As part of the summer season, RTÉ2 is continuing its commitment to strong European drama with two high profile foreign language series: 1864 and The Saboteurs.
New Danish television drama 1864 is the most ambitious and expensive drama to date from Danish state broadcaster, DR, whose previous shows Borgen, The Killing and The Bridge have reached cult status worldwide; and six-part Norwegian WWII drama, The Saboteurs, a huge hit in its native Norway.
Episode 3 -10.30pm
‘Freshman’s’ two glider planes crash violently into the Norwegian mountains. It is revealed that their target was Rjukan.
Without Erik Henriksen’s approval the Germans heighten security to maximum level at Rjukan. The Americans insists on bombing the factory. Leif Tronstad feels this will be futile and persuades the Allies to send in a team of Norwegians. They will break into the factory and blow it up from inside. He selects five men for this ‘Gunnerside’ mission and now Knut Haukelid is in command. The plan is to join up with ‘Grouse’ who has remained hiding in the mountains.
In Germany Werner Heisenberg tries to hoist uranium plates into heavy water. The temperature rises violently and he just manages to escape before the laboratory explodes. Heisenberg argues with his superior that the fire was a breakthrough – but to no avail. Heisenberg has now become obsessed. He delivers a speech where he promises a bomb no larger than a pineapple that will destroy London. At the same time ‘Gunnerside’ takes off from Scotland heading for Norway.
Episode 4 -11.25pm
‘Gunnerside’ fail to locate their drop-point and the pilots insist on turning back. But Knut Haukelid claims to know where they are and they parachute out over the snow-covered mountains. Far from their drop point they start looking for the ‘Grouse’ team, and after strenuous days they finally join up.
Werner Heisenberg is now back in favour with the military and is appointed director of the Keiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin. He is promised unlimited support. ‘Gunnerside’ abandon the original plan to shoot their way across the bridge and into the heavy water factory. Instead they will try to climb the deep gorge under the bridge. It is considered impossible and therefore not protected by the Germans. They succeed in blowing up the factory and Claus Helberg stays behind to continue observing the factory. The Germans mount a major search for the saboteurs, and order an immediate rebuilding of the heavy water facilities!