Original subtitles

"I have five drawers in my mind."

"The three top drawers, I open all the time. The fourth, less often."

"I closed the bottom drawer 8th May 1945, and haven't opened it since."

REPORT FROM "NO. 24"

- Hi. We're ready. - Yes.

- Will you attach the mic? - Yes. We'll be right there.

- Yes. Thanks. - Good.

- Ready, Gunnar? - Yes.

I'm ready.

- Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm okay.

It passes after a while.

- Welcome. - Thank you.

- Petter. - Hi. Welcome.

- Petter. Nice to meet you. - Hi.

Well, well. Are you expecting old people here?

Let's talk about

values.

This is bullshit.

What?

NAZI BOOK BURNING CAUSES INTERNATIONAL WORRY

Book burning?

My father gave me a book the other day.

Someone named Langhoff wrote about his stay in a German labour camp.

They'll probably burn that one.

Prison camp?

Yes. He says they have detained those who oppose the regime for years.

Communists, then?

All kinds of people, I think.

It's called The Peat Bog Soldiers.

Køhn has it in his shop.

Or you can borrow mine.

I can sort of understand the need to keep the communists under control.

It's the same here.

If not, we're all going to Moscow.

I don't think you hear yourself, Erling.

- Shouldn't people get to have opinions? - Yes.

Yes.

This isn't about communism.

No one should be imprisoned for their opinions.

Yes, but you know what I mean.

No, I do not know what you mean.

The campfire is ready.

Yeah, put this on.

I went to the same school as you more than 70 years ago.

We lived in a democracy.

But then we felt it tighten around us.

Do you feel safe?

Good. Because I also felt safe.

And my friends

also felt safe,

until we weren't any more.

We thought we were living in post-war times.

But then we suddenly realised we had been living in interwar times.

And the Germans marched in on 9th April 1940.

They only needed 800 soldiers to take Oslo.

That's twice as many as you sitting here.

In a war, you have to find out

if you will accept the situation you're in.

Either let that become the new normal, or do something,

and with that, risk everything.

I continued to go to work.

But I had a hard time concentrating.

Everybody out!

Everyone, hurry up!

You're not easily scared, I see,

Sønsteby.

I must admit, one does get a bit defiant.

How defiant do you get?

Quite defiant.

We're a small group who have been talking about going to the forest.

Maybe you'd like to join us?

What else could we do?

We had to try to fight.

Here, Sønsteby.

Yes.

The Germans were already everywhere.

Run!

It was futile.

Form a line!

We didn't stand a chance.

Here!

We were so damn unprepared.

I promised myself that I would never again be that unprepared.

I contracted pneumonia and sinusitis

and was told to rest for two years.

People say your health is the most important thing.

PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS POLITICAL PLANS

It's not true.

Peace and freedom matter most.

But after two months, I met other guys like me.

This is London.

EVERYTHING FOR NORWAY

In days like these, many in Norway probably think, "Will courage last,

or are we about to give up?"

Knut Haugland, who I knew from Rjukan.

And Max Manus.

Andreas Aubert.

Gregers Gram.

And Tallak, Edvard Tallaksen.

My background as an accountant became useful.

I became Erling Fjeld.

Gunnar Lier.

Harald Sørensen.

The bakery in Grønland, fronted by Reidun Andersen,

became our hub.

Making a newspaper is all well and good, but we wanted to do more.

The Norwegian government had escaped to London.

I heard they had a representative at the British legation in Sweden.

NORWAY - SWEDEN

I wanted to meet him.

THE BRITISH LEGATION

We need to build up a network in Oslo.

I see.

But if you'd rather go to England and be trained in sabotage,

we can get you there.

Thanks, but I can stay in Oslo.

Your code name is

Number 24.

Here you go.

Your first mission.

BANK OF NORWAY

- Forfang. - Erling Fjeld.

Ivar Thiedemansen asked me to meet with you.

Yes.

What is this about?

The Norwegian government in London has asked me to request

a loan of the banknote printing plates.

You wish to borrow the printing plates for the Norwegian banknotes?

Yes.

Resistance costs money, as I'm sure you understand.

We also need a sample of the paper.

Miss Løberg?

Thanks for an interesting chat.

What do you need to trust me?

The meeting is over.

Miss Løberg will show you out.

Mr Fjeld?

Mr Fjeld?

Your grandchildren will speak German.

What did you say?

You do understand that your grandchildren will speak German unless we act?

This is your chance to be on the right side of history.

How do I know that you represent the government?

How can I be sure?

You have to trust me.

Easy for you to say.

If this goes wrong, I will be shot.

And the bank manager and the board.

That goes for all of us.

If you are who you say you are,

tell the voice from London

to say this on the radio in two days.

Then I will consider it.

THE ETERNAL LONGING

This is London.

In days like these, it's important to keep your spirits up.

Here are 16 special messages.

One, a man you can trust.

Two, a spear in the fist.

Three,

the eternal longing.

Four, looks like a school.

Five…

I sincerely hope you know what you're doing.

You have until Thursday evening.

Where are we going today?

To Kongsvinger. I have a package that needs to go to Sweden.

National Commissioner Terboven and Prime Minister Quisling

are protectors of the business.

Under Captain Maxvik's leadership, the company marched through Oslo.

Hirden's school in Kongsvinger has completed a troop leader class.

Chief Marthinsen handed out letters of appointment

to new troop commanders and senior squad leaders.

He's worse than Quisling.

After that, they had a simple get-together.

Marthinsen was chief of the state police and the top leader of Hirden.

He let his people torture Norwegians.

The Norwegian Nazis were sometimes worse than the Germans.

I could not understand that fellow countrymen

would cooperate with those who occupied us.

It was difficult to know who you could trust.

The government in London needed eyes and ears in Oslo.

And I was appointed leader of our little organisation.

Information was gathered and then smuggled to Sweden…

and from there, transported to London.

But the Gestapo had become aware of the growing resistance movement.

Our people were arrested all over the country.

The Germans wanted those in charge.

Turn him.

Can't Holvik drive it to Kongsvinger?

Andreas needs to speak to you.

He said…

What was that?

The Germans poured boiling oil up Kristian's rectum,

Andreas's brother.

He burned from the inside.

Hi, Andreas.

My condolences for Kristian.

He was exceptional.

Yes, he was.

What kind of people do that?

Who does that?

Everyone understands if you want out.

Out?

I'm not backing out.

I want to do the hard things. Do you understand?

- Hi. - Hi.

She's here.

Yes.

Hi.

Krogh.

Gudrun Collett.

Krogh?

Isn't it Fjeld?

Krogh, Fjeld. Five pockets. One for each man.

Then you just have to remember.

You fix things?

You could say that.

You need access to several apartments?

Yes.

Why so many?

I never sleep at the same place twice.

Mrs Collett gave me access to a network of apartments.

I simply followed the German logic

because they worked diligently and methodically every day to locate us.

The Germans usually came to take people

between 4:00 and 6:00 am.

That's why I got up every day at 3:30 am.

I was on the street in a few minutes, then I often went to the forest

to get a few more hours of sleep…

before I went back to the city.

We open again tomorrow morning.

Closed.

Thank you, miss.

It smells lovely in here.

May I…

Reidun?

Please.

Get the prisoners.

Next.

Do you know who this is?

Look at him.

Next.

What about him?

I don't know.

Sure?

No.

I said nothing.

Nothing.

I saw many of ours.

I saw Solnørdal.

I don't know if he'll last.

They'll do anything

to find your name.

Okay.

What are you up to these days?

You don't want to know.

But you got a travel permit to Rjukan?

Yeah.

Many people are looking for me.

And there will be more.

And then I can't help but think that they…

that they might come after you.

You've got to do your job.

And we will do ours.

- Hi, Gunnar. - Hey.

For good cooperation between German and Norwegian law enforcement,

it's important, Mr Marthinsen, that we together can stop the terror.

Yes.

Did you get everything he knew?

That's impossible to know.

No, it's not. You just have to make an effort.

They'll sing like canaries.

Excuse me for a moment.

Yes, of course.

Come with me.

It's chilly here, right?

What?

The name of your boss?

Your leader?

His full name.

Gunnar.

Gunnar.

We need his last name.

Sønsteby.

Gunnar Sønsteby?

Yes.

There you go.

That wasn't so hard.

Sorry for the interruption.

Not at all.

But I'd say the wait

was worth it.

GUNNAR SØNSTEBY REWARD: 200 000 KR.

Stop.

Papers, please.

Okay. Go on.

Come on in, Sønsteby.

Fuck no.

Stop!

LEUCHARS, SCOTLAND, 1943

Kjakabråten.

There you are.

- Hi. - It's good to see you.

Good to see you.

It was about time you got here.

I want to go back as soon as possible.

One thing at a time, Gunnar.

Erling Fjeld.

Erling Fjeld.

Yes, they asked to talk to you.

Oh yeah?

I tried to tell them you're trustworthy, but they won't budge.

After a few months of training in Scotland, I went back to Norway.

I now felt ready to take on bigger missions.

But first I was to meet the new leader of the resistance movement,

Jens Christian Hauge.

I got eggs for breakfast.

You'll get a sip of my husband's invention.

Okay.

It helps with everything,

he said.

Except for brain tumours,

it turned out.

My condolences.

Thank you.

We must not bury ourselves in that darkness.

It's important to enjoy oneself sometimes.

Despite what is going on.

When is he coming?

He'll be here.

Do you dance?

No.

One mustn't forget to breathe, even when there's a war.

One thing at a time.

Are you serious?

You won't get any more food from me unless you dance.

Yeah.

Haven't you danced before?

Yes, I have.

- Okay. - Absolutely.

Then you put your right hand on my shoulder.

And the other hand here.

And then I lead.

Now.

I can't dance with a log. You have to breathe.

In through your nose.

Out through your mouth. Again.

Let's try again.

On three.

Right.

Two, light, light, two.

Yes, good.

Don't forget to breathe.

Welcome.

Mr Hauge.

- Coffee? - Yes, please.

- I'm trying to teach Number 24 to breathe. - I see.

Have you turned 25?

Yes.

You might not get much older.

Did you consider that?

I can live with that.

How would you react to torture?

I don't know.

That's the only right answer.

We are going to work together, you and I.

We have an urgent matter.

Quisling and Marthinsen will force Norwegian boys to fight for the Germans,

send them to Russia as cannon fodder.

Tomorrow, 3,000 boys will go to the employment office.

Make sure it looks like burnt-out ruins by sunrise.

Akersgata 55. It's here.

An empty building closed for the night.

And we're blowing up one archive, not a block.

Gregers, about eight, ten kilos?

Yes, ten, maybe?

Max. I talked to Selvaag. You can get guns from him.

Yes.

Tallak, you stake out Akersgata.

We'll meet here at 7:00 pm.

Yes, I have a selection. Look at these.

Akersgata 55. Here you go.

Everything must be checked before we meet at seven.

Yes, yes.

What did I say?

You said that I and… and Max…

Tallak, this won't do.

I smiled at her because we're in a café.

Is it illegal to smile at people now?

Some of us feel things.

Yes, fine, just smile. When you're done smiling,

you're going back to Akersgata.

I… I just came from there.

- The key I gave you? - Yes.

Did you make sure it fits?

It's ready.

18TH MAY 1944

Got the keys?

Nice place.

There are people here.

We proceed.

Hi, can I help you?

What's going on here?

We're working overtime. It will be busy tomorrow morning, so…

- And you? - Been ordered to check the ventilation.

Oh, that's good. The air gets stuffy in here.

- We'll take care of it. - Thank you.

You know what?

When I see young people like you do nothing in times like these,

do you know what I think? I think, "God damn it."

If I were young, I'd have done everything to get rid of these fucking pigs.

I want to beat you up.

I have to be honest.

- We're working, but thanks. - Max.

Yeah, yeah.

I can take a sip.

Oh yeah.

- Thank you. - Of course.

Fuck, what a shitshow.

Yeah.

I'll tell you this. If I had still been able to run,

they would have seen some shit.

In the old days, not a single human could outrun me.

I was tough too.

Right.

In 1905, I ran to and from Drammen in one night.

There was a lady down there, you see. They don't make them like that any more.

Back then, they had more to get hold of.

They drank milk back then, you see.

Hello.

Hello! Hey!

The building will explode soon,

so everyone has to leave fast as fuck.

Me first!

Yes, she was something else.

On 3rd or 4th July, or maybe in June, I remember…

It was back and forth to Drammen in one night.

July 4th, no.

You should leave, buddy.

- What did you say? - Leave!

- Leave! Get lost! - Okay, okay.

And what do you think the newspapers said the next day?

That's right. Nothing.

What the papers say is what it is because those who make them

decide what gets printed and what doesn't.

In times of war, newspapers are only good for kindling.

Yes, this is Marthinsen.

God damn it!

Fucking hell.

Gustav Sønsteby?

- Yes? - Come with us.

Just a moment.

He's been sent to Grini.

They know your name.

They know who you are.

We knew this could happen.

Take these.

Always keep them with you.

Don't let them take you alive.

The Germans know about this apartment.

Okay. I'll leave.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Papers.

The backpack too.

Check it.

Where are you going, Fjeld?

Work.

What work do you do?

Insurance.

What do you think? Insurance?

Have a nice day.

Thank you.

Off you go.

So they didn't recognise you?

Luckily, I'm quite ordinary.

You are many things, but ordinary isn't one of them.

Do you ever think about what you're going to do when this is over?

No.

Why not?

I can't think about that now.

I want to live in a free country. Everything else is secondary.

You should lie low for a while.

I'm saying it would be wise to lie extra low for a while.

Yes, that's probably wise.

What is it?

I have…

met someone.

What does "someone" mean?

A woman?

I know you don't like it, but

it happens.

And I'm in control.

What does "in control" mean?

That…

that I've carefully considered what I have to do if I get caught.

That I know exactly what I have to do.

No one's getting caught.

Kongsberg weapons factory.

Eight hundred and fifty Norwegians are being forced

to make Swedish cannons for the Germans.

The Allies will bomb, regardless of civilian casualties.

Kongsberg city centre will be destroyed.

We have a better idea, but it's risky.

You have to get inside the factory.

The Germans have guards,

but it should be possible to do between two patrols.

17TH SEPTEMBER 1944

- Hi. - Hi.

- Where's the stuff? - What stuff?

- The explosives. - They're inside.

Inside what?

The factory.

I've smuggled in over 70 kilos of explosives.

Who gave that order?

We decided it was a good idea.

We have to wire it inside the factory?

Yes.

The plan was to have it ready before going inside.

Now we'll need at least ten more minutes.

That's as long as a patrol takes.

Yes.

Should we start?

We have the key.

Yes, but we don't want them to know.

Ten minutes.

Five minutes.

Come on! Finish!

Three minutes.

Give me the fuse. We don't have time.

We have to leave now!

I have to light the fuse.

- Come on! - Yes.

Here!

HOKKSUND 20 KM FROM KONGSBERG

Papers, please.

And step out.

Good. Everything is in order.

Drive on.

But it was… They weren't all that impressed, I have to say.

New rule!

From now on, I don't want to see a drop of alcohol

during or before a mission.

After a mission, when everyone is safe,

that's another matter.

Understood?

Everything okay?

They want me in London.

Do you know why?

No.

No carelessness while I'm gone.

We know. We'll be careful.

Yes.

Gunnar?

Wow.

- It's been a while. - You can say that again.

This is Annlaug.

Yeah, hi.

- Gunnar. - Annlaug.

Nice to meet you.

We grew up together.

We went for walks in the mountains before…

Well, before everything.

How is your dad?

He will be fine.

And you? I thought you worked with your father?

Yeah, it became a bit of a mess.

I'm… between jobs, as they say.

Yeah.

That's life.

Difficult times.

Are you travelling?

No, just work stuff.

City life?

Yeah, you could say that.

- It was nice to see you again. - It was.

See you around.

Yes.

Good day.

Your Majesty.

What is your name today?

Erling Fjeld?

Harald Sørensen, electrician from Grefsen.

Your Royal Highness.

Unfortunately, I have to go.

I just wanted to meet you.

- It's an honour. - Same.

Enjoy your lunch.

Shall we?

I took the liberty of ordering for us both.

Thank you, Your Majesty. It looks great.

Bon appétit.

I hear you're achieving great things at home in Oslo.

Thank you. I would like to go back and do more.

You know what?

You need this more than I do, my boy.

Thank you so much.

And, of course, you are… you are going home again.

And you will keep on making as much mischief as you can.

I will never forget that meeting.

It was like the king himself ordered me to get rid of the bastards.

But before I came back home, I was to receive another message.

Tallak and Gregers

had made contact with two German deserters from the Luftwaffe.

People they thought were two German deserters.

13TH NOVEMBER 1944

Gregers… died then and there.

Tallak was shot in the face…

and he was brought to the war hospital.

If I'd been in Oslo, that meeting wouldn't have happened.

It wouldn't have been allowed to happen.

But I wasn't there.

None of us know how we will react to torture.

Will you break

and betray everyone around you?

No one wants to be in that situation if it can be avoided.

And sometimes it can be avoided.

But it comes at a cost.

I've heard that the resistance movement

sometimes had to kill Norwegians?

Yes.

Did you?

Have you experienced war?

No, I haven't,

but my parents have.

Then I'm sure

your parents will understand what I'm talking about.

And to you, all I'd like to say is that I hope you don't have to understand

for as long as you live.

Because in war, the nuances disappear. It becomes either-or.

And suddenly

different rules apply.

During the war, I lost eight of my closest friends

because of the Germans.

But how would you react

if your friends were ratted out?

I would not have liked it.

No.

But did you?

Any other questions?

These are the worst.

They're all Norwegians.

Marthinsen is the most devoted Nazi in the country, but we need more time.

We should start with this one. He's just about as bad.

He's responsible for the death of several of ours.

Ready!

Fire!

I can ask someone else, Gunnar, if this is hard for you.

We can't make the guys do things I wouldn't do myself.

I'll take him out.

Bring someone along.

We need to agree on one thing.

All this stays between you and me,

now and forever.

Who took out who, where, when, will be buried with us. Agreed?

Excuse me?

I saw you come out from number one.

Do you live there?

Yes.

Do you like it there?

Why do you ask?

Would you say this is a nice neighbourhood?

Absolutely.

Good neighbours?

That varies a bit.

Especially these days.

What do you mean?

Do you have an unpleasant neighbour?

You could say that.

How close to him do you live?

Gunnar.

It's him.

I'll take another.

Just play the card.

All in good time.

Smart-arse.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Wait!

Thank you.

Yes.

Have things that happened during the war bothered you later?

No. During the war, I lived… a life as extreme as can be.

My head was never at rest, and I let very little get to me.

If I'd let it, I would have been done for.

I was more thinking about how you guys in the resistance

killed Norwegians.

Yes, we've already been through that.

Yes, but I think your answer was lacking.

It apparently happened…

82 times throughout the war.

I haven't counted, but that's probably right.

We only took the dedicated Nazis.

And those who were about to do something that would keep Norway from being free.

And then there was no mercy?

No.

You can take number two.

Yes.

I would probably switch those.

Astrup and Finn Kaas, I don't know.

It's the youngest that potentially…

So you never considered non-violence?

Non-violence?

Yeah.

Gandhi?

If you've heard of him?

Gandhi didn't fight Nazis.

Non-violence is lovely. By all means.

But it doesn't work

when your country is taken by people who despise humanity.

I think it does.

Then you and I can talk if there's another war

while we are both alive.

We'll talk if there's a war.

Yes.

Let's move on to Captain Linge and his company.

Because in Company Linge, many of us were from Rjukan.

Yes?

But had everyone who was executed done unforgivable things?

Yes.

It sometimes had major consequences.

Like Karl Marthinsen?

When it comes to Marthinsen, it was a simple case.

Yes, we follow Blindernveien down. He usually drives all the way…

Up here like this. We'll hide.

Selvaag, could you help me?

He was responsible for the Holocaust in Norway.

He sent Norwegian Jews to concentration camps.

You could probably call him

the biggest mass murderer in modern Norwegian history.

So he had to be taken out.

8TH FEBRUARY 1945

How's the boy doing? Did he win the ski race?

Thank you for asking, but it's today.

Oh, it's today.

Wish him luck.

Thank you.

Damn cold outside today.

How many lives do you think it was worth sacrificing

just to kill Marthinsen?

When we shot Marthinsen,

the Germans retaliated. That is true.

The retaliations were so strong that we didn't kill and shoot

the next ones on the list.

Over the course of two days,

28 Norwegians were shot at the fortress.

Many of our people among them…

and some random poor souls.

Was it worth it?

That's impossible to answer.

What's freedom worth?

Someone in my family got shot by the resistance.

Someone in my family got shot by the resistance.

I see. That pains me to hear…

Do you know what he'd done?

That's unclear.

Something about him ratting someone out.

Yeah, there was a lot of that

during the war.

I hoped maybe you knew something

about it?

I see.

What was his name?

Erling Solheim.

We've received a letter.

Our people at the post office intercepted this letter to the state police.

The sender offers information that could lead to your capture.

The letter names you and many you know.

He's offering to identify you.

No, that name doesn't ring a bell.

To the chief of the state police, Oslo.

I have recently been in touch with persons

engaged in sabotage and other illegal activities.

I will just have to… move on. Try to…

But thank you for your questions.

And I've heard and read so much about the beastly acts

committed by the so-called Homefront.

Solheim must disappear before he tries to contact the Gestapo again.

Will you do it?

Yes.

I think freedom is worth almost everything.

That's why war becomes so relentlessly hard

that the fronts become impossible to overcome.

Because it's freedom

or death.

I would prefer not to say too much in writing,

but I can mention that I have information about Sønsteby,

Haugland, and Helberg that I know you are interested in.

I also do not want to get the police involved, as they are not trustworthy.

If you could send me a travel permit to Oslo,

I would come immediately.

Sincerely, Erling Solheim.

Could I speak to you two?

Oh fucking hell!

From Rjukan.

Do you know him?

Use a state police car.

Travel in civilian clothing. Here's your proof of service.

Solheim is currently unemployed. He lives here.

Sam Eydes Street.

Thank him for the letter. Ask him to come to Oslo for questioning.

Tell him the state police is grateful for his effort,

and the reward of 200,000 is waiting in Oslo.

200,000?

Must be why he does it.

You take him out of town…

then you shoot him.

Into the reception.

Into the reception. Quiet!

Get out!

Erling Solheim?

Alarm!

Out! Come on, get out!

Come on!

Out!

Out!

I don't know about you, but I need a piss.

27TH FEBRUARY 1945

Did he realise…

No.

Right.

We are free! Peace is here!

A joyful Norway has celebrated its reborn freedom

during these hectic days.

In this dawning of spring we rejoice, with all the longing and hope

every Norwegian woman and man has carried in their heart.

Justice is served.

The despicable handful of traitors

who stabbed their fellow citizens in the back…

Mr Quisling, this is Halvor Rivrud.

He was imprisoned in Dachau and Mauthausen.

I think you should listen to him.

I don't want one word from you.

- Oh, how nice. - Yes, very.

Hi.

Could you sign this for me?

Yes, of course.

With pleasure.

My, oh my…

So you're interested in this?

Yes.

Yes.

I was hoping you knew something about my great-grandfather's brother.

No, unfortunately, I…

So much was happening during that time, so…

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

I understand.

Thanks anyway, though.

Thank you.

I have five drawers in my mind.

The three top drawers, I open all the time.

The fourth, far less often.

I closed the bottom drawer on 8th May 1945,

and haven't opened it since.

That's how I managed all these years.

It went well for a surprising number of us.

COMPANY LINGE REUNION

But for some, it was too much.

Andreas started drinking on liberation day.

Everybody knew who he was.

No bar in Oslo would take his money.

He went from bar to bar for 11 years.

Andreas shot himself in 1956.

I suspected that he wasn't doing well,

but back then, I didn't understand how bad it was.

It has bothered me for 50 years.

The first time I met Gunnar…

- It was in 1998. Right, Gunnar? - Yes.

Gunnar Sønsteby was never arrested by the Germans.

He conducted more than 20 sabotage missions during the war.

He is the most decorated Norwegian citizen

and the only one to receive the War Cross with three swords.

Gunnar married his beloved Anne-Karin in 1953.

Despite his failing health, he engaged in extensive lecturing

until shortly before his death.

He spent 70 years of his life

helping those who struggled with post-war effects.

When he was 94, Gunnar took a taxi to Diakonhjemmet in Oslo

and laid down in a bed. He had done what he set out to do.

Norway's Home Front Museum has a copy of the letter Erling Solheim sent Stapo.

Gunnar Sønsteby always made it clear that other members of the Solheim family

were anti-Nazi and known to be "good Norwegians".

Subtitles translated by: Marte Fagervik