Narvik Ending Explained: What Happened to Ingrid and Gunnar? Is Norway Retaken?
Lovers of war movies have found a good option in recent days in the Netflix catalog with the release of Narvik. The feature film takes place in World War II, more specifically depicting the territorial invasion of Norway by Nazi Germany. For that, the Norwegians need to unite and resist the fact that they are at a strategic point and are very coveted by the scammers. The story accompanies 200 soldiers, who fight in search of defending the nation. This battalion is illustrated by Corporal Gunnar. With the situation tense and the possibility of dying amidst the bombing, he tries to do his best to protect Norway and also protect himself, as he has a family and a wife, Ingrid. Understand the outcome of this plot better: Narvik (Kampen om Narvik in its original title) is one of the most recent additions to the Netflix catalog and adds to the collection of war movies from the platform.
WW II has inspired hundreds of productions that have explored this terrible time from different perspectives, but the Norwegian film tries to show what was experienced in the city that bears the same name. The feature film Erik Skjoldbjaerg is based on events that happened in real life during the spring of 1940. “The Battle of Narvik” was a confrontation between the Allies and Nazi Germany, who were fighting over the region that provided iron. While both sides vied for control, the local citizens bore the brunt of the crossfire. The protagonists of the story are Gunnar and his wife Ingrid. The first is a Norwegian army corporal who must fight against the Germans. When the Nazis are momentarily victorious, the local soldiers must withdraw, forcing Ingrid to work as a translator for the German consul and the hotel where she works, otherwise, she would be left without a livelihood for her son.
Narvik Movie: The Story Plot
It is April 1940, and the city of Narvik, in northern Norway, is of great strategic importance for Nazi Germany since through their arrival from Sweden, in the winter months when the Gulf of Bothnia is frozen, the iron ore they are the main component of the Teutonic military industry. The Allies quickly realize that taking control of the city would significantly slow down the advance of Hitler’s forces, and a plan is launched to block access to the port of Narvik. It so happens that at the same time the German invasion of Norway begins, and a war for control of the region begins. This conflict has personal consequences for the young soldier Gunnar Tofte, whose main concern is to save his wife Ingrid, and his young son.
Even if the movie tries to use the selling point as being where The German Army lost its first battle. But this is not a movie that focuses on heavy war scenes. Instead, the story chooses to present a different point from other World War 2 movies, that is, it does not present the atrocities of the German soldiers. Instead, it featured ordinary citizens who suffered from the German-British war that attempted to attack the city as it served as a base for the German army to supply iron ore. claiming to be released but the truth is that this is not always the case.
The story tells of a husband and wife who must be separated. Her husband was a soldier who stopped the Germans. before being captured as a prisoner of war. His wife works in a hotel and speaks German, therefore, becoming a necessary translator in this incident while she sheltered the British ambassador who tried to use her as a spy to send information back to the British Army to attack Germany Which means the destruction of this city as well. She had to protect her only son in every possible way. even if it was branded as treason This is where the story presents the point of view of war victims who cannot choose their lives. And the movie makes us sympathize with the life path that she was forced to choose.
While the violence of the war was not from Germany who try to take care of the townspeople as best as possible even to protect raw materials. But from many angles, we see another side of the German soldier who isn’t as inhuman as in other stories. Even the last help before the smash was available. Maybe because Norwegians are not Jewish. But it is considered a film that dares to give historical facts straight which although the story will tell clearly since believing that the Germans lost isn’t the end of the story. What’s next? And it’s at the heart of the whole story that the movie is trying to convey. Maybe victory on the battlefield is not a glamorous thing like trying to glorify each other.
Narvik Ending Explained: Why Did Ingrid Betray The British?
Just imagine being in a real crossfire, where there are risks on all sides. This is the reality of Narvik, considered a strategic point between the British and the Germans in World War II. The territory is owned by Norway, a country that tries to assume a neutral stance. For this, a bilateral treaty is initiated between the nations that confront each other, to protect Norway’s interests. However, Nazi Germany started to ignore this agreement and revealed its traitorous and coup-like face. On the night of April 9, 1940, Norway and Denmark are attacked by Germany through Operation Weserübung. The intention was to use Narvik as a shipping route for iron coming from Sweden. Before, if Norway allowed this type of transfer, it would be accused by the British of being partial in the midst of a risky war. Furthermore, Germany knew of real intentions on the part of the United Kingdom to do the same.
Under strict orders from Hitler himself, Narvik is invaded by a strong German army. It was up to the Norwegians to prepare quickly, or they would lose control of the nation to the dictator who believed that the Norwegians resembled the Aryan race and therefore were considered superior to him. For two months, there was a constant bombardment in which the Norwegians were at a disadvantage until the situation reversed in May 1940. Norway withdraws German troops from the country. However, King Haakon VII and Crown Prince Olaf leave the country, and Norway is officially handed over to the Germans in June of the same year.
This decision was strategic since the Nazis were about to invade France and other countries considered more important such as Belgium and Holland. Thus, English and French troops decided to join forces in other territories, weakening the Norwegian battalion. Also in June 1940, France is weakened to the point of surrender. It was a tense period, where only Great Britain could resist the heavy German bombing. In December 1941, the war spilled over into America after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite the departure of allied troops from Narvik, Norwegian citizens were removed from the place so that sub-lieutenant Patrick Dalzel-Job was decorated for such skill. Five years later, troops returned to Narvik and regained control of the region.
Is Norway Retaken?
The retaking of Narvik is symbolic, as the site represented Nazi Germany’s advance into Norway. At the same time, even with the Nazis taking over the region, there were resistance cores to secure the nation’s interests until there was an opportune moment. Thus, at the right time, the Allied troops returned to Narvik, and there, began the resumption of Norway. But for this, a lot of patience and strategy were needed, as the Norwegians waited anxiously to recover the nation from the hands of the Nazis. In May 1945, the overthrow of Nazi Germany was consecrated and, officially, Norway was freed from the hands of the coup plotters.
Why Did Ingrid Betray The British?
At first, Ingrid secretly tried to help the British, giving them a hideout in the mountains, and saving their lives from the Germans. However, at the end of the movie, she ends up revealing her location. Ingrid betrayed the British because, in exchange, she would save her son’s life. After the British Navy attacks, her son was badly injured and needed an emergency doctor. However, the only one available was the one who was in the hotel and had the restriction of only treating the German soldiers. Therefore, in exchange for her son being operated on, she revealed the location of the British, who caused her accident in the first place.
Who Got Control of Narvik?
Although the Germans had momentarily gained control, the Norwegians managed to regain control of Narvik. However, the pleasure would not last long, as the Nazis bombed the city, leaving it in ruins. At the same time, the allied forces decided to withdraw without informing them, leaving them completely abandoned.
What Happened to Ingrid and Gunnar?
Ever since Gunnar found out that Ingrid was working as a translator for the Germans, he lost confidence in her, thinking that she had even had sex with an enemy soldier for profit, although this was not the case. Gunnar’s patriotism gets the best of him and he berates him for revealing the location of the British consul to the Germans, even if refraining from doing so would have meant the death of his son.
Despite the problems the couple faced, the final scene would indicate that the corporal finally realized that the most important thing was his family. When he hears the commander ask that they “defend his loved ones to the death”, Gunnar runs to his wife and son. He hugs them and helps them evacuate, implying that he has put his previous recriminations behind him.
