Gold Run: The Rescue of Norway’s Gold Bullion from the Nazis, 1940

by Pearson, Robert

  The first consignment was now safe in the UK. Thanks to Haslund and his men, Captain Denny and the Royal Navy, 200 boxes of bullion had been rescued. Back in Norway though, the task of moving the remaining bullion out had already begun…

  9

  The Road to Molde

  April 24th–29th

  News of German advances came with alarming frequency. The latest reports were of a major battle taking place at Kvam on April 24th (NB the town is on the main road from Lillehammer to Åndalsnes and is approximately 35 miles north of Lillehammer). Norwegian and British forces were heavily engaged with the Germans. The fighting was bitter and desperate and losses were heavy. General Paget’s 15th Brigade had embedded themselves around the village of Kvam and across the main road thereby blocking the German advance. The plan was to halt the German advance thereby allowing Norwegian forces to fall back and reorganise themselves in the Romsdal region. General Paget knew that the Brigade’s situation was dire as his force of around 3000 men, supported by Norwegian ski troops, attempted to thwart the onslaught of 8,500 well-equipped Germans. Paget’s forces were badly hamstrung with no air cover, no ground to air defence, no artillery and virtually no transport against the Germans with their tanks, artillery and supreme air power, and the latter supported by dive-bombers. Paget was further hampered by a threat to his left flank as well as bomb damage to the railway line to Åndalsnes. He could see that the outlook was bleak, but nonetheless his men fought hard and for two days they kept the Germans at bay. Eventually the odds were overwhelming and on the 26th Paget decided to begin a withdrawal; it was to be a chaotic affair.

  A line was later drawn at Otta and once again the men of the 15th Brigade played out a similar scenario of defence.

  Meanwhile, German bombers were laying waste to Åndalsnes and with the unstoppable onslaught of the German forces the only outcome for the British forces and their Allies was the evacuation of southern Norway. Although probably not appreciated at the time the dogged rearguard action of the Allies was buying valuable time for the Norwegians intent on moving the gold transport to safety and away from the Germans, but of course it would only take one sharp-eyed Luftwaffe pilot to dramatically swing the odds in favour of the invaders.

  It was absolutely essential that Haslund, perhaps now bordering on desperation, move the gold away from Åndalsnes with the utmost urgency. The inevitable threat of bombing remained extremely high and staying where they were in the hope that another warship would come in to collect the remainder of the gold was not an option. Åndalsnes was a scene of utter chaos as the Germans continued to blitz the port and British troops tried to embark their ships to evacuate. There was just not enough room for any more gold to be taken off and it was too dangerous to remain in the area: Molde, a nearby port town, was now the chosen destination.

  Prior to leaving Åndalsnes, and with considerable foresight, Haslund asked Kristian and Nini Gleditsch to drive to Molde ahead of the transport taking with them two boxes of valuables that were to be handed over to Finance Minister Torp. Haslund also wanted them to make contact with Norwegian authorities to see where the bullion could be stored as well as liaise with the British naval authorities to arrange transportation. Haslund did not have to reiterate the urgency and they didn’t need reminding. Southern Norway was falling and time was of the utmost essence.

  Haslund made arrangements to secure a vehicle for the Gleditschs, but the only one on offer was a fish van! On April 24th the van duly arrived complete with driver. A rail truck was opened (No 2950) and two boxes transferred to the fish van, with the operation carefully watched by Haslund, Sunde and Gleditsch106. Five soldiers were assigned to guard the van as it transported the boxes to Molde but with explicit orders to return once their mission was accomplished. This particular operation was to be known as ‘the light luggage’. Kristian Gleditsch reports:107

  We drove swiftly through Åndalsnes, which was a miserable sight. We took a ferry and continued on the endless road around Fannefjord. The roads at this time were horrible with the thaw, combined with heavy military transport, and only a trained eye would recognise something resembling a road. At one place a row of cars were stuck fast up to their axles and when we arrived there were just sufficient men to pull the cars free and out of our way. In the Molde area there were several guard posts controlling the road and harbour area and there was a small civilian force of the ‘Molde Guard’ to assist the local military.

  Because of the rumours sweeping the area about German paratroopers and spies operating in the Molde area, Gleditsch and his small guard attracted a lot of suspicion. Stopping close to a farm for the men to answer the call of nature the guard soldiers were observed by some of the local inhabitants and to all intents and purposes the soldiers appeared to be loitering in the woods. The fish van, painted white and very conspicuous was duly noted by the watchers and the local military informed.

  Upon arrival at the first guard post at Fannestranda the unlikeliest of financial security transit vehicles was treated with distrust and incredulity.108 Gleditsch was questioned closely, and although the military were suspicious they were satisfied enough to allow the fish van and its occupants to continue into Molde. However, their journey into town was cut short once again as a Norwegian naval guard apprehended them. This time the officer in charge of the guard, a young naval Sub Lieutenant, was not convinced by the authorised note that Gleditsch was carrying that was supposedly signed by Secretary Haslund. Furthermore, the officer was of the opinion that the Norwegian guard soldiers were really Germans in uniform; such was the level of hysteria during that dark period.

  The naval guard stood poised with their weapons cocked and pointed at the soldiers…the situation was very tense. Searching questions as to the intention and identity of the party continued unabated, but it was probably the local dialect of the soldiers that ultimately saved the day and convinced the naval guard that the purpose of the soldiers was genuine. Eventually, Kristian and Nini Gleditsch and the soldiers, along with the fish van, were permitted to pass and enter Molde where the Gleditschs sought out Fylkesmann Trygve Utheim. Even this official was not at first convinced of their intentions, but after much discussion with Kristian Gleditsch the situation was resolved and the two boxes carefully placed under lock and key within the town.

  Utheim, now feeling more comfortable with his guests, invited them over to the Hotel Knausen, which at that time was housing several members of the government. It was against this background of unforeseen circumstances that the town of Molde had now become the capital of Norway. Although her reign would be short it was nonetheless a very important one.

  Minister Trygve Lie met with the Gleditschs at the hotel and immediately made arrangements for them to stop over at a farm known as ‘Retiro’. The five guard soldiers were dismissed and ordered to return to Romsdalhorn Station to await further orders.

  Almost at once, intense discussions began amongst the various officials on the best place to secure the gold whilst in Molde. Various suggestions were put forward, but it was the proposal by Per Mordal, a bank manager at the Romsdals Fellesbank, that was accepted as the best solution. Mordal’s submission was to make use of the basement at the Confectionsfabriken (clothing factory). This basement, he argued, was about the largest and safest place in Molde, and it was close enough to the quay to transfer the bullion to a ship if need be. No one could better the proposal and so arrangements were immediately put in place to prepare for the arrival of the bullion. Molde was not only the capital of Norway, but it was also about to become the bank of the nation’s wealth. Unfortunately for Molde and her townspeople they would pay a heavy price for this responsibility.

  Whilst arrangements for the safe keeping of the gold were being made, the five guard soldiers who had returned to Romsdalhorn Station found that preparations were already in hand to move the rest of the gold. Haslund had conversed with Colonel Ernst David Thue and Captain Rohde of Infantry Regiment 11 (IR11) about the possibility of moving the g
old out of Romsdalhorn by lorries. The three men were minded to move the bullion with the utmost urgency. The next day, April 25th, Haslund received a sobering note from Thue stating that he and his men could no longer guarantee the safety of the bullion and its guard soldiers as the Germans were getting closer and in his opinion would be coming down the valley at any time now. The gold transport team had just hours to get away. The Minister of Finance, Oscar Torp, was informed of the situation and he gave his blessing for the bullion to be moved; the alternative was not up for consideration.

  In the interim, Utheim was using his influence to ensure that the ferries at Åfarnes were kept operational and available for the gold transport as and when required. Captain Rohde managed to obtain 25 lorries for Haslund. He also provided drivers. Two hours of hard, backbreaking work commenced as the soldiers and railway staff carried the remaining 1303 boxes and barrels of gold bullion from the railway trucks to the lorries.

  The soldiers climbed aboard their assigned lorries and slowly moved out and away from the station. Haslund, installing himself on the lead lorry with Nordahl Grieg, instructed the drivers to remain a reasonable distant apart from each other to avoid attracting the interest of the Luftwaffe. Sergeant Pettersen manned the second lorry, whilst somewhat unusually Major Sunde manned the third lorry with Sergeant Pahlow-Andresen.

  Difficulties lay ahead in the form of poorly tarmacked roads, many of which were little more than trackways covered in snow and mud and with the thaw well under way the driving conditions were grim at best. There were also fjords to cross and the only way was by ferry. This would be long and laborious; at that time in Norway there were few bridges with the ferries being the main method of travel between communities. Haslund was not sure if these ferries were running – some may have been put out of action by bombing he considered, but his mind was made up to move out and if the ferries weren’t running then an alternative would have to be found.

  With the lorries loaded and crews duly aboard the convoy moved out of town. To their horror within a short time of the convoy starting the Luftwaffe returned and this time the target was the convoy. Lining up astern, four lumbering bombers closed in on the convoy and made straight for a line of sitting ducks.

  For the Germans any form of transport was seen as fair game and a legitimate target, irrespective of whether it was civilian or military. Steadying their aim, the bombers, Heinkel 111s, came in to attack, flying low to increase their chances of hitting their victims. Lookouts onboard the lorries watched the bombers avidly, scanning desperately for the moment of attack. Then they came, four bombers taking it in turns to strafe the lorries and anyone who happened to get in the way.

  A sharp knock on the cab roofs of the lorries by the lookouts in the back of the trucks warned the drivers who forced their vehicles to a crashing stop into the cover of bushes and trees by the roadside. The crews jumped out and dived for what little cover existed whilst others sought shelter under the lorries. White hot, metallic splinters from the strafing rained violently through the air as the bombers roared overhead. Miraculously, once again fortune favoured the Norwegians and no one was injured or killed. The bombers’ aim had been providentially poor.

  With the aircraft swinging away down the valley, the soldiers grabbed the opportunity to seek more substantial shelter by running and taking refuge in a large house beside the road. The house was full of British soldiers taking cover from the air raid, their helmets covering the back of their heads. Haslund, searching frantically for something to cover his head, found an old washing bowl and covered his head with it, which gave rise to much laughter and merriment. The attack lasted approximately three quarters of an hour. Haslund concluded that the Germans were poor at hitting individual targets and preferred large targets such as towns and quays. His mood rallied as he realised that the chances of the convoy being hit by bombers were second-rate at best, barring plain bad luck.

  The crews remounted their trucks and once again set off towards Molde. The bombers returned again, but on this occasion the convoy bravely increased speed and continued on their way without stopping. Just in front of them a house took a direct hit and blew up, but the convoy found just enough of a gap amongst the debris on the road to squeeze through. The convoy toiled along the treacherous roads eventually reaching the ferry crossing at Åfarnes. There were no ferries there and a message came through to Haslund announcing that one of the ferries was out of service and being repaired after being bombed. It mattered little as Haslund knew it would be suicidal to embark a ferry during daylight hours for fear of being an easy target. There was little to do except wait for darkness and the remaining ferry to arrive so Haslund took the opportunity to get the lorries under cover where possible, camouflaging the others with bushes and branches and ordering the exhausted crews to rest; it wasn’t a difficult order to obey.

  Sergeant Andresen later commented that trying to find a suitable crossing was difficult and that wherever they went they were treated with suspicion by their own. Evacuated Norwegians that occupied the farms thought the trucks were filled with ammunition and, understandably, they did not want the soldiers and their cargo anywhere near them for fear of death and injury.

  Later that night the ferry arrived safely but it could only take two lorries at a time and six long hours were to pass before all the lorries were safely across. That was just the beginning for once across the other side of the fjord the long incline that leads away from the quay was difficult for the overladen lorries to climb and coupled with the slushy snow, mud and poorly made road it didn’t take long for one of the trucks to shudder to a halt, beyond repair. There was no choice in the matter: the gold had to be removed from the lorry and redistributed amongst the remaining trucks. The trucks were originally designed to carry 1.5 tons, but their loads with the bullion were in excess of 3 tons and to travel as far as they had was indeed a remarkable feat. But for the men the problems did not end with the mechanical limitations of their transport. As mentioned earlier the road was in a terrible state and with the spring thaw set in snow and thick mud spewed in all directions. The winter had once again eroded what resembled an apology for a road with deep ruts and potholes cratering the surface. In some places the road conditions were so bad the crews set about repairing the road themselves just so the convoy could safely pass. Along other stretches of the road repair gangs set to work to keep the road open having been informed that an important convoy had to pass unhindered. It was a very long night; four of the lorries broke down, but Haslund managed to secure three more vehicles to take their place. Time and time again the gold had to be un-loaded and re-loaded leaving the crews exhausted to the point where they could barely move.

  Locals also helped where they could to ensure that the lorries continued with their journey. Mr Asbjørn Nakken was one of those that assisted without hesitation:109

  Late in the night of April 28th two men knocked on our outer door. They asked for help to drag a lorry out of a ditch and onto the road again. I was a 15 yr old boy at the time. On the farm we had two strong horses and enough equipment. So my father and I went together down to the vehicles. Each of the lorries did not weigh more than approx. 3 tons, so it was an easy job to get the lorry out of the ditch. The roads in this district were so narrow that it was impossible for one vehicle to pass another on the road. We did not talk much to the people and they did not utter much. We did not ask what sort of transport this was, but later we got some information of a transport of gold through the district, so we understood that was part of the national gold holding we had been dragging out of the ditch.

  Progress was painfully slow, but eventually the convoy crawled into the relative safety of the port of Molde. Seeking out officials to assist, Haslund was informed that the Norwegian Government had taken office at the Hotel Knausen and that King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were also in residence along with Norges Bank thus effectively making Molde the capital of Norway.110 Haslund halted the trucks at a place called Fannestranda, just a
kilometre or two east of the town centre and he immediately set about enquiring as the whereabouts of the Finance Minister, Oscar Torp. The gold had to be unloaded and placed in safe storage and Haslund wasn’t prepared to release the bullion until he was happy with the arrangements. Torp was soon located, and he briefed Haslund about the Confectionsfabriken building. Haslund, satisfied, ordered his men to drive to the building, unload and stow the bullion in the basement. The townsfolk welcomed Haslund and his crews and after pleasantries were exchanged they once again set to work unloading the heavy boxes and casks into the basement of the factory with the help from Molde citizens as well as governmental civil servants who arrived from their temporary accommodation at a nearby farm. The long work quickly became a tiring affair, but women volunteers ensured that the guard soldiers were kept fed and watered. It was a very welcome gesture.

  The setting of the factory was perfect: a large vault with an extremely thick and weighty door providing the final barrier to any opportunist. As an added precaution guards were posted at various points. The vault, despite being cleared of various items, was not quite big enough and so the task of enlarging the safe area was entrusted to local carpenter, Erik Berg.

  Nordahl Grieg later described the stowing of the gold with glowing praise for Molde and her people.111

  Towards the morning we arrived in Molde where we carried the boxes in to the basement of the Confection factory. How well everything was organised in this town! Eager women volunteers and nurses ran around, along with volunteers with armbands patrolling the street. The anti-aircraft gun crews were very alert with the sirens going off as soon as a plane approached. A few days later, though, everything was burnt down and not a single life was left in the ruins. Later when I heard the air defence alarm for other small Norwegian towns, I felt poignant and sad, it was a pathetic signal…