The Rules of the Game

The Rules of the Game

As the founders of Dutch aviation, idealist Albert Plesman and opportunist Anthony Fokker, are inextricably bound together. They cannot live with each other or without. Nevertheless, during the Interwar Period when the world is heading towards a new war, they join forces to set up civil aviation in the Netherlands.

May 1920 – October 1920

The newly founded KLM suffers losses and Plesman has a difficult time convincing the Board of Directors to make the investments he believes necessary. Fokker, on the other hand, is doing well. Because of his alliance with the KLM, his reputation is blooming and he’s selling his aircrafts all over the world.

Plesman gets more and more frustrated with Fokker. His ‘F.II’ aircraft is taking too long, and it also appears that they are being manufactured in his old factory in Germany. Which is a problem, because according to the Treaty of Versailles, construction of airplanes by the Germans are forbidden. Plesman is furious but is reassured by Fokker’s promise to deliver the new ‘F.II’ for free. Fokker couldn’t care less about providing these few planes to the KLM; he’s about to become the biggest aircraft manufacturer in the world thanks to his deal with the Russians.

During delivery, Fokker says that he doesn’t remember anything about a price agreement with Plesman. When Plesman confronts him, he’s shocked to see van Vlissingen on Fokker’s side. Plesman realises that his ideal of civil aviation is at stake by men who just want to make a profit. He can only win the old boys’ network’s games, if he plays them himself.

Meanwhile Fokker is dealt a terrible blow: feeling let down, his finance Tetta leaves him and returns back to Germany.