolutionary,
90
00:04:45,372 --> 00:04:48,157
yet terrifying discovery
that could give Hitler
91
00:04:48,157 --> 00:04:50,202
the ultimate weapon.
92
00:04:50,202 --> 00:04:52,683
But they were missing
one key element.
93
00:04:52,683 --> 00:04:55,730
[ gentle music]
94
00:04:55,730 --> 00:04:59,777
Meanwhile, Tronstad designs
that Vemork become a reality.
95
00:04:59,777 --> 00:05:02,214
And with the new eight
story plant complete,
96
00:05:02,214 --> 00:05:03,955
the station now has a designated
97
00:05:03,955 --> 00:05:06,784
heavy water production site.
98
00:05:06,784 --> 00:05:09,091
French and German
scientists express their interests
99
00:05:09,091 --> 00:05:10,919
in obtaining large quantities
100
00:05:10,919 --> 00:05:14,052
for their nuclear
energy programs.
101
00:05:14,052 --> 00:05:18,056
- Everyone who is in the
region wants access to the water
102
00:05:18,056 --> 00:05:19,884
because it's so necessary.
103
00:05:19,884 --> 00:05:23,018
- Harnessing something
that's potentially fatal
104
00:05:23,018 --> 00:05:27,196
on a macro scale
with this heavy water,
105
00:05:27,196 --> 00:05:30,286
being the catalyst for that.
106
00:05:30,286 --> 00:05:33,071
- [Narrator] Germany policies
became increasingly hostile
107
00:05:33,071 --> 00:05:36,161
towards Jews, homosexuals
and disabled people
108
00:05:36,161 --> 00:05:40,427
during the mid to late 1930s.
Ideals of racial superiority
109
00:05:40,427 --> 00:05:42,298
and ultra nationalism
110
00:05:42,298 --> 00:05:44,039
start to become more
and more prevalent
111
00:05:44,039 --> 00:05:46,737
throughout the country.
112
00:05:46,737 --> 00:05:50,480
{\an8}- As early as 1935, it passed
in Nuremberg Race Laws.
113
00:05:54,441 --> 00:05:58,662
{\an8}It prohibits interracial
marriage and relationships.
114
00:05:58,662 --> 00:06:02,579
It prohibits other non-Aryan
races or groups of people
115
00:06:02,579 --> 00:06:05,234
{\an8}from holding jobs in the law
and medicine and academia.
116
00:06:07,105 --> 00:06:09,194
{\an8}- [Narrator] In March of 1938,
117
00:06:09,194 --> 00:06:11,762
{\an8}the Nazis annex
neighboring Austria,
118
00:06:11,762 --> 00:06:14,286
an early sign of their true
expansionist ambitions.
119
00:06:20,118 --> 00:06:23,034
Later that year, German
scientists Otto Hahn
120
00:06:23,034 --> 00:06:25,950
{\an8}and Fritz Strassmann make
the breakthrough discovery
121
00:06:25,950 --> 00:06:28,562
{\an8}of nuclear vision at
their laboratory in Berlin.
122
00:06:30,781 --> 00:06:34,916
{\an8}- These are the men who
identify nuclear fission.
123
00:06:34,916 --> 00:06:40,661
This reaction that demonstrates
or shows the way forward
124
00:06:40,661 --> 00:06:44,360
in terms of nuclear energy
and what you need that for.
125
00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,667
You need that for
the creation of a bomb.
126
00:06:46,667 --> 00:06:49,278
- Once they, they
have that knowledge
127
00:06:49,278 --> 00:06:51,846
of how to create the energy.
128
00:06:51,846 --> 00:06:55,893
The next step in terms of,
using it is actually very quick.
129
00:06:55,893 --> 00:06:57,895
- [Narrator] News about the
nuclear experiments in Germany
130
00:06:57,895 --> 00:06:59,419
travels quickly across Europe,
131
00:07:01,856 --> 00:07:04,249
French Nobel prize,
winning scientist.
132
00:07:04,249 --> 00:07:08,253
Frederic Joliot-Curie writes
a letter to a Soviet colleague,
133
00:07:08,253 --> 00:07:10,647
alerting him of the
Germans discovery.
134
00:07:10,647 --> 00:07:13,607
[gentle music]
135
00:07:13,607 --> 00:07:15,870
The news also
reaches Neil's bore,
136
00:07:15,870 --> 00:07:17,828
a leading danger scientist.
137
00:07:17,828 --> 00:07:21,005
Who's preparing to leave
on a trip to the United States.
138
00:07:21,005 --> 00:07:22,703
[gentle music]
139
00:07:22,703 --> 00:07:25,053
Once arriving in New York city,
140
00:07:25,053 --> 00:07:28,056
he shares this news with
prominent American scientists
141
00:07:28,056 --> 00:07:29,318
sparking the beginning
142
00:07:29,318 --> 00:07:31,407
of the American
nuclear energy program.
143
00:07:32,887 --> 00:07:34,497
{\an8}[gentle music]
144
00:07:34,497 --> 00:07:39,459
{\an8}- Since the news of what could
be done with the heavy water,
145
00:07:39,459 --> 00:07:42,287
had become common
scientific knowledge.
146
00:07:42,287 --> 00:07:45,508
Every intelligence
agency was interested
147
00:07:45,508 --> 00:07:48,163
and was actively perhaps
pursuing some plan
148
00:07:48,163 --> 00:07:49,947
of gaining access
to that heavy water.
149
00:07:52,646 --> 00:07:54,865
- [Narrator] Within the
span of less than a year,
150
00:07:54,865 --> 00:07:57,999
each major power begins to
ramp up their nuclear research
151
00:07:57,999 --> 00:08:00,871
and experiments
recognizing the great potential
152
00:08:00,871 --> 00:08:02,264
of harnessing nuclear energy.
153
00:08:06,050 --> 00:08:08,879
[gentle music] [bomb explodes]
154
00:08:08,879 --> 00:08:11,229
In September, 1939
155
00:08:11,229 --> 00:08:14,406
not long after the race to
harness nuclear energy,
156
00:08:14,406 --> 00:08:18,628
Germany's expansionist
ambitions enter their next phase.
157
00:08:18,628 --> 00:08:22,937
- Hitler invades Poland
and the ballgame begins.
158
00:08:22,937 --> 00:08:24,547
Poland is the trigger.
159
00:08:24,547 --> 00:08:26,506
A lot of people did
not want to go to war
160
00:08:26,506 --> 00:08:28,377
because they remembered
the First World War.
161
00:08:28,377 --> 00:08:31,467
But because Poland was invaded,
162
00:08:31,467 --> 00:08:35,297
Britain, France, they
have to fight back.
163
00:08:36,646 --> 00:08:37,908
[gentle music]
164
00:08:37,908 --> 00:08:40,084
- [Narrator] As Europe
descends into war
165
00:08:40,084 --> 00:08:43,435
the Nazis continue their
pursuit to harness nuclear energy
166
00:08:43,435 --> 00:08:45,350
and develop a nuclear weapon.
167
00:08:45,350 --> 00:08:47,396
[bomb explodes]
168
00:08:47,396 --> 00:08:49,137
The French government recognizes
169
00:08:49,137 --> 00:08:51,008
the importance
of the heavy water
170
00:08:51,008 --> 00:08:53,533
at the Vemork facility in Norway
171
00:08:53,533 --> 00:08:56,274
and begin attempts to smuggle
the heavy water out of Norway.
172
00:08:58,233 --> 00:09:01,279
- The French recognize how
important nuclear energy is
173
00:09:01,279 --> 00:09:03,325
and how powerful it is.
174
00:09:03,325 --> 00:09:07,242
So they of course don't want
Germany to have access to it.
175
00:09:07,242 --> 00:09:09,113
- So in an interesting
collaboration,
176
00:09:09,113 --> 00:09:10,724
prominent French
scientists are working
177
00:09:10,724 --> 00:09:12,726
with the French
intelligence service
178
00:09:12,726 --> 00:09:15,424
and trying to identify
where a heavy water
179
00:09:15,424 --> 00:09:18,079
is being produced and
get it out of Norway.
180
00:09:18,079 --> 00:09:19,559
- The French
intelligence services
181
00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,865
approaches Jacques Allier,
182
00:09:21,865 --> 00:09:25,129
who before the war, worked
at the bank that helped finance
183
00:09:25,129 --> 00:09:28,742
the project to build the
hydroelectric plant in Norway.
184
00:09:28,742 --> 00:09:30,700
Because of his connections,
185
00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:32,702
they assigned him the task
of getting the heavy water
186
00:09:32,702 --> 00:09:34,051
out of Norway.
187
00:09:34,051 --> 00:09:35,879
But time was ticking.
188
00:09:35,879 --> 00:09:38,142
- Norway is a
country that has many
189
00:09:38,142 --> 00:09:40,144
proud scientific advancements.
190
00:09:40,144 --> 00:09:41,972
Norway's is an
industrial innovator,
191
00:09:41,972 --> 00:09:44,279
manufacturing innovator.
192
00:09:44,279 --> 00:09:49,589
- Norway also was sort of a
reservoir of natural resources.
193
00:09:49,589 --> 00:09:50,981
- There's a huge
number of reasons
194
00:09:50,981 --> 00:09:53,331
why Norway is
targeted really early on,
195
00:09:53,331 --> 00:09:55,725
for a start it's got
absolutely crucial pause.
196
00:09:55,725 --> 00:09:57,248
It's Atlantic facing.
197
00:09:57,248 --> 00:09:59,163
If you want to win the
battle of the Atlantic,
198
00:09:59,163 --> 00:10:01,470
you need access to their ports.
199
00:10:01,470 --> 00:10:03,733
You also need access
to their air fields.
200
00:10:03,733 --> 00:10:06,301
So on the geographical front,
201
00:10:06,301 --> 00:10:09,347
in terms of winning
a strategic war,
202
00:10:09,347 --> 00:10:14,048
across that Atlantic facing
perimeter, you need Norway.
203
00:10:14,048 --> 00:10:16,354
- All this makes it an
even more compelling
204
00:10:16,354 --> 00:10:18,792
target for Germany.
205
00:10:18,792 --> 00:10:20,141
- [Narrator] French
intelligence service member,
206
00:10:20,141 --> 00:10:21,751
Jacques Allier,
207
00:10:21,751 --> 00:10:25,059
flies to Norway with a fake
passport and a fake name
208
00:10:25,059 --> 00:10:26,843
to meet with the
director of Norsk Hydro.
209
00:10:28,453 --> 00:10:29,672
- They had enough foresight
210
00:10:29,672 --> 00:10:31,369
to realize the
Germans were held bent
211
00:10:31,369 --> 00:10:33,023
on getting an atomic bomb.
212
00:10:33,023 --> 00:10:36,026
So they were keen on
getting the heavy water
213
00:10:36,026 --> 00:10:38,638
out of the Norwegian
Hydroelectric Plant
214
00:10:38,638 --> 00:10:42,119
before the Nazi invasion.
215
00:10:42,119 --> 00:10:44,078
- [Narrator] Once in Norway,
216
00:10:44,078 --> 00:10:48,386
Allier secures all the
heavy water, 180 kilos worth,
217
00:10:48,386 --> 00:10:51,738
but he fears the Germans
might be onto their plants
218
00:10:51,738 --> 00:10:54,479
in order to avoid
capture, Allier's books
219
00:10:54,479 --> 00:10:58,440
two separate flights, one with
the heavy water to Scotland
220
00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,312
and another as a
diversion to Amsterdam.
221
00:11:01,312 --> 00:11:04,228
The Germans chose to
force down the wrong plane.
222
00:11:04,228 --> 00:11:07,797
- We've got the heavy
water, all 180 kilograms
223
00:11:07,797 --> 00:11:10,452
out of Norway
and it's on the road.
224
00:11:10,452 --> 00:11:15,283
It's moving, it's moving
faster than Rommel's Panzers.
225
00:11:15,283 --> 00:11:19,504
But the problem is, this
is just a temporary setback
226
00:11:19,504 --> 00:11:20,375
for the Germans.
227
00:11:21,506 --> 00:11:22,507
- [Narrator] As the heavy water
228
00:11:22,507 --> 00:11:24,814
is secretly smuggled
into France,
229
00:11:24,814 --> 00:11:28,122
the Nazis continue
their invasion of Europe.
230
00:11:28,122 --> 00:11:31,865
- Germany invaded
Norway in the April of 1940.
231
00:11:33,910 --> 00:11:36,652
- The conquest of
Norway by Germany
232
00:11:36,652 --> 00:11:38,872
tends to be seen
as pretty rapid,
233
00:11:38,872 --> 00:11:41,831
but it does take
some time to happen.
234
00:11:41,831 --> 00:11:44,007
And Norwegian
resistance is the reason
235
00:11:44,007 --> 00:11:45,269
why it does take some time.
236
00:11:46,618 --> 00:11:48,185
- As thousands
of German soldiers
237
00:11:48,185 --> 00:11:50,274
are deployed across the country.
238
00:11:50,274 --> 00:11:52,059
Norwegian put up a fierce fight.
239
00:11:54,757 --> 00:11:57,542
Leading some of the
resistance is Leif Tronstad.
240
00:11:57,542 --> 00:11:59,109
The scientist who helped develop
241
00:11:59,109 --> 00:12:00,676
the heavy water
process at Vemork.
242
00:12:03,635 --> 00:12:05,768
- [Narrator] Despite the
efforts of Norwegians,
243
00:12:05,768 --> 00:12:07,596
they cannot hold off
the German advance.
244
00:12:08,684 --> 00:12:11,469
{\an8}[gentle music]
245
00:12:11,469 --> 00:12:15,996
{\an8}- Germany by June of 1940
is firmly in control of Norway,
246
00:12:15,996 --> 00:12:18,694
{\an8}including the
hydroelectric plant.
247
00:12:18,694 --> 00:12:20,783
[gentle music]
248
00:12:20,783 --> 00:12:23,046
- [Narrator] Having quickly
gained the upper hand,
249
00:12:23,046 --> 00:12:24,874
the Germans continue
their aggression
250
00:12:24,874 --> 00:12:27,398
and launched their
campaign against France.
251
00:12:27,398 --> 00:12:29,444
Only one month after
the invasion of Norway.
252
00:12:31,489 --> 00:12:35,537
- Prime minister Daladier
and his military advisors
253
00:12:35,537 --> 00:12:39,454
think that they can
hold any two front war,
254
00:12:39,454 --> 00:12:43,110
which may come out of this
push into Poland by Germany.
255
00:12:43,110 --> 00:12:46,722
- The French retreat, both
mentally and physically,
256
00:12:46,722 --> 00:12:49,986
to the Maginot Line, which
is this extended network
257
00:12:49,986 --> 00:12:52,467
of fortifications along with
Franco German frontier.
258
00:12:54,338 --> 00:12:56,079
[gentle music]
259
00:12:56,079 --> 00:12:57,646
- [Narrator] The French having
underestimated their enemy
260
00:12:57,646 --> 00:12:59,691
are overwhelmed by
the onslaught of Germans
261
00:12:59,691 --> 00:13:00,780
pouring into their country.
262
00:13:02,259 --> 00:13:05,175
[gentle music]
[soldiers marching]
263
00:13:05,175 --> 00:13:08,004
- As the Germans begin
their march to Paris,
264
00:13:08,004 --> 00:13:10,441
Curie worries that
the stolen heavy water
265
00:13:10,441 --> 00:13:13,880
hidden in France will
fall into the Nazi's hands.
266
00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:16,273
[gentle music]
267
00:13:20,103 --> 00:13:21,975
When it becomes
clear that France cannot
268
00:13:21,975 --> 00:13:25,979
hold off on the Germans,
Joliot-Curie and Jacques Allier
269
00:13:25,979 --> 00:13:28,590
decide to move the heavy
water from France to England.
270
00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,550
[gentle music]
271
00:13:39,122 --> 00:13:42,212
- The problem of course,
is France is overrun
272
00:13:42,212 --> 00:13:45,128
at Paris is taken
over by the Nazis.
273
00:13:45,128 --> 00:13:46,651
[gentle music]
274
00:13:46,651 --> 00:13:49,350
- [Narrator] Fortunately,
Allier avoids Paris
275
00:13:49,350 --> 00:13:51,787
and the heavy water
is met at Bordeaux
276
00:13:51,787 --> 00:13:54,877
by a British cargo ship, and
is safely smuggled to England.
277
00:13:54,877 --> 00:13:57,271
[gentle music]
278
00:13:59,403 --> 00:14:01,101
Although both Norway and France
279
00:14:01,101 --> 00:14:02,754
have now fallen
to the Nazi regime,
280
00:14:04,495 --> 00:14:06,889
the Norwegian
scientist Leif Tronstad
281
00:14:06,889 --> 00:14:08,586
is not ready to give up.
282
00:14:08,586 --> 00:14:11,894
[gentle music]
283
00:14:11,894 --> 00:14:15,855
- Before the Norwegian
government flees for England,
284
00:14:15,855 --> 00:14:18,422
before Tronstad the
great scientist flees,
285
00:14:18,422 --> 00:14:20,511
they establish a
resistance movement
286
00:14:20,511 --> 00:14:22,731
and an intelligence
network around Norway.
287
00:14:22,731 --> 00:14:26,517
So even though Tronstad
and the king and others
288
00:14:26,517 --> 00:14:29,520
are in exile in England, they
have resources on the ground.
289
00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:32,610
[gentle music]
290
00:14:32,610 --> 00:14:34,569
- So Leif Tronstad
knows a lot about
291
00:14:34,569 --> 00:14:35,875
what's going on in the plant.
292
00:14:35,875 --> 00:14:37,572
He has the ins and outs.
293
00:14:37,572 --> 00:14:39,661
He's basically created
an underground
294
00:14:39,661 --> 00:14:41,837
spy network of his
own, with him at the head
295
00:14:41,837 --> 00:14:43,534
of this spy network.
296
00:14:43,534 --> 00:14:46,755
He's keeping the
British informed.
297
00:14:46,755 --> 00:14:48,626
- So the Norwegian resistance,
298
00:14:48,626 --> 00:14:51,238
monitoring what's happening
at the plant is important.
299
00:14:51,238 --> 00:14:53,544
One so that they
know what's going on,
300
00:14:53,544 --> 00:14:56,199
that they can keep track of
what the Germans are doing,
301
00:14:56,199 --> 00:15:00,203
but they can also report
back to allies in other countries.
302
00:15:00,203 --> 00:15:01,901
[gentle music]
303
00:15:01,901 --> 00:15:03,772
- [Narrator] With
his spy network,
304
00:15:03,772 --> 00:15:06,296
Tronstad is able to
provide British intelligence,
305
00:15:06,296 --> 00:15:09,125
constant information on the
Nazis activities at the plant.
306
00:15:10,692 --> 00:15:11,823
[gentle music]
307
00:15:11,823 --> 00:15:12,737
- In a war like the
Second World War,
308
00:15:12,737 --> 00:15:15,175
information is so
key at all levels.
309
00:15:15,175 --> 00:15:16,654
So the more information
you have about
310
00:15:16,654 --> 00:15:19,831
what the other side is
doing, the better you can plan
311
00:15:19,831 --> 00:15:22,399
and the better you can
create your own strategies
312
00:15:22,399 --> 00:15:25,011
moving forward for
how you want to proceed.
313
00:15:25,011 --> 00:15:28,144
- The Norwegian high command
in England is very important
314
00:15:28,144 --> 00:15:31,843
to the understanding of the
resistance movement in Norway.
315
00:15:31,843 --> 00:15:34,107
[gentle music]
316
00:15:34,107 --> 00:15:36,587
- [Narrator] Once
in exile Leif Tronstad
317
00:15:36,587 --> 00:15:38,502
and the Norwegian high command
318
00:15:38,502 --> 00:15:41,897
work closely with the
British SOE known as
319
00:15:41,897 --> 00:15:44,204
Special Operations Executive.
320
00:15:44,204 --> 00:15:46,728
[gentle music]
321
00:15:46,728 --> 00:15:48,251
- The special
operations executive,
322
00:15:48,251 --> 00:15:50,471
is basically
counter intelligence,
323
00:15:50,471 --> 00:15:54,431
insurgency inside
of a foreign country.
324
00:15:54,431 --> 00:15:57,521
They assist with resistance
movements in country.
325
00:15:57,521 --> 00:15:59,871
For example, Norway and France.
326
00:15:59,871 --> 00:16:01,438
[gentle music]
327
00:16:01,438 --> 00:16:03,875
- [Narrator] Having had to
withdraw his troops from France
328
00:16:03,875 --> 00:16:06,400
after the Nazis rapid invasion,
329
00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,619
British prime minister,
Winston Churchill
330
00:16:08,619 --> 00:16:11,883
recognizes the
potential of the SOE.
331
00:16:11,883 --> 00:16:13,755
- For Winston Churchill,
something like the SOE
332
00:16:13,755 --> 00:16:16,236
is a great way to
hit back at the Nazis
333
00:16:16,236 --> 00:16:20,501
without having to worry
about invasion at the time.
334
00:16:20,501 --> 00:16:23,634
- [Narrator] Essentially
functioning as an underground army,
335
00:16:23,634 --> 00:16:28,596
the SOE is primarily made
up of civilian volunteers.
336
00:16:28,596 --> 00:16:31,991
One of the key groups in the
SOE is known as Company Linge,
337
00:16:31,991 --> 00:16:34,297
which consists of
mainly Norwegians,
338
00:16:34,297 --> 00:16:37,518
who fled to England after the
German invasion of Norway.
339
00:16:37,518 --> 00:16:38,823
[gentle music]
340
00:16:38,823 --> 00:16:40,477
- Of course, people
would volunteer.
341
00:16:40,477 --> 00:16:42,436
{\an8}Their nations had
already capitulated.
342
00:16:42,436 --> 00:16:44,873
{\an8}There was no
national army to join.
343
00:16:44,873 --> 00:16:49,617
So to escape to London
to fight some force,
344
00:16:49,617 --> 00:16:52,228
to join some force, which
would fight the Nazis
345
00:16:52,228 --> 00:16:54,317
would be something which
should be on the top of the mind
346
00:16:54,317 --> 00:16:57,277
of many of these people.
347
00:16:57,277 --> 00:16:58,582
[gentle music]
348
00:16:58,582 --> 00:16:59,757
- [Narrator] As the
Nazis tighten their grip
349
00:16:59,757 --> 00:17:02,195
on the occupied
nations of Europe,
350
00:17:02,195 --> 00:17:04,327
the allies continue
their nuclear research.
351
00:17:06,112 --> 00:17:08,679
American scientists at
the University of California
352
00:17:08,679 --> 00:17:10,942
and Columbia University,
353
00:17:10,942 --> 00:17:14,207
are working on various methods
of harnessing nuclear power.
354
00:17:14,207 --> 00:17:16,252
[gentle music]
355
00:17:16,252 --> 00:17:18,950
Recognizing the potential
and urgency in utilizing
356
00:17:18,950 --> 00:17:21,562
this great new source of energy,
357
00:17:21,562 --> 00:17:25,435
the British in 1941
released the MAUD report,
358
00:17:25,435 --> 00:17:28,656
which contains plans for
producing a nuclear bomb.
359
00:17:28,656 --> 00:17:30,701
[gentle music]
360
00:17:30,701 --> 00:17:32,529
- So there's a real
rush for them to develop
361
00:17:32,529 --> 00:17:35,619
a capacity, that's
articulated by 1940
362
00:17:35,619 --> 00:17:39,928
and the possibility of developing
a uranium based weapon.
363
00:17:39,928 --> 00:17:42,670
- American intelligence
was now trying to beef up
364
00:17:42,670 --> 00:17:45,673
and meet the threat
that they now have
365
00:17:45,673 --> 00:17:47,283
on what would
become a two front war.
366
00:17:52,114 --> 00:17:54,638
[bomb explodes]
367
00:17:57,076 --> 00:18:01,080
- December, 1941, the
Japanese attack Pearl Harbor,
368
00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,038
and the Americans enter the war.
369
00:18:05,475 --> 00:18:07,999
[bomb explodes]
370
00:18:16,051 --> 00:18:17,879
- [Narrator] Only a month
after the US is attacked
371
00:18:17,879 --> 00:18:20,099
and officially enters the war,
372
00:18:20,099 --> 00:18:22,536
President Franklin D.
Roosevelt gives his a approval
373
00:18:22,536 --> 00:18:24,277
to his science advisor
374
00:18:24,277 --> 00:18:26,888
for the construction
of an atomic bomb.
375
00:18:26,888 --> 00:18:29,108
This marks the start of
the Manhattan Project.
376
00:18:31,284 --> 00:18:34,330
- So it only takes about a
month, a little over a month
377
00:18:34,330 --> 00:18:35,984
for Franklin Roosevelt
to give the green light
378
00:18:35,984 --> 00:18:37,725
on the Manhattan Project.
379
00:18:37,725 --> 00:18:40,858
- [Narrator] By early
1942, it's clear to the allies
380
00:18:40,858 --> 00:18:42,599
that the Nazis are hyper focused
381
00:18:42,599 --> 00:18:44,427
on harnessing nuclear energy.
382
00:18:44,427 --> 00:18:47,126
[ vehicles hooting]
383
00:18:47,126 --> 00:18:49,693
- The Norwegian resistance
and intelligence network
384
00:18:49,693 --> 00:18:52,261
that Tronstad helps to develop,
385
00:18:52,261 --> 00:18:53,697
they're providing
regular updates to him
386
00:18:53,697 --> 00:18:55,090
while he is in England.
387
00:18:55,090 --> 00:18:57,310
One of the most
disturbing is that Germany
388
00:18:57,310 --> 00:19:00,704
has dedicated
itself to ramping up
389
00:19:00,704 --> 00:19:03,533
the production of heavy
water in the hydroelectric plant.
390
00:19:03,533 --> 00:19:04,708
[gentle music]
391
00:19:04,708 --> 00:19:07,624
- The Germans start
seriously focusing
392
00:19:07,624 --> 00:19:09,409
on the production of
not just heavy water.
393
00:19:09,409 --> 00:19:11,411
They establish uranium club.
394
00:19:11,411 --> 00:19:13,456
They're looking at all the
different possible ways,
395
00:19:13,456 --> 00:19:15,241
enriching uranium.
396
00:19:15,241 --> 00:19:17,330
They're looking at the
production of these isotopes.
397
00:19:17,330 --> 00:19:19,419
They're looking at heavy water,
398
00:19:19,419 --> 00:19:21,290
they are not closing
down any options.
399
00:19:21,290 --> 00:19:22,857
[gentle music]
400
00:19:22,857 --> 00:19:24,032
- [Narrator] After receiving
the concerning reports
401
00:19:24,032 --> 00:19:25,729
coming out of Norway,
402
00:19:25,729 --> 00:19:28,819
Leif Tronstad suggests
a small targeted operation
403
00:19:28,819 --> 00:19:30,821
to stop the Nazi's
heavy water production.
404
00:19:32,736 --> 00:19:36,175
His report lands on the desk
of the British prime minister.
405
00:19:36,175 --> 00:19:38,133
- Winston Churchill
decides in 1942,
406
00:19:38,133 --> 00:19:40,440
that Vemork is a key target.
407
00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,137
It is where the heavy
water is produced
408
00:19:42,137 --> 00:19:44,661
for the atomic weapons.
409
00:19:44,661 --> 00:19:46,533
- So the German
operations at Vemork
410
00:19:46,533 --> 00:19:48,187
are a threat to the allies.
411
00:19:48,187 --> 00:19:50,450
There's no question about that.
412
00:19:50,450 --> 00:19:52,930
- So the organization
that really takes the lead
413
00:19:52,930 --> 00:19:56,151
in trying to prevent Germany
from getting the heavy water
414
00:19:56,151 --> 00:19:58,632
and from trying to sabotage
this hydroelectric plant,
415
00:19:58,632 --> 00:19:59,937
is the SOE.
416
00:19:59,937 --> 00:20:02,462
That's the Special
Operations Executive.
417
00:20:02,462 --> 00:20:04,768
- [Narrator] In the meantime,
conditions in Norway
418
00:20:04,768 --> 00:20:05,508
are getting worse.
419
00:20:07,815 --> 00:20:10,818
In October, 1942,
the Nazis begin
420
00:20:10,818 --> 00:20:13,603
rounding up Jews in Norway.
421
00:20:13,603 --> 00:20:16,215
More than a third of
Norway's 2100 Jews
422
00:20:16,215 --> 00:20:19,696
were deported to death
camps during the war.
423
00:20:19,696 --> 00:20:22,612
Tronstad and other
Norwegian resistant members
424
00:20:22,612 --> 00:20:24,484
are desperate to do
something for their country.
425
00:20:26,660 --> 00:20:30,229
- So yet another tragedy
is the construction
426
00:20:30,229 --> 00:20:32,143
of the concentration
camps followed by
427
00:20:32,143 --> 00:20:35,799
the mass construction
of concentration camps.
428
00:20:35,799 --> 00:20:38,193
There were a number of
camps, Dachau, Auschwitz,
429
00:20:38,193 --> 00:20:42,284
and others that had 10, 20
hundreds of satellite camps.
430
00:20:45,896 --> 00:20:49,509
- By 1942, the complexion
of the war was changing.
431
00:20:49,509 --> 00:20:51,859
On the Eastern front,
Hitler planned the invasion
432
00:20:51,859 --> 00:20:53,077
of the Soviet Union,
433
00:20:53,077 --> 00:20:56,820
an ambitious if ever
there was one strategy.
434
00:20:56,820 --> 00:20:59,345
Operation Barbarossa,
but that would not work out.
435
00:20:59,345 --> 00:21:00,433
[gentle music]
436
00:21:00,433 --> 00:21:02,652
- [Narrator] In February, 1943
437
00:21:02,652 --> 00:21:04,741
the Germans
suffer a major defeat
438
00:21:04,741 --> 00:21:06,308
on the Eastern
Front at Stalingrad.
439
00:21:07,483 --> 00:21:10,269
[suspenseful music]
440
00:21:19,278 --> 00:21:21,497
With over a hundred
thousand casualties,
441
00:21:21,497 --> 00:21:23,847
this loss reveals that
Germans are not invincible.
442
00:21:26,502 --> 00:21:29,157
Although things looked
bad on the Eastern front,
443
00:21:29,157 --> 00:21:31,202
the Germans were
getting closer to developing
444
00:21:31,202 --> 00:21:32,856
a weapon that
could change all that.
445
00:21:34,031 --> 00:21:35,555
- They want more of it.
446
00:21:35,555 --> 00:21:39,733
They want almost unlimited
amounts of heavy water.
447
00:21:39,733 --> 00:21:42,257
- They're bound and determined
to get an atomic bomb.
448
00:21:43,911 --> 00:21:45,521
- [Narrator]
Recognizing the dangers
449
00:21:45,521 --> 00:21:48,829
of allowing the Nazis production
of heavy water to continue,
450
00:21:48,829 --> 00:21:50,570
the allies are
desperate to stop them.
451
00:21:54,791 --> 00:21:58,229
Once planning for the attack
on the Vemork Plant begins
452
00:21:58,229 --> 00:22:01,058
Tronstad insists on a
small targeted attack,
453
00:22:01,058 --> 00:22:02,277
rather it than a bombing rate.
454
00:22:03,278 --> 00:22:05,541
[bomb explodes]
455
00:22:05,541 --> 00:22:06,934
- His greatest concern is that
456
00:22:06,934 --> 00:22:09,240
the allies would
simply bomb the area
457
00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,200
and in doing so he
pointed out importantly
458
00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:16,291
that it probably wouldn't do
the damage that you imagine.
459
00:22:16,291 --> 00:22:18,075
- [Narrator] Despite
Tronstad's insistence
460
00:22:18,075 --> 00:22:20,034
on a small targeted attack,
461
00:22:20,034 --> 00:22:23,254
he's overruled and British
soldiers begin training
462
00:22:23,254 --> 00:22:26,083
for a mission called
Operation Freshmen.
463
00:22:26,083 --> 00:22:28,042
- Now, how do you
best eliminate a plant
464
00:22:28,042 --> 00:22:29,391
that's hard to reach?
465
00:22:29,391 --> 00:22:31,567
It's sitting at the
bottom of an eight story
466
00:22:31,567 --> 00:22:32,786
reinforced building.
467
00:22:34,396 --> 00:22:37,747
It's surrounded by
Norwegian civilians,
468
00:22:37,747 --> 00:22:42,361
and as a bombing
target is at best unlikely.
469
00:22:44,145 --> 00:22:46,408
The thinking is,
well, you'll send in
470
00:22:46,408 --> 00:22:50,456
an elite task
force with gliders.
471
00:22:50,456 --> 00:22:52,806
[gentle music]
472
00:23:05,993 --> 00:23:08,387
- Halifax bombers
take off from England
473
00:23:08,387 --> 00:23:10,780
and they're towing
these horsa gliders.
474
00:23:12,173 --> 00:23:13,348
- [Narrator] Throughout the war,
475
00:23:13,348 --> 00:23:15,698
the allies successfully
utilize gliders
476
00:23:15,698 --> 00:23:18,135
on various commando operations
477
00:23:18,135 --> 00:23:20,877
specifically for infiltrating
behind enemy lines.
478
00:23:22,357 --> 00:23:24,315
- Gliders are a
various scary thing
479
00:23:24,315 --> 00:23:26,317
when you're on
the inside of them.
480
00:23:26,317 --> 00:23:30,147
When the glider
is pulled from its,
481
00:23:30,147 --> 00:23:33,803
basically its tow
plane, it is on its own.
482
00:23:33,803 --> 00:23:37,459
- The problem is number
one, it's a long flight to Norway.
483
00:23:37,459 --> 00:23:39,548
Number two, the
weather is horrible.
484
00:23:39,548 --> 00:23:42,421
[gentle music]
485
00:23:42,421 --> 00:23:45,598
And these gliders
crash on impact.
486
00:23:45,598 --> 00:23:47,295
[bomb explodes]
487
00:23:47,295 --> 00:23:50,429
And kill some of
the men on board.
488
00:23:50,429 --> 00:23:52,648
The survivors are
found by the Germans
489
00:23:52,648 --> 00:23:55,564
and they are all killed.
490
00:23:55,564 --> 00:23:58,349
- [Narrator] At that time,
German soldiers had an order
491
00:23:58,349 --> 00:24:00,439
to kill any enemies
that were involved
492
00:24:00,439 --> 00:24:03,267
with commando operations.
493
00:24:03,267 --> 00:24:05,705
- So that means every SOE
man is killed on this raid.
494
00:24:05,705 --> 00:24:09,012
That means the gliders are
ineffective against the axis
495
00:24:09,012 --> 00:24:10,274
in that point.
496
00:24:10,274 --> 00:24:12,799
And that also means
the Germans understand
497
00:24:12,799 --> 00:24:15,279
that Britain sees
something in this plant.
498
00:24:16,672 --> 00:24:18,631
- Preventing the
Germans gaining access
499
00:24:18,631 --> 00:24:23,113
to the heavy water was so
important that a few setbacks
500
00:24:23,113 --> 00:24:24,550
would not have deterred people.
501
00:24:24,550 --> 00:24:26,726
Even losing the
element of surprise,
502
00:24:26,726 --> 00:24:29,424
now just means you
to plan differently.
503
00:24:29,424 --> 00:24:31,774
- [Narrator] After a
disastrous first attempt,
504
00:24:31,774 --> 00:24:34,821
the SOE turns to Leif
Tronstad and Company Linge
505
00:24:34,821 --> 00:24:37,345
to lead the next attack.
506
00:24:37,345 --> 00:24:39,869
This mission is given the
name Operation Gunnerside.
507
00:24:43,656 --> 00:24:45,788
- Tronstad is the perfect
person to try to disrupt
508
00:24:45,788 --> 00:24:49,139
the plans and be more, he
knows it better than anybody else.
509
00:24:49,139 --> 00:24:51,881
He is the one who you
would want to be in charge
510
00:24:51,881 --> 00:24:53,230
of this operation.
511
00:24:53,230 --> 00:24:57,104
He knows exactly what
the plant is capable of,
512
00:24:57,104 --> 00:25:00,281
but he also knows every
nook and cranny of the space.
513
00:25:00,281 --> 00:25:04,067
So he can best come
up with a plan to disrupt
514
00:25:04,067 --> 00:25:07,331
what the Germans
are trying to do.
515
00:25:07,331 --> 00:25:10,291
- [Narrator] To pull off this
daring mission, Leif Tronstad
516
00:25:10,291 --> 00:25:12,772
handpicks a small team
of Norwegian patriots,
517
00:25:12,772 --> 00:25:14,730
who like him fled to England
518
00:25:14,730 --> 00:25:16,558
after the Nazi
occupation of Norway.
519
00:25:19,126 --> 00:25:23,173
The Gunnerside team is led by
23 year old Joachim Ronneberg.
520
00:25:25,088 --> 00:25:28,048
He's joined by Claus
Helberg, a 24 year old
521
00:25:28,048 --> 00:25:30,746
who had grown up in
the area around Vemork
522
00:25:30,746 --> 00:25:32,922
and worked as a tour guide
in the surrounding mountains
523
00:25:32,922 --> 00:25:33,706
prior to the war.
524
00:25:36,491 --> 00:25:41,670
As well as Knut Haukelid,
Fredrik Kayser, Birger Stromsheim
525
00:25:41,670 --> 00:25:44,934
and other members
of the explosives team.
526
00:25:44,934 --> 00:25:48,372
- They are not formally
military trained men.
527
00:25:48,372 --> 00:25:49,852
They're even better than that.
528
00:25:49,852 --> 00:25:50,984
They're a hybrid.
529
00:25:50,984 --> 00:25:52,376
They are physically fit.
530
00:25:52,376 --> 00:25:56,337
They are young and they
have extraordinary powers
531
00:25:56,337 --> 00:25:58,687
of motivation,
because they are local
532
00:25:58,687 --> 00:26:00,167
and this is their patch.
533
00:26:00,167 --> 00:26:01,603
They want to protect it.
534
00:26:01,603 --> 00:26:04,301
- And they are trying to
fight back against the Nazis
535
00:26:04,301 --> 00:26:07,043
for their country,
where this takes place.
536
00:26:07,043 --> 00:26:09,916
That makes it
even more personal.
537
00:26:09,916 --> 00:26:10,960
- [Narrator] Having
an intimate knowledge
538
00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:12,658
of the Vemork facility.
539
00:26:12,658 --> 00:26:14,529
Tronstad proposes that the team
540
00:26:14,529 --> 00:26:16,531
target the heavy water cylinders
541
00:26:16,531 --> 00:26:18,011
located in the plant's basement.
542
00:26:19,621 --> 00:26:22,189
- Tronstad knows
the hydroelectric plant.
543
00:26:22,189 --> 00:26:26,802
So if the French, if the
British, if the Americans,
544
00:26:26,802 --> 00:26:29,544
if the allies are
trying to get into
545
00:26:29,544 --> 00:26:33,156
and sabotage this plant,
Tronstad becomes invaluable.
546
00:26:35,071 --> 00:26:36,551
- [Narrator] Tronstad
suggests they blow up
547
00:26:36,551 --> 00:26:37,857
the heavy water cylinders
548
00:26:37,857 --> 00:26:40,381
with explosives
to ensure they halt
549
00:26:40,381 --> 00:26:41,991
the Nazis heavy
water production.
550
00:26:43,689 --> 00:26:46,343
The team will then
escape to Sweden.
551
00:26:46,343 --> 00:26:47,562
- If you want precision,
552
00:26:47,562 --> 00:26:49,999
you have to have
precise information.
553
00:26:49,999 --> 00:26:53,699
This kind of information
could only be provided
554
00:26:53,699 --> 00:26:56,571
through reconnaissance photos.
555
00:26:56,571 --> 00:26:59,705
- You need highly
skilled intelligence
556
00:26:59,705 --> 00:27:02,621
to understand the
way in the way out
557
00:27:02,621 --> 00:27:04,535
and where things are
located inside the building.
558
00:27:06,581 --> 00:27:08,931
- [Narrator] The documents
provided by Norwegian resistance
559
00:27:08,931 --> 00:27:13,632
at Vemork, reveal that 18
cylinders need to be destroyed.
560
00:27:13,632 --> 00:27:16,678
With the massive increase
in heavy water production,
561
00:27:16,678 --> 00:27:19,246
each one of these cylinders
will be filled to the brim.
562
00:27:20,900 --> 00:27:22,989
- Every one of the
cylinders housing
563
00:27:22,989 --> 00:27:25,426
this water needs
to be taken out.
564
00:27:27,602 --> 00:27:28,951
- Therefore the
commanders have to go
565
00:27:28,951 --> 00:27:30,910
through some rigorous training.
566
00:27:30,910 --> 00:27:33,434
They're practicing
forging rivers,
567
00:27:33,434 --> 00:27:35,175
they're practicing
mountain climbing,
568
00:27:35,175 --> 00:27:36,872
they're camping, they're hiking.
569
00:27:36,872 --> 00:27:40,006
The physical fitness
requirements are extraordinary.
570
00:27:40,006 --> 00:27:41,703
- They do reconnaissance
in the woods.
571
00:27:41,703 --> 00:27:43,444
They do code and cipher.
572
00:27:43,444 --> 00:27:46,403
They're taught how to read
each other's communications.
573
00:27:46,403 --> 00:27:49,189
They're taught how to use
guns, how to use metal cutters.
574
00:27:49,189 --> 00:27:51,713
They are taught how
to climb rock faces.
575
00:27:51,713 --> 00:27:54,585
They already know how
to ski. In many respects,
576
00:27:54,585 --> 00:27:58,154
they are, if you like your
Renaissance fighters,
577
00:27:58,154 --> 00:28:00,374
because they
don't just hold a gun
578
00:28:00,374 --> 00:28:04,770
and do close combat fighting,
but they have, what's up here.
579
00:28:04,770 --> 00:28:06,859
Knowledge of the local area
580
00:28:06,859 --> 00:28:09,513
and ability to
outsmart the enemy.
581
00:28:09,513 --> 00:28:12,081
- [Narrator] Before the
official operation begins,
582
00:28:12,081 --> 00:28:14,388
a few of the Gunnerside
team members
583
00:28:14,388 --> 00:28:16,782
are sent to the Norwegian
mountain wilderness
584
00:28:16,782 --> 00:28:20,699
surrounding Vemork to survey
and prepare for the attack.
585
00:28:20,699 --> 00:28:24,093
- The whole mission kicks
off on February 16th, 1943
586
00:28:24,093 --> 00:28:29,751
as six Norwegian parachute
onto Norwegian countryside.
587
00:28:29,751 --> 00:28:32,711
- Time is of the essence,
with every passing day
588
00:28:32,711 --> 00:28:34,147
the Germans are ramping up
589
00:28:34,147 --> 00:28:36,410
and producing more
and more heavy water.
590
00:28:36,410 --> 00:28:38,717
- [Narrator] The
operation Gunnerside team
591
00:28:38,717 --> 00:28:41,676
parachute into the
Telemark region of Norway,
592
00:28:41,676 --> 00:28:44,505
into an area far away from
any German patrol points.
593
00:28:44,505 --> 00:28:45,985
[dogs barking]
594
00:28:45,985 --> 00:28:48,770
Their first task is to
rendezvous with their teammates
595
00:28:48,770 --> 00:28:50,772
who arrived months earlier
596
00:28:50,772 --> 00:28:53,557
and are waiting
for them in a cabin.
597
00:28:53,557 --> 00:28:56,822
- So these men who just
parachute into Norway,
598
00:28:56,822 --> 00:29:01,696
have to traverse 60 kilometers
of land to get to the cabin.
599
00:29:01,696 --> 00:29:03,698
This is nothing easy.
600
00:29:03,698 --> 00:29:06,962
This is not like taking
a walk in the park.
601
00:29:06,962 --> 00:29:08,442
- [Narrator] The cabin
where the Gunnerside team
602
00:29:08,442 --> 00:29:09,965
will begin their mission,
603
00:29:09,965 --> 00:29:13,839
is located on the
Hardangervidda plateau.
604
00:29:13,839 --> 00:29:17,016
Legends say that this
mountain plateau grows so cold
605
00:29:17,016 --> 00:29:19,496
that it freezes
flames in a fire.
606
00:29:19,496 --> 00:29:22,369
{\an8}- Most of the hardship
was up on the plateau,
607
00:29:22,369 --> 00:29:24,197
{\an8}getting there, where there
really weren't any options,
608
00:29:24,197 --> 00:29:25,894
{\an8}where the blizzard
locked them in.
609
00:29:25,894 --> 00:29:27,766
What else were they going to do?
610
00:29:27,766 --> 00:29:29,158
[gentle music]
611
00:29:29,158 --> 00:29:30,464
- [Narrator] At this
stage of the mission,
612
00:29:30,464 --> 00:29:32,945
the most important
equipment they have are skis.
613
00:29:35,121 --> 00:29:39,038
- Skiing is synonymous
with Norway.
614
00:29:39,038 --> 00:29:42,258
If there were
non-skiers on that team,
615
00:29:42,258 --> 00:29:43,346
they would've perished.
616
00:29:46,219 --> 00:29:48,351
- [Narrator] Once the
team arrives at the a cabin,
617
00:29:48,351 --> 00:29:50,745
they're hit with a
massive blizzard
618
00:29:50,745 --> 00:29:53,443
- Landing in the
middle of a blizzard,
619
00:29:53,443 --> 00:29:55,750
you have to shelter in place.
620
00:29:55,750 --> 00:29:59,275
Because if you go out
into the snow in a blizzard
621
00:29:59,275 --> 00:30:02,235
and you don't have really
any way finding markers,
622
00:30:02,235 --> 00:30:04,628
it is a death trap.
623
00:30:04,628 --> 00:30:05,847
- [Narrator] The bad
weather is a delay,
624
00:30:05,847 --> 00:30:07,544
they could do without.
625
00:30:07,544 --> 00:30:08,328
The clock is ticking.
626
00:30:10,460 --> 00:30:12,549
[gentle music]
627
00:30:12,549 --> 00:30:14,900
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic,
628
00:30:14,900 --> 00:30:17,598
the Americans continue
with their nuclear research
629
00:30:17,598 --> 00:30:18,947
at an unprecedented pace.
630
00:30:22,429 --> 00:30:25,693
- The Americans have
multiple facilities, secret
631
00:30:25,693 --> 00:30:28,304
and semi-secret facilities
around the country
632
00:30:28,304 --> 00:30:30,741
to develop this from
a big processing plant
633
00:30:30,741 --> 00:30:33,701
for uranium and the
mountains of Tennessee
634
00:30:33,701 --> 00:30:35,572
to the University of Chicago,
635
00:30:35,572 --> 00:30:38,097
where some of the
world's greatest physicists
636
00:30:38,097 --> 00:30:40,360
were gathering to
work on the next steps
637
00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,536
{\an8}in developing an atomic bomb.
638
00:30:44,233 --> 00:30:47,671
{\an8}- With Manhattan
successfully underway,
639
00:30:47,671 --> 00:30:50,587
{\an8}the Americans and the British
become increasingly convinced
640
00:30:50,587 --> 00:30:53,721
that they'll be the first to
develop a military capacity,
641
00:30:53,721 --> 00:30:54,678
a bomb for this.
642
00:30:54,678 --> 00:30:56,115
And that's exactly what happens.
643
00:30:56,115 --> 00:30:57,986
[bomb explodes]
644
00:30:57,986 --> 00:30:59,727
- [Narrator] The allies have
no idea how close the Germans
645
00:30:59,727 --> 00:31:02,730
are to developing
their own atomic bomb.
646
00:31:02,730 --> 00:31:05,776
So it's essential for operation
Gunnerside to be a success.
647
00:31:07,778 --> 00:31:10,172
After holding up in
the cabin for a week,
648
00:31:10,172 --> 00:31:12,566
the weather clears and
the Gunnerside team
649
00:31:12,566 --> 00:31:14,785
begin their journey.
650
00:31:14,785 --> 00:31:18,006
- We hear about raids
in the modern era,
651
00:31:18,006 --> 00:31:20,095
going in and finding a target,
652
00:31:20,095 --> 00:31:21,749
maybe being there on the ground
653
00:31:21,749 --> 00:31:25,884
for two to four hours,
and then being extracted.
654
00:31:25,884 --> 00:31:28,974
This raid takes
well over a week.
655
00:31:28,974 --> 00:31:31,193
- [Narrator] During their
training with the SOE,
656
00:31:31,193 --> 00:31:33,543
the Gunnerside team
was shown diagrams
657
00:31:33,543 --> 00:31:37,112
and life size replicas of
the heavy water cylinders.
658
00:31:37,112 --> 00:31:39,332
They decide the best
way to destroy them
659
00:31:39,332 --> 00:31:41,987
are with plastic explosives.
660
00:31:41,987 --> 00:31:44,990
- So the use of plastic
explosives allows them
661
00:31:44,990 --> 00:31:48,558
to carry it throughout
this whole operation,
662
00:31:48,558 --> 00:31:50,691
making the entire thing easier,
663
00:31:50,691 --> 00:31:52,649
because they are lighter,
they're more portable.
664
00:31:54,521 --> 00:31:57,002
- [Narrator] These explosives
also allow for precise
665
00:31:57,002 --> 00:31:59,656
and targeted
explosion to take place,
666
00:31:59,656 --> 00:32:01,789
avoiding unnecessary
damage or harm
667
00:32:01,789 --> 00:32:04,835
to civilians and
workers at the plant.
668
00:32:04,835 --> 00:32:07,795
Something that was essential
to Tronstad and his team.
669
00:32:07,795 --> 00:32:09,884
[gentle music]
670
00:32:09,884 --> 00:32:13,018
- Tronstad doesn't
want an air raid,
671
00:32:13,018 --> 00:32:14,671
he doesn't want
anything that will create
672
00:32:14,671 --> 00:32:16,891
mass destruction to Norway.
673
00:32:16,891 --> 00:32:19,285
He understands that if
you send in ground troops,
674
00:32:19,285 --> 00:32:22,201
where you do mass
air raids in Norway,
675
00:32:22,201 --> 00:32:24,768
that it's going to take
years and probably decades
676
00:32:24,768 --> 00:32:26,205
to recover from that.
677
00:32:26,205 --> 00:32:28,033
[gentle music]
678
00:32:28,033 --> 00:32:30,600
- [Narrator] During their
40 mile journey to Vemork,
679
00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:33,516
the Gunnerside team skis
by day and rests by night.
680
00:32:35,344 --> 00:32:36,650
[gentle music]
681
00:32:36,650 --> 00:32:38,347
They finally reached the
gorge near the waterfall
682
00:32:38,347 --> 00:32:40,567
located just south of the
Vemork heavy water plant.
683
00:32:43,265 --> 00:32:44,875
- That would be an
intimidating thing to see,
684
00:32:44,875 --> 00:32:46,965
when you to the plant
you see the waterfall,
685
00:32:46,965 --> 00:32:49,402
you finally are back there.
686
00:32:49,402 --> 00:32:52,579
It would've been an
overwhelming moment I imagine.
687
00:32:52,579 --> 00:32:57,279
- And in front of the
factory is a massive ravine,
688
00:32:57,279 --> 00:33:00,152
a huge gorge with
a bridge leading over
689
00:33:00,152 --> 00:33:02,632
it into the hydroelectric plant.
690
00:33:02,632 --> 00:33:05,461
The bridge is guarded,
heavy security,
691
00:33:05,461 --> 00:33:08,682
which means you either have
to scale down this mountain
692
00:33:08,682 --> 00:33:12,468
or you have to forge a deep
ravine, crossing an icy waterway
693
00:33:12,468 --> 00:33:14,514
and climb back up to get in,
694
00:33:14,514 --> 00:33:17,821
all the while it's surrounded
by barbed wire, lights,
695
00:33:17,821 --> 00:33:20,085
guards, mines.
696
00:33:20,085 --> 00:33:22,652
So getting into this
hydroelectric plant
697
00:33:22,652 --> 00:33:24,263
is not going to be an easy task.
698
00:33:26,004 --> 00:33:28,310
- [Narrator] During their
occupation of Norway,
699
00:33:28,310 --> 00:33:30,921
the Germans stationed
hundreds of thousands of troops
700
00:33:30,921 --> 00:33:35,796
in the country, one soldier
for every eight Norwegians.
701
00:33:35,796 --> 00:33:39,539
- The reality of the
occupation once it's starts
702
00:33:39,539 --> 00:33:43,238
becoming apparent
is already too much
703
00:33:43,238 --> 00:33:44,239
for people to bear.
704
00:33:46,372 --> 00:33:47,460
- [Narrator] The
occupation brings
705
00:33:47,460 --> 00:33:50,637
severe economic
hardships to Norway.
706
00:33:50,637 --> 00:33:53,814
Food and other basic
commodities become scarce,
707
00:33:53,814 --> 00:33:55,685
and the country faces
a real risk of famine.
708
00:33:59,298 --> 00:34:01,082
The Gunnerside
team waits patiently
709
00:34:01,082 --> 00:34:04,042
outside of the Vemork Plant
observing the German guards.
710
00:34:06,392 --> 00:34:08,698
They know that crossing
the heavily guarded bridge
711
00:34:08,698 --> 00:34:11,571
is impossible and have
figured out an alternative way
712
00:34:11,571 --> 00:34:14,313
of getting inside the plant.
713
00:34:14,313 --> 00:34:17,403
- There is one place
that they can go in
714
00:34:17,403 --> 00:34:18,882
and they can find their way in
715
00:34:18,882 --> 00:34:20,406
and it leads right to the plant.
716
00:34:20,406 --> 00:34:21,668
And that is the railroad line.
717
00:34:23,017 --> 00:34:24,758
[gentle music]
718
00:34:24,758 --> 00:34:26,020
- [Narrator] Realizing this
would be their only way in
719
00:34:26,020 --> 00:34:28,109
via the railroad line.
720
00:34:28,109 --> 00:34:31,373
Ronneberg leads the team
down into the frozen gorge.
721
00:34:31,373 --> 00:34:33,854
[gentle music]
722
00:34:33,854 --> 00:34:36,204
- The valley is very windswept.
723
00:34:36,204 --> 00:34:38,467
You can imagine when
you walk between buildings
724
00:34:38,467 --> 00:34:41,470
and it's really windy, that
wind forces through there
725
00:34:41,470 --> 00:34:43,124
harder than if you're on
the other side of the building.
726
00:34:43,124 --> 00:34:45,039
It's the same with this valley.
727
00:34:45,039 --> 00:34:48,434
That is a very
dangerous place to be.
728
00:34:48,434 --> 00:34:51,741
- It's a 600 foot gorge, down
to the Maåna River below,
729
00:34:51,741 --> 00:34:53,439
by the way, this is
the bleak midwinter,
730
00:34:53,439 --> 00:34:58,487
freezing conditions, ice,
snow, and a field.[laughs]
731
00:34:58,487 --> 00:35:00,489
Not even pretty in
summer by the way,
732
00:35:00,489 --> 00:35:02,926
that you would
have to negotiate.
733
00:35:02,926 --> 00:35:04,450
- [Narrator] But once
the men have successfully
734
00:35:04,450 --> 00:35:07,583
climbed down the gorge, the
river presents a new challenge.
735
00:35:08,802 --> 00:35:10,064
[water whooshing]
736
00:35:10,064 --> 00:35:11,109
- You have to partially
go in the water.
737
00:35:11,109 --> 00:35:13,328
So remember how
cold it is outside.
738
00:35:13,328 --> 00:35:15,678
Think of how cold the water is.
739
00:35:15,678 --> 00:35:18,246
And then when
you get out of this,
740
00:35:18,246 --> 00:35:21,336
now you're wind swept
and you're partially wet.
741
00:35:21,336 --> 00:35:24,600
[gentle music]
742
00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:26,994
- [Narrator] Although with
the real risk of hypothermia,
743
00:35:26,994 --> 00:35:28,691
Ronneberg pushes his men on.
744
00:35:29,823 --> 00:35:31,520
As even after the river,
745
00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,958
they still have a frozen
600 foot cliff to climb,
746
00:35:34,958 --> 00:35:36,525
which leads right
to the railroad line.
747
00:35:40,703 --> 00:35:43,750
- So it's one thing on top of
another, on top of another,
748
00:35:43,750 --> 00:35:45,926
to try to make your
way to this plant.
749
00:35:45,926 --> 00:35:49,190
This is how important this
raid is, that men are willing
750
00:35:49,190 --> 00:35:51,105
to go to this
length to make sure
751
00:35:51,105 --> 00:35:53,194
that Hitler doesn't
get his atomic weapon.
752
00:35:53,194 --> 00:35:54,804
[gentle music]
753
00:35:54,804 --> 00:35:57,024
- [Narrator] Incredibly,
Ronneberg and his men
754
00:35:57,024 --> 00:35:59,069
make it all the way
across the gorge
755
00:35:59,069 --> 00:36:00,201
and reach the railway line.
756
00:36:02,638 --> 00:36:05,989
- Extremely challenging,
extremely demanding.
757
00:36:05,989 --> 00:36:07,382
And let's not forget,
758
00:36:07,382 --> 00:36:09,906
that besides all these
physical demands,
759
00:36:09,906 --> 00:36:12,648
there's also the
psychological demand of,
760
00:36:12,648 --> 00:36:15,825
I've not come here just
for a cross country's ski trip.
761
00:36:15,825 --> 00:36:19,177
I actually have to go up and
blow up a heavy water plant,
762
00:36:19,177 --> 00:36:21,483
guarded by Germans.
763
00:36:21,483 --> 00:36:25,226
- [Narrator] At around
midnight on February 28th, 1943
764
00:36:25,226 --> 00:36:26,662
the Gunnerside team is ready
765
00:36:26,662 --> 00:36:28,838
to enter the heavy water plant.
766
00:36:28,838 --> 00:36:31,101
[gentle music]
767
00:36:31,101 --> 00:36:34,192
- So the team decides to
split basically half and half.
768
00:36:34,192 --> 00:36:37,151
There's a covering
squad, provide protection.
769
00:36:37,151 --> 00:36:38,587
And then there's
the actual team,
770
00:36:38,587 --> 00:36:40,372
that's going to
set the explosives,
771
00:36:40,372 --> 00:36:42,287
the team that's going to
set the explosives knows
772
00:36:42,287 --> 00:36:44,158
from Tronstad where to go.
773
00:36:44,158 --> 00:36:45,986
[gentle music]
774
00:36:45,986 --> 00:36:47,814
- [Narrator] Thanks
to his reconnaissance,
775
00:36:47,814 --> 00:36:49,076
they know they
can enter the plant
776
00:36:49,076 --> 00:36:51,121
via an unguarded utility tunnel.
777
00:36:51,121 --> 00:36:54,299
[gentle music]
778
00:36:54,299 --> 00:36:56,126
They sneak through
the narrow utility tunnel
779
00:36:56,126 --> 00:36:57,780
with their explosives
780
00:36:57,780 --> 00:37:00,566
and finally gain
access to the building.
781
00:37:00,566 --> 00:37:03,308
- Until the last minute they
have to make adjustments
782
00:37:03,308 --> 00:37:04,483
and they have
to tweak their plan
783
00:37:04,483 --> 00:37:07,703
and respond to the
situation as it is developing.
784
00:37:07,703 --> 00:37:11,403
And they are now within sight.
785
00:37:11,403 --> 00:37:14,057
And all that remains is
to blow up the cylinders.
786
00:37:15,450 --> 00:37:16,451
- There's Germans around.
787
00:37:16,451 --> 00:37:17,626
You're probably scared.
788
00:37:17,626 --> 00:37:19,237
You're you're making this dash.
789
00:37:19,237 --> 00:37:21,021
You know that you
have to be quick
790
00:37:21,021 --> 00:37:23,850
and any small change to the plan
791
00:37:23,850 --> 00:37:26,200
could throw off
the entire thing.
792
00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:27,810
- They finally
reached the basement
793
00:37:27,810 --> 00:37:30,291
and there's 18
massive containers.
794
00:37:30,291 --> 00:37:32,293
And as Tronstad worried,
795
00:37:32,293 --> 00:37:34,208
their worst fears are
realized, they're full.
796
00:37:36,428 --> 00:37:39,605
- The commandos run into one
person, one of the Norwegians
797
00:37:39,605 --> 00:37:43,826
who's working inside the
plant and they confront him,
798
00:37:43,826 --> 00:37:46,394
guns drawn because
they're doing their raid.
799
00:37:46,394 --> 00:37:49,354
And the Norwegian actually
asks what they're doing.
800
00:37:49,354 --> 00:37:53,096
They tell them that they're
there to blow up the facility
801
00:37:53,096 --> 00:37:55,577
and blow up the
heavy water cylinders.
802
00:37:55,577 --> 00:37:56,796
And the Norwegian asks,
803
00:37:56,796 --> 00:37:59,494
are you here to kill
me and all of us too?
804
00:37:59,494 --> 00:38:02,454
And they say, no,
we're not here to kill you.
805
00:38:02,454 --> 00:38:05,500
It was very important
to Tronstad and others,
806
00:38:05,500 --> 00:38:08,764
that innocent Norwegians
aren't killed in this raid.
807
00:38:08,764 --> 00:38:10,026
[gentle music]
808
00:38:10,026 --> 00:38:11,332
- [Narrator] The Germans
at the Vemork Plant
809
00:38:11,332 --> 00:38:14,030
are almost exclusively guards.
810
00:38:14,030 --> 00:38:15,858
While the people
doing the actual work
811
00:38:15,858 --> 00:38:18,774
of creating the heavy water
are all Norwegian workers.
812
00:38:21,255 --> 00:38:23,953
During Germany's
occupation of Norway,
813
00:38:23,953 --> 00:38:26,695
many Norwegians are
forced to work in factories
814
00:38:26,695 --> 00:38:29,916
to help the German war effort.
815
00:38:29,916 --> 00:38:33,136
Norwegians are prohibited
from flying the Norwegian flag,
816
00:38:33,136 --> 00:38:36,705
singing their national Anthem
and even reading literature
817
00:38:36,705 --> 00:38:38,707
that the Germans
deem inappropriate,
818
00:38:38,707 --> 00:38:40,056
can get you sentenced to death.
819
00:38:42,145 --> 00:38:45,323
- The living conditions
during the Nazi reign,
820
00:38:45,323 --> 00:38:49,805
it was deplorable, shortages
of medicine, shortages of food.
821
00:38:49,805 --> 00:38:51,285
People lost their jobs,
822
00:38:51,285 --> 00:38:53,853
homes were confiscated.
823
00:38:53,853 --> 00:38:57,509
Freedoms and rights were
curtailed, and on a drop of a dime
824
00:38:57,509 --> 00:39:00,120
anybody could be
accused of disloyalty.
825
00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:03,602
German soldiers
parading through the capital
826
00:39:03,602 --> 00:39:07,127
It was a horrific moment
for the people of Norway.
827
00:39:09,085 --> 00:39:13,699
- Imagine being in Norway,
imagine being under occupation,
828
00:39:13,699 --> 00:39:17,529
the indignity of
it, the paucity of
829
00:39:17,529 --> 00:39:21,054
any kind of entertainment,
of decent food,
830
00:39:21,054 --> 00:39:23,665
of proper employment,
the compromises,
831
00:39:23,665 --> 00:39:25,450
that are constantly being made.
832
00:39:25,450 --> 00:39:27,800
And this is I think
something very hard
833
00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,150
for the anglophone world
to get their head around.
834
00:39:30,150 --> 00:39:32,631
In Britain we don't have
the heel of the jackboot
835
00:39:32,631 --> 00:39:34,937
arriving in our country.
836
00:39:34,937 --> 00:39:37,636
[gentle music]
837
00:39:37,636 --> 00:39:40,029
- [Narrator] In the basement
of the heavy water plant.
838
00:39:40,029 --> 00:39:43,729
Ronneberg begins to
set up the explosives.
839
00:39:43,729 --> 00:39:46,558
Everything has led up to
these crucial final moments.
840
00:39:46,558 --> 00:39:47,820
And time is of the essence.
841
00:39:51,432 --> 00:39:54,000
[gentle music]
842
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:57,090
- The explosives have to
work in full for everything
843
00:39:57,090 --> 00:39:58,613
to go properly.
844
00:39:58,613 --> 00:40:00,528
Every one of the
cylinders housing this water
845
00:40:00,528 --> 00:40:03,705
needs to be taken out.
846
00:40:03,705 --> 00:40:07,927
So they are issued
explosives that are kind of like,
847
00:40:07,927 --> 00:40:10,582
what we would think of
is more like a C-4 putty.
848
00:40:10,582 --> 00:40:13,628
It's kind of a thing that can
be placed in different areas
849
00:40:13,628 --> 00:40:16,979
and twisted around
molded to a location
850
00:40:16,979 --> 00:40:21,027
and then ignited through
having a primer placed into it,
851
00:40:21,027 --> 00:40:22,594
which is clipped off.
852
00:40:22,594 --> 00:40:26,293
And then you have a few
minutes to get out of there.
853
00:40:26,293 --> 00:40:28,861
- [Narrator] But halfway
through setting up the explosives,
854
00:40:28,861 --> 00:40:30,079
it looks like the game is up.
855
00:40:31,646 --> 00:40:34,127
- The blast team is busy
putting their explosives
856
00:40:34,127 --> 00:40:35,868
on the canisters
when all of a sudden,
857
00:40:35,868 --> 00:40:39,132
a window shatters next to them.
858
00:40:39,132 --> 00:40:40,394
Now imagine why had
to go through their mind.
859
00:40:40,394 --> 00:40:42,048
They thought they were caught,
860
00:40:42,048 --> 00:40:43,876
but it was one of the teammates.
861
00:40:43,876 --> 00:40:46,008
Imagine the chaotic
scene in their minds,
862
00:40:46,008 --> 00:40:47,575
of what was transpiring
when they realized
863
00:40:47,575 --> 00:40:49,142
that one of their
teammates was the one
864
00:40:49,142 --> 00:40:50,796
who broke the window.
865
00:40:50,796 --> 00:40:53,407
And I'm sure that he didn't hear
866
00:40:53,407 --> 00:40:55,801
the end of that for
a while. [laughs]
867
00:40:55,801 --> 00:40:57,106
[gentle music]
868
00:40:57,106 --> 00:40:58,368
- [Narrator] After a
heart racing moment
869
00:40:58,368 --> 00:41:00,588
of thinking they
had been caught.
870
00:41:00,588 --> 00:41:04,374
Ronneberg continues to
finish setting up the explosives.
871
00:41:04,374 --> 00:41:06,376
Meanwhile Stromsheim
is sent to open
872
00:41:06,376 --> 00:41:08,466
the exterior basement door
873
00:41:08,466 --> 00:41:10,555
for an easy escape
while Kayser guards
874
00:41:10,555 --> 00:41:11,599
the Norwegian workers.
875
00:41:14,776 --> 00:41:16,865
Every second
spent inside the plant
876
00:41:16,865 --> 00:41:19,128
increases their
chances of getting caught
877
00:41:19,128 --> 00:41:20,608
and the mission
being a total failure.
878
00:41:22,784 --> 00:41:26,048
Once Ronneberg is finished
setting up all the explosives,
879
00:41:26,048 --> 00:41:30,226
he cuts the fuse down from
two minutes to 30 seconds.
880
00:41:30,226 --> 00:41:34,143
He checks the explosives
one last time and lights defuse.
881
00:41:34,143 --> 00:41:36,668
[gentle music]
882
00:41:36,668 --> 00:41:38,408
- The shorter the mission,
883
00:41:38,408 --> 00:41:40,802
the less likely you
are to get caught.
884
00:41:42,282 --> 00:41:44,893
- The fuses are
lit and the men exit
885
00:41:44,893 --> 00:41:48,593
as quickly as possible
out of the plant.
886
00:41:48,593 --> 00:41:51,509
- I have no idea how these
commandos managed to do this,
887
00:41:51,509 --> 00:41:54,120
to set the fuse for 30 seconds.
888
00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:56,035
When you're in the basement
889
00:41:56,035 --> 00:41:59,995
of a massive hydroelectric
factory teaming with Nazi guards,
890
00:41:59,995 --> 00:42:02,476
there's so much that
could have gone wrong,
891
00:42:02,476 --> 00:42:05,392
but they managed to get
out of the hydroelectric plant.
892
00:42:05,392 --> 00:42:06,828
[gentle music]
893
00:42:06,828 --> 00:42:09,396
- As they run out of the
plant about 20 meters
894
00:42:09,396 --> 00:42:12,486
or so they hear
this distant funk.
895
00:42:12,486 --> 00:42:14,749
It's not a loud bang,
It's not a big explosion.
896
00:42:14,749 --> 00:42:17,143
It's a nice little thump.
897
00:42:17,143 --> 00:42:18,753
And they think, well, that's it.
898
00:42:18,753 --> 00:42:21,451
That must be the
explosions that are going off.
899
00:42:21,451 --> 00:42:22,844
They're far enough away,
900
00:42:22,844 --> 00:42:25,673
so the Germans don't
see them at the time.
901
00:42:25,673 --> 00:42:31,200
And one German kind of looks
around and they see this guard,
902
00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:33,376
just looking around,
wondering what's going on.
903
00:42:33,376 --> 00:42:35,596
He appears to be thinking
about what that may have been.
904
00:42:37,380 --> 00:42:39,078
- [Narrator] The Gunnerside
team makes the escape
905
00:42:39,078 --> 00:42:41,254
from the Vemork
facility and alarms
906
00:42:41,254 --> 00:42:42,603
eventually begin to go off.
907
00:42:45,258 --> 00:42:47,826
Within an hour, the
facilities chief engineer
908
00:42:47,826 --> 00:42:50,524
and German guards
arrive in the basement
909
00:42:50,524 --> 00:42:52,570
to find the damaged to
heavy water cylinders.
910
00:42:54,223 --> 00:42:56,486
- So it's a perfect getaway,
911
00:42:56,486 --> 00:42:59,228
for something that sounds
like it's out of a spy novel.
912
00:42:59,228 --> 00:43:01,709
And it works to
perfection in that way.
913
00:43:01,709 --> 00:43:04,886
The charges are laid,
cylinders are broken.
914
00:43:04,886 --> 00:43:07,672
The heavy water plant
is disturbed for a while,
915
00:43:07,672 --> 00:43:08,542
and the men get away.
916
00:43:10,326 --> 00:43:11,501
- [Narrator] Ronneberg
and his team,
917
00:43:11,501 --> 00:43:13,503
retrace their steps
through the gorge
918
00:43:13,503 --> 00:43:15,157
and quickly get as far away
919
00:43:15,157 --> 00:43:18,378
from the Vemork
facility as they can.
920
00:43:18,378 --> 00:43:20,423
They know the Germans
will be right behind them,
921
00:43:20,423 --> 00:43:22,425
looking for whoever
had done this.
922
00:43:22,425 --> 00:43:24,514
[gentle music]
923
00:43:24,514 --> 00:43:26,604
- It's a highly
successful operation,
924
00:43:26,604 --> 00:43:29,432
especially considering the odds
925
00:43:29,432 --> 00:43:31,913
and considering that this
was somewhat telegraphed,
926
00:43:31,913 --> 00:43:33,872
meaning that because
of the earlier failure,
927
00:43:33,872 --> 00:43:36,178
the Germans knew
that it was a target
928
00:43:36,178 --> 00:43:39,529
and yet still weren't able to
prevent these very brave men
929
00:43:39,529 --> 00:43:42,707
from carrying out an
operation of that nature.
930
00:43:42,707 --> 00:43:44,796
- When you think
about the whole story,
931
00:43:44,796 --> 00:43:47,668
you think about the distances
that had to be traversed,
932
00:43:47,668 --> 00:43:52,151
and then the precision with
which the plant was targeted.
933
00:43:52,151 --> 00:43:54,414
- The mission's a success,
934
00:43:54,414 --> 00:43:57,069
there's a massive
amount of heavy water
935
00:43:57,069 --> 00:44:00,028
that literally goes
down the drain.
936
00:44:00,028 --> 00:44:03,423
[gentle music]
937
00:44:03,423 --> 00:44:05,904
Top German General
Von Falkenhorst,
938
00:44:05,904 --> 00:44:07,732
comes to inspect the damage.
939
00:44:07,732 --> 00:44:09,647
He ends up saying,
it's a quote, unquote,
940
00:44:09,647 --> 00:44:12,301
most splendid coup.
941
00:44:12,301 --> 00:44:15,740
- The response of it,
oh, it's a splendid coup,
942
00:44:15,740 --> 00:44:20,135
it shows that some
level there is respect
943
00:44:20,135 --> 00:44:22,442
between combatants
in the middle of a war.
944
00:44:24,357 --> 00:44:26,620
For as much as you might
have respected what they did
945
00:44:26,620 --> 00:44:28,840
from a tactical standpoint,
946
00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:31,146
you obviously don't
want to let them get away
947
00:44:31,146 --> 00:44:32,844
with what they did.
948
00:44:32,844 --> 00:44:35,368
So you do put on this major
manhunt to try to find them,
949
00:44:35,368 --> 00:44:36,674
because this is
the sort of thing
950
00:44:36,674 --> 00:44:39,111
that you can't just let go.
951
00:44:39,111 --> 00:44:43,158
You have to respond
in kind in some way.
952
00:44:43,158 --> 00:44:46,248
- 3000 soldiers are
brought in to hunt down
953
00:44:46,248 --> 00:44:49,512
this handful of
commandos in Norway.
954
00:44:49,512 --> 00:44:52,559
And to make the story
even more compelling,
955
00:44:52,559 --> 00:44:56,345
the commandos managed to
allude thousands of German soldiers
956
00:44:56,345 --> 00:44:59,392
combing the forest and
countryside looking for them.
957
00:45:01,220 --> 00:45:03,222
- [Narrator] Although the
Germans vastly out number
958
00:45:03,222 --> 00:45:06,834
the Gunnerside team in
both people and resources,
959
00:45:06,834 --> 00:45:08,662
Ronneberg and his team managed
960
00:45:08,662 --> 00:45:11,491
to elude the Germans
and make their escape.
961
00:45:11,491 --> 00:45:13,711
[gentle music]
962
00:45:13,711 --> 00:45:14,886
- Several of the commandos
963
00:45:16,496 --> 00:45:18,454
somehow managed in
the middle of the winter
964
00:45:18,454 --> 00:45:22,371
to ski a few hundred
miles to Sweden.
965
00:45:22,371 --> 00:45:26,027
And they outdistance
the German soldiers.
966
00:45:26,027 --> 00:45:27,420
- They divide into two teams
967
00:45:27,420 --> 00:45:29,465
and one stays in
the local vicinity
968
00:45:29,465 --> 00:45:32,164
to try to draw the
attention of German forces
969
00:45:32,164 --> 00:45:35,123
and be basically hides in the
forest and in the mountains.
970
00:45:35,123 --> 00:45:37,647
And then the other
team skis to Sweden.
971
00:45:37,647 --> 00:45:41,303
- It's a pure victory,
it's a wonderful local,
972
00:45:42,609 --> 00:45:44,089
moral high point.
973
00:45:44,089 --> 00:45:45,830
Norwegians fighting
back on the inside
974
00:45:45,830 --> 00:45:47,657
against their German occupiers.
975
00:45:47,657 --> 00:45:50,486
And then of course
they are on skis,
976
00:45:50,486 --> 00:45:52,445
they separate, they spread out.
977
00:45:52,445 --> 00:45:54,273
They are nine little
needles in a haystack.
978
00:45:56,362 --> 00:45:57,972
- [Narrator] Having
successfully sabotaged
979
00:45:57,972 --> 00:45:59,669
the Vemork Plant,
980
00:45:59,669 --> 00:46:03,456
Ronneberg, Kayser,
Stromsheim and Haukelid
981
00:46:03,456 --> 00:46:04,674
make the escape to Sweden.
982
00:46:06,459 --> 00:46:08,200
- Sweden is next to Norway,
983
00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:11,246
it's a fellow
Scandinavian Country.
984
00:46:11,246 --> 00:46:15,381
It's neutral, and from Sweden
the commandos can get out
985
00:46:15,381 --> 00:46:17,122
without being detected.
986
00:46:17,122 --> 00:46:20,212
Also importantly, even
though Sweden's neutral,
987
00:46:20,212 --> 00:46:23,258
it's assisting the
allies in various ways,
988
00:46:23,258 --> 00:46:26,740
and there's an active
resistance movement in Sweden.
989
00:46:26,740 --> 00:46:29,656
And they're helping to train
the Norwegian resistance
990
00:46:29,656 --> 00:46:31,789
and intelligence counter forces.
991
00:46:34,748 --> 00:46:37,185
News of the mission
reaches the allies
992
00:46:37,185 --> 00:46:39,884
as well as Leif
Tronstad back in London.
993
00:46:39,884 --> 00:46:42,756
And of course it's welcome news.
994
00:46:44,802 --> 00:46:47,413
- [Narrator] The message
Tronstad receives reads,
995
00:46:47,413 --> 00:46:50,851
operation carried out with
a hundred percent success,
996
00:46:50,851 --> 00:46:53,723
high concentration plant,
completely destroyed,
997
00:46:53,723 --> 00:46:55,987
shots not exchanged
since the Germans
998
00:46:55,987 --> 00:46:58,467
didn't realize anything.
999
00:46:58,467 --> 00:47:01,383
Germans do not appear to
know whence the party came
1000
00:47:01,383 --> 00:47:02,907
or whether they disappeared.
1001
00:47:02,907 --> 00:47:05,257
[gentle music]
1002
00:47:10,262 --> 00:47:13,134
- Operation Gunnerside is
one of the most successful acts
1003
00:47:13,134 --> 00:47:15,876
of sabotage during World War II,
1004
00:47:15,876 --> 00:47:18,096
carried out by
Norwegian Patriots
1005
00:47:18,096 --> 00:47:21,142
who had no formal
military background,
1006
00:47:21,142 --> 00:47:24,319
the SOE exercises are the
only training they completed.
1007
00:47:25,625 --> 00:47:26,844
- It was a clean victory.
1008
00:47:26,844 --> 00:47:29,585
And that is the message
that is transmitted
1009
00:47:29,585 --> 00:47:32,762
back to Britain. Scot-free.
1010
00:47:32,762 --> 00:47:35,330
We blew up the place,
we blew up the cylinders,
1011
00:47:35,330 --> 00:47:36,897
didn't even blow up the place.
1012
00:47:36,897 --> 00:47:39,726
They just blew up the cylinders
and we made a getaway
1013
00:47:39,726 --> 00:47:42,424
and we've all left
with our lives intact.
1014
00:47:42,424 --> 00:47:44,818
[gentle music]
1015
00:47:44,818 --> 00:47:47,081
- [Narrator] Operation
Gunnerside was a major success
1016
00:47:47,081 --> 00:47:49,083
for the allies and
a crushing defeat
1017
00:47:49,083 --> 00:47:51,869
for the Germans nuclear
weapons program.
1018
00:47:51,869 --> 00:47:57,787
[gentle music] [bomb explodes]
1019
00:47:57,787 --> 00:48:00,268
Throughout the German
occupation of Norway,
1020
00:48:00,268 --> 00:48:02,967
the Norwegian resistance
proves to be a crucial asset
1021
00:48:02,967 --> 00:48:05,143
to the allied forces.
1022
00:48:05,143 --> 00:48:07,928
What starts as a
small sabotage unit,
1023
00:48:07,928 --> 00:48:10,713
will eventually grow
into a full on military force
1024
00:48:10,713 --> 00:48:13,151
by the end of the war.
1025
00:48:13,151 --> 00:48:16,067
Some of the other victories
for the Norwegian resistance
1026
00:48:16,067 --> 00:48:19,113
includes the destruction of
two major German warships
1027
00:48:19,113 --> 00:48:20,767
called the Bismarck
and the Tirpitz.
1028
00:48:22,073 --> 00:48:23,465
[gentle music]
1029
00:48:23,465 --> 00:48:26,468
- The Norwegian
resistance comes out of that,
1030
00:48:26,468 --> 00:48:29,907
uniquely kind of
Norwegian sense of identity,
1031
00:48:29,907 --> 00:48:31,430
which means that
they were not willing
1032
00:48:31,430 --> 00:48:34,215
to be just assimilated
into the Germanic Reich.
1033
00:48:36,565 --> 00:48:37,958
- [Narrator] Although
Operation Gunnerside
1034
00:48:37,958 --> 00:48:41,309
was a success, by May, 1943,
1035
00:48:41,309 --> 00:48:43,094
the heavy water
production facilities
1036
00:48:43,094 --> 00:48:45,226
were rebuilt and
operating once again.
1037
00:48:46,445 --> 00:48:48,969
Later that year in November,
1038
00:48:48,969 --> 00:48:51,885
140 American bombers flew
over and bombed the plant.
1039
00:48:54,453 --> 00:48:58,370
Unfortunately 22 Norwegian
civilians were killed.
1040
00:48:58,370 --> 00:49:01,764
The exact tragedy
Tronstad had hoped to avoid,
1041
00:49:01,764 --> 00:49:04,550
but this bombing raid finally
crushes Hitler's aspiration
1042
00:49:04,550 --> 00:49:07,640
to build an atomic
bomb once and for all.
1043
00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:10,730
As the German dictator has
major problems elsewhere
1044
00:49:10,730 --> 00:49:12,601
and troops are
taken out of Norway.
1045
00:49:12,601 --> 00:49:14,473
[gentle music]
1046
00:49:14,473 --> 00:49:15,996
- Norway is no
longer the priority
1047
00:49:15,996 --> 00:49:18,085
that it was early in the war.
1048
00:49:18,085 --> 00:49:21,306
So they have to shift
people out of Norway,
1049
00:49:21,306 --> 00:49:23,221
which is a response
to what is happening
1050
00:49:23,221 --> 00:49:24,352
elsewhere in the war.
1051
00:49:25,701 --> 00:49:27,442
- So nothing's going right
1052
00:49:27,442 --> 00:49:30,358
for the Germans in that
capacity and a place like Norway
1053
00:49:30,358 --> 00:49:33,622
becomes increasingly
indefensible.
1054
00:49:33,622 --> 00:49:35,755
- [Narrator] While the
Germans retreat from Norway,
1055
00:49:35,755 --> 00:49:37,800
Leif Tronstad
continues with his work
1056
00:49:37,800 --> 00:49:38,976
in the Norwegian resistance.
1057
00:49:40,760 --> 00:49:43,937
This time taking part
in operation Sunshine,
1058
00:49:43,937 --> 00:49:46,809
an operation to protect
essential installations
1059
00:49:46,809 --> 00:49:49,682
and particularly power
stations from being destroyed
1060
00:49:49,682 --> 00:49:51,205
by retreating German forces.
1061
00:49:53,642 --> 00:49:56,167
Tragically Tronstad will
be killed during this mission.
1062
00:49:58,169 --> 00:50:02,303
- Tronstad's end is therefore
kind of poetic in a twisted,
1063
00:50:02,303 --> 00:50:04,871
very ironic and
sad fashion, right?
1064
00:50:04,871 --> 00:50:07,874
Because he dies the
death that I suppose
1065
00:50:07,874 --> 00:50:10,877
he and other resistance
fighters ultimately planned for.
1066
00:50:10,877 --> 00:50:13,271
- This kind of immortalizes him,
1067
00:50:13,271 --> 00:50:17,231
as one of Norway's
great heroes. A scientist,
1068
00:50:17,231 --> 00:50:21,583
a resistance fighter, a
chemist, and a fallen hero
1069
00:50:21,583 --> 00:50:23,759
in the fight against the Nazis.
1070
00:50:23,759 --> 00:50:26,632
- Him being part of that
resistance afterwards
1071
00:50:26,632 --> 00:50:29,330
and continuing just
shows the commitment
1072
00:50:29,330 --> 00:50:32,768
to the cause and shows how
devoted he was to Norway.
1073
00:50:32,768 --> 00:50:36,250
This is again, the price that
some people paid for this.
1074
00:50:36,250 --> 00:50:38,252
I mean that would've
been enough danger,
1075
00:50:38,252 --> 00:50:41,951
for a couple of lifetimes
faced by people like Tronstad
1076
00:50:41,951 --> 00:50:47,261
but the determination
to keep fighting the Nazis
1077
00:50:47,261 --> 00:50:49,829
and to ensure that they're
finally out of Norway.
1078
00:50:49,829 --> 00:50:52,658
[gentle music]
1079
00:50:52,658 --> 00:50:54,442
- [Narrator]
Gunnerside team leader,
1080
00:50:54,442 --> 00:50:56,531
Joachim Ronneberg continues
1081
00:50:56,531 --> 00:50:58,794
his work in the
Norwegian resistance
1082
00:50:58,794 --> 00:51:01,188
and goes on to lead
other sabotage operations
1083
00:51:01,188 --> 00:51:02,189
against the Germans.
1084
00:51:03,538 --> 00:51:06,411
It is not until 1945
when he was awarded
1085
00:51:06,411 --> 00:51:09,457
Norway's highest
military decoration,
1086
00:51:09,457 --> 00:51:12,852
the war cross with sword
that he realizes the significance
1087
00:51:12,852 --> 00:51:15,159
of what he and his Gunnerside
teammates had achieved.
1088
00:51:19,163 --> 00:51:23,036
Operation Gunnerside, the
brainchild of Leif Tronstad
1089
00:51:23,036 --> 00:51:26,779
was a truly amazing
act of sabotage.
1090
00:51:26,779 --> 00:51:29,521
This unorthodox frontline
battle was a pivotal moment
1091
00:51:29,521 --> 00:51:32,176
during World War II,
putting a major dent
1092
00:51:32,176 --> 00:51:34,787
in Nazi Germany's atomic plans
1093
00:51:34,787 --> 00:51:37,355
and undoubtedly changing
the course of the war.
1094
00:51:37,355 --> 00:51:40,836
[gentle music]
1095
00:51:40,836 --> 00:51:43,709
- The course of history would've
been completely different,
1096
00:51:43,709 --> 00:51:45,145
in a terrifying set of way.
1097
00:51:45,145 --> 00:51:47,060
[gentle music]
1098
00:51:47,060 --> 00:51:51,282
- Gunnnerside is a story
that shows the dedication
1099
00:51:51,282 --> 00:51:54,459
that people during the Second
World War had to the cause.
1100
00:51:55,503 --> 00:51:57,897
[gentle music]
87483
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.