The Heavy Water War

In Norwegian with English subtitles. April, 1940. Germany invades Norway and orders a doubling of production at the heavy water plant in Rjukan. Norwegian professor and reserve officer Leif Tronstad escapes to England to warn the Allies about what he believes is an effort to build a German atomic bomb.

In Norwegian with English subtitles. Tronstad establishes contact with the War Ministry and a plan to destroy the Hydro facilities is drawn up. In Rjukan, new managing director Erik Henriksen is confronted with sabotage of the heavy water facility. Operation Freshman takes off with 34 British commandos, but is hit by a severe storm.

In Norwegian with English subtitles. The Americans insist on bombing the heavy water factory, but Tronstad persuades the Allies to send in a team of Norwegians instead. In Germany, Nobel Prize winner Werner Heisenberg promises a breakthrough in the development of a Nazi atomic bomb.

In Norwegian with English subtitles. In Berlin, Werner Heisenberg is appointed director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute. The Gunnerside team succeeds in blowing up the Hydro factory, but the Germans mount a major search for the saboteurs and order an immediate rebuilding of the heavy water facilities.

In Norwegian with English subtitles. The Americans launch a bombing raid on Rjukan against Tronstad's objections, but the only result is heavy civilian casualties. The Germans decide to move the entire heavy water facility to Germany, and the Allies plan a strike at the weakest link along the route.

In Norwegian with English subtitles. The Gunnerside team is ordered to sink the ferry carrying the heavy water facilities midway across the lake from Rjukan. Werner Heisenberg, knowing the heavy water is on its way, needs only 500 additional liters to succeed with the German atomic bomb.