by Neal Bascomb
Inside, he found: Poulsson, 116.
14. THE LONELY, DARK WAR
Marstrander’s ship hit: Hauge, 122; Progress Report for SN Section for Period January 2–9, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 3A.
“We grow harder”: January 6, 1943, LTD.
Over the holidays: December 23, 1942–January 1, 1943, LTD.
Bassa had written: Letter from Bassa to Tronstad, December 20, 1942, LTP.
“Do you think”: Letter from Bassa to Tronstad, December 29, 1942, LTP.
“We’ve been mostly”: Letter from Sidsel to Tronstad, January 3, 1943, LTP.
“big and pretty”: Letter from Tronstad to Sidsel, LTP. From references in the letter, this note was written soon after Christmas 1942.
To cripple the: December 16, 1942, LTD.
In a small: Skogen, 1–74. All quotes and descriptions of the horrendous conditions faced by Skogen come from his fine memoir. His recollections of torture at the hands of the Gestapo match those of many survivors from Møllergata 19 and Grini.
“enhanced interrogation”: Nøkleby, Gestapo, 59–65. As Nøkleby relates in her study of the Gestapo, this is the term the Germans used.
On January 19: Statement of Oscar Hans, August 11, 1945, TNA: WO 331/383; Affidavit in Respect of the Case of Able Seaman R. P. Evans, TNA: WO 331/383; Statement of Alfred Zeidler, TNA: WO 331/383; Affidavit of Erik Dahle, TNA: WO 331/18; War Crimes—Operation Freshman (Trandum), November 28, 1945, TNA: WO 331/17; Interrogation of Wilhelm Esser, July 10, 1945, TNA: WO 331/386.
Huddled in his: Poulsson, 124–25. This scene of a typical morning was recounted by Poulsson in a diary entry from which this passage was adapted. He did not state the specific date, but it was clearly within the January moon phase in which a drop could occur.
“Murky weather”: Poulsson, 125.
Sometimes they spent: Poulsson Report.
Through sources in: Interrogation of Lt. Skinnarland, July 27, 1945, TNA: HS 9/1370/8; Helge Dahl, Rjukan, 284.
“Weather still bad”: Message to Swallow, January 16, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
There were petty: Report from Claus Helberg, July 10, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 23; Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 26625; Interview with Haugland, IWM: 26624; Lauritzen, 63; Berg, 120–22.
“As number three”: Lauritzen, 63.
When they ran: Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623.
Through the window: Haukelid, 15–16.
Rønneberg had used: Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Letter from Tronstad to Rønneberg, January 1943, TNA: HS 2/185; Rostøl and Amdal, 78.
Now, sitting in: Handwritten letter from Rønneberg to Tronstad, January 26, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17; Air Transport Operation Report, January 23, 1943, TNA: HS 2/131; Summary of Meeting Gunnerside Abortive Sortie, January 26, 1943, TNA: HS 2/185; Letter from Flight Lieutenant Ventry to Captain Adamson, January 25, 1943, TNA: HS 2/185; Lunde, 92–93; Haukelid, 38; Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
“sniff our way”: Myklebust, 130.
That night, on: Claus Helberg, “Report about Einar Skinnarland,” July 30, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 23; Poulsson Report; Poulsson, 120–22.
“Deeply regret weather”: Message to Swallow, January 28, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
“Jan. 29—Skinnarland”: Poulsson Report; Poulsson, 129.
Skinnarland mostly jotted: January 28–February 13, 1943, ESD.
At the approach: Interview with Haugland, IWM: 26624.
“What was the”: Poulsson, 127.
15. THE STORM
After the failed: Report on “Crispie,” TNA: HS 2/185; Letter from Rønneberg to Tronstad, December 29, 1942, NHM: FOIV, Box D17; Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
“German troops have”: Messages from Grouse, February 8–10, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
Since the Freshman: Report from Rjukan, December 1942, TNA: HS 2/186; Poulsson Report.
Paul Rosbaud: Njølstad, 251–52; Kramish, 129.
Harald Wergeland: Rosbaud Report, NB: Goudsmit Papers, III, B27, F42; Kramish, 188–89; Per Dahl, Heavy Water, 164; Hinsley, 123–27.
“not to be”: “On Memorandum of February 6th, 1943 submitted by N. Stephansen on the production of D20 of Norsk Hydro,” NHM: Box 10/SIS/A.
“intended to make”: Obituary of Njål Hole, written by Jomar Brun, VM: IA4FB, Box 13; Letter from Njål Hole to Tronstad, January 19, 1943, NHM: Box 10/SIS/A.
Rain battered: Most Secret Report of Operations Undertaken by 138 Squadron on Night February 16–17, 1943, TNA: HS 2/131; Haukelid, 81.
“Whatever you do”: Bailey, 140.
After four days: Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31; Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
“We’ll find our”: Myklebust, 132–33.
“Ten minutes”: Haukelid, 81; Rostøl and Amdal, 45.
“We may be”: Haukelid, 83.
Then the team: Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Rønneberg Report.
“We have to”: Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
The huge storm: Poulsson Report; Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623.
Rønneberg took the: Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
With no wireless set: Gallagher, 70–71.
“Same weather. Storm”: Rønneberg Report.
In the middle: Gallagher, 71–72; Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
“The storm raged”: Rønneberg Report.
As quickly as: Ibid; Gallagher, 73.
At 1:00 p.m. the: Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Myklebust, 137–39; Haukelid, 84–85; Rostøl and Amdal, 80–81. All quotes from this section were derived from an assembly of these sources. They largely matched one another.
Kristiansen immediately proved: Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
At the entrance: Haukelid, 86–87.
Haukelid crept through: Ibid., 88.
“Dr. Livingstone, I presume”: Drummond, 69.
Crowded into Fetter: Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 27189.
“tobacco directly imported”: Haukelid, 88.
“Stay on the”: Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Rønneberg Report.
16. BEST-LAID PLANS
After a restless: Orientering vedr. Gunnerside, December 11, 1942, NHM: FOIV, Box D17; Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Sørlie Memoir; Haukelid, 97–104; Poulsson, 135–41; Lunde, 96–98; Berg, 125–26; Halvorsen, Den Norske Turistforening årbok 1947; Sæter, 84–86; Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 27189; Interview with Rønneberg, IWM: 27187; Rønneberg Report; Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 26625; Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623; February 19, 1943, ESD; Letters from/to Poulsson and Rønneberg, NHM: Box 25; Letters from/to Poulsson and Helberg, NHM: Box 25; Notes from Poulsson, NHM: Box 25; Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31. The many original sources given here reflect an enduring controversy among members of the sabotage operation as to who suggested what in terms of the overall planning. However, one thing is clear: Tronstad suggested the approach across the gorge as offering the team the best chance of success.
“Is that edible?”: Haukelid, 95–96.
On Thursday, February 25: Sørlie Memoir; Finn Sørlie, Author Interview.
“I’m glad it’s”: Sørlie Memoir.
Throughout Friday: Rønneberg Report; Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623.
Helberg began: Gallagher, 85–86; Poulsson Notes on Colonel Wilson’s Book, November 2003, NHM: Box 25.
“If trees are”: Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31; Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 27189; Poulsson Notes on Blood and Water manuscript, NHM: Box 25; Orientering vedr. Gunnerside, December 11, 1942, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
The central concept: Bericht über einen Versuch mit Würfeln aus Uran-Metall und Schwerem Eis, G-212, NB: Goudsmit Papers, III/B25/F16; Per Dahl, Heavy Water, 210; Nagel, 81–82.
“If you make”: Ermenc, 109–11; Interview with Professor Paul Harteck, DIA: DJ 29.
Paul Harteck had: Letter from Harteck to Rust, June 26, 1942, Papers of Paul Harteck, Rensselaer Institute.
Diebner had also: Sagasfos, 123; Letter from Rjukan Saltpeterfabriker, March 2, 1942, VM: Box 4F/D17/98
; Notes on Irving Manuscript Draft, NHM: Box 10B; Harteck Report: “Besichtigung des Elektrolysewerkes Sinigo bei Meran,” December 1, 1942, DIA: DJ 29; Walker, German National Socialism, 119.
For his next: Schöpke Report, August 3, 1943, NB: G-341; Nagel, 80–81.
Interest in the: Karlsch, 45–53, 126; Nagel, 42–44; Irving, 77, 125–26, 153–55; Walker, German National Socialism, 88. There has been much written about the June 4, 1942 meeting with Speer sounding the death knell to the Nazi atomic program. If the meeting had gone the other way, it might have prompted an immediate Manhattan Project–like intensity to the program, vastly improving the odds of a German bomb. That said, after June 1942, the project still held a high DE rating (Dringlichkeitsentwicklung), the highest priority rating for material/manpower, and there were a plethora of powerful patrons at the ready if progress could be shown.
An hour after: Halvorsen, Den Norske Turistforening årbok 1947; Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623.
“It’s possible”: Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623.
Now they could: Again, the author refers to the plethora of contradicting original sources from an earlier endnote (“After a restless”; see previous page) to divine who suggested what and supported whom on the Gunnerside operational plan.
“Nonsense”: Myklebust, 150–51; Rostøl and Amdal, 84–85.
That same afternoon: February 27, 1943, LTD.
“Everything in order”: Message from Swallow, February 25, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
the Carhampton operation: Carhampton Report, January 25, 1943, TNA: HS 2/130; Herrington, 157–58; Hauge, 133–58.
When Tronstad arrived: February 27, 1943, LTD.
“Do you want”: Nøkleby, Josef Terboven, 240.
Sitting outside the: Haukelid, 104–5.
“We were in”: Interview with Lillean Tangstad, KA; Rostøl and Amdal, 85.
“God save the King”: Interview with Lillean Tangstad, KA.
17. THE CLIMB
At 8:00 p.m.: Rønneberg Report; Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 27189; Draft of Rønneberg BBC Speech, TNA: HS 7/181; Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31; Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623; Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 26625; Haukelid, 102–8; Poulsson, 143–46; Gallagher, 96–110; Rostøl and Amdal, 86–88; Lunde, 99–102; Berg, 127–30; Myklebust, 150–57. The events of the night of the Gunnerside mission, February 27–28, have been chronicled many times, both in interviews, memoirs, and reports (not to mention books). For this chapter, these are the sources from which the author drew his own account, most of them primary—or drawn from participant recollections. Unless there is a direct quote or distinct piece of information needing sourcing, the author will not note any further specific references in this chapter.
“act on their”: Rønneberg Report.
They had practiced: Rønneberg Report; Rigden, 252–61, 316–22.
“All right, let’s”: Gallagher, 100.
Each man took: Ibid., 103–5.
In their cabin: February 27, 1943, ESD; Sæter, 86.
Well-trained radio: Sæter, 44–45.
Skinnarland could not: Marielle Skinnarland, Author Interview.
Careful with each: Haukelid, 108; Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31.
The saboteurs returned: Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
“In a few”: Draft of Rønneberg BBC Speech, TNA: HS 7/181.
These were his: Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31.
“Good luck”: Haukelid, 108.
“Good spot”: Gallagher, 109.
The four saboteurs: Drawing of Gunnerside Approach/Retreat by Jomar Brun, VM: JBrun, Box 6a.
“Locked”: Lunde, 102.
18. SABOTAGE
Rønneberg rechecked: Rønneberg Report; Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 27189; Draft of Rønneberg BBC Speech, TNA: HS 7/181; Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31; Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623; Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 26625; Haukelid, 102–8; Poulsson, 143–46; Gallagher, 96–110; Rostøl and Amdal, 86–88; Lunde, 99–102; Berg, 127–30; Myklebust, 150–57. As with the previous chapter, the sourcing for the Gunnerside sabotage was drawn from these references unless specific attribution is necessary.
At Brickendonbury: Brun, 71–72. Jomar Brun provided the information on the cable tunnel. In fact, he once used the tunnel himself to repair a cable.
“Here it is”: Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Gallagher, 110.
no admittance except: Directions Report, November 15, 1942, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.: Directions Report, November 15, 1942, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
“Put your hands”: Rostøl and Amdal, 102–3; Gallagher, 112.
“Watch out. Otherwise”: Rostøl and Amdal, 103.
“We can light”: Myklebust, 157.
“Where are my”: Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Rønneberg, “Operation Gunnerside” (IFS Info, 1995).
Close to finishing: Extract from Report by Director Bjarne Nilssen, VM: JBrun, Box 6a.
“Up the stairs”: Rønneberg, “Operation Gunnerside” (IFS Info, 1995).
“Is that what”: Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 26625.
“No”: Poulsson, 147; Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31.
“Piccadilly”: Haukelid, 113.
As he moved: Myklebust, 162–63.
Back at Vemork: Alf Larsen, Rapport over Hendelsen i Høykoncentreringsanlegget på Vemork 28. Febr. 1943, VM: JBrun, Box 17; Bjarne Nilssen, Vedr. Sabotage i tungtvannsanlegget på Vemork, March 1, 1943, NHM: Box 25.
“normal like we”: Ibid.
As the sirens: Bjarne Nilssen, P. M. Sabotasje Vemork, VM: JBrun, Box 6a; Rapport vedrørende anlegg for fremstilling av Tungt vann ved Vemork Vannstoff-fabrikk, Rjukan, September 14, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
19. THE MOST SPLENDID COUP
The nine saboteurs: Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
Both local boys: Drummond, 87.
The sirens continued: Haukelid, 114–15; Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Rønneberg Report; Halvorsen, Den Norske Turistforening årbok 1970.
The men sat: Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
Helberg prepared to: Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623.
If there was: Gallagher, 127.
The other men: Poulsson, 149–50.
Lying in his: Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 26625.
As they made: Poulsson, 150.
When his car: Rapport til her politimesteren I Rjukan, June 23, 1945. Papers of Bjørn Iversen.
As soon as: Bjarne Nilssen, p.m. Sabotasje Vemork, VM: JBrun, Box 6a; Bericht über Konsul Ing. E. Schöpkes Reise und Besprechungen, March 13, 1943, NB: G-341.
He kept his: Interview with Larsen, DIA: DJ 31.
“three strongly built”: Bjarne Nilssen, P.M. Sabotasje Vemork, VM: JBrun, Box 6a; Bjarne Nilssen, Vedr. Sabotage i tungtvannsanlegget på Vemork, March 1, 1943, NHM: Box 25.
“sharp coercive measures”: Til Rjukans befolkningt, February 28, 1943, VM: JBrun, Box 6a.
“an installation of”: Feindnachtrichtenblatt Nr. 28—21.2. bis 9.3.1943, RW 39/44, Barch-MA; Irving, 166.
While Muggenthaler waited: Bjarne Nilssen, P.M. Sabotasje Vemork, VM: JBrun, Box 6a; Report, Gunnerside, April 14, 1943, TNA: HS 2/186. It should be noted that in most historical accounts General Rediess and Terboven were stated to have come to Rjukan on February 28, 1943, just hours after the sabotage. The report by Nilssen never states their presence, and his account is exhaustive.
Early the next: Falkenhorst Note, February 28, 1943, RW 39/43, Barch-MA.
“most splendid coup”: Message from Swallow, March 10, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
“When you have”: Interview with Larsen, DIA: DJ 31; Interview with Haukelid, DIA: DJ 31; Haukelid, 125–26; Gallagher, 131–33; Bjarne Nilssen, P.M. Sabotasje Vemork, VM: JBrun, Box 6a. The description of this visit by Falkenhorst was assembled from these sources, each with their own slightly different version of his conversation/interaction with Glaase, but all with the same thrust.
A man
hunt for: Heinrich Himmler’s Telephone Log, March 1, 1943, RG242, Roll 25, NARA. As referenced in Manuscript Notes, Irving, NHM: Box 10B.
As for the: Letter from Eberling to OKHWa Forsch, March 2, 1943, NB: G-341.
“. . . perpetrated against Norsk”: Swedish Home Service, March 1, 1943, TNA: HS 2/185.
The Nazi atomic: March 1, 1943, LTD.
A wireless message: Hauge, 156.
“High-concentration plant”: Rønneberg Report.
“Give our best”: Haukelid, 119.
“Well, Arne”: Gallagher, 137.
After thirty miles: Interview with Poulsson, IWM: 27189; Poulsson, 156–57; Gallagher, 138–40. All quotes and descriptions in this scene are from these sources.
The wireless radio: March 2–5, 1943, ESD. In his diary, Skinnarland mentions Gunnerside on March 5, but in a cryptic way (that is also likely a typo): “Operasjonen Gunnerside iorden.” Potentially, “Operation Gunnerside in order.” As his daughter Marielle Skinnarland corresponded with the author, this entry intimates that Skinnarland found out about the sabotage from local farmers in Lie. However, against the clear account from Haukelid in his memoir that the news he shared with Skinnarland about the sabotage came indeed as news, the author followed the Haukelid version.
Approaching Skårbu: Haukelid, 120–21.
“Don’t worry, Knut”: Ibid., 121.
Haugland tried to: March 6–11, 1943, ESD; Interview with Haugland, IWM: 26624. It is clear from Skinnarland’s diary that he received the news on this date; however, the first message to London was not sent until the tenth. On this date and the next, Skinnarland makes short mention of issues with connection and the radio’s oscillator.
“You can bet”: Haukelid, 122.
At noon on: Rønneberg Report.
Rønneberg had always: Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Myklebust, 166–69; Mears, 180–81.
The next day: Rønneberg Report.
20. THE HUNT
In Møllergata 19: Skogen, 96–105; Report by Gunlsik Skogen, December 1, 1943, TNA: HS 2/174.
“Until now you”: Skogen, 107.
