The Phony War is Over on 'World on Fire'

Efficiency, journalist Nancy Campbell reflects in Berlin as World on Fire's fourth episode opens, is what the Germans excel at and which may win them the war. Nevertheless, she’s determined to air her piece on euthanasia, despite her handler Schmidt’s objections. Although her neighbor Mr. Rossler has ordered Nancy out of his family’s apartment, she’s still friends with Mrs. Rossler and her daughter Hilda. To Mrs. Rossler’s dismay and Nancy’s, Mr. Rossler now wears a Swastika lapel pin, indicating that he’s officially a member of the Nazi party. It’s necessary, he argues, to protect the family.

Douglas: You had the courage and good grace to come and tell my girl about your lad, and the thing is what she didn’t tell you, what with pride and what have you, is that she’s having his baby. Harry’s baby.

Nancy takes the precaution of having her script delivered to the studio, but Schmidt intercepts it. Worse, we find that Schmidt knows all about the Rosslers, confirming the family’s fears, and Nancy is forced to agree to non-controversial topics for her broadcasts. Whether she can trust Schmidt is doubtful, though. She returns home to find that Mrs. Rossler and Hilda are going to their summer house while Mr. Rossler stays in Berlin. Nancy and Mrs. Rossler, both putting a brave face on things, say farewell, and Nancy gives Hilda some American candy as a going-away present.