Blucher (2025)

[bunniefuu]

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

Birger Eriksen.

Right ...

We just saw photos from

the sinking of the German cruiser Blcher.

One of the most talked about

events of the w*r in Norway.

It was sunk by Oscarsborg Fortress

under the command of Colonel Eriksen,

who has joined us today.

May I ask why I've been

summoned by this Commission?

Our task is to investigate

military matters from 1940.

I've written

a number of reports on the issue.

Which we have read.

But we need more information

for the official report.

We register that there are

conflicting reports from this event.

-You don't believe my reports?

-We don't believe anything, Eriksen.

Maybe you can start by describing

the situation at Oscarsborg and the events

that took place there April six years ago?

As reported by the BBC

in a statement broadcast at 8 a.m.,

British and French warships deployed

mines in Norwegian waters last night.

The Foreign Secretary expounded

on the French-British minelaying activity.

SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF

NORWEGIAN NEUTRALITY

Commander's office, Oscarsborg.

Yes, one moment.

Father.

It's Horten naval command, Smith-Johannsen.

-This is Eriksen.

-Good day, Colonel.

This is Admiral Smith-Johannsen.

We have multiple reports of

German and British ships in our waters.

I have decided to keep the alert level at

"heightened vigilance" until further notice.

Nothing further to report.

Are we going to lay mines?

No, not for you, not that far up the fjord.

We might do it further out in the Oslofjord.

But there's no need to take any measures

at the reserve fortresses.

I see ...

Roger that. Thank you.

Any news?

We maintain current alert levels.

Can you sign this while I've got you here?

Father?

You need to sign this, so I can return it.

And this arrived.

Another rejection?

They'll never agree to any upgrades.

We'll just keep applying.

How many years will

that take, do you think?

You will be retired by then, anyway.

A thing long overdue.

Are you calling your father old?

Yes.

I do.

And out of shape.

I just look forward to

when you're done with all this.

-Any news?

-No. Alert level maintained.

-Did you fix the issue?

-Yes. It was the lock on cannon 3.

You were right. Almost rusted through.

We've spent all day

getting it to move smoothly.

Good. Keep slathering it on, Bonsak.

I told Sdem here that we need

a sh*t ton of lubricating oil.

But I very much doubt this

Labour government will spare the funds.

-Is the Drbak searchlight operational?

-So I've been told.

So you've "been told"?

In the week I've been here,

I haven't got around to everything yet.

But I'll go in person tonight to verify.

DRBAK, MAINLAND

What are your plans going forward?

Once you retire, I mean.

Are you moving up north?

-I didn't mean to intrude.

-We're moving down south.

Oh yes?

-Here, to Drbak.

-You don't say?

-We've found a house in Seimbakken.

-I see.

Drbak is a fine place to live.

We've got a great bakery.

I doubt you will run into me at the bakery.

Lucie has made food.

There's enough for one more.

Thank you, but I need to get going.

KOPSMAINLAND

How many men do you have?

Two of the boys were sent home with a cold.

So presently, we're twenty-seven.

Weren't we supposed to get

a reply today to our request

to build a shelter here?

Yes.

The answer is the same.

Request denied.

Well, if anything happens,

at least we've got our windbreakers.

I'm bitterly aware of this, Engen,

but I've tried everything.

Request after request.

All denied.

Both here and at the main battery.

Is the Commander

worried about the headlines?

Do you think something could happen?

COMMANDER'S RESIDENCE, OSCARSBORG

Here you go.

Good boy, Peik.

Mother called. She's staying

at the farm a few more days.

I see.

I'm done with this room,

but I was wondering about these.

Do you want these? Military textbooks?

You won't need those ...

We don't need to do this now.

The move still a long way away.

Not at your speed.

Hello!

Hello.

Did you give him sausages again?

No.

Savoury food upsets his stomach

You know that.

Borghild?

-Borghild?

-What?

Come here.

Do your remember this?

You were determined.

Stubborn.

I wonder who I got that from.

I remember being thrilled here.

We were playing cards, right?

I remember. I won every time.

I didn't realise you let me win.

And I was so proud, because ...

Mother said she'd call.

-Eriksen.

- This is Unneberg.

We have new intelligence.

There is a large German naval force

heading north from Denmark.

When did you receive this?

HQ received it a few hours ago.

-Hours ago?

-Yes. But we were just informed now.

-Did they say anything else?

-They're concerned.

They fear a clash between German

and British ships in Norwegian waters.

If this escalates, we'll have to

use force to assert our sovereignty.

Right.

Unneberg, call an officer's meeting.

Right away.

Roger that.

What is it?

Signal Corps.

Yes.

Yes. Repeat that?

Roger that. Thank you.

-Yes, Unneberg?

-It's not just the Germans out there.

The Brits have

four cruisers and nine destroyers

with orders to attack

the German northbound fleet.

Have we received any orders

on how to conduct ourselves?

No.

If English or German ships

enter Norwegian waters,

the government surely has to react?

Not necessarily. Nygaardsvold will do

anything to avoid being drawn into the w*r.

They have to assert Norwegian neutrality!

Not if that means

conflict with the English.

We have to be prepared, regardless.

Has anyone seen Sdem?

-Colonel!

-No, we haven't got hold of him.

One of our boats in the outer Oslofjord

has launched a flare.

-What colour?

-Red.

-Captain.

-Thank you.

The naval command at Horten reports

ships approaching at Rauy.

-What kind of ships?

-It doesn't say.

-What about nationality?

-The message is unclear and lacks detail.

They could be merchant ships

going north for some reason.

-Are they past the outer defences?

-Yes.

That means they have entered

our territorial waters.

-When was the observation made?

-At 23:46. Four minutes ago.

Colonel! The Commander at Rauy.

Put it on speaker, line two.

-This is Eriksen.

- Hello.

We've just observed an unidentified ship.

It's crossed the defence line.

Is it a warship?

The fog is so thick,

it's hard to see anything.

-But it sounded f*cking massive.

-Wasn't the defence line mined?

No, we were ordered to stand by.

The fjord was clear.

But ... we did fire a warning shot.

But it didn't stop?

It just glided past in the fog like

a ghost ship, without returning fire.

They're in the Oslofjord

and could be headed towards you.

-Nationality?

-No idea.

We saw no flags or anything.

Did you see anything else?

We think there might be another ship.

We'll report any further sightings.

Unneberg get me Smith-Johannsen

or someone else at HQ.

It could be the Brits laying mines again.

Odd for a British ship

to not identify itself.

If they're headed our way,

they'll pass Horten in about an hour.

If they get past Horten, they'll pass

the observation post at Filtvet.

From there,

they'll reach us in twenty minutes.

-Will HQ issue a mobilisation order?

-We have to be prepared for that.

-And we have to prepare to lay mines.

-We don't know if it's a warship.

Colonel. Smith-Johannsen in Horten.

Line one, Colonel.

-On loudspeaker?

-Yes.

-Speaker.

-Eriksen.

Admiral Smith-Johannsen here.

What are our orders

in regards to the foreign ship?

No change in standing orders as of yet.

We're awaiting an imminent decision

from the government.

-Have you issued a mobilisation alert?

- No.

-Are we laying mines?

- No.

But this is a violation of our neutrality.

A most serious situation.

We must act with great care.

We don't want to be dragged into

the w*r due to rash decisions.

-So what are our orders?

- To stand by.

-Stand by?

- Yes. For now.

Do you know the nationality

or type of ship, at least?

No. There might have been a clash

between English and German ships,

and that the observed ships

were on the losing side,

and are seeking refuge

in the Oslo fjord.

Ships from nations at w*r must identify

themselves if they cross our defence lines.

-I'm aware of the neutrality regulations.

-Yes, yes.

The aim is to keep Norway out of the w*r.

Your mission is to stay alert

and keep your head cool.

-I see.

- No rash decisions.

- Nothing further to report.

-Roger that.

Are we not laying mines?

They don't see the ship as a threat?

If the warship is headed our way,

they'll be here in two hours.

From us to Oslo ...

Half an hour.

Issue the following command

to every station:

Ready for battle.

I repeat, ready for battle. Berntsen.

Bonsak? Until Sdem returns,

you're in charge oft the main battery.

Hie. Head to the orograph.

Enger. Get across the fjord.

Report when the l battery is ready.

Get the trainee officers to help.

Berntsen. Berntsen!

Send Anderssen to the torpedo battery.

Unneberg: call the police chief in Drbak.

Drbak must be evacuated and blacked out.

Colonel!

What about the civilians in the fortress?

We're not evacuating. Let them sleep.

Colonel!

-What will our men think ...

-I can't have civilians running around.

I can't have chaos here now.

-Report when you hear anything

-Colonel.

Alarm! Assemble by the canon post-haste!

This is not a drill!

Fall in!

Sergeant Rkken

is in charge of readying the cannon.

Sergeant Strm, privates Jarskog,

Jacobsen, Eliasen, down in the depot.

-Off you go.

-Yes, lieutenant.

Bonsak!

-Are all trained personnel present?

-Yes.

I want cannon two manned, too.

We've barely got enough to man one.

Without two cannons,

we'll be helpless if something happens.

Divide the trained crew and

add non-combatants as needed.

-Non-combatants?

-Yes.

Orderlies, comms, cooks, anyone.

With all due respect, Colonel.

These people have hardly seen a cannon.

We have no choice.

You have to train them to be artillerists.

And you have to do it now.

-See to it.

-Colonel.

Sergeant Strm!

-Any news?

-No.

Anderssen.

-Is the battery ready?

-Soon.

Set to vertical impact. Depth: 2,5 metres.

Distance: 425 metres.

Good.

Do we know anything more about the ships?

We've had no new information.

It's been an hour, and we've still not

received a mobilisation order.

Colonel. Captain.

-We've checked the pressure.

-Are the warheads out?

-Not yet.

-Do it.

Shall we arm them as well?

Yes.

-All of them?

-Yes.

-See to it, Bexrud.

-Roger.

Birger!

We can't fire warning shots with torpedoes.

If we attack a foreign ship with live a*mo,

are we neutral, or are we the aggressor?

Captain! Torpedoes ready.

Carry out.

I just want to make sure

we're doing the right thing.

Listen, Andreas.

If a warship has come all the way here ...

Is it not they who violate our neutrality?

Is it not they who are the aggressor?

But this can't be an attack!

We've had no reports of hostile actions.

No one has fired on us.

There's no mobilisation order

or declaration of w*r!

We're not at w*r.

Norway has not been at w*r

for over 120 years.

No.

-Sdem!

-Colonel!

-Where have you been?

-On the mainland, like you ordered.

I've issued a "ready for battle" order.

Battle?

-There are foreign ships in the fjord.

-I'll man the main battery.

Bonsak manned it at midnight.

And I've ordered the non-combatants

to man the cannons.

-Non-combatants manning the cannons?

-Yes. So go and help Bonsak.

I'll be out soon

and take charge if anything happens.

But you're in charge of the whole fortress.

Your place is not out by the g*ns.

It is now.

Are there warships out on the fjord?

It's unlikely they come up here.

They have to pass the base at Horten.

They'll stop them there.

So why have you issued

a "ready to battle" order?

Because we have to ber prepared.

Alright.

I will man one of the phones

at the switchboard.

No.

What I need you to do ...

... is to go home ...

... and look after Peik. Can you do that?

Here. Let me.

Sleep fully clothed.

Go home.

Be careful.

We were ordered to stand by,

but we got no new orders after midnight.

And how did you interpret that?

That the government

wanted to remain neutral.

Yes.

Just a moment, Eriksen.

Captains Enger and Sdem,

thank you for making time for us.

Since there are

conflicting reports on this event,

we wanted to hear these

gentlemen's explanations, as well.

Let's start with the main battery.

Sdem, you were in charge there.

Colonel Eriksen just told us

he took over command.

What are your thoughts on that?

The commanding officer should not be

in such an exposed position.

It was highly irregular and strange.

He should never have been

out there with us that night.

Did the Colonel not have faith in Sdem?

He'd only been with us for a week.

He lacked, like many of his

fellow officers, practical experience.

I wanted to ensure

any shots would be well aimed.

But you agree that it is irregular?

There were many things

that had to be irregular that night.

Fire!

Get down here!

MAIN BATTERY, OSCARSBORG - 03:21

You're moving too f*cking slowly,

to speak plainly.

We have to get the ammunition

from the carrier to the g*n much faster.

Lower the barrel 3,5 degrees right away!

This is f*cking essential!

Listen.

Half of you have never

seen a cannon fire before.

It's going to be f*cking loud,

let me tell you.

If we have to fire, remain at your

designated places. Don't panic.

The pressure is immense, so before we

fire, everyone needs to be on their toes.

If the ships are hostile, we're the only

ones who can stop them!

Is that understood?

-Is that understood?

-Yes, lieutenant!

And again. One more time.

Bonsak.

-How is it going?

-It's still too slow.

We've been at it for two hours.

We haven't had any news still?

The last sighting was

three hours ago, here.

If they were headed here,

they would've passed Horten ages ago.

We would have seen them an hour ago.

And we haven't.

Colonel? Horten on line one.

Berntsen, put it on speaker.

-This is Eriksen.

- Admiral Smith-Johannsen here.

It was rather hectic

for a while there, Eriksen.

But it's calmed down.

I just spoke to Major Ferden

at outer Oslofjord fortress.

- He agrees with me.

-About what?

That the situation is not

as urgent as we thought.

The ships were probably fleeing a battle.

They were seeking refuge.

-Where are they now?

- No longer in the fjord, we assume.

It's been hours since the last sighting.

No other news to report.

Roger that.

Smith-Johannsen thinks the danger is past?

Thank you.

Let's hope he's right.

We could've ended up in a w*r

with a country we sympathise with.

I guess we'll never know what ship it was.

Coffee, Colonel?

Maybe it's just as well. For everyone.

Could've been anything.

English, German, French.

-Norwegian.

-Anything's possible.

Shall we dismiss the men from the g*ns?

Dismiss half.

We'll take turns throughout the night.

Colonel!

It's the observation post at Filtvet.

They've sighted a warship.

Nationality?

They don't know.

Sdem, assemble the men

and ready the main battery.

How did they get to Filtvet?

We'll see them any minute.

Could it be the same ship

Rauy saw at midnight?

-Maybe it hid in the fog ...

-Commander?

New message from Filtvet.

It's not one warship.

It's five.

Three heavily armed cruisers.

They just passed them.

How the hell did five warships

get past the main base?

-Are the g*ns loaded with live a*mo?

-No.

The ammunition used

depends on the type of vessel.

-Do we fire a warning shot?

-No, live ammunition.

345 kg brisance grenades. Get to it!

Yes, sir.

Hie, get up to the orograph.

Report as soon as you see anything.

-How are the non-combatants doing?

-I hope they've got the essentials.

If we miss, we'll blow up Drbak harbour!

Granum!

What are our orders?

Colonel! From the torpedo battery.

Captain Anderssen

insists on a direct order.

-Are we firing?

-Tell him, yes, we are firing.

In lieu of direct orders,

we are to follow the neutrality protocol.

-That dictates we fire a warning shot.

-A warning shot has already been fired.

-From Rauy.

-That's not valid still! Not here!

A warning shot doesn't count

for the whole fjord for all time!

Rauy fired three hours ago,

and on one ship, not five!

That was 40 km further out!

We don't know if these are the same ships!

Once ships pass us,

they're in Oslo in half an hour.

No one else can stop them.

This is irregular. We have to confer with

the CO before we use live a*mo!

You're damn right we're using live a*mo!

Listen, Sdem.

I know the rules.

This is not the time for hesitation.

Is that understood?

Load up!

g*n 1 ready!

g*n 2 ready!

Do you see anything?

No.

Do you hear that?

Ready the g*ns.

Ready the g*ns!

Ready!

Colonel! I can't determine distance!

What range is the target?

I repeat, what is the distance to target?

Hie, give us the correct distance.

I can't see the distance

markers in the fog!

I can hardly see anything.

What range is the target?

-Hie!

-The target is not visible from the g*n!

Distance 1800 metres.

No, that's too far.

-Distance: 1400 metres.

-Are you going by eye?

It's inside Storskjr.

The distance is 1400 metres.

Set to 1400 metres!

1400 metres!

Do you see the nationality?

No.

There are more ships behind it.

They're not in attack formation!

There are lots of people on board!

We're ready to fire!

Open fire.

Cannon one!

Fire!

Cannon two!

Fire!

Down, down, down!

Cannon one!

Fire!

Ready!

-Cannon one!

-Fire!

It's just a scratch!

Get a hold of yourself!

-Bonsak! Get him to the infirmary.

-Strm. Infirmary.

And ready the g*ns.

There are more ships in the fjord.

- Unneberg.

-Torpedo battery.

Yes.

- Yes, Anderssen.

-One incoming vessel.

- Repeat.

-One incoming vessel.

-Do you know the nationality?

- No.

You will see it soon. Ready to fire.

-Ready to fire!

-Yes, Captain!

Ready to fire!

Safety bolts out!

Vessel sighted!

Target in sight! Torpedo one!

-Ready torpedo two!

-Aye aye, Captain!

Safety bolts, out!

Target in sight!

Torpedo two!

The other ships are retreating.

We're not ready to fire,

but we're working on it.

We don't fire on fleeing ships.

We've asserted our neutrality.

The fortress has served its purpose.

Unneberg.

Has there been a declaration of w*r?

No.

-Has the mobilisation order been issued?

-No.

-The nationality ...?

- No.

The ship fired on the fortress.

But they also fired on Drbak.

Several houses are alight.

Our house is on fire.

We're going to lose everything.

What about Lucie and the kids?

They ...

They got out.

I think. I hope.

Is Borghild safe?

Several houses here on the island were hit.

Borghild?

Borghild?

Borghild?

Borghild?

Borghild!

-Are you injured?

-No. I did as you asked.

But I heard the g*ns, so I had to see.

And when I opened the door ...

I tried to stop him!

But he was so quick, and now ...

I've looked everywhere.

He's probably terrified!

-You had a task.

-Yes, I ...

-You were to remain in the house!

-I'm sorry.

I have to be able to trust you.

Don't you get that?

We have to help them.

We have to help them. Father!

We can't just watch. We have to help them.

Borghild ...

They're shouting in German.

They're German soldiers.

So that's how the German

warship Blcher was sunk.

500 German soldiers lost their lives.

This delayed the

invasion of Oslo by several hours,

allowing the King and government to escape.

For this, you were awarded

the w*r Cross with Sword.

But there are some other matters

we'd like to discuss, Eriksen.

There were ...

... other ships.

Two shots from the main battery.

Eriksen, why ... didn't you fire more?

More?

There were more ships.

Why didn't you fire at them?

They were fleeing.

Right. This leads us to the main question

regarding the surrender of the fort.

There are conflicting accounts

in the reports we've received.

This Commission is looking into

whether the fort was surrendered too soon.

Yes, I understand that, but ...

... any new information ...

Thanks for getting in touch.

We have tried the Chief of Defence

and the Foreign Office.

No reply.

Colonel!

Oslo High Command.

Major General Hvinden Haug.

Put it through on line one.

On speaker?

-Yes.

-Speaker.

Yes?

I hear Oscarsborg has sunk

a German battleship. Well done.

What's the situation presently?

The King and government have left Oslo.

The military command too.

The Germans have attacked

multiple Norwegian positions.

Bergen, Trondheim,

Stavanger and Kristiansand.

They have all fallen.

Norway is at w*r.

We expect the capital to fall shortly.

German forces are on the way.

They landed at Fornebu not long ago.

-Uh ...

- Yes, Eriksen?

I don't understand.

Wasn't the runway barricaded?

No.

-Has the mobilisation order been issued?

- Yes.

When can we expect

the troops to be mobilised?

It could be several days.

Several days?

It was decided

to issue the order in the post.

In the post.

Yes, so ...

So it will likely take a while

to mobilise the troops.

So what do we do now?

What are our orders?

English ships can come

to our aid at any point.

The general's orders are to

defend the forts as long as possible.

What does that mean?

You ... have to do what you can.

I need reinforcements.

To protect the fort

from assaults from land.

That will not be possible.

Is it impossible?

Eriksen ...

Hold the fort as long as you are able.

Sdem.

Give the recruits r*fles.

Have Bonsak give them a crash course.

Father? Father?

-What?

-It's Kops.

-Yes.

- This is Enger.

We have to expect

German attacks from land.

Man all the posts.

We hear all the major cities have fallen.

What are our orders?

To hold the fort as long as possible.

We keep fighting.

Yes. Roger that.

Hansen. Holmbo.

Henriksen.

Bolt back, bolt forward.

If you need to fire, the safety is here.

Chamber. Bolt back, bolt forward.

Chamber, lever, bolt back, bolt forward.

This is the safety.

Ammunition will be

distributed at the depot.

Attention!

Listen.

We have been attacked.

Norway is at w*r.

But the fight is not over.

Our orders are

to hold the fort as long as possible.

We have to be prepared for

a German as*ault from the land.

We have to spread out, take our positions

and prepare to defend the fort ...

Faster! Come on!

Stay here!

Closer to the wall!

Everyone to the tunnel magazine. Now!

-Run!

-Come on!

Hurry!

Come on!

Women and children first!

Wait, wait, wait. Women and children first.

Further in, everyone!

-Get down! Come on.

-Further in!

There are people waiting to get in!

-Keep calm and go further in.

-Come on.

Borghild! Borghild. Come.

Further in! Spread out!

You have to spread out!

Spread out!

-Further in! Spread out!

-Further in.

Colonel!

All lines of communication are broken.

We have to get out!

Yes! We have to surrender!

We can't just sit here and wait to die!

-You can't go out.

-We have to! We're trapped!

-Be quiet.

-They could be here any minute!

You're scaring the others.

-We have to surrender!

-Get it together!

Egil? Do you have a light?

-Huh?

-Do you have a light?

-Yes?

-Yes.

Look at me.

-Does it hurt?

-Huh?

Oh. No, it's fine. I just ...

I just ...?

I don't understand what's happening.

That's alright.

No one here understands what's happening.

Reportedly, over five hundred bombs

were dropped on Oscarsborg.

Where civilians were also present.

They were trapped

in the tunnels with you, Eriksen?

-Yes.

-Eriksen.

Your daughter was also present

on the day in question?

Was she present?

Yes.

Her being there ...

Did that affect your judgment?

With regard to the decisions you made,

which led to the surrender of the fort?

No direct hits.

No.

Gather the troops.

We are to hold the

fort as long as possible.

Colonel.

-Readying the g*ns will take a long time.

-No.

Just get off the sand and dirt,

and they'll work.

The men are spread out over the islands.

Morale is not at a high point right now.

-Have a look at cannon one.

-Roger that.

Are you alright? Are you alright?

Where is the fire coming from?

-Where is the fire coming from?

-There are new w*r ships ...

Torpedo battery.

Torpedo battery!

The lines are down.

Eriksen. Are you alright?

Eriksen.

The ship firing on the fort had

positioned itself far out in the fjord

and directed all its firepower towards you.

That ship was Ltzow,

one of the ships which retreated

after Blcher was sunk.

-Or got away.

-Eriksen.

Did you return fire on Ltzow?

We were unable to.

Why was that?

We were unable to.

In your opinion, what was the reason

you had to surrender the fort?

-Anderssen!

-Yes.

What's the situation here?

No wounded.

-Is the battery intact?

-Yes, yes.

-What about Kops?

-We don't know. The lines are down.

Fetch a signal lamp.

There's a new ship in the fjord.

We have to prepare for battle.

The torpedo battery is intact.

We need the main battery operational.

Colonel.

The bombers could return at any time.

We don't know

if we can fix the main battery.

-Most of the men have been up all night.

-It's Kops.

Good. Are they ready for battle?

Kops signals:

one big warship at 8,000 metres.

To smaller vessels bearing north.

Kops are ready to fire.

Jesus. You can't let them fire now.

If they concentrate their fire at Kops,

everyone there will be blown to hell!

The island will be a pile of rubble.

You're the commanding officer.

You have to stop this madness!

Tell Kops

to hold their fire and wait for us.

Send the following message:

"Hold your fire. Await further orders."

I repeat.

"Hold your fire. Await further orders."

We have to get the main battery

operational, so we can fire from both sides.

Should we keep fighting?

Our orders are

to hold the fort as long as possible.

-Kops have received the message.

-You should call a council of w*r.

See what the officers think.

Most of their families are here, since you

didn't want to evacuate them.

Take cover! Run!

Colonel! In here.

The bombardment is constant!

-It's over!

-The roof is about to collapse.

There's no other alternative, Birger.

Surrender!

So you messaged Kops,

"Hold fire and await further orders"?

Yes ...

But that was the last we heard.

How did you choose to interpret that?

That the fort had surrendered.

-We hadn't.

-Alright, Eriksen.

So what, then, was the reason

you had to surrender, in your view?

What's going on up there?

Kops and the Drbak side have been taken.

The Germans ...

... want to negotiate a surrender.

Otherwise ...

Otherwise they will start bombing ...

Drbak ...

... and Oslo.

What's our reply?

Send message: "We are ready to negotiate."

German forces took the Kops battery

without firing a single shot.

But I never meant for you not to resist.

How many people died

at Oscarsborg, Eriksen?

None.

Your orders were

to hold the fort as long as possible.

You were

the commanding officer of Oscarsborg?

What was it, Eriksen?

What was the reason you had to surrender?

That Kops was taken.

That's incorrect.

The Kops g*ns could've been turned on us.

-We had no choice.

-That's not true.

The order to hold fire

was the reason we surrendered.

The reason we had to abandon Kops.

-Eriksen had decided to give up the fort.

-That was not the meaning of the order.

When the lines are down, the battery chief

must make his own decision.

I think the Commission

has heard what it needs to today.

We will return with our final conclusion.

We would like to thank the gentlemen ...

Has the Commission

asked itself the question ...

what would have happened

if we had been prepared that night?

What do you mean, Eriksen?

If the coastal forts were fully mobilised

and armed, so no ships could have passed,

if runways had been barricaded,

preventing planes from landing ...

... the German as*ault would have failed

Or been prevented altogether!

I assume it is the government

which has appointed this Commission.

If you are asking who is responsible

for the surrender of Oscarsborg,

It is the 1940 government who

ought to be cross-examined here today!

They should have to answer

why the military was not prioritised.

In spite of the state of the world

and countless warnings!

I've written multiple requests

for reinforcements of Oscarsborg.

Every request was denied!

To divert attention from the failed

defensive policies and those who didn't act,

you come after the officers ...

... who actually did something.

We did our best.

It is this Commission's firm conviction that

Enger and Sdem's statements are correct.

Eriksen's command to hold fire led

to the surrender of Kops to the enemy.

Eriksen's account

can therefore not be accurate.

The Investigative Commission of 1946

examined the battle of Oscarsborg.

Their report found not a single word

of praise for Eriksen's actions.

Eriksen's order to open fire is considered

the most important single act

in Norway during WWII.

The delay of the invasion allowed

the King and the Government to evacuate.

Birger Eriksen remained in Drbak

with his wife and his daughter Borghild

until his death in 1958.