The Heavy Water War: Stopping Hitler's Atomic Bomb

Receiving great reviews and being a success among the public, setting the new record for drama series when it premiered on national TV network in Norway on January 4, 2015, winning the live audience of about 1.2 million viewers on Sunday night (about 24% of the Norwegian population was watching the season premiere), the Norwegian TV mini-series Kampen om Tungtvannet (original title) or The Heavy Water War: Stopping Hitler's Atomic Bomb (in English) depicts a true story of World War II. Narrated in three angles the Norwegian production of 6 episodes follows the trajectory of the Nazi nuclear program, the fight of the Allies to stop them and the management of Norsk Hydro, the company that owns the heavy water plant, a key substance for the German plans.

The TV mini-series begins slowly, developing the characters and their dilemmas and also exploring the reasons Allies and Nazis fight for the heavy water. Why it was so important and where it would be possible to get it? Over the first episodes this whole plot is made clear.

The Nazi research program is shown through the eyes of Werner Heisenberg (played by Christoph Bach, known for Shirley: Visions of Reality - 2013), German scientist who in 1933 won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contribution in quantum mechanics. Heisenberg devoted his life to science, abdicating social and family life. In 1939 he began working for the German government, conducting the research for the development of nuclear energy. He sees the atomic bomb as a nuisance, but a necessary means for the development of science. The war would be at the service of science.

The Norwegian scientist and professor Leif Tronstad (played by Espen Kloumann Høiner, known for Reprise - 2006) was one of those responsible for the construction of the chemical factory Norsk Hydro, in the Vemork plant on the outskirts of the town of Rjukan in Norway. By joining the Allies in England, he was essential to prevent the success of the Nazi plans, since he was a member of the Norwegian Resistance and still stayed in touch with them. He also was aware of the building plan and the site procedures. To Tronstad the lives of employees and other inhabitants of the area should be preserved in the conflict.

The director of Norsk Hydro, Bjørn Henriksen (played by Dennis Storhøi, known for Zwei Leben - Two Lives - 2012), runs the facility in Rjukan, unique in the world to produce heavy water. As it was a byproduct of fertilizer production, its production was limited and on a small scale. While the Norwegians remained neutral in World War II, France made an agreement with the company to acquire the entire stock of heavy water. But with the invasion of Norway by the Germans, on the morning of April 9, 1940, Norsk Hydro started to meet the Nazi interests in obtaining the precious liquid. To Henriksen the war would be something temporary, so it would be important to keep the jobs and company's business intact.

To give more excitement and make the story more dramatic some fictional characters were drafted, but that did not come to interfere significantly in the actual events that occurred. Among them we can mention Bjørn Henriksen, which was created from three real directors of Norsk Hydro, and his wife, Ellen Henriksen (played by Maibritt Saerens, known for Sykt Lykkelig - Happy Happy - 2010), who also was not part of the original plot, but was responsible for addressing some dilemmas of the couple apart from the moral issues of the war.

Another fictional character is Julie Smith (played by Anna Friel, known for the TV series Pushing Daisies - 2007-2009), who gives life to a British official responsible for the British Special Operations. Here we have to highlight a historical mistake, because in real life the role was played by Scottish Colonel John Skinner Wilson. At that time there were no women occupying the position of command in the army. Despite the good performance of Friel, it would be more appropriate to stick to historical and real facts (put a man) instead of opting for the politically correct of the current times.

The film's director Per-Olav Sørensen depicts in a chronological and historical way the events surrounding the dispute by heavy water. It is noted along the mini-series all the characterization work of an era: uniforms, clothes, cars, equipments and weapons. One bright spot was the maintenance of the three native languages ​​of the countries involved in the plot: Norwegian, German and English. Sørensen also knew how to choose the cast, who gave convincing performances.

The photography is very beautiful and the soundtrack fits well in the plot. However, the director of the mini-series does not do enough to explore more some action scenes and he also could have created more suspense. The rigorous living conditions to which the members of the Norwegian resistance were submitted in missions due to the harsh climate of Norway, as hunger and cold, as well as other difficulties faced when fighting the enemy would have been better dramatized.

This story was also dramatized in a Norwegian docudrama called Kampen om Tungtvannet (Operation Swallow: The Battle for Heavy Water - 1948), in a British production The Heroes of the Telemark (1965), with the participation of Kirk Douglas (citing some of his films: Ace in the Hole - 1951, Paths of Glory - 1957, The Vikings - 1958 and Spartacus - 1960) and Richard Harris (known for A Man Called Horse - 1970) and a Canadian TV mini-series (A Man Called Intrepid - 1979). The Swedish power metal band, Sabaton, also honored this episode through the music called Saboteurs.

Originally posted in: https://vikingbyheart.blogspot.com.br

After watching this, I mentioned to a friend of mine with a degree in physics that Heisenberg really was compromised working for the Germans during the war. He corrected me and suggested I read "Heisenberg's War" by Thomas Powers. Thank goodness, I did. It's an excellent book, and sets the record straight about what Heisenberg did and didn't do, and did and didn't think, during the war.

The miniseries show him trying to dazzle the German military with the destructive potential of his nuclear research, and it shows him working diligently on developing a bomb. What Powers shows, though, is that Heisenberg and the scientists who worked closely with him tried in various ways to discourage the Nazis from pursuing a bomb. And they were successful. After a critical meeting with Speer in 1943, in which Heisenberg emphasized all the problems and pointed out that a bomb, even if it could be developed, would take too long to be used in the war, bomb research stopped, and nuclear research was aimed at a reactor or "energy machine." The Heisenberg group were so horrified by the idea of an atomic bomb that they even signaled to scientists outside Germany that Germany was not working on a bomb, hoping to prevent a world of nuclear weapons. (This was misunderstood by many distrustful Allied scientists, who feared Heisenberg was trying to stop their work so that he could proceed without competition on his own.)

So enjoy the series, but please don't do as I did and take it as factual about Heisenberg's participation in a German atomic bomb program. I suppose that part of the story was added to crank up the excitement and drama.

Incidentally, after the destruction of the Norwegian hydro/heavy water plant and the sinking of the ferry carrying the heavy water, Germany's was completely crippled in its supply of heavy water, never to recover.

The Heavy Water War stands out not only for its compelling historical narrative but also for its remarkable technical execution, especially considering it is a television series rather than a feature film, where resources are typically more concentrated. Despite the broader scope of its multi-episode format, the series manages to deliver a rich, cinematic experience.

The visual storytelling is particularly effective for a television series. The sweeping shots of Norway's icy landscapes feel expansive, yet the intimate, close-up moments that define character development are given just as much care. The varied camera work, such as the occasional handheld shots during moments of peril, intensifies the action, making the stakes feel personal and urgent, a clever use of television's more fluid pacing. This is a rarity for a series where visual cohesiveness can sometimes suffer when stretched across episodes. Yet here, the cinematography remains tight and focused, maintaining the sense of urgency and tension in each scene.

One of the most impressive feats is how The Heavy Water War retains the atmosphere of a high-budget film despite the limitations of a television series. The detailed set designs and period-accurate costuming elevate the experience, creating a world that feels both authentic and immersive, as though viewers are stepping back in time to WWII. Such dedication to realism is more common in films with larger budgets, but the series expertly makes the most of its resources.

Acting is another strong point in this series. Espen Klouman-Høiner's portrayal of Leif Tronstad shines with remarkable subtlety. He captures the character's internal struggles without resorting to melodrama, allowing the emotional weight of his decisions to unfold naturally. The supporting cast also brings depth to their roles, contributing to the overall gravitas of the series. In television, where performances can occasionally feel stretched over long arcs, here, the actors remain grounded and emotionally engaged, a testament to the tight direction and the careful attention to casting.

Even with its reliance on limited resources in comparison to a film, The Heavy Water War excels in technical aspects. The sound design, another often underappreciated aspect of television production, adds greatly to the atmosphere. The wind howls through the mountains, and the rumble of military aircraft enhances the urgency and danger that permeates the show. Although a few CGI moments don't quite match the level of the rest of the production, they don't detract from the overall immersion.

The Heavy Water War demonstrates that a television series can achieve the same cinematic quality as a high-budget film, thanks to its exceptional direction, stunning cinematography, and immersive sound design. Each episode captures the tension and emotional depth of its characters, maintaining a powerful and cohesive narrative from start to finish. The series excels in transforming its historical setting into a living, breathing world, leaving a lasting impression on viewers long after the credits roll.

EXCELLENT series, best war miniseries since Band of Brothers, and that was the best of all-time according to IMDb raters, myself, and many others (it was the first DVD set I ordered in advance).. I also learned more about physics from this, which caused me to look up heavy water (D2O) online and Germany's wartime nuclear research.

THIS series had me riveted, I watched the last 5 episodes in one sitting (til dawn) b/c I couldn't STOP watching.. some great footage of the skiing, just what you'd expect from Scandanavians.. The commando raid was also brilliantly filmed.

KUDOS to writers, directors, cast (Anna Friel, stunning as always!), and the incredible landscapes - I admire anyone who can conquer all that winter ice & snow and not only survive, but move around and fight wars in all that hostile environment.

HEROES prove their status in times of need, willing to endure self- sacrifice for the rest of us - glad to see that they also inspire cinematic ART many decades later!

A variety of languages, with subtitles as needed. Dramatic but in keeping with history. Outstanding sense of the challenging times of WW2 & the decisions made by different groups & individuals, courage & compromise. Risking life & decisions made to protect others & self as the Nazi noose extended itself into Norway.