The Silver Fleet

In the early years of the Second World War, the Nazis have overrun the Netherlands and have taken over the shipyard co-owned and run by Jaap van Leyden (Ralph Richardson). The yard was making submarines for the Royal Dutch Navy. The German 'Protector' Von Schiffer (Esmond Knight) demands that they resume making submarines, but for the Germans. By lowering food rations to starvation point, they induce some of the skilled workers to return to the yard.

This leads to many problems for van Leyden and his wife (Googie Withers) when everyone sees them as collaborators. But van Leyden works out a way to appear to do what the Nazis want, but keep his conscience clear as well. He undertakes a covert campaign of sabotage of his own work, leaving notes and graffiti signed under his nom de guerre Piet Hein (a reference to the Dutch naval hero Piet Hein, whose victory over a Spanish "Silver Fleet" gives the film its title).

One submarine is taken over by the Dutch crew and sailed to England, which leads to greater security. Finally, van Leyden sabotages a submarine during its first sea trial, killing himself and the many Nazi officials on board.

Some scenes were filmed in the town of King's Lynn.

• The Silver Fleet at IMDb
• The Silver Fleet at the BFI's Screenonline Full synopsis and film stills (and clips viewable from UK libraries).
• Reviews and articles at the Powell & Pressburger Pages