Secrets of World War II episode 13: In 1943 as the Germans were producing ‘heavy water’ to build their atomic bomb, the Norwegian resistance launched a daring raid against the Norsk Hydro plant.
In 1941, British intelligence received an ominous message from operatives in Nazi-occupied Norway: The Norsk Hydro electric plant in Telemark had stepped up production of “heavy water,” a vital componet in the manufacture of an atomic bomb. The threat of German nuclear capability triggered a daring secret operation to destroy the plant and the enemy’s supply of heavy water. Discover how a courageous band of commandos prevented Hitler from building the ultimate weapon, in “The Real Heroes of Telemark.”
Join Norwegian recruits at a classified British training camp to learn infiltration and sabotage techniques. Witness a disastrous attempt to reach Telemark by glider and see why the plan nearly shut down the entire operation. Parachute onto a frozen lake, then take part in an exciting nighttime raid on the heavy water plant. And relive a thrilling, cross-country escape on skis…as a determined Nazi search party closes in. Then watch in horror as a controversial sabotage mission sends Hitler’s last chance for an atomic weapon-along with innocent civilians- to the bottom of a cold Norwegian fjord.
Secrets of World War II episode 13
You probably know the History, now discover the incredible SECRETS OF WORLD WAR II. Rarely has a war produced such clear cut reasons to fight as World War II. On the one hand were the totalitarian Dictators – Tojo, Hitler and Mussolini. On the other were the great democracies of the Western World which were gradually regaining their feet after the Great War of 1914-18 and the Wall Street Crash. Suddenly, ordinary men and women from all walks of life found themselves thrown into fearsome, nerve-tingling situations worthy of any Hollywood movie. The only difference in this series is that every story is true. Real people emerge as the Heroes of Telemark. Ordinary GIs and US Airforce and Navy personnel suddenly find themselves flying against the Japanese in China, jungle fighting in Burma and being dropped by submarine on enemy coasts at midnight.
These untold stories can now be examined in great detail with the benefit of hindsight, newly-discovered archive film, maps and computer graphics which can complete the picture for today’s viewer. Each fifty-two minute story covers the background to the main action. It will give the viewer a clear view of the historical context, the strategic objective and the tactical effort made by flyers, sailors and foot-soldiers – often in the most oppressive and life-threatening situations – to win victory from the enemy.
This is an inspiring series with a giant canvas including much never before seen colour film. Over 300,000 hours of archive material have been searched for its compilation. Specially orchestrated music and compositions from the great composers all contribute to the excitement and drama of some of the world’s greatest stories of bravery under fire.
It is the largest series of its kind ever produced and with recently released secret footage will give the viewer a new insight into the great untold war stories of World War II. In many cases, this series gives the true stories for the first time this Century.
Norwegian heavy water sabotage
The Norwegian heavy water sabotage was a series of actions carried out by the Allies during World War II to halt the production of heavy water by the Germans in occupied Norway. Heavy water, or deuterium oxide, is a key component in the production of nuclear weapons and the Allies were determined to stop the Germans from obtaining it. The focus of the sabotage was the Vemork power station in Telemark, which was the world’s first site to mass-produce heavy water. The plant had a capacity of 12 tonnes per year and before the German invasion, 185 kilograms of heavy water were removed and transported to France.
Between 1940 and 1944, the Norwegian resistance movement and Allied bombing carried out a series of sabotage actions that resulted in the destruction of the Vemork plant and the loss of its heavy water. Operation Grouse, Freshman and Gunnerside were code names for these operations. Operation Grouse involved placing a team of four Norwegians on the Hardanger Plateau above the plant in October 1942, while Operation Freshman was a failed attempt by British paratroopers to rendezvous with the Operation Grouse team and proceed to Vemork.
Finally, in February 1943, a team of SOE-trained Norwegian commandos destroyed the production facility in Operation Gunnerside. This was followed by Allied bombing raids, resulting in the Germans ceasing operations and attempting to move the remaining heavy water to Germany. However, the Norwegian resistance forces sank the ferry carrying the heavy water, effectively halting the German’s efforts to obtain heavy water and potentially develop a nuclear weapon.
