The Hansa Way
OUTLINE
Spring of 1945: Elisabet, pregnant from a German Navy seaman, is now an outcast in her home country. In hopes of finding her lost lover, she sets sail on a journey with her new born daughter, hopping from a fishing trawler to a drifting U-Boat along the Hansa route leading her from Helsinki to Danzig from where she is finally evacuated along with thousands of ethic Germans expelled from Soviet controlled Poland.
Elisabet is delivering her baby daughter as the radio announces that the German Army has retreated to Norway, having Scorched earth Northern Finland on its passage, leaving a desolated land behind. Amidst the celebration that follows, Elisabet is being pressured by her bourgeois Swedish speaking family not to divulge the identity of the baby's father. Not wanting to bear such a burden on her daughter and yearning to find her lover, she talks to Red Cross personnel stationed at the hospital who assist her in tracking the father's family in Danzig, under Soviet control. In the disarray that precedes the German capitulation and with no way to communicate via mail or telegraph, she seeks a way to reach Soviet controlled Estonia. Only experienced fishermen can navigate the dangerous waters along the "mine net" laid between Helsinki and Tallinn. Elisabet boards an Estonian fishing trawler at night.
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HOSPITAL ROOM, HELSINKI, 25 APRIL 1945
The low lying Nordic sun bounces off the glass windows from a house across the street and radiates through the sparsely furnished room. An Assistant Nurse gently pulls a baby girl from of her mother's womb. As no one else is around to cut the umbilical cord, she asks Elisabet to hold her dripping newborn while she gets the scissors. Elisabet weeps a mixture of joy and sadness as the Assistant Nurse cuts the cord then wipes the baby before exiting the the room.
HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM, HELSINKI, 25 APRIL 1945
A crowd of doctor's and nurses are gathered around the radio as the newsman announces that the last German soldier has just crossed the Norwegian border. The short war with Germany has left desolation throughout Northern Finland and the Finnish Army will now concentrate its resources on the Eastern front to block any Russian invasion attempt.
The Assistant Nurse finds a middle aged couple discreetly waiting in a quiet room adjacent to the cheering crowd.
-Mr. and Mrs. Ahlström? asks the nurse.
-Yes, anxiously replies Elisabet's mother.
-It's a girl!
-Is she healthy? asks the father.
-Yes, both the baby and the mother are fine. You can come in now, replies the Assistant Nurse, smiling.
The mother looks at the father who holds her back.
-We have to go. Please give her this, and this for you, replies the father as he hands an envelope and a couple of 1000 Markka notes the Assistant Nurse.
HOSPITAL ROOM, HELSINKI, 25 APRIL 1945
The Assistant Nurse walks back into the room holding the envelope and a notepad.
-So? asks Elisabet.
-They left...
Elisabet holds her baby tight and stares out the window.
-Hypocrites!
The assistant nurse places the envelope on the night table. Elisabet grabs it and peeks inside finding a stack of 1000 Markka notes.
-You are sure that you don't want to think about it some more?
-Yes, I'm sure, replies Elisabet as she puts the envelope back on the table. Alma, Alma Grass. That's her name.
-You can stay here until tomorrow if you want... You should rest now, says the Assistant Nurse as she writes down the baby's name on the birth certificate.
PUB, PORT OF SOMPASAARI, A WEEK LATER
The pub is crowded with fishermen, sailors and dockers drinking and discussing the outcome of the war, and its implication for their livelihoods. Near the end of the room, the only woman there attracts attention as she talks to a young man, siting at her table.
-With the baby? asks the seaman.
-Yes, replies Elisabet holding Alma tightly wrapped in a white cloth.
-I don't know. I was told one passenger. Didn't know you would be a woman... With a baby.
-I'll pay double.
The young man is taken aback by the directness of this woman, even younger than him.
-Ok I guess... So meet us a the end of the dock at midnight. Be discreet. One luggage only... and the baby...
-Thank you... thank you so much.
ESTONIAN FISHING TRAWLER, BALTIC SEA, 20 NAUTICAL MILES FROM TALLINN, 4 MAY 1945, DAWN
The Baltic Sea is eerily quiet on this third day following the announcement of Hitler's death. A fisherman, alone on deck, scouts the foggy horizon, as the boat navigates on a fine line between two rows of mines. Hearing voices mixed to the sound of the diesel engine and of the water hitting the hull, he looks towards the cabin to make sure he isn't being called but the trawler's captain is dozing off at the helm and there are no other souls on deck. Hearing more calls, he is befuddled when a surfaced submarine appears through the fog, meters away from his slowly sailing trawler. On deck, several sailors call him in German, and in various Baltic languages.
Confused, the fisherman takes a few seconds to realize that the U-boat is not in a firing position, then replies to the German sailors telling them to hold on as he calls his captain twice before he could wake him up. Hearing the commotion, Elisabet climbs on deck holding baby Alma in her arms. Two other fishermen are now on decks trowing ropes at the U-boat as more German seamen pop out through the submarine's fin side door.
The captain of the Estonian trawler is baffled when the very young captain of the U-boat jumps on his rusty fishing trawler.
-Are you the captain? asks the German.
-Euh... Yes, replies the Estonian fisherman in German with a thick accent.
-We need Diesel. We can pay you.
-Diesel? The Estonian fisherman looks at his Finnish crew which have gathered around him.
-Do you understand what they want, he asks his 3 men crew in Finnish.
They all reply that they don't as Elisabet walks up to them still holding Alma.
-They want to buy Diesel... They're willing to pay, claims Elisabet.
All men turn towards the mother and baby.
The Estonian then looks at the 75 meters Type XXI Elektroboote.
-Diesel! I don't know... How much do they need?
Elisabet translate in German then Finnish from now on.
-Enough to reach passed the Russian lines. Maybe 10 tons.
-10 tons! Our tank only holds two tons and we're probably half empty.
-You can buy some from the Russians in Tallinn, not us.
The Estonian fisherman hesitates...
-From the Russians... It's risky.
-We can pay you...
The German captain pulls a 1kg gold bar bearing an engraved swastika.
-This one now, for your reserve... and one more per ton you bring back.
DOCKS, TALLINN, NIGHT
The docks are bearably lit by a single lamp post on this chilly spring night. With its lights down, a Soviet Army truck slowly drives by the docked Estonian trawler. The captain and two of his Finnish crewmen apprehensively walk across the truck's path. The driver flashes the head beams twice and stops. The three fishermen walk up to the truck.
-Let's move, says the driver in Estonian.
-How many you got? asks the captain.
-20 barrels.
-Ok, that will do, replies the captain, figuring out the maths as he answers. Can you pull back by my boat.
-No, replies the driver nervously. Let's do it here right now. You have the money?
-Better, the captain pulls the gold bar and hands hit to the driver. That's three times the value.
The driver inspects the Swastika bullion as the two other fishermen roll up the tarp and start rolling down the drums.
NAVIGATION TABLE, INTERIOR U-3955, 5 MAY 1945, EARLY MORNING
The U-boat Captain, the Engineer and Navigator, all in their early 20s, are drawing radius with compasses on a map of the Baltic sea as the Estonian captain accompanied by Elisabet and Alma stand by. Alma starts crying as heavy metallic noises emanate from the pressurized hull. Elisabet sings a traditional Finnish ballad to soothe her.
-20 times 0.1341 ton, that's 2682 kg... With what's left in the tank, it's barely 3 tons, says the Engineer.
-We won't make it passed Gotland, replies the Navigator looking at the map.
The U-boat Captain looks at the Estonian, then at Elisabet still singing to Alma's ear.
-You're sure he can't get more, asks the Captain?
Elisabet translates.
-No, he will already have to account for the missing 20. That's all we can do... Can you ask him to bring us back up now, says the Estonian to Elisabet.
Before Elisabet could even translate a message pops from the Enigma machine. All heads turns towards the Radioman.
-From OKW, Flensburg: ALL SHIPS ARE TO CEASE FIRE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE NEAREST ALLIED FORCES PORT FLYING A BLACK FLAG.
-That means we can't even surrender to the Swedes. We've got to make our way to Fehmarn, says the Captain to his Officers.
-Captain! A 4 engine bomber is flying low at 11 o'clock, shouts the Watchman looking through the periscope.
-That's the third one this morning. They're is no way we can resurface before sunset, says the Captain.
-If the fishing boat stands still all day, it'll attract attention. Maybe they'll dispatch a Corvette, says the First Officer. We have to move on.
Elisabet who understood the conversation, thus the implications for her, Alma and the Estonian captain, becomes the center of attention.
-What's going on, asks the Estonian.
-I don't mind trying to reach Germany with you, claims Elisabet to the Germans ignoring the Estonian. That's where we are heading anyways...
-What about him, asks the Engineer.
All heads turn towards the Estonian who looks confused.
BALTIC SEA, 20 NAUTICAL MILES FROM TALLINN
The Estonian Captain pops out of the water like a fishing quark followed by a tiny black inflatable raft which unfolds as it reaches the surface. He climbs onto the raft, sinks into it and stares at 3 gold bars which he pulled from his pocket before starting to row towards his trawler half a NM away.
COMMAND POST, INTERIOR U-3955, EARLY MORNING
-15 meters down, 220 degrees WSW, 90 percent speed, shouts the First Officer to the Crew as the Watchman pulls down the periscope.
-Welcome aboard ladies, says the Captain as he looks at Elisabet holding Alma bearing a smile.
-Thank you Captain.
SLEEPING QUARTERS, U-3955
The numbing sound of a transformer fills the U-boat. Elisabet sits by Alma who's lying on a lower berth in the forward sleeping quarters. The Captain walks to them and kneels down.
-So what's her name?
-Alma.
The Captain caresses Alma's forehead.
-Hopefully, she'll get to grow up in peace.
-Yes, replies Elisabet not too sure on how to react to the Captain's proximity.
-How old are you?
-17...
-That's how old I was when I got on my first patrol, 5 years ago. When I leave this ship, hopefully we all will, I'll be 17 again... All these years underwater... It's like time stopped.
-You're only 22? and a Captain!
-This is my first patrol as a captain. We left Danzig on March 26 and have been playing hide and seek with the Russians since then.
CAPTAIN'S QUARTER, OFF FARO ISLAND, SWEDEN
One by one, the Captain pulls a dozen of compact wooden boxes from his safe and hands them to the Navigation Officer who places them side by side on the Captain's berth. All are sealed and bear an engraved Deutsche Reichsbank eagle on their lid.
-You are sure about the position? asks the Captain.
The Navigator is stunned by the number of boxes.
-Yea... How much is that? I thought you meant 20-30 kg...
-One hundred kg per box. If we secure 10, that's a ton... We can't risk them seizing it all from us. Not the Russians nor the Swedes.
-Hell no!
-So you have to make absolutely sure that we have the right coordinates...
-I double checked with the sextant and triple checked with the lighthouse... We're spot on... 500m in line.
SEABED, OFF FARO ISLAND
Standing on the seabed by merely 15m depth, the Navigator is scouting the horizon with a battery lantern, trying to count the boxes. His stiff diving suit prevents him from looking up at a wooden box which is plummeting down along his breathing tube. The box hits the side of his helmet and knock's him over on the murky seabed creating a cloud of dust.
U-3955 DECK, OFF FARO ISLAND, NIGHT
A seaman holds the umbilical breathing tube/cord as the Captain dumps the remaining boxes one by one aiming at the fading light below.
-It's getting tighter. Like if he got deeper... warns the seaman.
-The light hasn't moved... Is he responding?
The seaman hits the cord twice and waits for a response as the Captain's focus shifts from the bottom of the sea to the rotating beam of the lighthouse.
Suddenly, the cord is pulled 3 times meaning that the diver requests to be pulled back up...
U-3955 DECK, OFF FARO ISLAND, NIGHT, LATER
Elisabet climbs down the fin's ladder and walks towards the Captain, sitting at the ship's stern, staring at lighthouse .
-Can I join you Captain? asks Elisabet.
The Captain turns around and smiles at Elisabet.
-Sure... You want to sit down? replies the Captain as he lays his life vest on the steel deck as a cushion. You smoke?
-Ok...
The Captain pulls a couple of Ernte 23 and blows a long flames out of his tube lighter to light Elisabet's cigarette.
-That's good... We have to save the petrol! says Elisabet as she gently pulls the Captain's hand away.
The Captain lights his own. They look at the lighthouse beam for a while...
-You should go back home Elisabet... The war is over now and Germany is not the place to be, says the Captain. We could drop you off here. This is Sweden. They're neutral. You could be home in a couple of weeks.
-I'm sure I'll find him...
-Even if he made it, which is more than unlikely, he's gonna be held prisoner in Siberia for years before coming back.
The lighthouse beam passes right above their heads.
-Then I'll wait... I'm not going back to them. I want my daughter to be wanted... proud. Proud of her mother and proud of her father. I don't want her to grow up ashamed... hiding the fact that her father is the enemy and that her mother was a loose girl...
-Maybe you're right... But a loose girl... That much? replies the Captain teasing Elisabet.
-You know what I mean...
A moment passes. The Captain is uneasy, not sure if he offended Elisabet with his comment.
-You have a wife?
-No... Never even had a real girlfriend.
-What do you mean Real?
-Well like a girl I go out with... Write to... That kind of things.
-But you've been with women before?
-Of course... I'm a seamen.
-You mean prostitutes...
-Yes... Kind of, replies the Captain embarrassingly.
-And did you love them.
-I liked one... She was a Polish girl in Danzig. I think she liked me too.
-And?
-Don't know. When my patrol came back, the brothel had been destroyed during an air raid.
-Sorry...
-I don't think she died. Neighbors said all the girls went to the shelter... But no one knows where they went after...
Elisabet kisses the Captain of the cheek.
NAVIGATOR'S TABLE, OFF FARO ISLAND
The Captain and the Navigator are drinking Ersatzkaffee while studying a map of Goteland.
-There are two possibilities. Either try Visby and purchase from a fisherman, which means we have to enter and wait in the straight or we try the base her on Faro... points out the Navigator.
-We could get squeezed in the straight... But then again, buying from the Swedish Navy...
-Maybe we bribe a seaman...
-In German?
At this moment Elisabet pulls the curtain and walks out of the adjacent Captain's quarters.
-Did we wake you up?
-It's ok, Alma's sleeping...
-Coffee? Offers the Captain.
-No thanks, I don't drink coffee yet, and it wouldn't be good for the baby... responds Elisabet as she looks at the map.
-You're right, although it's not even coffee, replies the Navigator as he looks at his reflection inside his cup.
-I speak Swedish, if that helps!
Both look at her incredulous...
-How many languages do you speak? Asks the Captain.
-Three. Finnish at school, Swedish at home and German... Well, in bed... smiles Elisabet... and some Estonian, at the fish-market.
-Wow, replies the Navigator
-So you heard what we were saying, saids the Captain.
-Yes, you guys want to sneak onto the island to buy or get some diesel from the Swedish Navy. But you can't speak Swedish!
-Basically that's it, answers the Captain.
-How long do you think it will take. I can't really leave her for more then 4 hours without feeding her.
-4 hours! I think it'll be at least 12! if not a couple of days... saids the Captain.
U-3955, ELECTRICAL ENGINE ROOM
The U-boat's Engineer ties a last wire to a Breast pump prototype under the suspicious eye of the Captain.
-And you're sure this will work?
-Yes, it's Edward Lasker, who was a student at Charlottenburg's Technical Institute where I studied who invented this.
-The chess player? asks the Captain.
-Yes, answers the Engineer. So you want me to demonstrate on you or directly on her?
-Well, maybe we'll test on a crewman first.
SHORE, FARO ISLAND, NIGHT
The Captain, the Navigator and Elisabet beach their inflatable boat on the northern shore of Faro Island.
-Don't worry, she'll be fine... says the Navigator to Elisabet. There are 50 daddies playing mommy on board.
-I've just never left her, replies Elisabet.
-Let's go! says the Captain as he grabs one side of the boat.
The trio takes covers in a wooden patch about 500m north of the Faro Fyr.
-There should be a road leading to the lighthouse. We can walk along until we hit a cross road. Saids the Navigator.
-Do you guys know where we're going? asks Elisabet.
-To get diesel! reply the two guys, looking at each other.
FARO FYR, FARO ISLAND
The trio reach the lighthouse and take cover behind rocks, scouting the area for potential vigils. The lighthouse beam intermittently hitting a fog patch over the sea, illuminates the area revealing several barrels sitting at the bottom of the tower.
-Do you think they're full, asks Elisabet noticing the barrels.
-Most likely paraffin for the lamp, replies the Navigator, who looks at the Captain. What do you think?
(Type XXI submarines were initially developed to run using paraffin for air-independent propulsion but the project was abandoned by the kriegsmarine and replaced by dielsel/electric engines.)
-No... She's not ready... I mean we'd have to run it by Engineer but... Anyhow, strange that the whole set up is left unguarded, saids the Captain.
At that moment, light beams flicker through the trees, announcing an incoming vehicle and defining the prospective road.
An M/43 Volvo all terrain vehicle arrives and stops at the foot of the lighthouse. The two men on board walk out and start calling a name out loud... No one replies... Until a dark shape, lying a couple of rocks away from Elisabet, starts moving. The Captain muzzles her from behind as the Navigator aims his handgun at the Swedish seaman slowly standing up, gathering his weapon, helmet and backpack, on which he had been sleeping, and walking towards the vehicle.
-Yeah, yeah... shouts the sleepy vigil as the two others break into laughters.
The tree Swedes sit by the paraffin barrels and pull out a bottle of akvavit leaving the vehicle unattended, 10 meters away...
Behind their rocks, the Navigator looks at the Captain, who then looks at Elisabet, still muzzled, then back at the Navigator...
-I guess this is our chance! If we get separated, walk back to the lifeboat and hide. We'll either be there or they'll send another boat to get you.
-What do you mean separated! Let's stay together right, saids Elisabet as she pulls the Captain's hand away from her mouth.
On those words, the Navigator notices that one of the Swedes stands up to take a piss against the lighthouse tower.
-Let's go.
The trio climb onto the road and make a loop around the vehicle to approach it from behind, hidden from the Swedish seamen. The Captain pushes Elisabet onto the back seat then climbs over the front seat where the Navigator is busy trying to figure out the starting system.
-You think this is it?
-How would I know...
-Well, they're about 3 seconds away from us... maybe 5 because they're drunk. So you got to get it right the first time. I don't want to start shooting at Swedes... Plus the war is over.
-Shooting! I thought you guys brought me along because I could negotiate with them, murmurs Elisabet from the bottom of the back seat.
-Well, change of plans... We didn't know they'd provide us with a getaway car...
The sounds of the escaping vehicle steer the Swedes into motion, but the darkness of the Baltic night prevents them from firing a single shot.
MAIN GATE OF THE SWEDISH NAVAL BASE, FARO ISLAND
All lights down, the trio's vehicle is parked a short distance from main gate of the island's Navy Base.
-We're talking not even 10km... They'll be back within less than 2 hours!
-The way they were guarding the lighthouse, maybe we have a shot at getting in.
-It doesn't look like there is a fence besides the gate.
-But where is the depot? Plus how many barrels can we fit in here.
The Navigator looks at the space behind him.
-Like 6 max.
-That's good. We could probably get passed Rugen with that. We just need to know if the Soviets reached much further.
ROAD BACK TO FARO FYR, FARO ISLAND
The trio's M/43 Volvo stacked up to the roof with diesel drums zooms by the 3 seamen they stole it from before they could once again have time to pull their weapons. Confused and concerned about the outcome of the potentially embarrassing situation, the Swedes start walking back towards the lighthouse.
-Did you notice a slipway at the end of the road.
-No, but it wouldn't make sense that they're wouldn't be one.
-Well we have maybe half an hour to get the raft and dumps the drums.
-Elisabet, can you drive?
-No... I only drove the farmer's tractor when I was a kid.
-Ok so you get the boat and steer it back close to the lighthouse. Don't for get both paddles and the rope.
-You think it's all gonna fit on the boat? There was barely enough room for the 3 of us.
-We'll tow the barrels.
-But they'll sink!
-Don't worry.
FARO FYR, FARO ISLAND, DAWN
-Shit, it's gonna be day before we even leave.
-Hopefully the 3 drunks are making their way back here.
-Ok, let's go. Elisabet, to the boat, Don't forget the paddles and the rope.
-Nav, help me unload then drive the kastenwagen back at least one km up the road and run back. Find a way to stall them when they find it...
All three execute their task in a flash.
SIDE OF THE ROAD, FARO ISLAND
The 3 Swedes take cover in the forest as they notice the head beams of their m/43 pointing at them. After debating a plan of action, they cautiously walk to the m/43 pointing their weapons its direction. After a longish standoff, they realize that the vehicle has been empty all along. They debate weather they should report the whole incident... One starts walking back towards the lighthouse as the two others drive back to the base, hoping that the longish watch turnover will get unnoticed...
OFF FARO ISLAND, MORNING
The fin of U-3955 pops out of the water to the great relief of the Captain, Navigator and Elisabet who are arduously rowing with 6 fully loaded barrels in tow. Seeing two full bottle of akvavit at the bottom of the boat, Elisabet looks comments to the Navigator.
-I see you trusted that the barrels would float but you didn't take any chance with the bottles!
FARO FYR, FARO ISLAND, MORNING
The Swedish relief vigil finally arrives by foot to the lighthouse just in time to witness the German U-Boat diving less than 300m from shore.
Incredulously, he starts walking back towards the base...
U-3955, TORPEDO ROOM
The Captain surrounded by Elisabet, Alma and most of the crew are gathered in the torpedo room as the navigator pours akvavit into the seamen's tin cups.
-skål! Shouts the Navigator as he raise his glass to the crew and the girls.
-To all the mommies on board, pursues the Engineer!
Elisabet stands up.
-Thank you Engineer and thank you all for taking care of my little Alma while I was ashore...
-Our little Alma, shouts a seaman as he mimics holding one of his breast.
The Captain stands up and waits for the laughter and the commotion that follows to settle before addressing the crew.
-As you know, our country has now officially surrendered... The war is over... We have lost... Although I am still the Captain of this ship, as a renegade officer, I no longer have authority on its crew and therefore cannot unilaterally decide of its faith. Most of you are older than me. Many with families hopefully waiting for them in the motherland, or somewhere in what will be a new Europe.
As some of you know, this ship supports the latest classified technology of our country and is praised by our enemies... Former enemies... My instructions were to avoid seizure of this ship at any cost... Sailing it back to Danzig is in contradiction with these orders. Scuttling the ship in deep enough water to avoid its raising would mean death for most, if not all of us... And we now have a baby on board...
Our only hope is to reach Bornholm, which is still under German control. Our batteries have been damaged during the last attack and we are forced to only sail at surface. This is highly risky as we'll have to sail on the edge of Sweden without entering their waters, yet trying to avoid Russian surveillance planes and ships. They'll out speed us in a flash...
U-3955 arrives in Bornholm as the Soviets invade the island on May 9...
DANZIG
Following its liberation by the Red Army, the city is in disarray and prone to "ethnic cleansing". Elisabet finds Gunter's family home repossessed by displaced Poles. Claiming the German citizenship of her daughter, she takes part in a massive exodus of Ethnic Germans towards the west.
LUBECK
Elisabet and Alma take shelter in a house bordering the British and Soviet zones where Alma was raised.
Alma is raised on the Inner German Border by her single mom mother.