Før 9. april

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1

And now a proclamation

from His Majesty the King.

"During these

very trying times for our nation -".

- I encourage everyone

throughout our land -

- to maintain appropriate

and dignified behaviour, -

- as any hasty act

or utterance -

- could have

the most dire consequences.

May God save us all.

May God save Denmark.

"Christian Rex, Amalienborg,

April 9th, 1940."

In the early morning on April 9th,

1940 German forces invade Denmark.

The ill-equipped Danish army faces

the strongest army in Europe.

The most violent battles

take place in the south of Jutland.

The lieutenant asked me to drive you

directly to the exercise area.

Tension is growing in the barracks.

They've communicated with Copenhagen,

but they're not telling us anything.

I know as little as you, Sergeant.

April 8th, 1940

Sgrd, 12 kilometres from the border.

She doesn't answer,

so I lean in towards her.

- Do you know what she said?

- No.

That she doesn't want

a bloody soldier.

Pick up the pace.

We're in a hurry.

- What did you do?

- I worked with my dad.

I didn't see Ingrid all that much.

You'll see her soon.

- What about you, Gram?

- What about me?

- What have you been doing?

- Wouldn't you like to know.

Then you could make fun of me.

- You always think the worst of me.

- Yes.

Come on, Gram. Tell us.

If you really want to know, -

- I was at my parent's place.

I was getting my laundry done.

I read a book.

Sometimes I feel

so sad for you, Gram.

Gram?

Why do you think

they cut our leave short?

You were told the same as us.

It's an alarm drill.

It's just an exercise.

- Second Lieutenant.

- Lieutenant.

Here we are again.

Someone's been crying wolf again.

I thought it wasn't just

an exercise.

We've received intelligence

on movements of munitions in Kiel.

A train full of troops has been seen

heading north towards the border.

That doesn't sound good.

The General Staff is also worried,

so all leave has been revoked.

They've even sent a motorcycle unit

down here. We're their support unit.

They're led by a Sergeant Bundgaard.

225 and entourage reporting for duty.

You're too late. Get your weapons

and join in the target practice.

Those three enlisted men. Assign them

to kitchen duty for the week.

Affirmative, Lieutenant.

Kitchen duty for a week.

Very good.

221, fire.

Good shot.

212, fire.

Try again.

212, pull yourself together.

This is serious business.

I don't know whom I fear

the most, Lassen or the Germans.

- I'll miss if you laugh at me.

- You'll miss either way.

Anything to drink?

- Coffee, please.

- Cognac.

I think the Germans

are headed for Norway.

They want to take Norwegian waters.

Denmark has no strategic value.

Our southern neighbours haven't

exactly been predictable recently.

Thank you.

You must be tired.

When did you get up?

At 3am.

I tried to sneak out,

but I woke up the entire family.

Hopefully your wife

wasn't too worried.

I didn't say anything

but my wife knows me too well.

It's not the first time the Germans

have been at the border.

- Let's just see.

- Finish the target practice. Unload.

Next exercise is by the bicycles.

To the bicycles. March.

- Good morning, Gram.

- Good to see you.

- Did you improve your shooting?

- Faster! To the bicycles!

- Ready, Sergeant.

- Ready, Sergeant!

Very well. First drill. Changing

the front tube. Two minutes.

- Do you have them?

- Yes.

Help me. Come on.

- Hand me the tyre.

- Faster. Come on.

- Hold this.

- Get the wheel back on the bicycles.

- Hold on. Get it up there.

- Fasten those nuts.

- Ready, Sergeant.

- Ready, Sergeant!

Thank you.

- Lieutenant.

- Do it again.

- This time in under 90 seconds.

- 90 seconds? Yes, sir.

Alright. Let's do it again,

this time in under 90 seconds.

What are you waiting for?

- Come on, Lassen.

- Faster!

- 90 seconds!

- He must be out of his mind.

Kolding, are you

going to eat all your bread?

- Yes, Justesen, I am.

- Still hungry, Justesen?

Easy now. You don't

have to roll your way home.

You city folk are chatty

when you're together.

But when you're alone -

- I don't hear a peep out of you.

How long do you think

we have to do this, Gram?

Until we can do it

in less than 90 seconds.

We've tried.

It's not going to happen.

The Second Lieutenant

just wants to see us sweat.

The wife probably wasn't as nice

to him as he'd have liked.

- He's your superior officer.

- Yes.

But he can't hear me.

Unless you squeal, Mr. Barracks Duty.

Lieutenant, I have an important

message from the Lieutenant Colonel.

Abort the exercise

and return to barracks.

After a quick meal

everybody should sleep in uniform.

- What's happened?

- We've received new intel.

A German column -

- is marching towards the border.

It's several kilometres long.

The Lieutenant Colonel

doesn't want anyone to panic.

This is still to be called

an exercise.

Sergeant Klostergaard, stop eating.

We're heading towards the barracks.

You heard the Lieutenant!

Get up! To the bicycles!

Eyes front!

You will be issued 40 rounds

and a med kit.

March straight to your room

and go to bed in uniform.

You'll wear both your uniform and

boots and keep your equipment ready.

From now on your dog-tags

are to be worn at all times.

Turn right!

Get to it.

40 rounds each?

Do you still think

it's an exercise, Gram?

They deserve to know

what's going on.

Yes. But it's not our decision

to make, Second Lieutenant.

Checkpoint 3 here. There is

heavy activity on the other side.

I repeat. Heavy activity

on the German side of the border.

Roger that.

Have the Germans crossed the border?

No, but we can hear heavy activity.

- How large a force?

- How large a force?

That's hard to tell. We can't see

them. We can only hear them.

What are our orders?

Stand by

and await further instructions.

Checkpoint 3, stay there. Stand by

and await further instructions.

- Yes, sir. Roger that.

- Padborg, Krusaa and now Rens.

There's no longer any doubt

about their intentions.

Get me the head of

the Jutland Division again.

Haderslev and Snderborg

are also on red alert.

They're waiting for permission

to leave.

They're 50 kilometres away.

The first hour we're alone.

Lieutenant Colonel?

The head of the Jutland Division.

Turn off the loudspeaker.

Major General? Three checkpoints

report rising troop activity.

I implore you to let me take

my troops to the border -

- and have them

take a defensive position.

I realise that, Major General, but

we're 10 kilometres from the border.

If we wait here for them to cross

there's no time to take position.

Has the General Staff considered

persuading the Minister?

Considering the recent escalation.

Yes, Major General.

We'll do our best.

No news so far.

We'll stay on red alert for now.

The Prime Minister feels that

any Danish mobilization -

- might be viewed as confrontational.

Defense strategy is a confrontation?

And the German manoeuvres aren't?

- Keep your opinions to your self.

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