by Neal Bascomb
“Operation carried out”: Message from Swallow, March 10, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
Tronstad was moved: Hurum, 123.
“Heartiest congratulations”: Message to Swallow, March 10, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
Two days later: SOE and Heavy Water, March 1943, TNA: HS 2/185; Minutes of ANCC Meeting, March 12, 1943, TNA: HS 2/138; Myklebust, 201–2; SOE Progress Report, March 15, 1943, TNA: HS 8/223.
“It’s justified”: Tronstad, Note on Heavy Water, March 18, 1943, LTP.
Sir John Anderson: March 15, 1943, LTD.
“England’s once-proud”: Hauge, 157.
“sacrificed enough for”: March 3–6, 1943, LTD.
He arranged: SOE Progress Report, March 15, 1943, TNA: HS 8/223; Njølstad, 222–24.
All the while: Precis of a Meeting between Professor Goldschmidt, Professor Tronstad, and Lt. Commander Welsh, March 15, 1943, LTP.
The Danish physicist: Letter from Eric Welsh to Tronstad, January 16, 1943, LTP.
“heartbeats”: March 18, 1943, LTD.
On March 13: Rønneberg Report; Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Myklebust, 173–88. The march to Sweden was one of the most remarkable aspects of the Gunnerside operation. Rønneberg recounts it in detail in his report, but a better, longer chronicle comes from Gunnar Myklebust in his biography of the saboteur. These are the three primary sources for the description of this retreat given here.
“You must all”: Rostøl and Amdal, 97–99.
Under the light: Rønneberg Report; Mears, 182–85. On the survival skills of the saboteurs, Mears offers fine insight.
“All right, let’s”: Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
“Guys”: Myklebust, 182–83.
As night fell: Interview with Rønneberg, IWM: 27187; Rønneberg Interview, Moland; Rønneberg Report.
When Knut Haukelid: Haukelid, 129; Interrogation of Knut Haukelid, July 25, 1945, TNA: HS 9/676/4.
“When this war”: Haukelid, 129–30.
Over two weeks had: Ibid., 124–31.
“It’s not safe”: Berg, 137.
Kjelstrup left: Report by Arne Kjelstrup, October 30, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 23.
After reports pointed: Report “Angår Aksjonen på Hardangervidda,” July 17, 1946, NHM: Box 10B; Report on the Interrogation of Major Ernst Lutter, July 5, 1945, NHM: Box 16; Tätigkeitsbericht AOK/Ic, April 1943, RW 39/44, Barch-MA; Ueland, 191–93; Helge Dahl, Rjukan, 291. Figures on those involved in the March–April 1943 razzia range everywhere from two thousand to twelve thousand men. The key confusion likely rests around the fact that there were three actions conducted at roughly the same time, as outlined by Major Lutter, who participated in them. Exact numbers have yet to be uncovered, but Lutter states three thousand men in the Hardangervidda, another with an “even more formidable army” for regions south and west of the Vidda, and the third with two thousand men in northern Norway near Trondheim.
A Norwegian hunter: Haugland Report; Lunde, 109.
“Seven men were”: Report, “Vemork kraftstasjon,” March 24, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
If enemy commandos: Report, “Angår aksjønen mot Hardangervidda I tiden 23/3/ til 8/4/43,” NHM: Box 10B; Report, “Unternehmen Adler,” March 30, 1943, NHM: Box 10B; Technique of the Agent in the European Field, TNA: HS 2/229; Report by Arne Kjelstrup, October 30, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 23; Ueland, 161–63; Kjelstadli, 264.
Although the Vidda: Report on the Interrogation of Major Ernst Lutter, July 5, 1945, NHM: Box 16; Report from Swedish Telegraph Agency, March 29, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17; Report from Fenrik Haugland, September 23, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 23.
21. PHANTOMS OF THE VIDDA
As soon as: Berg, 137–38.
“The whole district”: Drummond, 104.
Haukelid knew: Haukelid, 130–31.
A good tracker: Ibid., 134.
In the late: Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623.
After separating from: Poulsson Report; Sørlie Memoir; Report, Claus Urbye Helberg, April 19, 1943, TNA: HS 2/186.
Peering out through: Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623; Report by Claus Helberg, June 28, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 23; Interrogation of Sergeant Helberg, July 23, 1943, TNA: HS 9/689/6. The narrative of Helberg’s dramatic escape between March 25–30 derives primarily from these four sources. The author has also consulted Gallagher, 149–63; Interview with Claus Helberg, KA; Ueland, 194–201, 212–16. Any quotes or other select material will be separated out in the endnotes.
“Halt! Arms up”: Interview with Helberg, IWM: 26623.
“You have to”: Ibid.
The boat for: There remains some discrepancy in the sources about what hotel Helberg stayed in during his time in Dalen. Some refer to the Bandak Tourist Hotel, others to the Dalen Hotel. Given the Dalen Hotel was the nicest hotel in the town as well as the fact that the Germans set up headquarters there, the author sided with Dalen.
The conversation was: Letter from Wehrmachtsbefehlshaber in Norwegen, May 15, 1943, RW 4/639, Barch-MA.
“No,” Hassel: Berit Nøkleby, “Uforskammet opptreden mot Terboven,” Aftenposten, February 25, 1983.
“As you can see”: Gallagher, 159.
“You sit there”: Berit Nøkleby, “Uforskammet opptreden mot Terboven,” Aftenposten, February 25, 1983.
“Every day, you”: Report, “Aksjonen på Hardangervidda,” March 23–April 8, 1943, NHM: Box 10B.
Some stores of explosives: Wochenbericht für die Woche vom 29.3–4.4.43, RW 39/45, Barch-MA.
High in the: March 20–April 20, 1943, ESD.
Skinnarland and Haugland: Haugland Report.
Though exposed on: Skinnarland Notes, ESP; April 1–19, 1943, ESD.
Best of all: Skinnarland, Hva Som Hendte, ESP.
The following morning: Haukelid, 137–39; April 16–19, ESD; Haugland Report.
Skinnarland was: Haugland Report; Sæter, 97–98.
22. A NATIONAL SPORT
In mid-April 1943: Bericht über Konsul Ing. E. Schöpkes Reise und Besprechungen, March 13, 1943, NB: G-341; Rapport vedrörende anlegg for fremstilling av Tungt vann vad Vemork Vannstoff-fabrikk, Rjukan, September 14, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17; Per Dahl, Heavy Water, 211–12; Bericht von Konsul Schöpke über die Besprechungen am 17. und 18.6.1943, NB: G-341.
“national Norwegian sport”: Letter from Ebeling to OKH Wa Forsch, March 2, 1943, NB: G-341.
Others, including Bjarne: Bjarne Nilssen, P. M. Sabotasje Vemork, VM: JBrun, Box 6a.
“swift decision”: Letter from Ebeling to OKH Wa Forsch, March 2, 1943, NB: G-341; Olsen, 417.
provided any materials: Andersen, 400–404; Report, Gunnerside, April 15, 1943, TNA: HS 2/186.
By the time: Bericht über Konsul Ing. E. Schöpkes Reise und Besprechungen, March 13, 1943, NB: G-341; Rapport vedrörende anlegg for fremstilling av Tungt vann vad Vemork Vannstoff-fabrikk, Rjukan, September 14, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17; Per Dahl, Heavy Water, 211–12.
While this was: Olsen, 417; Bericht Schutz von We-Wi-Betrieben, April 19, 1943, RW 39/45, Barch-MA.
Three weeks later: Niederschrift über die Besprechung am 7.5.1943 i.d. PTR, NB: G-341.
“rumors abound in”: Karlsch, 162–63.
“uranium bombs”: Abschrift, Allgemein verständliche Grundlagen zur Kernphysik, May 8, 1943, DIA: DJ 29.
Only the previous day: Schriften der Deutschen Akademie DNR Luftfahrtforschung, NB: Goudsmit Papers, III/B27/F29.
He wanted to: Niederschrift über die Besprechung am 7.5.1943 i.d. PTR, NB: G-341.
His team’s most: Bericht über einen Versuch mit Würfeln aus Uran-Metall und Schwerem Eis. G-212, NB: Goudsmit Papers, IV/B25/F16; Irving, 174–75.
“too small to”: Niederschrift über die Besprechung am 7.5.1943 i.d. PTR, NB: G-341.
Diebner had his: Interview with Paul Harteck, NB: Oral History; Interview with Georg Hartwig, NB: Oral History.
“doer, a driver”: Ingstad, 159.
“biggest sonuvabitch”: Nichols, 108.
In the hills: Rhod
es, 451, 486, 497.
All these efforts: Groves, 186–91.
In April he: Private Cipher Message for Field Marshal Dill from C.A.S., April 7, 1943, NHM: FOII, Box 61.
“You might be”: Kurzman, 186.
“colossal amounts”: Preliminary Statement concerning the possibility of the use of radioactive material in warfare, July 1, 1943, TNA: CAB 98/47.
On the morning of: Bush, Memorandum of Conference with the President, June 24, 1943, NA: Bush-Conant Papers; Powers, 210–11.
“strain every nerve”: Letter from James Conant to General Groves, December 9, 1942, NA: Bush-Conant Papers.
“going very aggressively”: Bush, Memorandum of Conference with the President, June 24, 1943, NA: Bush-Conant Papers.
Earlier in the: Haukelid, 149; Haukelid Family, Author Interview; Interrogation of Knut Haukelid, July 25, 1945, TNA: HS 9/676/4; Report by Arne Kjelstrup, October 30, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 23; Report from Bonzo, NHM: SOE, Box 23.
Haukelid and Kjelstrup: Haukelid, 152; Berg, 142–43.
Haukelid took a: Interrogation of Lieutenant Einar Skinnarland, July 27, 1945, TNA: HS 9/1370/8; Skinnarland, Hva Som Hendte, ESP.
“Bonzo was waiting”: June 18–20, 1943, ESD.
On one of: Letter from Einar Skinnarland to Kirvil Skinnarland, December 1998, ESP.
Skinnarland remained for: June 28–July 8, 1943, ESD; Skinnarland Notes, ESP.
“Vemork reckons on”: Message from Swallow, July 8, 1943, NHM: FOIV, Box D17.
“What rewards are”: Prime Minister’s Personal Minute, April 14, 1943, TNA: HS 2/190.
any renewed deliveries: Report, “Lurgan,” July 4, 1943, LTP; Letter from Brun to Thomas Powers, October 11, 1988, VM: JBrun, Box 17.
“tackle the juice issue”: July 13, 1943, LTD.
In his report: Tronstad, “Notat vedr. X,” July 19, 1943, NHM: Box 10/SIS B; Brun, 73–77.
On July 21: Letter to Tronstad from Wilson, July 16, 1943, DORA: Correspondence 1937–45.
Later, Selborne: July 21, 1943, LTD; Myklebust, 214–15; Poulsson, 160–63; Rønneberg Interview, Moland.
Not seventy-two: Kjelstadli, 201–4; Olsen, 410–12; Sagasfos, 105–110.
23. TARGET LIST
On August 4: Report, “Meeting Held at Rjukan on the 4th August 1943,” NHM: Box 10/SIS B; Olsen, 406, 418; Per Dahl, Heavy Water, 212.
In June 199 kilograms: Alf Larsen, Vemork production figures, DIA: DJ 31; Letter from Harteck to Diebner, February 16, 1944, NB: G-341.
“personal conviction”: Report, “Meeting Held at Rjukan on the 4th August 1943,” NHM: Box 10/SIS B.
Within a few: Kjelstadli, 260; Andersen, 422.
“usual output”: Message from Swallow, August 4, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 22.
“With care”: Message from Swallow, August 9, 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 22.
Over the next: Messages from Swallow, August 7–22, 1943, TNA: HS 2/187.
To sustain himself: July–September 1943, ESD; Letter from Skinnarland to Dan Kurzman, May 12, 1997, ESP; Marielle Skinnarland, Author Interview.
“shot a stone”: September 16, 1943, ESD.
During this period: Bergens Tidende, February 1, 2015.
He was still: July 11–17, 1943, ESD; Marielle Skinnarland, Author Interview.
“everything required”: Letter from A. R. Boyle to Wilson, August 9, 1943, TNA: HS 2/187.
“local action”: Message to Swallow, August 10, 1943, including handwritten comments from Tronstad and Wilson, TNA: HS 2/187.
Now more than: Tronstad, Report with reference to attacks at Rjukan and Vemork, TNA: HS 8/955/DISR.
Late in 1942: Kjelstadli, 200–205.
Most pointedly, Tronstad: Tronstad, “Notat vedr. X,” July 19, 1943, NHM: Box 10/ SIS B.
Njål Hole, Tronstad’s young: Letter from Hole to Tronstad, September 1, 1943, NHM: Box 10/SIS B.
“of vital importance”: Stephensen Report, October 21, 1943, TNA: HS 2/187.
“We have to do”: Letter from Tronstad to Sidsel, August 20, 1943, LTP.
Two days after: August 20, 1943, LTD.
“I would propose”: Perrin Report, “Norway and Production of Heavy Water,” August 20, 1943, TNA: AIR 8/1767.
“My name is Knut”: Haukelid, 169; Haukelid Family, Author Interview.
“Remember: Keep your”: Interrogation of Knut Haukelid, July 25, 1945, TNA: HS 9/676/4; Report by Bonzo, via Arne Kristoffersen (Kjelstrup), October 1943, NHM: SOE, Box 23.
Once, by a: Berg, 143–44.
“Six housewives”: Request for Packing of Stores in Containers, Swallow Two, August 24, 1943, TNA: HS 2/131.
After midnight on: Operational Report, Swallow Two, September 21/22, 1943, TNA: HS 2/131.
“How’d it go?”: Haukelid, 157.
Haukelid and Kjelstrup searched: Ibid.; Report, Swallow Two drop, November 18, 1943, TNA: HS 2/131.
But the full meals: Berg, 141, 144–47.
A couple of: Haukelid, 158; October 13, 1943, ESD.
Skinnarland welcomed him: Skinnarland Note, ESP.
“The powers that”: Letter from Lt. Colonel Sporborg to Brigadier Mockler-Ferryman, October 5, 1943, TNA: HS 2/218; Tube Alloys Technical Committee Meeting, September 19, 1943, TNA: CAB 126/46; Letter from L. C. Hollis to CAS (Chief of Air Staff, Sir Charles Portal), October 18, 1943, TNA: AIR 8/1767.
Using intelligence: Report, Heavy Water Production at Vemork, October 16, 1943, TNA: HS 2/218.
Armed with the: Letter from L. C. Hollis to Sir Charles Portal, October 18, 1943, TNA: AIR 8/1767; Letter from Sir Charles Portal to L. C. Hollis, October 20, 1943, TNA: AIR 8/1767.
From his base: Parton, 155.
“We’ll bomb them”: Ibid., 130.
Groves continued to: Groves, 189.
“When the weather”: Kurzman, 188; Letter from Sir Charles Portal to Brigadier Hollis, October 20, 1943, TNA: AIR 8/1767.
Throughout all these: Report with Reference to Attacks at Rjukan and Vemork, TNA: HS 8/955/DISR.
“in a special”: Njølstad, 264–65.
“should be changed”: Minutes of the 24th ANCC, November 11, 1943, TNA: HS 2/138.
24. COWBOY RUN
At 3:00 a.m. on: Interview with Owen Roane, KA.
At the same: Freeman, 7–15.
Given the distance: Roane, 96.
“special explosive”: Interview with Owen Roane, KA.
“milk run”: Bennett, 15.
Although Roane: Interview with Owen Roane, KA; Roane, 1–14.
The average lifespan in: Harry Crosby, Jan Riddling, and Michael P. Faley, “History of the 100th Bomb Group,” United States Air Force Military Heritage Database, http://www.8thairforce.com/legacy_100thbomb.htm.
On one mission: Roane, 29–80.
“I’m coming in”: Michael Faley, “Owen Roane: The Last Cowboy,” Splasher Six 29 (Fall 1998).
At 5:00 a.m. Roane: Freeman, 16–18, 244–45.
The ground-crew chief: Roane, 95–101. In Roane’s book, he included transcripts of the reports from Command Pilot Bennett, Lead Pilot Roane, as well as the navigator, bombardier, and the Third Division air commander.
“Ready to go”: Interview with Owen Roane, KA.
After checking the: Roane, 95–101.
Three hundred and: Bomber Command Narrative of Operations, 131st Operation, November 16, 1943, TNA: AIR 40/481.
After some time: Bennett, 16–21.
They crossed the: Ibid., 17.
“Make a large”: Kurzman, 197. Of the histories on the Eighth Air Force attack on Vemork, Dan Kurzman succeeded best in interviewing some of the pilots and crews, giving a thorough account of the events of November 16.
A B-17 in: Ibid., 19–20.
In total, 176: Bomber Command Narrative of Operations, 131st Operation, November 16, 1943, TNA: AIR 40/481.
On a farm: Haukelid, 177; November 16, 1943, ESD.
At 11:33 a.m.: Nielsen, Kjell, “Notat angående omtalen av fergeaksjonen på Rjukan i Februar 1944,” NHM: Box 10B.
“Run to your”: Report by Unnamed Witness, KA.
The Ninety-Fifth: Mears, 95–101; Bomber Command Narrative of Operations 131st Operation, November 16, 1943, TNA: AIR 40/481; Quotes on Tuesday’s 8th AAF Heavy Bomber Operations, November 16, 1943, TNA: AIR 2/8002.
In total, 711: Bomber Command Narrative of Operations, 131st Operation, November 16, 1943, TNA: AIR 40/481; Report, “Norway: Result of USAAF raid on Rjukan, Vemork,” December 28, 1943, TNA: AIR 40/481.
Just as the: Attack on Fertilizer Works at Rjukan by USAAF, December 9, 1943, TNA: AIR 2/8002; 8th Air Force Command Provisional Report, November 18, 1943, TNA: AIR 40/481.
“My God, what’s”: Kurzman, 202.
A former member: Ibid., 202–4; Nielsen, Kjell, “Notat angående omtalen av fergeaksjonen på Rjukan i Februar 1944,” NHM: Box 10B.
In Rjukan, four: Ømkomme under bombingen, November 16, 1943, VM: A-1108/AK, Box 1; Olsen, 419.
SS officer Muggenthaler: Letter from Muggenthaler to Befehlshaber der SS und des SD, November 17, 1943, R70/32, Bundesarchiv, Berlin.
“SH-200 high-concentration”: Fernschreiben an dan Chef der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD, Kaltenbrunner, November 18, 1943, R70/32, Bundesarchiv, Berlin.
25. NOTHING WITHOUT SACRIFICE
On the day: Njølstad, 274–75.
“Hope that the”: November 16, 1943, LTD.
The Allies had: Notat vedrörende angrenpene på Rjukan og Vemork, November 16, 1943, NHM: Box 10/SIS B.
“On leaving Norway”: Letter from Hagen (Brun) to Perrin, November 1943, VM: JBrun, Box 2.
When Tronstad returned: Aide-Memoire, “The bombing of industrial targets in Norway,” TNA: AIR 2/8002; Notat vedrörende angrenpene på Rjukan og Vemork, November 16, 1943, NHM: Box 10/SIS B; Letter from Trygve Lie, January 29, 1943, TNA: AIR 2/8002; Letter from A. W. Street, December 22, 1943, TNA: AIR 2/8002. There are a series of illuminating letters in this folder (Air Attacks on Targets in Norway, TNA: AIR 2/8002), a worthy starting point for anybody interested in the back-and-forth imbroglio betweeen British, American, and Norwegian officials.
