Edge of Darkness (1943) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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1. 1

   Nazi occupation settles over Trollness

   In Nazi-occupied Trollness, Dr. Martin Stensgard and his wife maintain the pretense of gracious living while quietly resisting the occupiers. The doctor struggles between neutrality and the pressure of the Nazi presence, trying not to betray his town or his own conscience. The atmosphere is tense, with fear coloring everyday decisions.

   When

   1942

   Where

   Trollness

2. 2

   Kaspar Torgersen aligns with the occupiers

   Kaspar Torgersen, the wealthy owner of the local cannery, collaborates with the Nazis, representing the town's upper class aligned with occupation. His cooperation strains the community and creates a stark division between collaborators and resistants. The balance of power in Trollness begins to tilt toward the occupiers.

   When

   early 1942

   Where

   Trollness

3. 3

   Karen joins the resistance and Gunnar leads

   Karen, Dr. Stensgard's daughter, becomes a key resistance member and forms a romance with its leader, Gunnar Brogge. Together they organize covert actions and plan how to wait for arms from abroad. The town's resistance gains momentum as risk intensifies.

   When

   early in the occupation

   Where

   Trollness

4. 4

   Johann returns from Oslo under influence of his uncle

   Johann, the doctor’s son, returns from school in Oslo and is influenced by his Nazi-sympathizer uncle. Karen makes it clear to the townsfolk that Johann is a Quisling, signaling how divided loyalties threaten family ties. The return injects personal danger into the resistance’s ranks.

   When

   after Oslo trip

   Where

   Trollness

5. 5

   Resistance awaits arms from a British submarine

   Gunnar and Karen lead a core group that anxiously awaits the secret arrival of arms from a British submarine. They hide the weapons in a cellar and urge the townsfolk to delay violence until the opportune moment. The hidden arsenal becomes the backbone of their defensive plan.

   Where

   Trollness

6. 6

   Karen is grabbed by a German soldier

   One evening, Karen is grabbed by a German soldier on her way to a meeting and disappears. She later reappears at the meeting with torn clothes and bruised face, an indication she has been assaulted. The violence strengthens the resolve of the resistance while testing Karen’s resolve.

   When

   one evening

   Where

   Trollness

7. 7

   Karen's father murders a German soldier

   In a flash of anger after the meeting, Karen’s father kills a German soldier. The act escalates the Nazi crackdown and triggers harsher measures against the resistance. The violence underscores the high stakes of survival in Trollness.

   When

   same day

   Where

   Trollness

8. 8

   Nazi commandant orders resistance leaders held for public execution

   The Nazi commandant orders all suspected resistance leaders captured or connected to the group to be held for public execution. The townspeople brace for a massacre as fear and anger mix with their own defiance. This decree marks a turning point toward the mass confrontation to come.

   When

   following the murder

   Where

   Trollness town center

9. 9

   The townsfolk dig their own graves in the town square

   The prisoners are forced to dig their own graves in the town square while the crowd gathers. The grim ritual serves as a brutal warning and a test of the community’s willingness to resist. Amid fear, voices start to rise in quiet defiance.

   When

   the next morning

   Where

   Town square, Trollness

10. 10

    Arming and church defense rally the town

    The townsfolk discover the opportune moment has arrived as they arm themselves with the smuggled arsenal. The local pastor fires a machine gun from the church tower, and others join in, transforming fear into coordinated resistance. The village reasserts control of Trollness as the fight resumes.

    When

    that day

    Where

    Church tower and town

11. 11

    Village recaptured and civilians evacuated by sea

    With renewed confidence, the villagers retake Trollness and load women and children onto fishing boats bound for England. The operation secures the civilian evacuation while the men stay to defend the harbor and streets. The escape highlights the personal cost of occupation and the resolve to continue the fight.

    When

    soon after arming

    Where

    Harbor, Trollness

12. 12

    Hotel in Trollness becomes German HQ; defense prepared

    The local hotel serves as the German headquarters and becomes the center of defense preparations. Karen’s brother has moved there, increasing personal stakes for the resistance. The siege atmosphere intensifies as both sides consolidate their positions.

    Where

    Hotel in Trollness

13. 13

    Resistance march through the forest toward the hotel

    Gunnar, Karen, Karen’s father, and other resistance members march through the forest toward the hotel, seeking to confront the German forces directly. The march is tense, with the rebels aware of the danger of a crossfire trap. The forest becomes a corridor to the next confrontation.

    Where

    Forest near Trollness

14. 14

    Johann warns of a crossfire trap and is killed

    Johann warns the rebels that their approach leads into a crossfire trap. The Germans kill him, and the rebels proceed into the hotel’s vicinity into a fierce battle. The loss of Johann sharpens the rebels’ resolve to press the attack.

    Where

    Forest approaching hotel; Trollness

15. 15

    Hotel seized; commandant commits suicide; survivors go to the hills

    The rebels finally seize the hotel after a brutal fight, and the Nazi commandant commits suicide rather than surrender. Surviving resistance members retreat to the hills to continue fighting the occupation. The battle marks a turning point and signals the ongoing resistance in the region.

    Where

    Hotel in Trollness