Skandinavien i Hitlers jerngreb - Season 1

World War II is underway. Hitler is in the process of making the dream of a Nazi empire come true, and now it's Scandinavia's turn. It is 9 April 1940. In Sweden sits King Gustav, in Norway King Haakon, and in Denmark King Christian. The three kings must make the difficult decision together with their country's government: Should they fight back or should they surrender. We weave together the stories of the three countries with a unique collection of archival material that puts our own history into greater perspective.

The year is 1941 and Hitler opens a new front in the war. The non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union is broken. Communism must be destroyed - and this also applies in Scandinavia. During the next six months, Denmark, Sweden and Norway will come under intense German pressure. In Norway, there are large demonstrations against the occupying power, while Denmark and Sweden cooperate. With a unique collection of archive material, we are for the first time weaving together the history of the three countries.

In 1942, around 2,000 Jews live in Norway. In Denmark, up to 8,000. Their everyday life is like all other Norwegians and Danes, and they think it can stay that way. But Hitler has other plans. Ruth Maier is just one of the 1,536 who report to a Norwegian police office and allow themselves to be registered as Jewish. She is also among the first many hundreds of Norwegian Jews to be deported to Auschwitz. In 1943, it was the turn of the Danish Jews and in a race against time, thousands reached safety in Sweden. In the refugee camps, where they least of all expect it, they encounter anti-Semitism again. When it comes to the Jews, the history of Norway, Denmark and Sweden is inextricably linked. We tell it here with unique pictures from the archives of the three countries.

In World War II, Hitler takes power in Scandinavia, and he keeps Norway, Sweden and Denmark under control, fearing the Nazi terror. But during the assault, something is going on. More and more are defying fear and rebelling. Resistance fighting is dangerous, but they are willing to pay the price. Because the fight for freedom is bigger than their own lives. With a unique collection of archive material, the story of the Scandinavian resistance to Nazism is told.

Hitler's grip on Scandinavia loosens. Everywhere people are fleeing the last convulsions of war. The Red Army drives millions of Germans before them both to Denmark and Sweden. But the thirst for revenge has gathered strength through five years of repression, and when it is finally unleashed, it is with tremendous force. The winners draw the line hard between the bad and the good and the losers are shown no mercy. The Norwegian Nazi, Vidkun Quisling, feels this. And the Baltic prisoners of war in Sweden, who are handed over to their worst enemy: the Soviet Union. But in Denmark, top Nazi Werner Best gets off easier: because justice is a difficult measure, and there are many considerations to take into account.