Birger Eriksen.
Yes...
Here we saw pictures from the sinking of the German warship Blücher.
Which is one of the most talked about events from the war in Norway.
It was sunk by Oscarsborg fortress, under the
leadership of Colonel Eriksen, who we have with us here today.
May I ask why I have been summoned to this commission?
Our task is to investigate military conditions from 1940.
I have written many reports about this.
Yes, and we have read them.
But we need more information for the official presentation.
We see that in this case, Eriksen, then there are quite a few conflicting reports.
-You don't believe my reports? -We don't believe anything in this room, Eriksen.
They can perhaps start by telling about
the condition at Oscarsborg, and what
happened there, in April six years ago?
As reported by British Broadcasting this morning, a message that they issued at
08, British and French warships laid three minefields in Norwegian waters last night.
Commandant's office, Oscarsborg.
Yes, wait a minute.
Father.
The naval management in Horten, Smith-Johannsen.
-It's Eriksen. -Yes, good day, Colonel.
Admiral Smith-Johannsen here.
We are constantly receiving reports of German
and British ships settling within our maritime borders.
I have decided to keep the preparedness
level at "High alert" for the time being.
Otherwise, there is nothing new to report.
Will it be relevant to publish mines?
No, not for you deep in the fjord.
It may be relevant for fortifications in the outer Oslofjord.
But you in the reserve fortresses do not need to take any measures.
No...
It has been received, thank you.
Was there anything new?
No, the same level of preparedness is maintained.
While you're here, will you sign it?
Father?
I need your signature here, so I get it returned.
And then this one came.
Refusal?
They will never agree to a single improvement.
We just have to keep searching.
How many years do you think it will take?
Then you're a pensioner anyway.
As you should have been a long time ago.
Do you call your father old?
Yes.
I do.
And in bad shape.
I'm just saying I can't wait for you to finish all this soon.
-Anything new? -No. The same level of preparedness is maintained.
-Did you find the error? -Yes, it was the locking bolt on cannon no. 3.
-They were right. -Almost eaten up by rust.
We have spent the whole day getting it to slide into the groove.
Well. They can only continue to lubricate, Bonsak.
Yes, I told Sødem here that a hell of a lot of lubricating oil is needed.
I doubt this Labor state of ours can afford it.
-Is the battle light in Drøbak in place now? -That should be it.
Should it be?
During the week I have been here, Isn't that all I've been introduced to.
But... tonight I will have to travel over and investigate.
Have you thought about what to do next?
When you retire, I mean.
Are you moving north?
-Sorry if it got too personal. -We are moving in a southerly direction.
Yes?
-Here, to Drøbak. -Yes, right?
-Yes, we have got a house in Seimbakken. -Yes.
Drøbak is a nice place to live. We also have an excellent bakery.
Yes, it is rather doubtful that you will see me at the bakery.
Lucie has cooked, there's... more than enough for one more.
No thanks, I have to get going.
How many men do you have here now?
Two of the boys have a cold and were sent home by the doctor.
So as of today we are 27.
Was it today that we were supposed to get an answer to the application to build a cover room here?
Yes.
The answer is the same as before.
Refusal.
Yes... Is something happening up here, then we have our windbreakers.
Yes. I am bitterly aware of this, Enger, but...
I have tried everything. I have submitted application after application.
Rejection only. Refusal of all improvements. Both here and on the main battery.
Is the commander worried about what is in the newspaper?
Do you think something will happen?
So yes.
Good boy, Peik.
Mother called and said she's staying a few extra days at the farm.
Yes.
Now the room out there is ready, and then I stood thinking about these.
Do you want these? Textbook of military strategy. You don't need them now that...
There is no need to talk about it now. It's a long time until we move.
At your pace it won't be long.
Hello.
You didn't give him sausage, now again?
No.
He gets sick to his stomach from salty food, and you know that.
Borghild?
-Borghild? -What?
Come on.
Do you remember that?
You had willpower.
Stubborn.
Wondering who I got it from.
I remember being really happy right here.
That's when we played cards, wasn't it?
I remember, I won every time.
Didn't understand you just let me win.
Then I remember being very proud because…
It's probably mother, she said she would call.
-Yes, Eriksen. -It's Unneberg.
We have received new information.
A large German naval force has been observed off Denmark heading north.
When did this message come in?
It was sent to the main command a few hours ago.
-A few hours ago? -Yes. But we got it in just now.
-Have they said anything else? -The main command is worried.
They fear skirmishes between German and British ships in Norwegian waters.
If this escalates, then we must use force to assert our sovereignty.
Just...
Unneberg, I want to have a meeting with all the commanders, right away.
It has been received.
What is it?
The contact center.
Yes. Continue.
Yes. Repeat the last one?
It has been received.
-Thanks. - Yes, Unneberg? -It is not only the Germans who are out.
The English have four cruisers and nine destroyers in the
Skagerrak with orders to attack a northbound German fleet.
Have we received any clear orders on how to deal with this?
No.
If English or German ships enter Norwegian waters,
surely the government must react?
Not necessarily. Nygaardsvold will do everything to prevent war in Norway.
They must damn well claim Norwegian neutrality!
Not if it means conflict with the English.
In any case, we must be prepared.
Has anyone seen Sødem?
-Colonel! -No, we haven't caught him.
An emergency flare has been launched from one of our vessels in the outer Oslofjord.
-What kind of flare? -Red.
-Captain. -Yes. Thanks.
The marine management in Horten also reports that vessels are approaching, at Rauøy.
-What kind of ship? -It doesn't say anything about that.
-No nationality either? -No. But the messages have few details.
There may be peaceful merchant ships heading north.
-Are they observed within the frontal barrier? -Yes.
Then they have broken the frontal barrier and entered our war port.
-When is the observation from? -At 23.46, it's been four minutes.
Colonel! The commander at Rauøy.
Put it on speaker, line two.
-Yes, it's Eriksen. -Yes.
We just observed an alien ship out here.
It has penetrated past the barrier line.
Warship?
I don't know, it's so dense fog here that we can hardly see anything.
-But it sounded very difficult. -Wasn't the barrier line mined?
No, we were ordered to wait. The fjord was open.
But... we fired warning shots at the vessel.
And it didn't stop?
It just glided past in the fog like a ghost ship, not responding to the fire.
They have entered the Oslo Fjord and may be heading towards you.
-Nationality? -No, I have no idea.
So no flags, so nothing.
Did you see anything else?
We think there might be another ship.
We will report again if we observe anything more.
Unneberg, get hold of Smith-Johannsen or someone else in the management.
It could be the British laying mines.
It is strange that a British ship does not make itself known.
If they sail up the fjord, towards us, they
will pass the main base in Horten in an hour.
If they get past Horten, they pass the observation post at Filtvet.
From there it takes 20 minutes until they are here.
-Do you think we will get a mobilization order? -We have to prepare for it.
-And we must prepare to lay mines. -We cannot know if this is a warship.
Colonel. Smith-Johannsen in Horten.
Line 1, Colonel.
-Should everyone hear? -Yes.
-Speaker. -Eriksen.
Admiral Smith-Johannsen here.
Yes. How do we relate to this alien ship?
No change in standing orders for the time being.
We are expecting a decision from the government shortly.
-Has a mobilization notice been sent out? -No.
-Should mines be laid out? -No.
But this is a violation of neutrality, a very serious situation.
We must be very careful.
We will not become part of this war as a result of poorly thought out decisions.
-What kind of order has been given then? -That we should wait.
-Await? -Yes, for now.
Do they at least know the nationality or type of ship?
No.
We think there may have been a battle between English and German ships off the coast,
and that the ship or ships we receive information about belong to the losing party
and seek refuge in the Oslo Fjord.
Ships from belligerent nations must make themselves known if they breach the frontal blockade.
-I know the neutrality protection, Eriksen. -Yes, yes.
The purpose is to keep Norway out of the war.
Their mission is to keep the fort warm and the head cool.
-Yeah. -No hasty decisions now.
-Otherwise, there is nothing new to report. -Received.
Shouldn't mines be posted?
So management doesn't consider the ship a threat?
If the warship is heading towards us, then we'll have them here in two hours at the latest.
From us and to Oslo...
...is it half an hour.
I want the following message to go out
to all parts of the fortress: Ready for battle.
-I repeat: Ready for battle. Berntsen. -Bonsak.
Till Sødem is back, are you responsible for the main battery.
High. Up to the orograph. Fields. Get across the fjord.
Report as soon as the Kopås battery is ready. Get help from the student commanders.
Berntsen. Berntsen!
Call Anderssen and get him to the torpedo battery.
And Unneberg: call the police chief in Drøbak.
Drøbak must be blacked out and the civilians evacuated.
Colonel! What about the civilians in the castle?
The castle must not be evacuated. Let them sleep.
Colonel!
-What will our men say, when their families... -They can't run around here.
I can't have that chaos in the castle now.
-Report when you hear something new. -Colonel.
Alarm! Meet at the cannon as soon as possible!
This is not an exercise!
Lineup!
Sergeant Rækken leads the preparation of the cannon.
Sergeant Strøm, Private Jarskog, Jacobsen, Eliasen, down in the magazine.
-Get started! -Yes, lieutenant!
Bonsack!
-Are all trained gunners here now? -Yes.
I also want cannon two possessed.
We hardly have enough people for one.
Without two cannons, we have no chance if something were to happen.
Listen. You must divide the trained strength in half. Then you fill up with non-combatants.
-Non-combatant? -Yes.
You can take ordinances, liaison officers, chefs, anyone.
With all due respect, Colonel...
You're talking about people who have barely seen a cannon.
We have no choice.
You have to train them to become artillerymen.
And you must do it now.
-Get started. -Colonel.
Sergeant Power! There will be a change in the plan.
Take Henriksen with you...
-Have you heard anything new? -No.
Anderssen.
-Is the battery ready? -Soon.
The frames are set to vertical projections. 2.5 meter depth. Distance, 425 metres.
Well.
-Do we know anything more about the ships? -No new information has been received.
We get word of alien warships, but we don't get mobilization orders...
Colonel. Captain. We have controlled pressure.
Good, Bexrud.
-Are the warheads presented? -Not yet.
Do it.
Should they be attached as well?
-Yes. -On all of them?
-Yes. - Do it, Bexrud. -Received.
Citizens!
We cannot fire warning shots with torpedoes.
If we attack a foreign ship with sharp, Are we then neutral or the attacking party?
Captain! Ready with a torpedo in the first frame!
Get started.
I just want us to be sure that what we are preparing now is the right thing.
Listen, Andreas.
If a warship comes all the way up here, aren't they violating our neutrality?
Aren't they then the attacking party?
But it can't be an attack? No one has reported any hostile action.
No one has shot at us.
There is no mobilization order or declaration of war.
We are not at war.
Norway has not been at war for over 120 years!
No.
-Edema! -Colonel!
-Where have you been? -On the mainland and inspected, as agreed.
-I have given the order "ready for battle". -Match?
-Foreign ships have been observed in the fjord. -I occupy the battery.
Bonsak occupied it at midnight.
And I have ordered the fortress's non-combatants to duty at the guns.
-Non-combatants to the cannons? -Yes, then go out and help Bonsak.
I'll be out soon, and I'll take the lead myself if anything should happen.
But the colonel is responsible for all aspects of the fortress.
The colonel's place is not out on an open cannon position.
But now it is.
Are there warships out in the fjord?
It takes a lot for them to get all the way here. They have to get past the main base first.
They will be stopped there.
Why have you given the order to be ready for battle then?
Because we must be prepared.
Right.
I answer one of the telephones at the contact centre.
No.
What I need from you now…
...is that you go home, and that you look after Peik.
Can you do it?
Here. Let me.
Sleep fully clothed last night.
Go home now.
Be careful.
The order was to wait, but after midnight there were no new orders.
How did you interpret that?
I guess I interpreted that to mean that the authorities wanted to be neutral.
Yes, Eriksen, it will only be a short moment.
Captain Enger and Captain Sødem, Thank you for taking the time to come.
Since this case has a number of conflicting reports,
we also wanted to hear these gentlemen's explanations.
We start with the main battery. Sødem, You were battery commander there.
Colonel Eriksen just told me that he himself took the lead.
What do you think about it?
The commander's place is certainly not in such an exposed place.
It was unregulated and very strange.
He should never have been out there with us that night.
Is it the case that the colonel doubted Sødem here?
He had only been at the fortress for a week.
Like so many other Norwegian officers, he lacked practical training.
I wanted to make sure any shots were well aimed.
But you agree that it is not regulated?
There was quite a lot that could not be so regulated that night.
Fire!
Down here, collection.
This is still going really slow, to put it bluntly.
It has to go much faster from the time the ammunition
cart is on top of the crane until it is attached to the rear part.
The barrel must be lowered 3.5 degrees immediately. This is very important!
Listen here.
Half of them have never seen a cannon fired before.
I can promise you that something bloody is going to happen.
If we have to shoot tonight, stay in designated spots, don't panic.
There will be enormous pressure, so before it hits, everyone has to get on their toes.
If the ships turn out to be hostile, then it's up to us to stop them!
-Is that understood? -Yes, lieutenant.
-Is that understood? -Yes, lieutenant!
Up again. We'll do it again.
Bonsack.
-How's it going? -No, it's still too slow.
We have been at it for over two hours. Have we still not heard anything?
The last observation was over three hours ago, here.
If they had sailed towards us, they had passed Horten long ago.
Then we should have seen them at least an hour ago, and we haven't.
Colonel? Horten on line 1.
Berntsen, let it go out.
-Yes, it's Eriksen. -Admiral Smith-Johannsen here.
It got busy for a while, Eriksen.
But now things are calming down.
I have spoken to Major Ferden at the outer Oslofjord fortification.
-He agrees with me. -Agree with what?
That the situation was not as critical as first thought.
The ships were probably on the run from a naval battle.
They sought refuge, quite simply.
-Where are they now? -Out of the fjord, we assume.
It has been many hours since the last observation. Otherwise, there is nothing new.
It has been received, thank you.
Smith-Johannsen believes that the danger is over?
Yes, thank you.
Let's hope he's right.
We could end up in war with a country we sympathize with.
Which ship it was, we will probably never know.
Colonel, coffee?
But maybe it's just as well for everyone.
It could have been anything. English, German, French.
-Norwegian. -Yes, anything is possible.
Shall we let the crew dismount from the guns?
Let half of them have a break, and then we roll into the night.
Colonel!
Message from the observation post at Filtvet. They have observed a warship.
Nationality?
We don't know.
Sødem, get everyone in place and get ready to fire.
How did they get all the way to Filtvet? We'll see them soon.
Could it be the same ship Rauøy observed at midnight?
-It may have been quiet in the fog... -Commander?
New message from Filtvet.
It's not just one warship, it's five.
They have three heavily armed cruisers. They just passed.
How did five warships get past the main base?
-Are the cannons loaded with sharp? -No.
You do not load a cannon until the vessel type and ammunition have been determined.
-Should warning shots be fired? -No, it must be shot with sharp.
-345 kilos of high-explosive grenades, get started! -Yes, well.
Hey, get up to the orograph. Report as soon as you see something.
-How are the non-combatants doing? -Hope they got the most important thing.
We miss, the whole boat harbor in Drøbak goes up in the air.
Granola!
What orders have we received?
Commander! From the torpedo battery.
Captain Anderssen wants a categorical order.
-Should it be shot? -Tell Anderssen that yes, it will be shot.
Without direct orders, we must follow the neutrality instruction.
-According to it, we must fire warning shots. -A warning shot has been fired tonight.
-From Rauøy. -But that still doesn't apply.
At least not here!
A warning shot from a fort does not apply over the entire Oslofjord forever!
Rauøy fired three hours ago, and it was against one ship, not five!
It was 40 km further out into the fjord! We don't know if they are the same ships!
Will that ship pass here, then they will be in Oslo in half an hour.
No one else can stop them.
This is unregulated. The Commander-in-Chief must be contacted before we fire sharply!
Sure as hell it should be shot with sharp!
Listen, Sødem.
I know the rules.
But now is not the time to hesitate.
Is that understood?
Bring in!
Cannon 1, fully loaded!
Cannon 2, fully loaded!
Do you see anything?
No.
Do you hear?
Prepare to fire.
Ready to fire!
Put on!
Colonel! Can't find distance!
Where is the target located?
I repeat, what is distance to target?
Hey, give us the correct distance.
Can't see the distance markers in the fog!
I see almost nothing.
Where is the target located?
-High! -The target cannot be seen from the cannon!
Distance 1800 metres.
No, that's too far.
-Distance: 1400 metres. -Do you take it at face value?
It is located within Storskjær. The distance is 1400 metres.
Setting at 1400 meters!
1400 meters!
Do you see nationality?
No.
There are several ships behind.
They sail in peace formation.
There are a lot of people on board!
We are ready to fire!
Fire can be opened.
Cannon one!
Fire!
Cannon two!
Fire!
Down, down, down!
Cannon one!
Fire!
Clear!
-Cannon one! -Fire!
It's just a scratch, pull yourself together!
-Bonsack! Get him to the infirmary. -Current. The hospital.
And get the cannons ready. There are several ships in the fjord.
-Unneberg. -Get the Torpedo Battery.
Yes.
-Yes, Andersen. -An incoming ship.
-Repeat. -An incoming ship.
-Do you know what nationality? -No.
You will soon have it in sight, prepare to fire.
-Ready to fire! -Yes, Captain!
Ready to fire!
Safety bolts out!
Vessel sighted!
Goal in sight! Torpedo one!
-Ready torpedo two! -Yes, Captain!
Safety bolts, out!
Target in sight!
Torpedo two!
The other ships back out of the fjord.
We are not ready to fire, but we are working on the matter.
We do not fire at ships that are fleeing.
We have marked our neutrality. The fortress has solved its task.
It has been received.
Unneberg. Has there been any declaration of war?
No.
-Has the mobilization order been sent out? -No.
-What about nationality...? -No.
The ship fired at the castle.
But when they started shooting, they also shot at Drøbak.
Several houses are apparently on fire.
Our house is on fire.
We lose everything.
-What about Lucie and the children? -No, they...
They managed to evacuate.
I think. I hope so.
Is Borghild safe?
Several houses here on the island were probably also hit.
Borghild?
Borghild!
-Are you hurt? -No, I did as you said.
I heard the cannons, so I had to go out and look.
And then I open the door. I tried to stop him!
But he was just so fast, and now…
I have easy and easy. I can't find him. He must be terrified!
-You had one task. -Yes, I...
-You were supposed to be in the house. -Sorry, father! I have easy and easy.
I have to be able to trust you. Do you understand that?
We must help them.
Father!
We can't just stand by and watch. We must help them!
Borghild...
They shout in German.
They are German soldiers.
Yes, it was the German warship Blücher that went down.
500 German soldiers lost their lives.
It postponed the occupation of Oslo by several hours. The king and
government managed to escape, and this is what they got War cross with sword for.
However, there are a number of other things we want to discuss, Eriksen.
It was...
...more ships.
Two shots from the main battery.
Eriksen, why... didn't you shoot more?
More?
There were several ships. Why didn't you shoot them?
I didn't want to shoot at fleeing ships.
Precisely. That leads us to the main question, namely the capitulation of the fortress.
We see that there is some conflicting information in the various reports.
In this commission, we are looking at whether there
may be talk of a premature surrender of the fortress.
Yes, I understand that, but...
If anyone has new information.
Great if you get in touch.
We have tried the defense leadership and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but we cannot get in touch.
Colonel!
The High Command in Oslo. Major General Hvinden Haug.
Put it on line 1.
Should everyone hear?
-Yes. -Speaker.
Yes?
I hear Oscarsborg has sunk a German battleship. Well done.
What is the situation now?
The king and government have left Oslo.
So have the military authorities.
The Germans have attacked Norway in several places.
Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and Kristian sand.
They are all under German control.
Norway is at war.
The capital will probably soon be taken as well.
German soldiers are moving in now. They landed a little while ago at Fornebu.
-Uh... -Yes, Eriksen?
I don't understand. Weren't the runways blocked off?
No.
-Has the mobilization order been sent out? -Yes.
When can we expect troops to be mobilized?
It may take a few days.
A few days?
It has been decided that the notice will be sent out by letter.
By letter.
Yes, so...
We must expect that it will take some time before troops are mobilized.
Then I want to know what we should do now. What orders have been given?
English ships can come to our aid at any moment.
Current orders are that the fortresses are to be held for as long as possible.
What does that mean?
You... must do the best you can.
Then I need to have cover forces that can
protect the fortress against attack from land.
Yes, but it is not possible.
Is it impossible?
Eriksen...
Hold the fort as long as you can.
Sweetness.
Distribute rifles to all the recruits on the island. Get Bonsak to give them a crash course.
Yes.
Father? Father?
-What? -It's Kopås.
-Yes. -Yes, it's Enger.
We must expect German forces to attack from the land side, so secure all sentries.
But we hear that all the big cities have been taken. What is the order from management?
It is to hold the fortress as long as possible. The fight is not over.
Yes. Received.
Hansen. Holmbo.
Henriksen.
Rear end piece, front end piece.
If there's going to be a shot, protection is here.
Charging port. The rear end piece, the breech forward.
Charging port. Warm up. Rear end piece, front end piece.
If there is to be a shot, the protection is here.
Ammunition is distributed to you in the depot.
Department, right!
Listen up!
We are under attack!
Norway is at war.
But the battle is not over.
We have orders to hold the fortress as long as possible.
We must be prepared for German forces to come
from the land side and attack the island from there.
We must therefore spread out with rifles, entrench
ourselves and be ready to defend the castle...
Faster! Come on!
Stay here!
Pull in to the wall!
Everyone to the tunnel magazine! Now!
-Run! -Come on!
Fast pace!
Come on!
Women and children first!
Hold on. Women and children first.
Inwards. Pull down, everyone!
Further down.
Pull in!
There are many people going in. Pull in!
-Keep calm and move inward. -There are a lot of people going in. Come on again.
Borghild! Borghild, come.
Pull further in, further in! Spread yourselves! You must stand apart!
Spread yourselves!
-Inward, further in, spread us! -Further in.
Colonel! We can't get in touch with anyone, all lines are broken!
We have to get out. Yes, we must raise the white flag!
They have caught us. We can't just sit here and wait to die!
-You can't go out there now. -Yes, we have to go out! We are trapped.
-Be quiet. -They can come at any time.
You scare the others.
-We must raise the white flag! -Get yourself together!
Egil? Do you have a boyfriend?
-Huh? -Do you have a boyfriend?
-Yes? -Yes.
Look at me.
-Does it hurt, doesn't it? -Huh?
Oh yes. No, it's going well. I just...
"I just" ...?
I don't quite understand what's going on.
Is it that dangerous, then?
No one here understands what is going on.
Yes. At least 500 bombs are said to have fallen on Oscarsborg.
And there were also civilians.
They were trapped in the tunnels with you, Eriksen?
-Yes. -Eriksen.
Your daughter was also present that day?
Was she present?
Yes.
The fact that she was there...
Did it affect your judgement? Considering the decisions that were later taken,
and which led to the fortress' capitulation?
No direct hits.
No.
We get to gather the crew.
We will hold the fortress as long as possible.
Colonel.
-It will take a long time to prepare the cannons. -No, then.
Just remove the sand and soil and they will work.
The men are scattered all over the island. I don't think morale is at its peak right now.
-Take a look at canon one. -Received.
Are you doing well? Are you doing well?
Where is it fired from?
-Where is it fired from? -There are new warships...
The torpedo battery.
The torpedo battery!
The lines are broken.
Eriksen. Are you doing well?
Eriksen.
That ship that now shot at the fortress, had settled far out in the
fjord and aimed all the cannons at you. That ship was the Lützow.
So one of the ships that came behind Blücher, and who pulled away.
-Or escape. -Eriksen.
Did you return fire to Lützow?
We had no opportunity to do that.
Why not?
We had no opportunity to do that.
So what do you think is the reason why the fortress had to capitulate?
-Anderssen! -Yes.
What is the condition here now?
No one injured.
-Is the battery intact? -Yes, yes.
-What about Kopås, is it intact? -We don't know that. All lines are broken.
Get a signal lamp.
There is a new ship in the fjord. We must prepare for battle.
The torpedo battery is intact, we need to get the main battery operational.
Colonel.
The bombers could come back at any time.
And we don't know if we can get the main battery working.
-Most of them have been standing there all night. -Kopås answers.
Well. Are they battle ready?
Kopås reports: A large warship of 8,000 metres.
Two smaller vessels heading inwards.
Kopås are ready for shelling.
My God. You can't let them shoot now.
If all fire is directed at Kopås, they will be blown to hell, all of them.
They are going to bomb the island into a pile of rubble.
You are the commander, you must make sure to stop the madness.
Kopås should not shoot now. They must wait for us.
Send the following message to Kopås: "Don't shoot, wait for further orders."
I repeat: "Don't shoot, wait for further orders."
We need to get the main battery up and running, so we can shoot from both sides of the fjord.
But should we continue the fight?
Our order is to hold the fortress as long as possible.
-Kopås has received the message. -A council of war should be called.
Then you will hear what the officers think.
Most have their family here. Because you didn't want to evacuate them.
Under cover! Run!
Colonel! In here.
We are bombarded constantly!
-It's over! -The roof will soon collapse on our heads!
It's just an option, Birger.
Capitulation!
Kopås thus received the message: "Do not fire until further orders"?
Yes...
But then we heard no more.
How did you choose to interpret it?
As if they had capitulated.
-We didn't have that. -No, Eriksen.
What do you think is the reason why you had to surrender the fortress?
What's going on up there?
The Kopås and Drøbak side have been taken.
The Germans...
...will negotiate capitulation.
Otherwise...
Otherwise, they will initiate bombing of...
...Drøbak...
...and Oslo.
What do we answer?
Send message back: "We are ready for negotiation."
German soldiers entered the Kopås battery without a single shot being fired.
But I never meant that you should not resist.
How many died at Oscarsborg, Eriksen?
Nobody died.
The order was to hold the fortress as long as possible.
They, Eriksen, was the supreme leader of Oscarsborg?
What do you mean, Eriksen? What was the reason why the fortress had to capitulate?
That Kopås was taken.
That's not true.
The Germans could turn the cannons towards the castle.
-We had no choice. -That's not true.
"Do not fire until further orders" was the reason for capitulation.
The reason why we had to give up Kopås.
Eriksen had decided to surrender the fortress.
That was not what the order meant.
When the lines of the commander are broken, the battery commander must make his own decisions.
Yes, then I think the commission has heard what it needs to hear for today.
And we'll come back with a final conclusion.
Then all that remains is to thank for...
I don't know if the commission has asked itself the question of what would
have happened if we had been prepared on the night of the ninth of April?
What do they mean, Eriksen?
If all the fortresses were fully mobilized and equipped, then no ship could pass.
If all airports were blocked off, so no planes could land?
Then the German assault had failed, if it had come at all.
I assume that it is the government that has set up this commission.
If you are wondering who is responsible for the capitulation at Oscarsborg, it is the
government from 1940. They are the ones who should be sitting here and being examined.
They are the ones who should answer why defense was not prioritized.
Despite the world situation and countless warnings.
I myself have written application after application for improvements at Oscarsborg.
I have been refused. Rejection of all applications!
To take the focus away from the failed
defense policy and everyone who did
nothing, you'd rather go after us officers...
...who actually acted.
We did our best.
The commission is of the firm opinion that
Enger and Sødem's explanations are correct.
Eriksen's message "Do not fire until further
"orders" led to Kopås being taken by the enemy.
Eriksen's presentation cannot therefore be correct.
Texts: Johannes E. Refsdal Nortext