Operation Amsterdam

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At 4... 00 a.m. On Friday, May 10, 1940,

Hitler invaded Holland.

So began a weekend destined to become

one of the most momentous in history.

The following day, Saturday, May 11,

Winston Churchill became Prime Minister.

a mission was mounted

with such speed and secrecy...

that no written word of it ever appeared

in the official files of the War Cabinet.

The purpose of the mission...

to get all the industrial diamonds

out of Amsterdam...

before the Germans took over the city.

In a room above a shop

in one of London's back streets...

two of the three men chosen

for such a dangerous task...

met for their final briefing.

One was Walter Keyser...

a Dutch diamond expert...

a quiet man who'd lived in England

for 10 years.

The other, Maj. Dillon...

an experienced intelligence officer,

who was to be in charge of the party.

But the key man on Operation Amsterdam

was Jan Smit...

a friend of Walter Keyser,

and another diamond expert...

who knew practically every Dutch merchant

in Amsterdam.

He was also a man in love with life.

Jan Smit knew that the value of the stocks

held in Amsterdam...

was between 9 and 10 million pounds.

He also knew

there was no figure big enough...

to describe their worth

to the German war effort.

For without industrial diamonds

to cut and bore...

tanks and airplanes could not be built.

Sorry I'm late, sir.

You know Councilor De Mattos

of the Netherlands Legation.

Of course.

Maj. Dillon, here,

will be in charge of the party.

How do you do?

- Have you heard from your father?

- Nothing from Holland.

All we know is German agents

give great prices for industrial diamonds.

The time is short, gentlemen,

so I'll get straight to the point.

Operation Amsterdam has been given

the highest possible priority.

The government considers it so important,

they're placing a destroyer at your disposal.

It will take you to ljmuiden.

That's the nearest port to Amsterdam.

Magnetic mines have been sown

at all the harbor entrances...

and German parachutists are established

around three sides of The Hague.

A number of them have been killed already,

in Amsterdam.

Many were wearing Dutch uniforms.

Fifth columnists are everywhere.

It can no longer be assumed...

that a Dutch uniform

contains a loyal Dutch soldier.

One final thing, gentlemen.

We know the German troops have been

ordered to cut off Amsterdam by tomorrow.

Incidentally...

if you're caught...

we cannot help you.

Dillon.

Your job is to get the Amsterdam stocks.

My job is to bring you

and the diamonds back safely.

And I want no dead heroes on this trip.

Gentlemen, these documents state...

that your journey is at the request

of the British Government...

and has the full approval of

the Netherlands Legation, here in London.

May I, for the benefit of both our peoples...

wish you Godspeed

and success to your mission.

- Going on holiday, Major?

- I've got another little job to do.

But don't worry,

it won't interfere with our plans.

- Shall I take the cases?

- No, thanks, I can manage.

Very well, sir. If you'll follow me, gentlemen.

What do you suppose

our guests are up to, sir?

I don't know. Dillon's easy enough to place.

But the two Dutchmen...

Can you see a light ahead, Number One?

Dead ahead, sir.

Let's hope it's the mole.

Slow ahead, both.

Slow ahead, both, sir.

Steady as you go.

Steady as you go, sir.

The approach is mined.

Watch out for strays.

Are you going to take her in, sir?

It's worth a try.

- Port, 10.

- Port, 10, sir.

Steady as you go.

Steady as you go, sir.

It's too quiet.

- Stop both.

- Stop both, sir.

Take charge, Number One.

I'm going to see our guests off.

Aye, aye, sir.

All ready, sir.

They'll drop more mines during the day.

I'll lie outside the outer harbor at 2000.

You should get a boat.

We'll manage.

It's 0600.

That gives you 14 hours.

If you don't turn up, I'll come back

the same time tomorrow night.

Save the fuel. If we're not here tonight,

go back to England.

If you do not hurry up, they'll be back.

Thank you for a safe voyage.

They're up early.

See you at 8:
00 tonight, sir.

Careful!

Let's get out of here. Half ahead, both.

You did well.

Save your money for those who'll take it.

We've been paid already.

I don't understand you.

Last night, another British ship was here.

She took our Princess

and her children to safety.

This makes us very happy.

We've been well paid.

- We're going back to England tonight.

- You'll want to be rowed out to the ship?

- I'll be here.

- Good.

Please, you must take them.

Look at this young girl.

- No.

- Look, please.

German parachutists.

You three!

Who are you? What do you want?

We've just landed from a British destroyer.

Can you tell us

where the port commander is?

How do I know you aren't parachutists

or fifth columnists?

We have identification papers.

So had they. We shoot the lot.

You understand?

Nobody can be trusted.

Your commander will understand.

Take us to him.

All right. But I place you under arrest.

You understand?

Now, get in front of me.

Toward the building with the steps.

Up!

These men are parachutists

or fifth columnists.

The others had papers.

Maj. Dillon, I am Bussemaker.

I know many of your family.

I watched your destroyer arrive.

I hoped she was going to land some troops.

I'm afraid we were the only passengers, sir.

We have to get to Amsterdam.

It's not very difficult

to guess why you're here.

Do you mind

if I add my little authority to these?

Pieces of paper

can help on these occasions.

Certainly.

- I say they are fifth columnists.

- Put your gun away.

They should be shot like the others.

Second wave. It's like this all the time.

- You all right?

- Yes.

I see our spy-shooting friend's left us.

There have been

thousands of them out there.

Everybody wants to get to England.

The trawlers are too few,

and, each raid, we lose more.

Could we take one of those cars

on the quay?

Help yourself. They belong to the refugees.

I hope you find one that works.

We don't leave much to the enemy.

- Thank you.

- Not at all. Good-bye.

Good luck.

Those are the lucky ones.

Bowerman was right about the mines.

Is that all you can say?

There's nothing we can do to help.

Come on.

One of them must work.

Smit! Stop that car!

Leave me alone!

We need the car.

We must get into Amsterdam.

- What did you want to do that for?

- Well?

- This young woman wants to take her life.

- Why did you stop me?

Because we need your car.

I'm a British officer.

These gentlemen are Dutch.

We came here in a British destroyer.

We were sent by your government and mine.

How do I know you tell the truth?

I belong to the firm of J.K. Smit, Amsterdam.

All right.

How much is that worth?

It's quite pretty.

It's not worth much.

It has flaws, and the setting is poor.

Get in. I'll take you.

Reverse. No water.

I promised to take you. I keep my word.

Damn that man!

Leave this to me.

All right.

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