Beyond the Front Line (Framom främsta linjen)

The characters and events depicted in this motion picture are real.

They are based on the stories of veterans and military history.

- Second Lieutenant Järv, is the strike group ready? - Yes, we are.

I'll wait for your return with emergency troops.

The Soviets' base "the Bird" must be beaten.

It's a formidable base but I have faith in you and Lieutenant Järv.

I want a prisoner, alive.

Good luck.

Good luck.

Those boys have a tough night ahead of them.

We'll dig forward.

I don't know where the guards are.

No movement above the snow!

BEYOND THE FRONT LINE

Welcome.

Harry Järv's home, Stockholm December 6th, 2003

- So you're Jeanette? - Jeanette Eriksson.

Orvar Nilsson.

We're off to the Finnish embassy. It's their Independence Day.

Orvar helped us in the Winter and Continuation Wars.

- That was a long time ago. - Come in.

This is a Soviet war map. Is it a spoil of war, Harry?

In summer of 1941 we took back the Karelian peninsula.

As you can see, the Syväri river flows from Lake Onega -

towards Lake Ladoga.

During the war there were two Swedish speaking regiments.

I arrived at the base "the Dam" -

in early June 1942.

The front was quiet.

We had to get information about the enemy's intentions -

with reconnaissance missions.

This clay is hard like cement!

Help is coming.

Forss, you got a package.

Take cover!

"The Dam", Syväri river, June 1942

Fire in the hole!

There's Major Hedengren.

- You've made a lot of progress. - TNT helps the digging.

Where the hell did you get it? We shouldn't waste our supplies!

We took it from the Soviets' mine fields.

Very well then.

That Swede listens to reason.

You're married to your camera.

- Do you sleep with it? - I don't use it in my sleep.

Next week I'll take it with me to "the Boil."

- Can I come along? - Sure. We'll give that base hell.

The commanders don't like it so close to our lines.

"The Boil" is almost next to the "Teeri" base.

- Why were we chosen? - I've been there before.

- What's that? - An old boot leg. I'll carry the camera with it.

At "Boil" we have our hands full.

"The Boil", July 4th, 1942

We'll split into small groups and attack all the posts simultaneously.

Our artillery will provide cover fire for one minute. Follow me.

We'll need a lot of grenades and charges.

Forss, Händig, Bergroth.

Take a photo of me leaving.

Now!

Is everybody here? No wounded?

Something's wrong. Where are those damn Russkies?

It's too quiet!

Russkies!

- We'll bring the wounded. - Good.

- We destroyed nine of the ten posts. - Good.

The last one remained. The Russkies struck back.

They have about thirty casualties.

Two of us were slightly wounded.

Well done! You'll get an extra leave.

Give me a list tomorrow.

You call this a pot? You won't win the war with toys.

It would've been worse if Forss hadn't seen the Russkies.

I had no idea what happened further back.

Our artillery didn't know the Russkies were so close.

You started the attack before the last grenades fell.

The last grenades came too late.

I don't know what went wrong. Watches were synchronised.

We were very lucky.

- But do we need artillery support? - What do you mean?

We could sneak into their positions instead of attacking.

Then the battle would be fought on our terms.

Sounds unusual and nerve-racking but it's worth a try.

The risk of exposure diminishes if the group is smaller.

Not a bad idea, Allan.

Hedengren talked about furlough. That'd be nice.

That Swede is OK. It's bold to come here voluntarily from safe Sweden.

There should be more than Händig and Hedengren.

Our neighbour, IR 13, has an entire company, 140 men.

Volunteers, yes. But the official view of Sweden...

There've been signs.

A friend of mine from Helsinki is in the 11th Division.

He told me what he saw last year -

at Säämäjärvi.

That officer has a Soviet uniform. Is he a POW?

What? He's a Lieutenant Colonel in the Swedish army.

Oh, really? It's about time Sweden joined us.

Your Royal Highness. This road -

goes to Lake Onega and Petroskoi.

The main road here goes to Aunus and Lake Ladoga. A 100 kilometres away.

"Your Royal Highness", he said. A real Royal!

I recognised him from a magazine. It's prince Gustaf Adolf.

You have a fancy passenger. A prince.

He dares to come this close to the line. What's he doing here?

You can ask someone else.

But he's well-informed. I heard him talking to Colonel.

He had a hard time answering all the questions.

And that prince is no sissy.

He wanted to volunteer for the Winter War -

but his grandfather, the king, wouldn't let him.

That's understandable. But he did let the prince come here.

You remember that?

In March. It was reported in the newspapers.

Headquarters, Mikkeli. March 1942

of the brave Finns and you, Field Marshal.

To show our appreciation my grandfather -

His Majesty King Gustaf, stows upon you a knighthood -

and a First Class grand cross.

The Finnish people have never wanted war.

But neither did we hesitate to take arms to defend our country.

The Swedish royal family knows that we weren't born yesterday.

Mannerheim said that this is Finland's war.

I wanted to go to Leningrad but he refused to attack, twice!

Hitler was furious.

We happen to have the same enemy.

The Winter War was worse. We fought the Russkies and Germans.

When Mannerheim turned 75 Hitler paid him a visit.

Think about it. Mannerheim, who is a lot taller than Hitler -

marching fast.

Quiet. The news.

Headquarters announced that one of our attack patrols -

invaded the enemy positions and destroyed almost ten enemy posts.

Thirty enemy soldiers were killed...

That's you. Järv's patrol made the news.

Tomorrow I'll go to officer training.

Us young officers are too lenient with you rascals.

- It'll change when I come back. - OK, sir!

Shut your pie hole!

Is it any good?

- You finally came back. - Did you do well in the training?

- You have a little tan. - Nothing's changed here.

- What was the training like? - What I expected.

What the hell...?

Hi, Harry! What was the training like?

Was it bad?

- Whose are these? - That's mine.

There are other guns in similar condition.

Commanders pressure subordinates and me too and you just lie here!

I'm gone for two weeks and everything is a mess!

They tried to force us to become more disciplined.

Like in peacetime. But we didn't give a damn.

No one has to be toady to me.

But the Russkies may come any time so the guns have to be ready!

Inspection in ten minutes.

Slobs get extra guard duty.

Frilund too!

This happens if you're not diligent.

We proceeded undetected into enemy territory -

and acted fast.

We dominated the battle the whole time.

- This is routine. - But now we have a prisoner.

I heard that you asked when they want the prisoner.

"Saturday at the latest!"

We fulfilled our mission and took a prisoner.

There were no casualties. The same with the jaegers.

Thanks, Harry. Well done.

You've done almost thirty missions. This one went well too.

They've mostly been recon missions.

But there were too many of us. Nine or ten would be enough.

We could discreetly attack the enemy bases.

I heard that! You have a point.

How did you prepare for the attack?

For three nights we observed them, learned their routines.

- Lieutenant Colonel, who...? - My name's Marttinen.

I wanted this prisoner. I'm the division chief of staff.

Soon I'll be your regiment commander.

I'll try to speak Swedish, at least with the rank and file.

We'll be seeing each other a lot.

Von Wilcken! Ask the prisoner for his name and unit.

His name is Kungurchev. His unit is IR 1061.

Infantry Regiments 61 and 1061?

You see! They outnumber us by a thousand.

We'll do fine.

Good guys. I think we'll get along.

Interpreter, take the prisoner.

HQ of the Regiment staff, 1942

Why is it written in Swedish? You do know Finnish, Captain Taxell.

IR 61 is Swedish-speaking.

Everything is written in Swedish.

You're right, Captain.

You studied at Åbo Akademi university?

Could you get me a textbook? My Swedish is a little rusty.

Gladly, sir.

- Everything OK? - It's peaceful.

My shift ends in thirty minutes...

Help me!

- Here I am again. - Good.

- You came back. - You got a package.

I found something in Vaasa.

Did you have fun?

- Hi, guys! Greetings from Vaasa. - You came back.