Synopsis

Lofoten. Opening sequence: "It's March 3rd and a force of warships is steaming across the North Sea" 1940's



Medium shot of warship, British or Norwegian on the open sea. Sailors wearing tin helmets and duffel coats look through binoculars alert to the danger of enemy aircraft. Two battleships viewed in long shot from behind. Below decks seamen and soldiers tie up makeshift hammocks. On deck they exercise and practise their artillery skills with full kit on lying on the floor. Close up of Norwegian sailors and soldiers who accompany the other troops to strike at the enemy in occupation. Good close-up of naval officer holding up binoculars on deck of ship. Captain and navigators pore over maps checking the position of ship. Black smoke pours out of a funnel. In the background. An English flag blows in the wind. Illustrated map of Norway with Narvik and Lofoten Islands. Narrator explains that the job of the Scout Patrol is to destroy the German fish oil plants in the Lofoten Islands. Close up on area to be attacked. Vestragoy, Ostragoy, Svolver, Hinnaj and langoy. Dawn Shot of soldier with bren gun, sea and hills in the background. A large number of fishing boats congregate before dawn. A lone soldier is silhouetted against the sky as dawn breaks. As the attack begins, soldiers use ladders to scale the rocky cliff sides and to the strains of very emotional music, the Union Jack is removed from the mast of a boat and replaced with a Norwegian one. Troops disembark. Good footage of the surprise attack with a real documentary feel to it. Soldiers swarm over the wintry snow-covered islands. Soldiers stand outside the telegraph office on guard. Temporary headquarters are established. Radio operators send messages. Sappers light fuses and run off. An explosion caused by the explosives hard by the soldiers goes off and a cod-liver oil factory goes up in smoke. Stacks of barrels of the liquid are broken open and tipped into the harbour. Good shot of a British soldier pointing a pistol at captured German soldiers. They are marched off for interrogation. Supplies are unloaded from the rear of an amphibious vehicle. General shot of soldiers (Norwegian) with friends and partners. A general announcement is made over the tannoy that there is a chance to volunteer for service with the allied forces. Good shot of harbour. A large explosion blows up one of the large cod liver oil tanks. Other factories are exploded? (Not shown). Burning oil sits on the surface of the sea with Norwegian mountains evident in the background. Panning shot of two boats which have been scuppered and the burning of another oil tank watched by soldiers from a safe distance. The dockside is packed with Norwegian patriots who have decided to take up the call to arms. Telegram: "Herr Hitler. Reference your last speech, I thought you said (intercut at this point with a short sequence of Hitler) that whenever British troops land on the continent of Europe, German soldiers will face them. Well, where are they? Blindfolded German officers and troops are helped onto a ship and walk over a gangplank. Final explosion which shakes the harbour. The amphibious craft start to leave. Long shot of large dark plume of smoke rising from the explosion of oil. Excellent footage of craft (amphibious) rising and falling in the swell of the sea while full of volunteers. Rousing speech by narrator juxtaposed with smiling and happy faces of the patriotic Norwegians finishes this propaganda film.